Pixiport:The Voice Behind The Lens Michael Dubiner

Pixiport:The Voice Behind The Lens Michael Dubiner: "FUJIFILM FINEPIX F10-A STREET PHOTOGRPHERS DREAM DIGITAL CAMERA
(But you may not want to rush out to buy it yet, there may be better to come next month) "

For those who have been with this column over the past few years, it is obvious that I have been obsessed with the idea of a small digital camera, with good low light capacity, to effectively emulate the high speed Black & White films that can shoot at 1600 or 3200 ISO. The FUJIFILM FINEPIX F10 comes close. And hopefully an even more versatile camera, the E900 will be released by Fujifilm next month.

Until recent history, Black & White photography was limited to 400 ISO films, pushed when necessary. Color films were initially much slower and gradually started raising their speed. Then came the modern ISO 3200 films embodied by Kodak TMax Black & White3200 film. Hand held evening and low light indoor photography became a reality.

Higher ISO's have always come at the cost of higher noise with digital cameras. There was the same tradeoff with film. Film's grain pattern is generally more pleasing to the eye than Digital's "grain". There is some argument as to whether it is because "film grain" is what we are used to or because of other reasons. In any event, most Street Photographers have strived to eliminate unpleasing grain would choose the look of "film grain" as opposed to "digital grain.", when stuck with one or the other.

The F10 has a truly revolutionary sensor, as far as prosumer digital cameras are concerned. DSL's, often use larger chips to capture the digital image. If they do not, it is the body, the lens and software that makes than a better camera than the F10. Prosumer cameras use a postage sensor, the sized referred to as APS. The latest 7+ mega pixel sensor that is used in most cameras is manufactured by Sony. Each company has competed to improve their software architecture to accommodate this sensor. In order to miniaturize the camera, the sensor size must be limited unlike their larger cousins, the DSL's. The F10 has a 6.3 mega pixel sensor. In the past, Fujifilm interpolated their mega pixel count, arguably inflating it unfairly. This sensor is a full interpolated 6.3 mega pixels. What is unique about this camera is that it comes with an ISO rating of 1600. While in my opinion, this camera should only be used at a maximum of ISO 800, it will capture a usable image at the higher ISO, if necessary, and it shoots genuine usable images at ISO 800.

I am not going to go into all the specifications of the F10. Suffice it to say that it is a small, simple, camera that can do what my expensive film cameras can do with that high ISO film. In addition,
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