Fujfilm X70 review – a winning combination of new and old

I’ve seen this 16-megapixel APS-C sensor a few times before in Fujifilm’s compact system cameras (CSCs) and the X100S, and it’s the best-performing sensor of its size for noise levels at fast ISO speeds. It also excels for dynamic range, thanks to Fujifilm’s excellent optimisation that reins in highlights while leaving other parts of the image largely unaffected. This requires the ISO speed to increase from its 200 base value to 800, but there’s barely any evidence of noise at this setting. I found myself reaching for the exposure compensation dial more often than I’d like. It’s definitely worth enabling face detection in the autofocus submenu.

The lens performed well, delivering gobsmacking sharpness in the centre of the frame. It wasn’t quite as crisp towards the edges but it’s not something I’d worry about. The 28mm equivalent focal length lends itself to street and landscape photography and close-up portraits, but this isn’t a camera for shooting wildlife or candid portraits. Personally, I’d be happier with the 35mm equivalent focal length on the X100S and its successor, the X100T, especially as it has a brighter f/2 maximum aperture, but these cameras are bigger and pricier. I rarely felt that the 28mm lens failed to do justice to subjects, and 16 megapixels is plenty for some enthusiastic cropping.

^ Focus in the centre of the frame is razor sharp but drops off a little towards the edges. (1/800s, f/6.4, ISO 400, 28mm equivalent)

^ These chillies are pin sharp but the rest of the scene is a little soft because of the wide aperture. Manual aperture adjustment would have helped. (1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 640, 28mm equivalent)

^ The shallow depth of field is often an advantage, helping subjects stand out from the background. The autofocus has nailed focus on this moving subject. (1/280s, f/5.6, ISO 200, 28mm equivalent)

^ Focus is spot on here, too, but skin tones are a tad over-exposed (with face detection disabled). (1/750s, f/5.6, ISO 400, 28mm equivalent)

^ I set the shutter speed to 1/1,000s to freeze motion, resulting in a raised ISO speed. There’s barely any hint of noise, though. (1/1000s, f/2.8, ISO 800, 28mm equivalent)

^ Skin and hair textures are holding up remarkably well at ISO 2500. (1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 2500, 28mm equivalent)

^ ISO 4000 results in a bit of grain and a glossy sheen in place of skin textures, but it’s a stunning result for such a small camera. (1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 4000, 28mm equivalent)

^ Non-human subjects are more forgiving. The main subject here looks pristine at ISO 3200, although the out-of-focus background is a little noisy. (1/50s, f/2.8, ISO 3200, 28mm equivalent)

Conclusion

The X70 is unusual mix of retro and modern design with its exposure dials and articulated touchscreen, but for me it’s a winning combination. Image quality is outstanding and it has enough charm to make me want to forgive its minor weaknesses. The price is surprisingly reasonable, too.

Its strongest competitor is the Panasonic LX100, which has a slightly smaller sensor but compensates with a wider aperture and 3.1x zoom function. It also offers 4K video capture, but it’s heavier and chunkier and its screen is neither articulated nor touch-sensitive. If you want a luxurious, pocket-sized camera with exquisite image quality, my head says the LX100 is the better choice but by heart says go for the X70.