Competition
In terms of style and handling, the X10’s clearest competition is the Canon PowerShot G12. Both are large compact cameras by today’s standards, at roughly the same size as the smaller compact system cameras with pancake lens attached. Against the G12, the X10 has a lot in its favour, not least of which its metal chassis, larger imaging sensor and fast manual zoom lens.
The faster f/2 maximum aperture and more limited zoom range of the X10’s lens has more in common with other smaller high-end compact cameras, such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and Olympus XZ-1. In short, the X10 offers the best of both worlds, at a slightly higher price.
The price and size of the X10 do push it onto consumer-level CSC territory. Here its image quality is no match for the larger sensors and dedicated fixed lenses, although it still produces a respectable performance.
Images: Canon PowerShot G12, Olympus XZ-1
