The Fujifilm X10 in 2025: A love letter to a small retro compact

Photography has been my constant companion for as long as I can remember. I’ve spent the past 12 years in Norway, navigating the demanding world of professional kitchens while always carrying a camera, sometimes as an escape, sometimes as a dream, always as a passion. Through countless upgrades and abandoned gear, one small camera has quietly but profoundly reshaped my love for photography: the Fujifilm X10.

A Journey Through Photography
Growing up, cameras were always present in my family. My parents documented our lives, and my father occasionally worked as a photographer. We had film cameras, family albums, and a slide projector for weekend viewings. But as a kid, I didn’t pay much attention. The transition from film to digital felt inevitable, and I, like many others, left behind the complexities of analog photography for the convenience of digital point-and-shoots.

When I got my first digital camera as a teenager, it wasn’t about megapixels or image quality, it was about the thrill of capturing a moment and instantly seeing it on my computer. This was before smartphones turned everyone into a photographer. Back then, having a dedicated camera in your pocket made you “the photographer” at parties, events, and spontaneous street walks.

Over time, my passion grew. I upgraded, experimented, hoarded gear, and cycled through phases of obsession and burnout. There was always a new camera, a better lens, a technical improvement that promised creative revival. But eventually, the excitement faded, and my expensive gear gathered dust while my smartphone took over. The cycle repeated, until the X10 broke it.

Finding the X10: A Hidden Gem Rediscovered
During a particularly uninspired phase, I started craving a camera that wasn’t a distraction. Something simple, something disconnected from notifications, something purely for photography. That’s when I stumbled upon a video about the Fujifilm X10, an unassuming compact camera from 2011 that someone called a “hidden gem.”

I was intrigued. I had owned compact cameras before, some with high-end specs, but they never stuck. Still, curiosity led me to Norway’s secondhand marketplace, Finn.no, where I found an X10 in less-than-perfect condition. Without hesitation, I took a train to a small town, met the seller on a railway bridge, and bought it.

As I waited for my train back to Oslo, I switched the camera to black-and-white mode and took my first test shots. Something clicked. The camera felt tactile, responsive, real. Its compact body exuded quality, and when I zoomed in on the images, the tones and sharpness surprised me. This wasn’t just nostalgia, this was a genuinely good camera.

The Beauty of Limitation
I started carrying the X10 everywhere, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. It became my everyday companion. Unlike my DSLR or mirrorless setups, which required planning and commitment, the X10 was effortless. I could slip it into my pocket and forget about it, until the perfect moment appeared.

At first, its limitations frustrated me. The autofocus wasn’t the fastest, the 12-megapixel sensor felt outdated, and I never even used its RAW files. But these constraints forced me to adapt. Instead of obsessing over technical perfection, I focused on composition, light, and storytelling. I rediscovered the joy of photography, unburdened by specs or expectations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, my X10 became more than just a camera, it became a creative lifeline. Even while recovering from an injury that kept me home for months, I took it on slow walks through my quiet neighborhood, capturing mundane scenes that mirrored my state of mind. The simplicity was liberating. No distractions. No pressure. Just me, the camera, and the world.

My YouTube Journey with the X10
Around the same time, I started a YouTube channel focusing on cooking and travel. But deep down, I couldn’t shake my love for photography. I didn’t want to create another generic gear review channel, there were already thousands of those, but I wanted to share my experiences in a way that felt personal and meaningful.

Eventually, I made a small, seemingly unremarkable video about the Fujifilm X10. To my surprise, it resonated with many people. Maybe it was luck, maybe the algorithm pushed it, but suddenly, I had a community of viewers who shared their own stories about this camera. Some dug out their old X10s from storage and started shooting with them again. Others sought one out after watching my video, inspired by the idea of slowing down and embracing a different kind of photography.

That video reignited my passion for visual storytelling. I started making more content about the X10, not just reviews, but real-world experiences, thoughts on limitations, and the philosophy of using a retro compact camera in 2023-24. The response was overwhelming. People reached out to say they’d fallen in love with photography again, just like I had. It reminded me why I picked up a camera in the first place, not to chase specs, but to capture life as it unfolds.

A Retro Revival in 2025
I’m not alone in my love for the Fujifilm X10. Over the years, I’ve met other photographers, some who never stopped using theirs, others who rediscovered them after watching my videos. There’s something special about this camera. It’s small but solid, simple but capable, old but timeless. Street photographers, in particular, love its unobtrusive nature. It’s a tool that encourages candid, unnoticed captures, an extension of the eye rather than a statement piece.

We live in an era where cameras boast absurd resolutions and AI-enhanced everything. Yet, we often return to the basics. The resurgence of compact cameras proves that many photographers crave the raw experience of shooting without distractions. Limitations breed creativity, and the challenge of getting an interesting shot with minimal gear is incredibly rewarding.

For me, holding the X10 is a reminder that less is more. Maybe it brings me back to my carefree youth, when I simply took pictures without overthinking. Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s proof that great photography doesn’t require the latest technology.

The Future of the X10 and My Photography
In the past few years, I’ve seen the X10 community quietly grow. Photographers are dusting off their old compact cameras, realizing they don’t need the latest tech to create meaningful images. There’s something special about a camera that challenges you in just the right ways, that doesn’t overwhelm with endless features but instead encourages you to just see.

I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever return to analog photography. I romanticize the idea, the tactile nature of film, the anticipation of development. But for now, the X10 gives me everything I need, a simple, capable tool that keeps me engaged with the world around me. It reminds me why I fell in love with photography in the first place.

Maybe one day I’ll upgrade again, maybe I won’t. But one thing is certain: the Fujifilm X10 has earned its place in my journey, and I’m not ready to let it go just yet.

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