We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using the DXO Analyzer software to generate the data for the graphs below.

Signal to noise ratio

A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.

JPEG images from the Fujifilm X10 show signal to noise ratio results that are on par with the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon Coolpix P7100, and are better than the X100 from around ISO 800.

Raw signal to noise ratio

Raw images (after conversion to TIFF) from the Fujifilm X10 have a better signal to noise ratio than the Canon PowerShot G12. Meanwhile, the Nikon Coolpix P7100 just beats the Fujifilm X10 from a sensitivity of ISO 800 upwards, but the difference in scores is exceptionally small.

The benefit of the Fuji X100's APS-C sized sensor comes to bear here as its raw files produce a cleaner signal than the other cameras.

JPEG dynamic range

This chart shows that the Fujifilm X10's JPEGs capture a wide tonal range up to a sensitivity of ISO 1600, at higher sensitivities some of the tonal range in the shadows and highlights will be lost.

Raw dynamic range

This chart indicates that the Fujifilm X10's raw images (after conversion to TIFF) capture a wide tonal range across the sensitivity range, comfortably out performing both the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon Coolpix P7100. As we would expect given its larger sensor size, the Fujifilm X100 manages to outperform the Fujifilm X10's dynamic range performance.

For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.