Tonight, Fujifilm announced its latest X-branded premium camera, the X10, smaller silbling to their large-sensored fixed-lens hot-selling X100 enthusiast camera.

The Fujifilm X10 premium compact camera

With its large 2/3″ 12 megapixel EXR-CMOS sensor, its bright f/2-f/2.8 28-112mm (35mm-equivalent) 4x zoom lens, an integrated optical zoom viewfinder and full manual controls, the X10 joins the ranks of such enthusiast’s compacts as the Canon G12 and the Nikon P71000.

Where the X10 is ahead of its competitors is not only its sleek and sexy retro design (which is of course a matter of taste), but its uncompromised dedication to manual operation, featuring a manual zoom ring around the lens barrel, and a vast array of knobs and dials. Its sensor is slightly larger than that of the G12 and P7100, being of the 2/3″ type, while the Canon and Nikon models sport slightly smaller sensors of the 1/1.7″ type. This, together with Fujis acclaimed EXR technology that combines pixels for less noise or higher dynamic range, should theoretically give the X10 an advantage in image quality over its competitors. Also, the X10’s lens is at least a full stop faster than the G12’s and P7100’s over its entire focal length range.

Judging by the philosophy behind Fuji’s X series, and by the pictures available of the X10 so far, it also seems as if the viewfinder in the X10 could actually be usable, and not just an alibi solution like in the G- and Pxxxx models. We’ll know once first reviews hit the webs.

In the meantime, 1001noisycameras have a list of media coverage about the new X10, featuring a 16 minute preview video by the Fuji Guys. Don’t miss it!