Fujifilm FinePix XP60 Review – Features

The XP60 boasts an impressive specification on paper for its price. Costing £150 it’s an affordable tough compact and claims to be waterproof to a depth of 6m, shockproof from a height of 1.5 and freeze proof to temperatures as cold as -10°C. With regards to imaging, the XP60 features a 16.4MP CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom (28-140mm) and an extensive ISO range that stretches from 100-6400.

Unfortunately, the size and resolution of the screen are the XP60’s downfalls. It measures 2.7in, which is somewhat smaller than the 3in screens you’ll find on most other waterproof compacts and the 230k-dot resolution doesn’t provide the clarity or levels sharpness we expect by today’s standards.

Sensor-shift stabilisation is provided, and in addition to continuous burst shooting at 10fps, full HD movie recording is available. As far as shooting modes go, there’s a selection of advanced filter modes available that include pop colour, toy camera and miniature.

The XP60 also lets you get creative with panoramas and HDR thanks to the addition of a motion panorama 360 mode and multi frame technology. The latter captures three consecutive photos at high speed before automatically merging them to produce an image with a greater dynamic range and optimum balance between dark shadows and bright highlights.

Fujifilm FinePix XP60 Review – Build & Performance

With a small and lightweight design, the XP60 targets those who don’t want to carry a heavy compact in their pocket. It’s no more cumbersome to carry than a typical compact, but sadly lacks the solid and refined feel you get from spending a little more on a waterproof compact such as the Nikon AW110, Panasonic FT5 and Olympus TG-2. The battery/SD card door features a robust locking button to prevent it being opened accidentally underwater and is near identical to the Nikon AW110’s design.


Fujifilm FinePix XP60 Review – Underwater Performance

The XP60’s underwater performance left us underwhelmed. In isolation the results might appear acceptable, but when you compare them with other waterproof compacts, the XP60’s images are mediocre in comparison. Set to its underwater mode, the camera not only struggles to acquire focus on subjects, it produces images, which are darker than you’d really like.


Fujifilm FinePix XP60 Review – Freeze Test

Left to chill in the freezer overnight, the XP60’s On/Off button had frozen solid by the time we removed it in the morning. Unable to switch the camera on, we breathed on the On/Off button a few times to defrost it, after which the camera turned on without any further problems or difficulties.

Fujifilm FinePix XP60 Review – Shock Test

The Fujifilm XP60 is rated to be shockproof from a height 1.5m. To test this we held the camera at arm’s length above a hard floor before releasing it. Impressively, the XP60 survived this test without a hitch despite it not having the same rugged build quality as some of the more expensive waterproof cameras on the market.

Fujifilm FinePix XP60 Review
 – Image Quality

The XP60’s images are fairly soft and as soon as you push past ISO 200, detail is lost and noise becomes more of an issue. The sensor only managed to resolve 14 lines per millimeter on our test chart, while you should expect the richness of colour saturation to drop as the sensitivity is increased beyond ISO 1600.

Fujifilm FinePix XP60 Review – Verdict

There’s about £150 difference in price between the XP60 and the best waterproof compacts on the market. As you expect, when you make a big saving you have to bear in mind that some compromises have to be made.

We were disappointed by the image quality performance, especially underwater where images from a waterproof compact should excel. Though the price makes it a tempting proposition, the build quality isn’t in the same league as the Canon D20, Panasonic FT5 and Olympus TG-2.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the XP60, you may want to look at Fujifilm’s flagship tough compact – the XP200. Comparing the results of from the XP200 with those produced by the XP60 revealed the former is far superior, both in terms of image quality and build quality.

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