Fujifilm FinePix F30

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By Damian Koh
Sep 14, 2006

When the FinePix F30 was first launched, it upped the ante on its predecessor (the F10 and a slightly updated F11) for high sensitivity performance in a compact digital camera. The maximum ISO setting--3,200. Though the camera misses an optical image stabilizer--which most manufacturers have begun to include as a standard in their shooters--the high ISO settings compensate when image stabilization is rendered useless, perfect during group photo-taking sessions when no one keeps absolutely still.

The main highlight of the FinePix F30 lies with its low-light, high-sensitivity performance, but the camera doesn't let down in other features. Snapshooters will gravitate toward the full auto mode, while those who wish to tinker with camera settings can switch to manual where they can adjust shutter- and aperture-priority controls. For those in-betweens, there's a whole range of scene modes to select from.

Design
Sexy is the last thing which comes to mind when you're holding Fujifilm's FinePix F30. But behind its plain Jane design, the shooter exudes a build quality and finish that somehow overshadow its looks. At 93 x 57 x 28mm and 192g, including battery and xD-Picture Card, the F30 is neither the slimmest nor the lightest camera around compared with its competition.

Unlike its predecessor, the FinePix F10, the F30 has a slightly more refined feel with its rounded edges. A gently curved nub on the front right and a series of rubber nodes on the back are supposed to improve the grip on the camera, but we find them rather useless during actual use. For steadier shooting, it's still recommended to use both hands.

You get the usual control layout on the shooter. The Power button and mode switch can be found on the top edge along with the shutter at the rightmost position. One improvement we would like to see is for the shutter to have more depth so there's a more pronounced difference between half-priming and fully depressing the button for a shot.

Most of the controls are hidden within the menu system of the camera with the exception of ISO, image size and color mode which are grouped under the italic F button. Due to the close proximity to the edge of the unit, there's a chance you might accidentally hit this key especially when you are holding the digicam with one hand.

There's also a new +/- button which allows you to adjust exposure, aperture and shutter speed settings. The rest of the controls are pretty humdrum, with a four-way directional pad and a central OK key, display, playback and a zoom rocker all to the right of the 2.5-inch, 235k-pixel LCD monitor.

Over on the left, a rubber flap hides the A/V out and DC-in connections so you can do without an external cradle. At the bottom edge, you'll find a plastic tripod receptacle (which would have been better if it's metallic to reduce to wear-and-tear) and the compartment which houses the xD-Picture Card and 1,800mAh Lithium-ion battery. You can slide the hinged door open easily to change memory cards or battery, but that also means it's just as easy to unlock the cover accidentally.

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