Physical Tour

The front of the F30 looks much more modern than its predecessor. The FinePix logo is printed in the top left corner, while the Fujifilm logo is at the bottom left. In the center of the left side is a polished wavy finger grip that has 6.3 Megapixels engraved into it. Toward the right side is the 3x zoom lens that extends out of the camera in two segments. To the bottom right of the lens are two holes for the microphone next to a Super CCD logo. Above the top right corner of the lens is the rectangular built-in flash. Just below it is the auto focus illuminator that doubles as the self-timer lamp. Overall, the front is quite plain looking – but has an elegant touch with the polished highlights.

**Back **

The back of the F30 contains a large 2.5-inch LCD screen on the left that looks nicely framed and matted in a Fujifilm-labeled platform. It doesn’t protrude much, but does so just enough to distinguish itself from the control buttons on the right side. In the top right corner is the zoom toggle that is oval-shaped and has a bowl scooped out of the center; the curve helps fingers recognize the ‘W’ wide left side from the ‘T’ telephoto right side.

Below the zoom toggle are a series of goose bumps for the thumb to grip. Many models have protrusions of some form in this area, but most grips here are plastic. On the Fujifilm F30, these bumps are rubber and quite comfortable. To the left of the bumps is a tiny LED indicator lamp.

Below the bumps are four buttons that surround the multi-selector. The central multi-selector has an OK/Menu button in the middle and a ring-shaped dial around it with arrows pointing in each direction. The button to the top left of the multi-selector accesses the playback mode, while the one to the right is the ‘F’ Photo mode button and calls up frequently used features. To the bottom left is the Disp/Back button that switches the display on the LCD screen between menus. The button on the bottom right has an exposure compensation icon and lets users adjust its range. Each direction of the multi-selector has a double feature; icons surround the ring showing what features can be accessed where. The top direction brightens the LCD in the recording mode and deletes images in the playback mode. The right side accesses flash modes and the left side calls up the macro shooting mode. The bottom side activates the self-timer. Overall, the back of the F30 looks quite similar to other recent Fujifilm models. The back is organized and isn’t cramped even though it has a large LCD screen.

**Left Side **

The left side of the F30 looks quite boring except for a terminal cover at the bottom. This rubber cover is flimsy and doesn’t fit well into its space, so it hangs out a little bit. This won’t harm the inner workings of the camera, but will drive perfectionists crazy.

**Right Side **

The right side is also quite boring except for two holes into the side that are actually the ends of one long tunnel. This hollow tunnel is where users must string the wrist strap. The eyelet is small, so users must think of creative ways to get the strap in the tiny space.

**Top **

A FinePix F30 logo graces the left side of the top, while the shutter release button is perched on the right side. Between the logo and the shutter release button are two other features. The tiny mode dial sits just left of the shutter release button. The mode dial is incredibly small and has an impossibly tiny bump that is supposed to act as a switch to rotate the dial. Sharpen the fingernails and get out the eyeglasses for this one. To the left of the mode dial is the circular and recessed power button.

**Bottom
**The bottom of the camera is quite boring too. There is a battery cover on the left and a speaker just below the lens near the right side. Between these is a standard tripod mount.

Components

**Viewfinder **

There is no optical viewfinder on the compact Fujifilm F30. Instead, there is a large 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels of resolution. The large size and great resolution make for a great view, so users won’t miss the optical finder. The screen has an accurate 100 percent view of the field, so what’s on the LCD screen will be in the print – nothing more, nothing less. The refresh rate of the LCD screen can be set to 30 fps or 60 fps. After viewing the 60 fps mode, the 30 fps option looks choppy. The viewfinder has all the necessary information, menus and view needed to snap shots.

******LCD Screen **
****

****The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels. This is much improved over the F10, which had the same size screen but half the resolution. The screen is coated in Fujifilm’s Clear View Film, which results in low reflection and little glare. This makes it much easier to view on sunny days.

Another feature for a sunny day is the brightness adjustment found in the setup menu. Found near the top of the extensive menu, the LCD brightness can be adjusted +/- 5 steps. If users need a brighter LCD fast, the top of the multi-selector brightens the background with one touch. Overall, the screen has a great view and works well in many kinds and levels of lighting.

**Flash
**The Fujifilm FinePix F30 improved its built-in flash from its predecessor by including new "Intelligent Flash" technology. This i-Flash system measures the distance of a subject as well as the background light, then adjusts its output so it doesn’t wash out subjects. This results in less blown-out foreheads and more natural-looking photographs. The only problem with this system is that the flash is placed in the top right corner of the front, the same territory that the left fingers hang out in. This could cause traffic issues and dark spots in photos when the fingers wander too far south.

Pushing the right side of the multi-selector cycles through the flash options: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, On, Off, Slow Synchro and Red-Eye Reduction + Slow Synchro. The red-eye reduction modes send out about four flashes before the actual picture; eyes will be blinded by the time the picture is taken. The F30’s i-Flash can reach from 2-21.3 ft in wide and 2-11.5 ft in telephoto. It also works in the macro mode, where it illuminates from 1-2.6 ft.

In the Fujifilm FinePix F30’s scene mode selection, there is a Natural Light & With Flash mode that takes two pictures consecutively – one with the flash and one without. When it takes the second shot, it uses a high ISO and fast shutter speed to keep subjects from blurring. The camera shows both images side by side and then saves them to the memory, where users can choose between the two if they wish. This mode lets users take quick shots without having to readjust the dial to get multiple shots to ensure the best exposure. Overall, the flash worked quite well and didn’t blow out subjects.

**Zoom Lens **

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has a Fujinon 3x zoom lens like the F10. It has just about the same specs as well. Its focal length is 8-24 mm, which is a 36-108mm lens in 35mm format. The F10’s lens had some motor noise and its auto focus system had even more. Most of this is fixed in the F30; there is a tiny bit of focusing noise, but not much else. The zoom toggle is very responsive, and there are about 6 stops in the zoom range. When the camera starts up, it takes about 1.4 seconds for the two segments of the lens to extend from the barrel and snap the first shot. This is better than most compact models, although the competition is catching up.

Design / Layout

**Model Design / Appearance
**The model design has been greatly improved from the F10. With a revamped metal housing, the F30 has sleeker lines and looks more modern. Its body design makes the F30 look much more compact than the F10, even though they have very similar measurements. The design doesn’t include a lot of polished highlights and still looks quite plain—I may have used the word ‘boring’ a few times in the tour section—but it admittedly has an elegant tasteful touch to it.

**Size / Portability **

The FinePix F30 is a compact camera that is flat and can fit in a loose pocket. At 1.1 inches thick, it can’t be stuffed into tight leather pants but should be able to be stowed in a jacket pockets and loose jeans. The design of the F30 makes it look a lot smaller than the F10, but the cameras are quite similar in dimensions. The F30 measures 3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 inches. The F10 was only a tenth of an inch taller and is otherwise the same. The two digital cameras weigh the same amount though: 5.5 ounces without the battery and memory card. Overall, the camera is small and portable. With its high ISO sensitivity, it will be a good camera to put in the pocket before heading out to the club.

**Handling Ability
**With its flat body, there aren’t too many features to aid in handling. The F30 manages to squeeze in a few, however. On the front there is a polished wavy finger grip. The grip is skinnier than most fingers, so it is more of a highlight than a functional grip. The better feature is on the back. There are rubber bumps below the zoom toggle that really do grab and keep thumbs in place. There is no protrusion for a right-hand grip, so long periods of shooting could be uncomfortable. The Fujifilm F30 has decent handling for a compact model, though.

**Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size **

Many of the buttons on the backs of the F30 and F10 are the same, but the new Fujifilm F30 adds a designated exposure compensation button in the bottom right corner of the camera. The buttons are a little small, but their placement is such that pushing one won’t get in the way of another. On the F10, the mode dial was a switch that surrounded the shutter release button. This has been reincarnated as its own mode dial on the new F30. The new dial rotates easily, but only if users can effectively grip the tiny bump on the dial. Sharpen fingernails and prepare for some picking because the dial is small and so is its knob.

**Menu
**The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has a designated Menu button, but the options are split between its menus and those found in the ‘F’ Photo mode button menu. The split system is loved by some and hated by others. It allows users to access frequently used options without having to dig through the long main menu, but looking in two places for one option is frustrating too. The Fuji F30 has a menu system typical of many FinePix models; it has the same all-caps font and text list style. The following menu is from the so-called Manual mode.  

The ‘F’ menu has only three options: ISO, Picture Quality, and FinePix Color. The A/S position on the mode dial only adds a Shooting Mode option at the top and allows users to select aperture priority and shutter priority from there. The bottom option leads to a separate menu that doesn’t have the luxury of live views – not that there are many to be had. The setup menu has four tabs to organize its options, as there are lots. 

The playback menu isn’t quite as long, but that is just fine with most consumers. Finding features hidden in lengthy menus isn’t the best use of time for most people. The following menu is from the playback mode.  

There is a Disp/Back button, but it doesn’t always go back in the menus. Sometimes it completely exits from the menu system, so users have to re-enter if they press the wrong direction on the multi-selector and navigate themselves into a hole. This can be annoying.

**Ease of Use **

The Fineix F30 is easy to use, but could still make improvements. To its credit, it is fairly intuitive in its navigation and labeling of buttons. It does have simple scene modes that are user-friendly. However, there is a split menu system that could drive some beginners crazy and there is no Print button that many manufacturers are now including. The new F30 isn’t tough to figure out, but isn’t a camera for a five-year-old either.

Modes

**Auto Mode **

The automatic mode is perhaps the easiest function on the digital camera. It limits the menu to few options, so users can activate the high-speed shooting mode and not much else. The ‘F’ menu is still available, so image size and color mode can be selected. However, the ISO options are limited to a high auto ISO and a low auto ISO. The auto mode can be found as the red camera icon directly on the mode dial, so users won’t have to dig through menus to find it.

**Movie Mode
**The new Fujifilm FinePix F30 has the same movie mode as the year-old F10. It can record school plays, first steps, and other video at either 640 x 480 or 320 x 240, both at 30 frames per second. The 3x zoom lens cannot be used while recording, which is unfortunate.

There aren’t many options available to the user in this mode. The recording menu has only the Setup option that leads to the other menu. The ‘F’ menu is limited only to the size option. The F30 can record monaural audio with the movies and can play it back within the camera as well. There is no image stabilization with the F30, but it isn’t as pertinent because the 3x zoom won’t exacerbate much shake. When recording video, the Fuji F30 shows how many seconds of recording time are left on the memory card so users can plan accordingly.

**Drive / Burst Mode **

Fujifilm packed a speedy image processor in the F30 that nearly eliminates shutter lag and cuts start-up time to just under a second and a half. This same speed is found in the burst mode as well. The options and speed are the same as the F10: Top-3, Final-3, and Long Period Continuous.

The first two options shoot at a 2.2 fps speed, but only take three shots. It then takes five or six seconds to record the shots and move onto the next burst. The Long Period Continuous option shoots for much longer, but goes much slower. It takes about a second and a half between shots depending on the image size. A high-speed shooting option can be activated; the option disables the auto focus system so that the camera can snap faster. Still, this isn’t good for every situation – especially if the subject is moving toward or away from the camera.

And of course, included on just about every digital camera is a self-timer. The F30 rounds out its options with 2 and 10-second timers. The AF illuminator on the front kicks in and blinks to indicate when the picture will be taken.

**Playback Mode **

The playback mode is accessed by its own button, as is the arrangement on many digital cameras. Pictures can be viewed in their own frames or as index views with 9 pictures on one frame. Switching views is done by the Disp/Back button in the bottom left corner of the multi-selector. Users can rotate and trim images within the playback menu and can create print orders from the ‘F’ menu. This isn’t difficult, but could be intimidating for first-time users who prefer the on-camera buttons to enable printing.

In the setup menu, users can choose how long an image is displayed right after it is taken. The choices include 1.5 and 3 seconds, as well as a zoom function that lets users check the focus. Slide shows can be played from the ‘F’ button complete with fades and an optional clock display. The F30’s playback mode also has a date-sorting display that keeps large numbers of pictures organized into a calendar.

The playback button puts users in the playback mode, but does not get them out like on most digital cameras. This message appears: "Push the shutter button to go back to shooting mode. Push the power button to turn off the camera." Perhaps this is a weird bug that will be eliminated on the production model, because it’s unclear why the button wouldn’t be used and why the message would mention shutting the camera down. Hmmm.

**Custom Image Presets **

The mode dial keeps it simple by keeping the scene modes in two positions. The Picture Stabilization mode gets its own position. This is the highly marketed mode that uses the high ISO ratings and the fast shutter speeds as well as the i-Flash system to reduce blur caused by camera or subject movement.

The Picture Stabilization mode is a little deceiving. It sounds like image stabilization, but it is not. The F30 does not have a gyro sensor that compensates for movement. Picture Stabilization is just a scene mode that combines features that are optimal in low light.

The rest of the scene modes are gathered in the other position on the dial that has a Natural Light icon next to ‘SP’. The following options are available when the menu button is pushed: Natural Light, Natural Light & With Flash, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Underwater, Museum, Party, Flower Close-up and Text. The first two scene modes are the most emphasized on this digital camera. The Natural Light mode uses fast shutter speeds and high ISOs like the Picture Stabilization mode, but disables the i-Flash system. The next mode, Natural Light & With Flash, takes two pictures consecutively and saves both. The first picture is from the Natural Light mode and the second from the Picture Stabilization mode. This way, users don’t have to switch modes and settings if they are unsure about using the flash. The mode is almost like a burst mode that switches settings in the middle; the images are taken in rapid succession. Users can choose later whether to delete one or save both.

Control Options

**Manual Control Options **

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has many of the same modes as the F10, but adds more manual functionality. The F30 adds shutter priority and aperture priority modes. There is a "manual" mode on the dial, but it isn’t truly manual. It is more like a program mode. It lets users access the white balance, ISO, exposure compensation and the auto focus mode, but not the shutter speed and aperture settings.

**Focus
***Auto Focus
*The auto focus system works quite well in the F30 and is much quieter than it was in the F10. Center, Multi and Continuous auto focus modes can be selected from the recording menu. The AF illuminator can be activated from the setup menu too. The camera normally focuses from 2 ft. but shortens its range in the macro mode. There, it can focus as close as 2 inches in wide and 1-2.6 ft. in telephoto. The system works well, but users have to be careful about pushing the shutter release button halfway to focus before pushing all the way for the shot. The shutter release button pushes easily, so it is not uncommon to accidentally push all the way down and completely bypass the focus. The camera still takes furry pictures if this is done.

*Manual Focus
*There is no manual focus option on the Fujifilm FinePix F30.

**Metering
**There are live views in the metering section of the menu, making it easy for users to choose between the multi, spot and average options. The default multi option measures light from 256 zones throughout the frame and averages it for the exposure. This may not always be the optimal setting, so for subjects that create a lot of contrast, the spot and average modes will work better. Overall, the through-the-lens metering modes work just the way they’re supposed to.

**Exposure **

The mode dial shows the available exposure modes, including the program, shutter priority, aperture priority and several scene modes. True manual exposure is not available on the Fuji FinePix F30, but there is exposure compensation that ranges from +/- 2 in 1/3 increments.

**White Balance
**The white balance options can be found in the recording menu in the program ("manual") and priority modes. Auto, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent Light Daylight, Fluorescent Warm White, Fluorescent Cool White, Incandescent and Custom options are available. Selecting the right mode is made simple with the live views. The automatic setting seemed to work well, but the custom white balance is always preferred. It is easy to set with on-camera instructions. There is no box to frame a white subject in, so users must fill the whole frame with white. Once set, a "COMPLETED!" message appears that makes users want to pat themselves on the back.

**ISO **

The Fuji F30 has a wide range of ISO settings. In fact, it is the widest of any compact consumer digital camera. The F30 has 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 ratings, as well as two automatic modes – one for low ISOs and one for high. This wide range is made possible by a Super CCD that is 30 percent more sensitive than the F10’s sensor and a 2nd generation RP Processor that produces 25 percent less noise because of its improved signal processing.

Fujifilm takes full advantage of its wide ISO range. It is manually available, but is also used in several of the scene modes. The Natural Light mode uses the high ISOs and fast shutter speeds to reduce blur and still have an illuminated shot. The Picture Stabilization uses these features and adds a flash. So while the FinePix F30 has just one more stop at the top of the ISO range than the F10, there are many more ways to play with it on the new model.

**Shutter Speed **

The Fujifilm FinePix F30’s shutter speeds range from 3 seconds to 1/2000th of a second. There is also a long exposure mode that can be activated to leave the shutter open from 3-15 seconds. There is a shutter priority mode, but oddly, its range is a bit shorter than the automatic one. Users can adjust the shutter speeds from 3 seconds to 1/1000th of a second.

**Aperture **

The F30’s apertures can be manually adjusted in the aperture priority mode. The range is the same as on the F10. The Fujinon lens has a wide f/2.8 aperture at its wide 36mm focal length. When zoomed to telephoto though, the Fuji F30’s aperture shrinks considerably to f/5. Throughout the range, the minimum aperture remains f/8. When in the aperture priority mode, these can be adjusted in 1/3 stops.

Image Parameters

**Picture Quality / Size Options
**The F30’s image quality can be selected in the ‘F’ menu. The following options are available: 6 M Fine (2848 x 2136), 6 M Normal (2848 x 2136), 3:2 (3024 x 2016), 3 M (2048 x 1536), 2 M (1600 x 1200), and 03 M (640 x 480). The screen shows how many pictures each setting can take, which is very helpful as it is often the determining factor in which image size to choose.

**Picture Effects Mode
**The following color modes can be found in the ‘F’ menu: Black & White, Chrome and Standard. This leaves out a traditional sepia mode, but keeps the ever-popular black & white. This is nice for when photographers want dramatic effects without the hassle of editing software.

Connectivity / Extras

**Connectivity **
*Software
*The Fujifilm FinePix F30 comes packaged with FinePix Viewer and ImageMixer VCD2 LE for FinePix software programs.

*Jacks, Ports, Plugs
*The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has a port door on its left side that doesn’t snap into place very well. It hangs loose on its flimsy rubber hinge. Beneath the cover are two jacks: the combined A/V / USB jack and the DC in jack. The A/V out function is NTSC and PAL selectable so users can watch pictures in Europe or America. The USB 2.0 high-speed cable hooks into the same jack too. Below it is the jack for the power adaptor, which is optional for many cameras but is included in the package with the F30.

*Direct Print Options *

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 doesn’t have a specific printing button, but does have a DPOF print order option in the ‘F’ menu. Users can choose how many prints of each image they want and which images not to print at all, if desired. The pictures can also be printed with or without the date on them.

*Battery
*The F30 uses a slightly more compact battery than the F10, although it has the same 500-shot battery life. The Fujifilm F30 uses a NP-95 rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The camera does not come with a charger, but uses the power adaptor to charge the battery inside the camera.

*Memory *

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 adds internal memory to the F10’s specs. The F10 came with a 16 MB xD-Picture card, but this model comes with 16 MB of internal memory. This is only enough for about 5 full-resolution pictures, so users will want to purchase an xD-Picture card.

**Other Features **
*Voice Memo – *Up to 30 seconds of WAV-format monaural audio can be attached to photographs in the playback mode.

Overall Impressions

**Value
**The new Fujifilm FinePix F30 will retail for $399 in May. This is the same introductory price as the F10. They have the same number of megapixels, but different versions of the same Super CCD image sensor and different image processors as well. Most notably, the new F30 adds an ISO 3200 setting, which can be invaluable in low light. Overall, the F30 is priced to sell right off the shelves and should do just that. The F10 was an excellent performer, and though we have not yet tested the F30, we estimate it will be too.

*Comparison to the Fujifilm FinePix F10  - *The Fujifilm FinePix F10 has a 5th generation Super CCD sensor with 6.3 megapixels on it. This is the same amount of resolution as the F30, but the new model’s sensor is 30 percent more sensitive and produces 25 percent less noise. This is yet to be tested, but is a pretty bold claim because the F10’s sensor was quite impressive. The F10 had an ISO range of 80-1600 and kept noise levels just as low as many DSLRs. The old Fujifilm FinePix F10 also has a Real Imaging Processor, but it is different than the one on the new model.

The F10 has the same so-called Manual mode that is actually a Program mode. It also had an automatic mode and a movie mode. The F10 had only five scene modes, including the Natural Light mode. The new F30 has 15 scene modes and includes a Natural Light & With Flash mode that keeps users from guessing and switching modes. The new camera also adds some manual functionality with the aperture priority and shutter priority modes. The bodies of the F30 and F10 are quite similar, although the F10 is a tenth of an inch taller and the F30 looks much more modern. The F30 has a finger grip, while the older F10 has a thicker wavy handgrip. Both digital cameras have 2.5-inch LCD screens, but the new F30 has twice the resolution of its predecessor. The Fujifilm FinePix F10 retailed for $399 when it was introduced but can be found for almost a hundred bucks less online.

**Who It’s For **
Point-and-Shooters – This is a point-and-shooter’s dream. This digital camera can take photos in any situation: dim auditoriums, sunny outdoors, museums, concerts, theme parks, etc. The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has 15 scene modes and is fairly easy to use.

*Budget Consumers – *For $399, the Fuji F30 is a good deal. For a digital camera that can take pictures without blurring them, its price point is right on. But if consumers are on a tight budget, the F10 can be found for much less. It has fewer features, but is still a solid camera.

*Gadget Freaks – *These consumers may be tempted to purchase both the F30 and F10 just to pry them open and look at the highly marketed image sensors, but leave that to DigitalCameraInfo.com, please. Other than its remarkably low noise, there aren’t many incredibly gadget-y features on the F30.

Manual Control Freaks – These consumers will be driven crazy by the "Manual" position on the mode dial. They will turn to it and wonder how to adjust the shutter speeds and apertures. Indeed, that can only be done one at a time in the aperture and shutter priority modes.

*Pros / Serious Hobbyists – *Professionals and serious hobbyists will be attracted by the ISO 3200 setting, which they’re used to seeing on their more expensive equipment. This definitely won’t be their main camera, but would satisfy them for a short family outing.

Conclusion

**Conclusion **

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has 6.3 megapixels on its Super CCD. The camera’s sensor and imaging processor claim to produce much less noise than the F10, which has already proven itself to produce little noise. The results are not yet final, but we have high expectations for the Fuji F30.

It comes with an ISO 3200 rating and is the first consumer point-and-shoot digital camera to do so. The camera uses this high ISO for some of its 15 scene modes as well. There is a Picture Stabilization mode that uses the 1600 and 3200 ISO settings and fast shutter speeds as well as the Intelligent Flash system that monitors flash output to produce evenly exposed images. There is also a Natural Light mode that is similar to the previous mode but doesn’t use the flash. When users are unsure about which to use, instead of toggling between settings and modes they can access the Natural Light & With Flash mode, which is like a burst mode that switches settings.

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 adds manual functionality to its feature set with the aperture priority and shutter priority modes. The F30 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen with twice the resolution of its predecessor at 230,000 pixels. The digital camera also has a long-lasting battery that can take 500 shots per charge.

So far, the Fujifilm FinePix F30 looks like a strong pocket camera, but stay tuned to DigitalCameraInfo.com for the full review. The FinePix F30 will be available in May for an introductory price of $399.