Fujifilm FinePix F30 Digital Camera

Fujifilm FinePix F30

By Scott  Dec 22, 2006 | 13 out of 14 found this Fujifilm FinePix F30 review helpful

Pros: Near-DSLR high ISO performance in a pocketable camera, blindingly quick shutter release (once pre-focussed), large LCD, excellent build quality, phenomenal battery life

Cons: No image stabilization, viewing angle of LCD

I picked up my FinePix F30 in June of this year. In October, I took it with me on a tour of Italy and captured some very nice pictures. Here are some of my thoughts on this very versatile camera: High ISO performance is in a league of its own (compa...red to compact cameras) and just a little behind the pack compared to DSLRs. In my case, I was more than willing to live with a little extra noise, if it meant not having to lug around a 2 pound camera and lens kit with me on my Italian vacation. As a result, I had my camera with on my hip (or in my pocket) all the time, so I didn't miss out on any photo-ops. A lot of time an attention goes into noise analysis in online reviews, but most of it just picks up miniscule differences between cameras. Where high ISO capability really helps is to allow you to use a higher shutter speed in lower light. This has two primary benefits: it reduces image blur from hand shake (which image stabilization can help fix) and it reduces image blur from subject motion (which image stabilization cannot possibly fix). This is why I'm happy to live without image stabilization in this camera. Where I do need to use a slow shutter speed, I just get creative about bracing the camera (find a nearby ledge, pillar, knee, tripod, whatever) to keep the camera steady. In my real life experience with the F30, I can't see the difference between ISO 100 and ISO 400. You can just barely start to see noise at ISO 800, but only if you look really hard at darker areas of full-sized images on your computer. Unless you plan some massive enlargements, I doubt you'll see any of it where it really counts. At ISO 1600 is visible, and may start to become a distraction if you are highly sensitive to it (but your friends and families won't notice). Forget about the ISO 3200 setting - it is very blotchy (almost looks like an impressionistic painting up close). 2) The shutter release speed on this camera is great. Earlier this year, my brother and I went to a golf driving range, and I took numerous photos of his golf swing (mostly to play with the shutter priority setting). One I half-pressed the shutter release button (to pre-focus), I was able to consistently catch him in mid-swing just before or just after the point of impact. 3) The LCD is nice and big, which is a good thing, given that there is no separate view finder - you need to use the LCD to compose your shots. The only time I have been limited is where I tried to take a picture from an awkward position (e.g. on the flow, angled upward). The viewing angle of the LCD is around +/- 30 degrees horizontally and about +/- 10 degrees vertically, so it's difficult to use when you have to look at it from an angle. In these cases, a view finder wouldn't help anyway, but it is a potential area for improvement. 4) Don't worry about battery drain from using the LCD - the F30's battery life is obscene. On my Italian vacation, there some days where I took upwards of 200 pictures (with and without flash), and I wasn't even remotely concerned about recharging every 2-3 days. In my experience, the estimate of 580 images is realistic (especially, since you'll probably end-up using the flash less often). Read more Less