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Fujifilm FinePix F30 Digital Camera

User Reviews: Fujifilm FinePix F30

Fujifilm FinePix F30 Digital Camera
$819.00
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4.7 out of 5.0 stars 20 Ratings (10 Reviews)

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    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

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    fujifilm does it again......

    By grumpy48  Oct 5, 2006 | 11 out of 14 found this Fujifilm FinePix F30 review helpful

    Pros: ease of use, stunning picture quality

    Cons: cant find any

    Fujifilm does it again. A magnificent, easy to use, high quality camera. I am amazed at the stunning quality of picture and workmanship in this camera.
    Hands down the best value on the market today!

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    Great candid shooter

    By Gatesdene  Dec 22, 2006 | 5 out of 5 found this Fujifilm FinePix F30 review helpful

    Pros: Value, low-light, quality pics, accidental damage warranty

    Cons: Unnecessarily Crippled

    I purchased this camera for indoor candid person and child shooting, and non-flash event photography, while also wanting creative possibilities for hours of play (ie. aperture and shutter priority modes) and portability (small size). To that end this... camera would benefit from also having: a)Face detection (see the F30 successor: the F31fd). b)Real Image stabilization (not as valuable as high ISO, but the combo would be the Holy Grail of low-light shooting). This camera doesn't have it. c)Faster lense when zoomed. d)Histogram Despite the lack of the above: high (usable) ISO gives the benefit of image stabilisation (reduces camera-shake blur) while also reducing subject-movement-blur (esp. good for kids), which normal image stablisation can't do. Its sensitivity also means that for candid shots I can switch off the Auto-focus illuminator (which in anycase only usually comes on with candlelight). However I advise not using ISO 3200 at candlelit dinners; just too grainy. I sorely miss not having a histogram; I looked elsewhere due to that absence. I suspect marketing decision, since many much lower priced cameras have this feature. I feel somewhate cheated and I think fuji will have loyalty problems due to its customer manipulation (as with Sony). It has auto ISO modes to a max of 400 or 1600, but I would have liked an auto-anything mode. Can't see any reason to limit the auto-ISO modes. Also no auto-ISO modes in aperture and shutter priority modes (a great shame). What tips the balance is its great value. Compared to most cameras you will spend less than you think. At the time of writing it is already relatively cheap. But in addition to that : 1)It has near dSLR ISO performance and picture quality, plus creative modes, but no DSLR price-tag (indeed it is almost cheap). [Does have trouble with outdoor purple fringing 'tho, but fixable in post-processing]. Pro reviews often astonished at picture quality/detail. Depending on the way you want to look at it the end result is performance equivalent to a higher megapixel camera, or effectively greater zoom/croppability. Plus more of your photos will come out well even despite lack of true image stabilisation. 2)It has an extra-ordinary battery life - CIPA 580. Even with Li-ion gradual capacity-loss you probably won't need to buy another battery before you buy another camera. For most a second battery won't be necessary. Plus Li-ion advantage of slow charge leakage, so less picking up the camera only to find it needs charging (which is a NiMH hazard). And no need to buy a charger either. 3)There is imperceptible difference between 'fine' and 'normal' Jpeg modes. So I always shoot in 'normal' whose file size is half. Consequently a 512MB xd card ends up being equivalent to a 1Gig SD card for any other camera, but actually cheaper. [Make absolutely sure you get a 'type H' xd card, not type 'M']. There is a final factor that almost compelled me to buy this camera : Fuji offer extended warranties that include accidental damage!!!! This cover includes lense-dust (I rang them up to check). I am fairly clumsey and accident-prone, and there are children about. With this cover I feel much less anxiety. No one else does this ('tho Ricoh offer mandatory 2 year warranty but no AD cover). Somewhere I read that even the mandatory 1st year fuji warranty has accidental damage cover, but you'll need to check that out for yourself. Read more Less

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    Great pictures, great battery life, overall great

    By KalebW  Jan 18, 2007 | 1 out of 1 found this Fujifilm FinePix F30 review helpful

    Pros: Excellent battery life, great in low light

    Cons: None so far

    I love it. Best point and shoot for the money. Excellent batter life. I've taken over 400 pictures so far and the battery is still at full power. Pictures taken in low light and dark come out looking like they were taken at high noon. Ca...mera start up is very fast also. I will say the factory memory card is a joke. I havent had to deal with that though because I bought a 512mb card at the same time I purchased the camera which will hold about 340 pictures before becoming full. So I definately recommend getting a bigger card right off the bat. Basically, unless you want to spend more money on a SLR camera, get the Fuji F30. Read more Less

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    the next level

    By MOSS/RML3  Feb 1, 2007 | 1 out of 2 found this Fujifilm FinePix F30 review helpful

    Pros: amazing in low light, very long battery life

    Cons: larger than the ultra compact series

    I've had this camera for a few months now, and I can't recommend it highly enough. It goes to ISO 3200 at full resolution, which means you can take photos inside without a flash. The quality of said images is fairly grainy, though it certainl...y gets the point across. A wide variety of shooting modes that you can actually use helps a lot, too. Read more Less

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    A Top product in a crowded field

    By Morey000  Jun 15, 2007

    Pros: High ISO performance, Image Quality, Responsiveness (quick), battery life, quick button access to many features (exposure compensation, white balance, iso)

    Cons: Continuous mode limited to 3 shots, no histogram

    The F30 and the newer F31fd are really unmatched cameras. While most manufacturers are chasing the megapixel race, Fuji is quietly concentrating on the things that really matter. the highest quality image, low noise sensor, high light sensitivity, ...quick auto-focus and a battery that lasts 580 shots. There are cameras with more pixels, more features, more zoom range. But not a single compact camera with better image quality or low light sensitivity. And, for its price- this camera is second to none. I'd go for the newer F31fd, as it adds a remarkably useful face detection capability and a slightly better LCD. Read more Less

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    Point and shoot

    By Yahoo! Shopping User  Apr 4, 2007

    Pros: Small, battery life

    Cons: No manual exposure, variable auto exposure, low light performance spoilt by high noise

    I bought this on the strength of other reviews. It's OK but not perhaps as good as the reviews made out! It has a tendancy to up the ISO at every opportunity which can make the pictures look rather "crunchy". Manual mode isn't - ...or at least those fundamental things of photography - focus and exposure cannot be set manually in any mode. You get a chance to select one or other in shutter or apeture priority mode but it's still ultimately auto exposure. Auto mode really is that - completely auto, you don't even get exposure compensation. On the plus side, it's pretty small, battery lasts ages, it feels solid, I like the screen, the menus work OK for me (if not particularly pretty). If you want purely point and shoot it's OK (though I've found the auto-exposure a bit variable). If you want to get "creative" by knobbling the settings, spending a bit of time to get that tricky shot - forget it! I found the Fuji software a little cumbersome and use the Windows Camera and Scanner Wizard in preference to extract the pictures (I'm unsure why Fuji docs are so insistent you install theirs....). Read more Less

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    Its a Knockout

    By Ruben  Feb 28, 2007

    Pros: Amazing photography, user-friendly, great photo quality and picture definition....crisp.

    Cons: I don't have any cons.....none!

    Every time I use this camera, I get the greatest compliments. I recently took photos while at the Chicago Auto Show and you would be amazed at the brilliance of the pictures. Some on them look like professional ads! People are constantly amazed at t...he outcome of the photos. You cannot go wrong with this camera. Read more Less

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    Great value for the money

    By marc  Jan 3, 2007

    Pros: Fantastic low light performance for a compact camera,good value with all the discounts being offered,menu easy to navigate,6 megapix

    Cons: Easy to blow out highlights,don't like software that came with camera,with this sensor,should be able to handle exposures longer than 15 sec.,would like to see in camera adjustment of contrast, saturation

    This has been a great little camera.Used it several times when I probably shouldn't have(snowstorm,rain,freez
    ing temps)and it's still working.Low noise through ISO400 and usable to 800.

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    Camera

    By Alyssa  May 25, 2007 | 0 out of 9 found this Fujifilm FinePix F30 review helpful

    Pros: Nice looking, pretty, every girl's dream

    Cons: VERY expensive, Some people can't afford it

    IT is nice, but the money! Alot of people would love a camera that has a lower price, than the one given. Other than that it is wonderful, and I would love to have it, but it is WAY tooo expensive for me.

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