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Manual Control Options
The Fujifilm FinePix F10 had programmed auto exposure control, but the F30 goes a bit beyond that. This digital camera adds aperture and shutter priority modes (the A/S position) to its mode dial. From here, users press the exposure compensation button to adjust either the shutter speed or aperture and the overall exposure compensation if desired. There is an “M” position on the mode dial, but it is more of a programmed auto exposure mode, because there is certainly no manual adjustment for the shutter speed or aperture. Users can manually control the white balance and select from a wide ISO range. The manual control options will be discussed in further detail in the following sections.
Focus
Auto Focus (6.75)
The auto focus system works quickly and sometimes quietly. The auto focus mode can be fixed to the Center or automatically moved around with the more versatile Multi. The Continuous auto focus mode works fast, but makes quite a bit of noise. It sounds like a fast stuttering or purring from an electronic cat that has been slowed down a bit. Sound strange? It is.
In low light, the Fujifilm FinePix F30 will likely need its hot green auto focus assist beam. The camera will only use it if it’s activated in the setup menu. When the camera is in process of focusing, the LCD screen will look pixilated for a split second. It doesn’t last long, but it sure looks odd. The auto focus system is effective from 2 inches to 2.6 ft in the wide macro mode and 1-2.6 ft in the telephoto macro mode. Normally, the camera focuses from 2 ft to infinity.
Manual Focus (0.0)
The Fujifilm F30 does not have manual focusing functionality.
Exposure (7.75)
 There is much more manual control available on the Fujifilm FinePix F30 than was on the F10. The F10’s most manual mode let users adjust the exposure compensation, ISO, and white balance, among other things. The new F30 adds manual control over the shutter speed and aperture, but not in the same mode. Aperture priority and shutter priority modes let users adjust one parameter and also allow some tweaking of the exposure compensation. Compensation is available from every mode and has the typical +/- 2 EV range in increments of 1/3. Pressing the new designated exposure compensation button adjusts the exposure. Those users who rely on histograms to check the exposure will be disappointed, as that feature is not included on the F30.
Metering (7.5)
The Fuji F30 has the standard selection of through-the-lens metering modes, including a 256-zone multi mode, a spot metering mode that links up with the auto focus point, and an average metering mode that stays fixed to the center. There are live views of these options in the menu, but they are hard to see because of the menu overlay.
White Balance (8.0)
In the shooting menu of the “manual” (ahem, more like Program AE) and priority modes, the white balance can be set to the following: Auto, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent Light Daylight, Fluorescent Warm White, Fluorescent Cool White, Incandescent and Custom. The options on the menu appear as icons, but text appears when scrolled over. The fluorescent options aren’t very descriptive: specs distinguish them as Daylight, Warm White, and Cool White – but the menu only differentiates them as 1, 2, and 3 in the menu. Still, there is a live view that is more helpful than any icon or text.
The automatic white balance works fairly well, but the custom setting is more accurate. It is simple to set: the on-camera instructions that prompt users to push the shutter release button to set the white balance, OK to “not change,” and “Back” to cancel. Users must fill the entire frame with a plain white subject – paper is always easy.
ISO (9.5)
The Fujifilm F10 was the first compact digital camera to offer an ISO 1600 setting. The Fujifilm F30 one-ups it by becoming the first compact model to have an ISO 3200 setting, a high sensitivity which is great for snapping shots in low light. Fuji used its increased sensitivity to widen its scene mode offerings, namely Natural Light and Picture Stabilization.
Noise is often an issue for higher ISO sensitivities, but Fujifilm has addressed this problem. The company claims that the F30’s image sensor produces 25 percent less noise than the F10’s, despite the F30’s higher ISO offerings. To check that statement’s truth, see the noise testing sections of this review. The FinePix F30 has a wide manual ISO range: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 ratings. For those users who don’t know which ISO setting to use, there are two automatic modes: Auto ISO and High Auto ISO for darker lighting. The Fujifilm FinePix F30 has the best ISO range of any compact digital camera, and will allow users to take great pictures without the flash in almost any lighting situation.
 Shutter Speed (6.25)The F30’s shutter speeds can be controlled from 3 seconds to 1/1000th of a second in the shutter priority mode. This is done by pushing the exposure compensation button and scrolling right and left to change shutter speeds. Scrolling up and down adjusts the compensation. The manual range does not lengthen when the Long Exposure option is activated in the setup menu. This feature allows the camera to think about extending its automatic shutter speed range to as slow as 15 seconds, but users still have no true control over longer exposures. The automatic range can go a bit faster: 1/2000th of a second. It is nice to have manual control over some of the shutter speed range but more control is always better. Give them an inch and they want to go a mile…
Aperture (6.75)
 Pushing the exposure compensation button and scrolling right and left can also manually adjust the aperture throughout its full range. The 3x optical zoom lens on the F30 is the same as that on the F10, including its aperture range. The Fujinon lens has a great f/2.8 aperture at its widest focal length, but the opening closes to f/5 in the telephoto end of the range. The aperture can shrink to as small as f/8, in increments of 1/3, either automatically or when manually adjusted.
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