Fujifilm FinePix F30 First Impressions Review

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.  

Photometry	Multi, Spot, Average
White Balance	Auto, Custom, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent White 1, Fluorescent White 2, Fluorescent White 3, Incandescent
Hi-Speed Shooting	On, Off
Continuous	Long Period, Final 3, Top 3, Off
AF Mode	Center, Multi, Continuous
Setup	Leads to another menu

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. 

Image Display	3, 1.5, Zoom
Frame Number	Continuous, Renew
AF Illuminator	On, Off
Digital Zoom	On, Off
LCD Mode	60, 30 fps, Power Save
Long Exposure	On, Off
Date/Time	YY/MM/DD, Time
Beep Volume	3 steps, Off
Shutter Volume	3 steps, Off
Playback Volume	1-10, Off
LCD Brightness	+/- 5
Format	Cancel, OK
Language	English, Japanese
Auto Power Off	5 min, 2 min, Off
Time Difference	Home, Local
Background Color	Blue, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Green, Black
USB Mode	DSC, PictBridge
Video System	NTSC, PAL
Reset	OK, Cancel

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.  

Erase	Frame, All Frames
Image Rotate	Set, Cancel
Protect	Frame, Set All, Reset All
Copy	Internal Memory to Card, Card to Internal Memory
Voice Memo	Record (to 30 sec)
Trimming	Set, Cancel
Setup	Leads to separate menu

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.