The F10 was one of those rare cameras that set new standards; in this case for high sensitivity performance in a small sensor compact, thanks to its unique Super CCD sensor and processor. Nearly 18 months after its launch the F10 (and the slightly updated F11) still sets the standard, despite the majority of Fuji's big name competitors finally waking up to the fact that people actually use pocket cameras in low light as much as - if not more than - at any other time. The F10's replacement, the F30, ups the ante even further, offering an unprecedented ISO 3200 at full resolution, and answers some (though not all as we'll find later) of the concerns about the original model. Let's find out if the F30 is a worthy successor to the F10, and if Fuji can still claim to be the king of low light photography. We'll start as usual with the headline features;
- Real Photo Processor and new Super CCD HR VI
- ISO 3200 sensitivity at full resolution
- 6.3 million pixels
- 3.0x optical zoom
- Long-life battery (up to 580 shots)
- VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
- Quick response times
- Aperture & Shutter priority plus 15 new scene modes
Major changes / improvements over F10 / F11
Aside from a redesigned body the F30 adds several key enhancements first seen on the F11 (chiefly aperture and shutter priority modes), plus a few of its own. Of most interest are the new ISO 3200 top sensitivity, higher resolution screen and better battery life.
- Maximum ISO 3200 (was 1600)
- Higher resolution screen with newly developed anti-glare coating
- New battery and increased battery life
- On camera AV and DC-IN ports (no more terminal adaptor)
- Refined menu system
- Additional scene modes including Natural Light & Flash mode
- New intelligent flash system
- 10MB internal memory but no card supplied in box
- Aperture & Shutter Priority modes and better macro mode (all seen first on F11)
Fujifilm Finepix F30 vs F10 (feature & specification differences)
Fuji F30 |
Fuji F10 / F11 |
|
---|---|---|
Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 |
• Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 |
Macro focus | 5 cm | • F10: 7.5 cm • F11: 5 cm |
Shutter speed | • 3 - 1/2000 sec • 3 - 15 sec avail in night mode |
• 3 - 1/2000 sec |
LCD monitor | • 2.5" TFT • 230,000 pixels • Anti glare / low reflection CV coating |
• F10: 2.5" TFT, 115,000 pixels • F11: 2.5" TFT, 153,000 pixels |
Shooting modes | • Auto |
• Auto * F11 only |
Continuous (burst) shooting | • 2.2 fps up to 3 frames |
• 2.2 fps up to 3 frames (top 3 or final 3) • 0.9 fps up to 40 frames (6MP N) |
Flash modes | Auto, Intelligent flash mode, Red-eye reduction, Forced flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow synchro, Red-eye reduction + Slow synchro | Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow |
Battery | • Li-ion Battery Pack NP-95 • 1800mAh AC adapter |
• Li-ion Battery Pack NP-120 • 1950mAh AC adapter |
Battery life | 580 shots (CIPA standard) | 500 shots (CIPA standard) |
Weight (inc batt) | 195 g (6.9 oz) | 200 g (7.1 oz) |
Dimensions | 92.7 x 56.7 x 27.8 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 in) |
92 x 58 x 27 mm |
Fuji FinePix F30 specifications
Street price | US: $340 UK: £279 |
---|---|
Body Material | Metal and plastic |
Sensor | • 1/1.7" Super CCD HR |
Image sizes | • 2848 x 2136 |
Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @30fps • 320 x 240 @30fps • with Monaural sound |
File formats | • JPEG (Exif 2.2) • Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG) • DPOF |
Lens | • 36-108mm equiv • F2.8-5.0 • 3x optical zoom |
Image stabilization | None |
Conversion lenses | None |
Digital zoom | Up to 6.2x |
Focus | AF with Macro |
AF area modes | • Center |
AF assist lamp | Yes |
Focus distance | • Normal: 60cm-infinity • Macro: 5cm (wide) |
Metering | 256- zone TTL (Multi, Spot, Average) |
ISO sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 |
Exposure compensation | +/- 2 EV 1/3 EV steps |
Exposure bracketing | None |
Shutter speed | 3 - 1/2000 (Manual Program) 3 - 1/1000 (Aperture/Shutter Priority) 1 -15 sec in Night Mode |
Aperture | Wide: F2.8 - 8 Tele: F5.0 - 8 |
Modes | • Auto • Program AE • Aperture Priority • Shutter Priority • Burst/Continuous |
Scene modes | • Natural light • Natural light with flash • Portrait • Landscape • Sport • Night • Fireworks • Sunset • Snow • Beach • Underwater • Museum • Party • Flower close-up • Text |
White balance | • Auto • Fine • Shade • Fluorescent light (Daylight) • Fluorescent light (Warm white) • Fluorescent light (Cool white) • Incandescent light |
White balance fine tune | None |
Self timer | 10 / 2 secs |
Continuous shooting | 2.2fps max 3 images |
Image parameters | • Standard • Chrome (vivid) • B&W |
Flash | • Auto / Intelligent flash mode / Red eye reduction / Forced flash / Suppressed flash / Slow synch / Red eye reduction & Slow synch • Range (Wide): approx. 60 cm-6.5 m (2.0 ft.-21.3 ft.) • Range (Tele): approx. 60 cm-3.5 m (2.0 ft.-11.5 ft.) • Range (Macro): approx. 30 cm-80 cm (1.0 ft.-2.6 ft.) |
Viewfinder | None |
LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch • 230,000 pixels • Anti-glare/low reflection |
Connectivity | • USB 2.0 high speed • Video out • DC-in |
Print compliance | PictBridge |
Storage | • 10MB internal memory • xD-Picture Card |
Power | • NP-95 Li-ion battery • AC adapter AC-5VC included |
Weight (no batt) | 155 g (5.5 oz) |
Dimensions | 92.7 x 56.7 x 27.8 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 in) |
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