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;
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.
 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 |
| 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) |
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital
Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).
|
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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This article is Copyright 2006 Simon Joinson / dpreview.com and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey
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