F30 shutter release Q

I read a review here:

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-F30-First-Impressions-Review-/Control-Options.htm

That says:

The [Focus] system works well, but users have to be careful about pushing the shutter release button halfway to focus before pushing all the way for the shot. The shutter release button pushes easily, so it is not uncommon to accidentally push all the way down and completely bypass the focus. The camera still takes furry pictures if this is done.

Can anyone confirm that this is true? I find this to be a fatal flaw and will not buy a camera that requires the 1/2 press to get clear pictures.

Thanks -- Bob

All of the cameras I have used work this way. If you do not give the camera time to focus you can't expect sharp pictures.

I have an F30 and it's basically like any other camera I've ever used insofar as the half-press focus is concerned. I have never found the button to be especially sensitive nor had any trouble stopping at the halfway point to focus.

In any event I don't think the half press is required, however if you release the shutter in one step then you will have to wait for the fraction of a second required for the camera to focus. The F30 actually focuses pretty quickly in my experience, so it may be better than most in this regard. As far as I know, only very cheap P&S cameras don't have this feature (e.g., those with a fixed focus).

I think you are missing my question. I like the ability to lock the focus and exposure by half-pressing the shutter release. I don't like the "furry pictures" if you don't pause for focusing at the half way point. I often will hand my camera to a novice to take a family picture for me. I expect the camera to take whatever time it needs to focus before actually taking the picture.

Can anyone verify that the F30 will finish focusing and exposure calculations if a novice mashes the shutter release?

Thanks -- Bob

P.S. I wonder how Phil measures the "Full Press Lag (0-> S2) if you have to wait at S1 briefly for the camera to focus properly...

(NT)

If you mash the shutter release right down, it'll focus and shoot, and generally hit the mark. I've taken a bunch of quick "hip shots" this way, and they turned out fine.

Petteri
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If I just mash the button down I get OOF pictures in lower light situations. The f30 can take a second or so to focus in lower light conditions. In good light is quite a bit quicker.

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jerryk.smugmug.com

sorry, but i have now taken around 500 pics with the F30, and have many blurry pictures. most are when the camera focused on something completely different than what i was pointing at (yes i have center focus on) OR when i give to someone to take our picture, i've turned on quick focus and I STILL get a high percentage of blurry shots - more than other cams I have had.

the half press is needed on all cams i have used, in the near future, EVERYONE out there is gonna have experience with digital cams. But until then I will have to suffer with fuzzy pics when i give my cam to people like my sister or mom that have never used one.

i've said it before, but i really do have a love/hate relationship with these F cameras...

• james