Fujifilm FinePix F30
Small and Powerful

Without a doubt, the most difficult class of camera to shop for is the sub-compact market. This is especially true of digital cameras. The market is so incredibly saturated with every manufacturer under the sun throwing out ‘new and improved’ models that picking out used car from a slimy dealer in a suit may actually be easier. Very rarely are there any real leaps forward in the sub-compact class with the obvious exception of the never ending race to be king of the mega-pixel race.

Then, just under the collective media radar, comes the Fujifilm Fine Pix F30, a camera that builds on the already impressive F11 by taking some impressive leaps forward in technology and usability.

It’s amazing how may camera manufacturers don’t seem to realize that highly educated photographers often use sub-compact cameras. Keeping that in mind, there is a lot to like about the F30. This little gem as no less then nineteen shooting modes – everything from full auto, aperture and shutter priority, night, portrait, sunset, text, sport, and more! Being a photographer of several years I have to say it’s rare that a sub-compact camera will actually have me overwhelmed with choices.

But wait, I haven’t gotten to the best part yet. The Fujifilm F30 boasts a 6.3 mega-pixel CCD that can be boosted all the way to ISO 3200. Normally this wouldn’t have me too incredibly excited as I know from experience that small CCD sensors never have usable performance past ISO 400 (and that’s pushing it).

However, you can imagine my surprise when looking at output images from the F30 and realizing the images were usable all the way up to ISO 800. I actually had to go back and do another test shoot before I would let myself believe this but I can safely say with complete confidence that the Fujifilm F30 has image quality at ISO 800 rivaling some compacts at ISO 200. Yes, it’s that good in low light.

Of course no camera is without its faults and the Fujifilm F30 does have a few noteworthy ones. I noticed quite a log of purple fringing when shooting in bright daylight and at the dimensions of the camera are relatively large for a compact camera. I fear this fact alone will cause many shoppers to turn away from the F30, instead opting for that ‘cute’ model sitting in the display case right next to it.

But for those photographers out there needing functionality over style, the Fujifilm FinePix F30 should be very high in their list. Here we have a glimmer of hope at what it would be like if all manufacturers put as much effort into developing sensor and processing technology as they do into marketing pretty cameras with features no one ever wanted or needed.