Fujifilm FinePix F30 features continued…

Lens / Screen and menus / Sensor and processing

The Fujifilm FinePix F30 is equipped with a 3x optical zoom which delivers an equivalent range of 36-108mm; the actual specification is 8-24mm f2.8-5.0. Like most compacts the actual zoom lurches slightly from one focal length to the next – interestingly we counted eight discrete steps from wide angle to telephoto, but only seven when zooming back in the opposite direction.

Fujifilm FinePix F30		Canon PowerShot A640		Sony Cybershot DSC N2
8-24mm at 8mm (36mm equivalent)		7.3-29.2mm at 7.3mm (35mm equivalent)		7.9-23.7mm at 7.9mm (38mm equivalent)

To illustrate the coverage in practice we mounted the F30 on a tripod and took photos with the lens zoomed all the way out, then all the way in. We then repeated the process moments later for the Canon PowerShot A640 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC N2 for comparison. The shots above were taken at each camera’s widest position.

Fujifilm FinePix F30		Canon PowerShot A640		Sony Cybershot DSC N2
8-24mm at 24mm (108mm equivalent)		7.3-29.2mm at 29.2mm (140mm equivalent)		7.9-23.7mm at 23.7mm (114mm equivalent)

The images above are from each camera zoomed-in to their longest focal lengths and the F30’s coverage is fairly average for a compact. Like most compacts there’s no lens converters, so if you’re after a wider view, or longer coverage, you’ll have to look elsewhere. In terms of macro-photography, the F30’s lens also has a run-of-the-mill closest focusing distance of 5cm, but you can still enjoy good results.