Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks

jeremyterabyte · 16th October 2006

Hi, I've recently acquired an F30 and I'm still exploring the menus and all to get the best outta this workhorse here. For the benefit of people like me and F30 users in general, what are some of tips and tricks you use to get the most outta this camera? Share =)

Sideline: Anyone has recommendation for a budget tripod? I mean, really really cheap, but still usable for a beginner type. Manfrotto etc. are out.

sriram · 23rd October 2006

Well I just got mine a couple of days back to avoid lugging my DSLR and heavy f/2.8 lenses. It's a nice little camera, and here's one tip:

Change the metering mode from multisegment to averaging. The exposure is almost always spot on. With the default metering pattern, it overexposes a bit.

valkyrie · 25th October 2006

Read so much good reviews and comments about this compact camera. Really tempting to dive for it but can this camera be shot handheld with flash off for night scene since it doesnt hv those anti-shake function? I was thinking of getting one for travelling but hate to carry a tripod around.

tomcat · 26th October 2006

Don't say night scenes, from my experience, cameras with OIS cannot even make it for those evening shots handheld without flash. I brought my D-Lux 2 to China on the last trip and none of the shots taken in the evening came out to my satisfaction. For night scenes, you really do need to bring a tripod along to be on the safe side as you don't know how dark the scene could be to the camera until you start to shoot. Just bring a small one along with you like a Slik Sprint Mini GM.

jeremyterabyte · 27th October 2006

Just a shortie: If you're shooting and in AP Mode, remember to set the aperture back to f2.8 when you zoom out as it stays at f5.0 at wideangle by default. I think the custom whitebalance is not very useful - the colors are very similar to that of auto most of the time. either the custom whitebalance is bull, or the auto is darn accurate.

S11loop · 27th October 2006

From my experience with this fine cam , setting the AF mode to continous helps abit for increasing the af speed if u find that the usual idle mode was abit slow . One bad point for this is , it consistantly pickup new focus point and drains the power slightly faster then usual .

Astin · 27th October 2006

- If in a rush and inside restaurant or dim light area then I would use "party mode" just shoot. Most of times the F30 will select ISO800, aperture f2.8, shutter 1/60, auto flash.
- If have time then I will turn to "AP mode" (Aperture Priority mode), set to ISO400 (this is the max I am happy with), set aperture to f4 (for wide) or f5.6 (for tele), auto flash, this would give acceptable result.
- Of course for best result, set to ISO100.

16th October 2006	#1
jeremyterabyte New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 36	Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks Hi, I've recently acquired an F30 and I'm still exploring the menus and all to get the best outta this workhorse here. For the benefit of people like me and F30 users in general, what are some of tips and tricks you use to get the most outta this camera? Share =) Sideline: Anyone has recommendation for a budget tripod? I mean, really really cheap, but still usable for a beginner type. Manfrotto etc. are out.

23rd October 2006	#2
sriram Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,274	Re: Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks Well I just got mine a couple of days back to avoid lugging my DSLR and heavy f/2.8 lenses. It's a nice little camera, and here's one tip: Change the metering mode from multisegment to averaging. The exposure is almost always spot on. With the default metering pattern, it overexposes a bit.

25th October 2006	#3
valkyrie Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North Posts: 302	Re: Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks Read so much good reviews and comments about this compact camera. Really tempting to dive for it but can this camera be shot handheld with flash off for night scene since it doesnt hv those anti-shake function? I was thinking of getting one for travelling but hate to carry a tripod around.

26th October 2006	#4
tomcat Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,465	Re: Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks Don't say night scenes, from my experience, cameras with OIS cannot even make it for those evening shots handheld without flash. I brought my D-Lux 2 to China on the last trip and none of the shots taken in the evening came out to my satisfaction. For night scenes, you really do need to bring a tripod along to be on the safe side as you don't know how dark the scene could be to the camera until you start to shoot. Just bring a small one along with you like a Slik Sprint Mini GM. __________________ Fish Pics:http://www.pbase.com/pschia/oddballs IR Pics:http://www.pbase.com/pschia/infra_red Last edited by tomcat; 26th October 2006 at 10:23 AM.

27th October 2006	#5
jeremyterabyte New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 36	Re: Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks Just a shortie: If you're shooting and in AP Mode, remember to set the aperture back to f2.8 when you zoom out as it stays at f5.0 at wideangle by default. I think the custom whitebalance is not very useful - the colors are very similar to that of auto most of the time. either the custom whitebalance is bull, or the auto is darn accurate.

27th October 2006	#6
S11loop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 3,283	Re: Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks From my experience with this fine cam , setting the AF mode to continous helps abit for increasing the af speed if u find that the usual idle mode was abit slow . One bad point for this is , it consistantly pickup new focus point and drains the power slightly faster then usual .

27th October 2006	#7
Astin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Astin Studio Posts: 4,724	Re: Fujifilm F30 Tips and Tricks - If in a rush and inside restaurant or dim light area then I would use "party mode" just shoot. Most of times the F30 will select ISO800, aperture f2.8, shutter 1/60, auto flash. - If have time then I will turn to "AP mode" (Aperture Priority mode), set to ISO400 (this is the max I am happy with), set aperture to f4 (for wide) or f5.6 (for tele), auto flash, this would give acceptable result. - Of course for best result, set to ISO100.