In PC World Test Center jury evaluations, the 10-megapixel FinePix Z30 earned a score of Very Good for its sample images, with sharpness and exposure levels that were noticeably superior to those of many of its similarly priced competitors.

The FinePix Z30's design, however, fell short on a number of counts: The placement of the lens in the top left corner of the camera's faceplate means that your fingers may make unexpected cameo appearances in your photos; and its rubber buttons, basic features, and overall aesthetics won't please everyone.

Starting with the front of the camera, a shiny, button-bedecked faceplate protects the lens when the camera is powered off; sliding it to one side turns the camera on. The shutter button and the speaker are the only two items on the top of the camera. A slightly grainy 2.7-inch-diagonal LCD and ten rubber buttons handle all of the controls on the back of the FinePix Z30.

The rubber controls--which include the only way to zoom in and out while you're composing a shot--work fine, but they contribute to the FinePix Z30's toylike look and feel. Pressing the Menu/OK button lets you choose from 20 scene modes; turn face detection on or off; shoot standard-definition 640-by-480 video; or flip between black-and-white, chrome, and standard-color filters.

The menu buttons also let you turn on the camera's antiblur mode (digital image stabilization), auto scene recognition, and a bare-bones manual mode that lets you tweak exposure compensation and white-balance settings. The menu navigation and modes work well, but they're standard-issue settings for a camera priced at $200 or so.