Fujifilm X-T30
SMALL, POWERFUL AND PRACTICALLY PERFECT.
FUJIFILM DUBBED THE X-T30 its “Little Giant” and rightly so. It arrived not long after the flagship X-T3, bringing with it the advanced features of a pro-level camera in a smaller and cheaper package. Although the X-T3 is the faster snapper, the X-T30 is the sophisticated all-rounder to suit anyone’s needs and budgets.
Working alongside the 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor is an X-Processor Pro 4 image processor that Fujifilm claims is three times faster than the previous generation. The sensor itself is backside-illuminated, meaning it’s better at gathering light and improving image quality in low-light scenarios.
The headline act for the X-T30 is its autofocus system (AF). There’s a staggering 2.16 million phase detection pixels covering 100% of the frame. The focusing speed, however, is dependent on both the camera and the AF actuators on the lens you use. We used the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 kit lens and the 16mm f/2.8 prime, and found both to be smooth, fast and very responsive. In fact, most recent XF lenses will perform well, but older lenses might be a tad slower. Compared to its predecessor face- and eye-tracking are superb, thanks to smaller and more precise tracking areas.
In terms of both shutter speed and burst shooting, the X-T30 loses out against the X-T3, but only marginally. Mechanical shutter speed maxes out at 1/4000 second (it’s 1/8000 second on the X-T3) while continuous shooting is a pretty decent 8fps (11fps for the X-T3) with the mechanical shutter but a superb 30fps without any viewfinder blackout when using the electronic shutter and the camera’s 1.25x crop mode. However, buffer suffers on the X-T30, with about 16 RAW files being held in line. So if you’re shooting using the 20fps or 30fps burst modes, you’ll be better off capturing just JPEGs.
Video capabilities of the X-T30 are impressive as well – we’ll go so far as saying it’s perhaps the best in its class. You can record 4K footage at 30fps using the full width of the sensor, with internal recording to an SD card at 8-bit 4:2:0, or 10-bit 4:2:2 via HDMI.
When it comes to stills, images are sharp, with lots of details in shadows even at higher ISO sensitivities. Noise performance is good and you can push it to ISO 12,800 if you don’t mind reducing noise during post processing. The X-T30 offers expanded dynamic range modes plus highlight and shadow contrast controls for better tonal control. Like other X-T series cameras, there’s a wide range of Film Simulation modes to choose from if you want to get creative, but these will be captured in-camera as JPEGs.
While the X-T30 looks identical to the X-T20, the rear LCD display (which now has touch capabilities,) is 1.3mm thinner and the grip has been redesigned for better support when using heavy lenses. Round the back, the four-way directional buttons of the X-T20 have been replaced by a new Focus Leve, a change that makes the rear of the camera less cluttered. If you aren’t a fan of the Focus Lever, you can easily access all the regular menu controls via the Q (for Quick) button.
Despite its little faults, the X-T30 packs a heck of a lot of tech in its diminutive form. With class-leading burst speed, autofocus performance and video recording credentials, it’s hard to go past this little camera, especially when you consider the price.