Fuji X-T30 Field Test

A fantastic bang for the buck and a really great mirrorless camera

by Jeremy Gray | Posted 05/03/2019

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 140mm (210mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/2000s, ISO 1250. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The Fuji X-T30 takes much of what we loved about the X-T3, which we named as Camera of the Year for 2018, and fits it into a smaller and more affordable camera body. While the X-T30 is not specifically a small version of the X-T3, but it's pretty close, incorporating the X-T3's new 26-megapixel image sensor and improved hybrid autofocus system. Where the X-T3 is a flagship enthusiast/pro camera, the X-T30 is more of an intermediate-level camera. The X-T30 offers a lot of camera for $899 so let's see just how well it performs in the field.

Key Features

• Compact mirrorless camera body
• OLED electronic viewfinder
• Tilting 3-inch touchscreen
• 26.1-megapixel backside-illuminated X-Trans CMOS APS-C sensor
• Hybrid autofocus system covering entire image area
• 8 fps continuous shooting with full-resolution files using mechanical shutter
• 20 fps at full resolution with electronic shutter, 30 fps with 1.25x crop
• 4K video recording at up to 30 frames per second and 200 Mbps bitrate
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Body only costs $899 USD, although the X-T30 is available in numerous kits as well

Camera Body and Design

Like the X-T20 before it, the Fuji X-T30 is a compact APS-C interchangeable lens camera. The X-T30 is basically the same size as the X-T20, except that the revised rear grip of the X-T30 adds a little bit to the maximum depth. The camera weighs the same as its predecessor at a lightweight 13.5 ounces (383 grams).

The X-T30 looks quite similar to its predecessor, which is a good thing given its stylish, retro-inspired design.

In the hands, the X-T30 feels nice and well-built, although it doesn't offer a lot of space for placing your fingers. This is not a big issue when using a compact lens, such as the XC 14-45mm kit lens, but it can be problematic when shooting with a heavier lens, such as the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 zoom lens I used alongside the X-T30.

While the camera is compact and can feel a little bit cramped overall, the control layout is still pretty good. The camera has dual command dials, which rotate nicely and can be pressed for additional functionality. Unlike the X-T20, the new model now has a dedicated eight-way joystick for navigating menus and moving the autofocus point. The X-T20 instead had a four-way directional pad, which while better for menu navigation, didn't work as well as the new joystick for moving the focus point. The buttons, dials and shutter release all feel quite nice.

The top of the X-T30 includes dedicated drive mode, shutter speed and exposure compensation dials.

On the top of the X-T30, there are mode, shutter speed and exposure compensation dials, all of which are engraved and rotate nicely. I think I would have preferred an ISO dial instead of the exposure compensation dial, but ISO can be quickly changed by using the front command dial, so it's not so bad. The Fn button on the top of camera is one of the few shortcomings, as it is very difficult to press due to its small size and because it sits nearly flush with the camera's top surface.

The electronic viewfinder on the X-T30 is good. It offers only 0.62x magnification, which is quite a bit less than the X-T3, but it is sharp and bright. In fact, it's 300 cd/m^2 brighter than the OLED EVF in the X-T20, which has the same 2.36M-dot resolution. It also offers a faster refresh rate in Boost performance mode than the X-T20, so it's a smoother EVF as well. The EVF may not offer a ton of magnification, but it's crisp and works very well. The round eyepiece is also comfortable during extended use.

The 3-inch tilting touchscreen offers the same 1.04M-dot resolution as the one found on the X-T20, although with a faster response time. During my time with the X-T30, its touchscreen functionality worked well. I wish that the display could swivel in addition to tilt, but having some articulation is better than none.

There are some improvements to the back of the X-T30, including a new joystick and a redesigned rear grip.

Like the X-T20, the X-T30 has a dedicated quick menu, accessed via a Q button on the rear thumb grip. Here you can cycle through 16 different settings using the joystick or the touchscreen. You can customize this menu, too, via the camera's settings, which is nice. You can add/remove settings such as image size, image quality, Film Simulation, Color Chrome effect, dynamic range, white balance, ISO, autofocus modes, self-timer, metering, face/eye detect settings, movie mode and much more. In general, the X-T30's controls are quite customizable, which is always handy. Fortunately, the default control setup makes a lot of sense as well, so many users might not find much need for alterations.

Overall, the X-T30 is a well-designed compact camera. It feels rugged despite its small, lightweight design and given the general lack of space on the camera, the controls are full-featured.

Image Quality

The X-T30 is equipped with the same 26MP backside-illuminated APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 image sensor as is found in the flagship X-T3 camera, with a native ISO range of 160-12,800. While the X-T20 already delivered really good image quality, the X-T30 takes it up a notch thanks to its new sensor and processor.

XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at 16mm (24mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/8s, ISO 160. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The X-T30's sensor captures sharp images. In the image below, the chipmunk was quite far away, so it is small in the frame. There are two crops below, one from the original JPEG file and another from a processed raw image. The JPEG image presents nice detail, which you can see in the fur and detail on the rock. The raw image allows for a higher-resolution image, although the Adobe Camera Raw default sharpening -- which I used in this example -- can result in some artifacts and a somewhat "digital" appearance. Nonetheless, the sharpness from this APS-C sensor is impressive.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 140mm (210mm equiv.), f/3.6, 1/500s, ISO 160. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 140mm (210mm equiv.), f/3.6, 1/500s, ISO 160. 100 percent crop of the above original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 140mm (210mm equiv.), f/3.6, 1/500s, ISO 160. 100 percent crop from a processed raw image. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Color rendition from the X-T30 is impressive as well. I like the tones and overall appearance of images, particularly with respect to the greens.

XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ lens at 21mm (31mm equiv.), f/7.1, 0.6s, ISO 160. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

High ISO

When nearing the top of the X-T30's native ISO range, the camera still produces good-quality JPEGs and raw files. For example, in the ISO 10,000 image below, the X-T30 is able to resolve fine details while maintaining a reasonably low-noise image and, perhaps most importantly, producing images with good, accurate color.

In the JPEG image, there is certainly evidence of both visible noise and the effects of the resulting noise reduction processing, but the image maintains pretty good contrast, color and detail.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 129mm (194mm equiv.), f/4.0, 1/1000s, ISO 10,000. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 129mm (194mm equiv.), f/4.0, 1/1000s, ISO 10,000. 100 percent crop from the original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 129mm (194mm equiv.), f/4.0, 1/1000s, ISO 10,000. 100 percent crop from the original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

When considering a raw image, which I processed with noise reduction leaning toward the lighter side, there is visibly more noise, but also noticeably more detail. When making a print, I often opt for a more detailed, noisier image because I often print on paper with some texture, which helps make noise less distracting, but the important part is that the X-T30's raw file is flexible.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 129mm (194mm equiv.), f/4.0, 1/1000s, ISO 10,000. 100 percent crop from a processed raw image. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 129mm (194mm equiv.), f/4.0, 1/1000s, ISO 10,000. 100 percent crop from a processed raw image. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Raw file flexibility

The raw files from the X-T30 are quite flexible, allowing for a wide range of adjustments while maintaining a good-quality file. You can recover quite a bit of highlight and shadow detail without introducing problems.

XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ lens at 21mm (31mm equiv.), f/7.1, 1/15s, ISO 250. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ lens at 21mm (31mm equiv.), f/7.1, 1/15s, ISO 250. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shooting Experience

Autofocus

One of the biggest advancements of the X-T30 when compared to its predecessor is with respect to its autofocus. I really enjoyed using the X-T20 and had no big issues with its autofocus performance, but the X-T30 brings some welcome improvements. My favorite addition is full-sensor phase-detect autofocus, in other words having AF points across the entire sensor. Being able to focus on something anywhere inside the frame is excellent. Further, low-light autofocus is greatly improved. This is actually an area where I did have an issue with the X-T20, as it could focus down to only -0.5 EV. The X-T30, on the other hand, is spec'd down to -3 EV. In real-world use, the difference is noticeable, particularly when shooting around dawn, as I frequently do. With respect to pure usability, the new eight-way joystick for controlling the autofocus point works well.

Considering autofocus generally, the X-T30 offers a variety of focusing modes. There are single point, zone, and wide/tracking autofocus areas, and the camera features face-detect and eye-detect functionality. You can quickly change the size of the autofocus areas by rotating the rear command dial while selecting a focus area, which is not a new feature, but definitely a nice one.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 140mm (210mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/2000s, ISO 320. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Regarding continuous autofocus, the X-T30 does a really nice job, particularly considering its price point. The subject tracking capabilities are good and certainly improved when compared to the X-T20. When combined with its quite impressive continuous shooting performance (more on that in the next section), the X-T30 is well-suited for action and wildlife photography. Its subject-tracking performance will vary by situation, but even in low light and with an f/2.8 lens, the camera did a nice job of maintaining focus on the selected subject and could reacquire focus after the subject left and returned to the frame, given that you maintain a half-press on the shutter.

Overall, the Fuji X-T30 delivers impressive all-around autofocus performance. While the image quality is a bit better than the X-T20 thanks to the new sensor, the improved autofocus performance is particularly noticeable when using the X-T30.

Performance

When shooting full-resolution images using the mechanical shutter, the X-T30 tops out at 8 frames per second, which is plenty fast for most situations. If you need more speed, the X-T30 shoots full-resolution images at up to 20 frames per second using electronic shutter, and a 1.25x crop mode captures 16-megapixel images at up to 30 frames per second. In all cases the camera performs well and during my time in the field, I never felt like the camera's shooting or processing was sluggish.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 140mm (210mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/1000s, ISO 250. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

With that said, the X-T30 is not as capable of an action camera as the X-T3, which isn't surprising given the difference in price points and target audience, at least not when shooting raw files. The buffer, at least with a mid-range Sony SD card rated for 94 MB/s speeds, was just under 20 raw frames, and the buffer cleared in about a dozen seconds. When shooting "fine" JPEG files, I found the buffer is basically infinite at 8 fps when shooting real-world subjects.

Battery life is pretty solid at 360/380 shots with the EVF/LCD, or about 45 minutes of 4K footage. I think battery life is better than the ratings, but if you do intend to be out all day with your camera, a spare battery is a good idea.

Overall, the camera's performance is good. Continuous shooting performance is pretty good, especially for a sub-$1,000 APS-C camera, startup time is quick, menu navigation is snappy and I have no complaints.

Modes

Like other Fujifilm cameras, the X-T30 has some neat tricks up its sleeve. It has a good assortment of Film Simulations, including the relatively new Acros black and white simulation and the video-oriented Eterna simulation that was introduced on the X-H1 last year.

The X-T30 does include the Color Chrome Effect (not to be confused with the Color Chrome Film Simulation), which was first introduced on the GFX 50S medium-format camera. The Color Chrome Effect comes in "weak" and "strong" options and is enabled through the camera's menu system. It does a good job of accentuating certain colors and tones in a way that could be really difficult to achieve manually when processing your images. It's not a dramatic difference, but it is noticeable.

XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at 16mm (24mm equiv.), f/8, 1/4s, ISO 160. Color Chrome Off. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at 16mm (24mm equiv.), f/8, 1/4s, ISO 160. Color Chrome Weak. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at 16mm (24mm equiv.), f/8, 1/4s, ISO 160. Color Chrome Strong. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The X-T30 also includes various scene modes and filters, including the Miniature filter scene effect shown below. I like that the X-T30 records raw and JPEG images even in these modes, although the effects are only visible on the JPEG files.

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 50mm (75mm equiv.), f/3.6, 1/500s, ISO 320. "Miniature" Advanced Filter. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Metering performance with the X-T30 proved impressive. The camera was able to do a nice job with exposure and white balance metering, even in dim shooting conditions, which is an area where I feel some other Fujifilm cameras have come up short. The X-T30's automatic shooting mode also works well, for photographers inclined to let the camera handle everything. The camera's auto ISO modes work well too, and I particularly like that there are different Auto ISO modes available via the ISO menu, including ones with maximum ISOs of 800, 1600 and 12,800.

XC 14-45mm kit lens

The Fujifilm X-T30 can be purchased body-only or in a variety of kits. The most affordable kit comes with an XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens. I shot the X-T30 some using this lens, and it's an interesting, albeit imperfect, choice. I will say that for someone with no lenses, it's appealing to get a kit with a zoom lens for $999, but I recommend looking at other options because the XC 15-45mm lens doesn't exactly show off the strength of the X-T30.

XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ lens at 22mm (33mm equiv.), f/6.4, 1/15s, ISO 250. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Firstly, the 15-45mm lens' build quality feels cheap, especially when compared to Fuji's suite of XF lenses. The plastic lens does have some nice aspects, including a compact, lightweight design. Further, it can focus as close as about five inches, which makes it versatile alongside its 23-69mm equivalent focal length.

Optically, the lens leaves quite a bit to be desired. It is not particularly sharp across the frame and isn't a very fast lens, especially as you zoom in. With respect to performance, the autofocus works quite well, and the image stabilization is effective.

The lens does have some usability quirks. Firstly, the power zoom is not nearly as responsive as a manual zooming mechanism. It is hard to make precise changes to the focal length, and it simply does not feel very good to use. Secondly, there's not a dedicated aperture dial like a lot of other Fuji lenses, and the X-T30 does not have an aperture priority mode on any mode dial, so you must press in the front command dial on the camera body to toggle between using it to adjust ISO and aperture. It's just an extra step you must perform when comparing it against an XF lens.

The XC 15-45mm lens, seen here mounted on the X-T30 is quite compact. I don't like its power zoom functionality, but I do enjoy its lightweight design.

Overall, for an extra $100, you get a compact wide-angle zoom lens, however, I recommend that you consider the other kit option with the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS lens. It'll cost you an additional $300, but the lens is considerably better.

In the Field

Landscapes

The Fuji X-T30 is a really nice landscape camera. It is not quite as rugged as the X-T3, as it lacks weather-sealed for one thing, but it is smaller and can even be slipped away in a large jacket pocket provided you are using a compact lens. But even if you need a bag for your camera kit, the gear is definitely lightweight, so that's a plus.

Further, the tilting display works nicely when shooting in landscape orientation, although I do wish it was a three-axis display like on the X-T3 so you could tilt it for vertical orientation shooting.

The X-T30's tilting display works well when working at really low angles.

While autofocus speed is not a major concern for landscape photography, low-light autofocus performance and overall frame coverage is important. Here is where the X-T30 is considerably better than the X-T20, thanks to full-frame coverage of the image sensor with PDAF points and improved low-light autofocus.

Image quality is very good across the board, and is particularly impressive at lower ISO settings. The new Color Chrome effect is a nice addition when you intend to work with JPEG images, but its when shooting raw files that the X-T30's 26-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor shines. The image files are flexible and allow for good dynamic range and shadow/highlight recovery.

XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at 16mm (24mm equiv.), f/11, 1s, ISO 160. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Thanks in part not only to the camera's improvements but also to the excellent Fujinon lens system, the X-T30 is a really good landscape camera for under $1,000 (although it's more than $1,000 if you opt for the very good 18-55mm kit lens rather than the XC 14-45mm kit lens.

Video

For photographers who also enjoy shooting video, there's a lot to like with the X-T30. It can record DCI 4K (4,096 x 2,160) and 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) video at up 29.97 frames per second, which is impressive, and it can record Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) video at up to 60 fps. The camera can record with bit rates up to 200 Mbps. Unfortunately, clip lengths are only 10 minutes and 15 minutes for 4K and Full HD, respectively.

X-T30 4K Video #1 3840 x 2160 video at 29.97fps. Shot with XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at f/7.1. ISO 1600. Download Original (158 MB .MOV File)

The X-T30's video quality is impressive, especially at lower ISOs and using one of the 4K resolutions. Video is sharp, and colors are nice. The X-T30 allows the use of any of its Film Simulations during video recording. However, there is not a dedicated video record button, so you must enter the dedicated video mode on the drive mode dial in order to record video. There are separate menus for video shooting, which is nice, and options to link or unlink certain settings across stills and video shooting.

X-T30 4K Video #2 3840 x 2160 video at 29.97fps. Shot with XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at f/4. ISO 160. Download Original (235 MB .MOV File)

 

X-T30 DCI 4K Video #1 4096 x 2160 video at 24fps. Shot with XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at f/4. ISO 25,600. Download Original (361 MB .MOV File)

Autofocus during video is improved when compared to the X-T20, and I think it works quite well, even in low light. In the clip below, I rotate between three subjects, the birdhouse in the background, the tree in the middle ground and the bush in the foreground. The X-T30 does a nice job of moving between these subjects without excessively hunting. There are occasional blips where the focus goes in and out in quick succession when locking onto the subject, but it's not bad.

X-T30 Video Autofocus Test 3840 x 2160 video at 29.97fps. Shot with XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens. Download Original (801 MB .MOV File)

For serious videographers, 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI clean HDMI out video is a nice feature, as are the USB-C and mic ports. The camera does lack a headphone port (although you can use USB-C headphones), but on the other hand, it includes 24-bit 48KHz audio recording.

X-T30 DCI 4K Video #2 4096 x 2160 video at 24fps. Shot with XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at f/4. ISO 400. Download Original (387 MB .MOV File)

The biggest downside to the X-T30's video shooting is its somewhat short recording limits. Besides this minor downfall, the camera has a lot going for it as a video camera, including log recording, separate SD and HDMI recording settings, face/eye detect autofocus, zebra visualizations, adjustable autofocus performance, Eterna Film Simulation and more. It's a significant step up when compared to the X-T20 both in features and performance.

Fuji X-T30 Field Test Summary

The X-T30 is a very good all-around camera

What I like:

• Camera body is compact without sacrificing physical controls
• Great image quality
• Impressive autofocus performance
• Good 4K video features and performance
• Outstanding value

XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens at 140mm (210mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/2000s, ISO 800. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

What I don't like:

• Some of the buttons are a bit small
• Rear display is not fully articulating
• EVF does not offer a lot of magnification
• Continuous mode raw buffer depth is only okay
• Short recording limits for 4K and Full HD video

I was a really big fan of the Fujifilm X-T20 when I tested that camera about two years ago. I liked how good the image quality and performance were given the compact size of the camera and its affordable price point. The new Fuji X-T30 improves upon nearly everything I liked about its predecessor. The image quality, autofocus performance and overall set of features are all improved. The X-T30 is a very good camera and a great value.

XF 16mm f/2.8 lens at 16mm (24mm equiv.), f/11, 1s, ISO 160. This image has been converted and edited in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.