Fujifilm X30 Review - The X30 faces some stiff competition in the premium compact market, although if it follows its X20 predecessor it should do well

Product Overview

Overall rating:

90%

Fujifilm X30

Features:95%
Design:90%
Performance:90%
Image Quality:85%
Value:90%

Pros:

  • Several key upgrades on its predecessor; Great build quality; Excellent AF performance, USB battery charging

Cons:

  • Sensor size is smaller than some key rivals, noise performance at high ISOs, some small buttons at the rear

Product:

Fujifilm X30 Review

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:

£479.00
Fujifilm has found some great success over the past few years with its X series of cameras, thanks for their combination of advanced technology and retro design.

While the X series of compact system cameras (CSCs) is undoubtedly the manufacturer’s flagship range, the X series of compacts is arguably just as impressive.

The Fujifilm X30 is the third in a line of premium compacts, looking to improve on its predecessors in what is quickly becoming one of the most competitive markets in digital photography.

Does it do enough to compete with the impressive Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III, Panasonic Lumix LX100 and the Canon PowerShot G7 X? Let’s take a closer and find out.

Fujifilm X30 Review - front view

Fujifilm X30

Fujifilm X30 Review – Features

Although there are undoubtedly a lot of similarities between the X30 and its X20 predecessor, Fujifilm has ensured that there are enough improvements to mark the new camera out as a standalone proposition.

Perhaps the most impressive of these new features is the new OLED viewfinder, replacing the previous optical version. The new EVF measures in at 0.39in with a 2.36-million-dot resolution, figures that place it ahead of the impressive Sony RX100 III.

The viewfinder also offers a 100% field of view and 0.65x magnification, as well as a lag time of just 0.005 secs, meaning it generally offers a clearer view then its peers as well.

The rear of the camera also sees further compositional improvements, with a new 3in, 920k-dot LCD screen introduced. The screen further benefits from the introduction of a tilting vari-angle mechanism, and although it does lack any form of touchscreen functionality it’s a huge improvement over the 460k-dot LCD screen found on its X20 predecessor.

Fujifilm X30 Review - LCD screen

Fujifilm X30 LCD screen

Added connectivity

As well as these two additions, the X30 also benefits from the introduction of Wi-fi connectivity. This facilitates the wireless transfer of images to a smartphone or tablet, as well as the remote firing of the camera.

The final major improvement is with regards to the camera’s battery, no doubt in some way to address the extra power needed for the Wi-fi functionality and extra LCD screen.

While the previous model had a battery life of around 250 shots, the latest X30 is capable of around 470 shots – a striking improvement.

These various improvements are certainly numerous, although in terms of the inner workings of the camera a lot remains as was in the X20.

For example, the lens is the same 4x optical zoom covering a focal range of 28-112mm and with a maximum aperture range of f/2 – f/2.8. This lens is combined with the same 12MP 2/3in X-Trans CMOS II sensor utilised previously, featuring the same unique colour array as before.

Moving on to the image processor, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see that this also remains unchanged. The EXR Processor II the X30 inherits is capable of some impressive figures, including a headline continuous shooting rate of around 12fps and a start-up time of just 0.5 seconds.

  1. 1. Fujifilm X30 Review - Features
  2. 2. Fujifilm X30 Review - Design
  3. 3. Fujifilm X30 Review - Performance
  4. 4. Fujifilm X30 Review - Image Quality
  5. 5. Fujifilm X30 Review - Verdict
  6. 6. Fujifilm X30 Review - Specification
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