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
Fujifilm X30 Review
Fujifilm X30 Review – Image Quality
Colour and White Balance
In the high contrast conditions with which we tested the X30, the camera recorded colours accurately to how we remembered the scene at the time of capture. The in-camera processing that’s automatically applied to JPEGs sees a noticeable boost to saturation and contrast, with Raw files appearing less vivid and dramatic.
Users also have a total of ten film simulation modes to experiment with to change the appearance of colour tone, with settings such as Velvia, Astia, Classic Chrome and Monochrome all available from the Quick Menu. Scrolling through these settings also presents a live preview on-screen – useful for those who’d like to see what effect a film simulation setting can have on a scene before it is chosen.
Exposure
Exposure is left in the capable hands of the X30’s TTL 256-zone metering system. On the whole, it’s a system that can be relied on for producing accurate exposures, though in bright conditions where there’s often a risk of losing highlight detail, I employed the cameras Dynamic Range Optimiser to 400%. In all other conditions it was left to its own devices and set to Auto.
Exposure compensation was occasionally used, though I rarely found myself having the need to push much beyond +1/-1EV to get the best results. Having access to exposure compensation via the top plate dial was useful for quick exposure changes and it’s a dial that notches positively into position as it’s rotated using the thumb. Users should be aware that shadows in JPEG images appear darker than in Raw files. As a result, those who’d like to record the finest level of detail in the darkest area of an image it’s always advised to shoot in the Raw format.
Resolution
Considering the fact that the 12MP 2/3in sensor isn’t the best in class in terms of specification, it still delivers a relatively strong set of figures when it comes to resolution.
The X30 manages to resolve a good level of detail at the base ISO setting, and this is generally maintained up to ISO 3200. Even at the highest ISO settings of 6400 and 12,800 – at which point the camera only shoots JPEG files – the level of detail resolved is strong.
Noise
At the X30’s lowest ISO settings there’s very little to report with regards to image noise, and it’s not until ISO 400 that luminance noise begins to creep in to the frame.
Between ISO 400 and 800 fine detail begins to suffer when shooting JPEG files, although if you are to shoot Raw this becomes far less of an issue.
Fine detail continues to suffer as you go higher up the ISO range, and the two highest settings of ISO 6400 and ISO 12,800 are best saved for emergency situations.