Key features of the camera
The Fujifilm X-T30 is a mirrorless camera with an APS-C format X-Trans CMOS IV sensor, with a resolution of 26,1 megapixels and an X Processor 4 image processor. Exactly the same bunch we saw in the one released at the end of last year . The manufacturer at the same time positions the novelty as a camera for a wide range of users: the main idea is to provide the photographer with the maximum capabilities of a flagship while maintaining a small size.
The camera may be of interest both to novice amateur photographers who are not yet familiar with all the intricacies of manual settings and photo processing, and experienced photographers who, for example, are looking for a lightweight and compact travel tool. The X-T30 strikes a pretty good balance between “serious” and “entertainment”, but no matter which side you approach it from, it promises a quality result. During the test, I tried to cover as many popular scenes as possible in order to get an idea of which of the users would really like the new Fujifilm. The camera was tested with two lenses: stock 18-55mm f/2,8-4 and fast 23mm f/2,0.
| Fujifilm X T30 | |||
| Image sensor | 23,6×15,6mm (APS-C) X-Trans CMOS IV | 23,6×15,6mm (APS-C) X-Trans CMOS III | 23,6×15,6mm (APS-C) X-Trans CMOS IV |
| Effective sensor resolution | 26,1 megapixels | 24,3 megapixels | 26,1 megapixels |
| Built-in Image Stabilizer | No | No | No |
| Bayonet mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Fujifilm X-mount |
| Photo format | JPEG (EXIF 2.3, DCF 2.0), RAW | JPEG (EXIF 2.3, DCF 2.0), RAW | JPEG (EXIF 2.3, DCF 2.0), RAW |
| Video Format | MPEG 4 | MPEG 4 | MPEG 4 |
| Frame size | Up to 6240×4160 | Up to 6000×4000 | Up to 6240×4160 |
| Video resolution | Up to 4096×2160, 30p | Up to 3840×2160, 30p | Up to 4096×2160, 60p |
| Sensitivity | ISO 200-12800, expandable to ISO 80-51200 | ISO 200-12800, expandable to ISO 100, 25600 and 51200 | ISO 160-12800, expandable to ISO 80-51200 |
| Shutter | Mechanical shutter: 1/4000 - 30 s; electronic shutter: 1/32000 - 30 s; long (Bulb); silent mode |
Mechanical shutter: 1/4000 - 30 s; electronic shutter: 1/32000 - 1 s; long (Bulb) |
Mechanical shutter: 1/8000 - 30 s; electronic shutter: 1/32000 - 1 s; long (Bulb); silent mode |
| Burst Speed | Up to 8 fps, up to 20 fps with electronic shutter; with an additional crop of 1,25x - up to 30 frames per second | Up to 8 fps with mechanical shutter, up to 14 fps with electronic shutter | Up to 11 fps with mechanical shutter, up to 30 fps with electronic shutter |
| Auto focus | Hybrid (contrast + phase), 425 dots | Hybrid, 325 points, of which 169 are phase, located on the matrix | Hybrid (contrast + phase), 425 dots |
| Metering, modes of operation | TTL metering at 256 points: multi-point, center-weighted, average-weighted, spot | 256-point TTL metering, multi-spot/center-weighted/average-weighted/spot | TTL metering at 256 points: multi-point, center-weighted, average-weighted, spot |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 5 EV in 1/3-stop increments | +/- 5 EV in 1/3-stop increments | +/- 5 EV in 1/3-stop increments |
| Built-in flash | Yes, built-in, guide number 7 (ISO 200) | Yes, built-in, guide number 7 (ISO 200) | No, external complete |
| Self-timer | 2 / 10 with | 2 / 10 with | 2 / 10 with |
| Memory card | One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot (UHS-I) | One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot (UHS-I) | Two SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) slots |
| Display | 3", 1k dots, oblique | 3", 1k dots, oblique | 3", 1k dots, 040D swivel |
| Viewfinder | Electronic (OLED, 2,36 million dots) | Electronic (OLED, 2,36 million dots) | Electronic (OLED, 3,69 million dots) |
| Interfaces | HDMI, USB 3.1 (Type-C), 2,5mm for external microphone/remote control | HDMI, USB, 2,5mm for external microphone/remote control | HDMI, USB 3.1 (Type-C), 3,5mm external microphone, 3,5mm headphone jack, 2,5mm remote control jack |
| Wireless modules | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Food | Li-ion battery NP-W126S 8,7 Wh (1200 mAh, 7,2V) | Li-ion battery NP-W126S 8,7 Wh (1200 mAh, 7,2V) | Li-ion battery NP-W126S 8,7 Wh (1200 mAh, 7,2V) |
| Dimensions | 118,4 × 82,8 × 46,8 mm | 118,4 × 82,8 × 41,4 mm | 133 × 93 × 59 mm |
| Weight | 383 grams (incl. battery and memory card) | 383 grams (incl. battery and memory card) | 539 grams (with battery and memory card) |
| Actual price | 64 rubles for the version without a lens (body), 990 rubles for the version with a complete XF 92-990mm f/18-55 lens | , | , |
Design and ergonomics
The style of Fujifilm cameras is well recognizable: references to retro models with their analog controls, stylish, but not frilly design. The X-T30 is released in three color options: in addition to a completely black body, two two-tone ones are available to the user - with dark gray and silver splashes. The latter, in my opinion, look especially stylish and not hackneyed - in the end, if the camera is intended for creative people, then the opportunity to show their individuality due to the non-standard color scheme of the instrument should be pleasant to them. In a way, such a camera becomes also a fashion accessory, and this is a coup, one of the components of the success of Fujifilm cameras.
The camera is distinguished by very modest (taking into account the class and capabilities of the device) dimensions and low weight - 383 grams with a battery and a memory card. Of course, this is a big plus for those who want to be able to shoot comfortably while traveling or on long walks. It was very comfortable for me to wear the Fujifilm X-T30 on me from morning to evening. The second lens fits easily into a belt pouch, so you don't have to carry a backpack that can weigh on your shoulders even if it's not particularly heavy. Speaking of lenses, along with the new camera, Fujifilm has launched a new wide-angle fixed lens, the XF 16mm f/2,8 R WR, which is also lightweight and compact. Unfortunately, I have not been able to test it yet, however, I think that for fans of landscape photography, this optic will be more interesting than the already familiar 23 mm fix - both a wider viewing angle and moisture protection play in its favor.
Externally, the X-T30 is very reminiscent of , even weighs exactly the same, but half a millimeter thicker. A number of nuances, however, have changed. Let's take a closer look at how the camera control is organized.
On the left edge is a compartment with USB Type-C connectors (hooray, this current port is now the norm in all modern cameras!), HDMI and a microphone input, which is also used to connect to a wired remote control. The connector is 2,5 mm; Fujifilm did not become generous with a full-fledged 3,5 mm mini-jack. The camera has a cable charging function, so you do not need to take out the battery every time and carry a separate charger with you - this scheme looks a bit outdated, but it is relevant for serious photographers who are accustomed to charging an additional battery in parallel with shooting - for potential X-T30 users, this option does not seem to be necessary.
On the right side of the camera is a small protrusion for gripping the right hand, which allows you to hold the camera more comfortably. For my small hand, it is quite enough, but for men with large palms, the grip may seem less comfortable. This is a compact, "low" camera, worth keeping in mind. If in this form it seems uncomfortable to you, then you can buy an optional handle that magnifies the camera vertically.
On the top panel on the left, we see a selector for selecting the drive mode and additional shooting modes. With it, you can quickly set the burst mode, panorama shooting, multiple exposure mode, select one of two creative filters, and activate the video shooting mode. This is a rather original control body, characteristic of its set of functions specifically for Fujifilm cameras.
To the right of it are:
- hot shoe for connecting an external flash + built-in flash;
- selector for selecting the shutter speed value, when the selector is set to the value “A”, the shutter speed will be selected by the camera independently;
- shutter button, combined with the camera on / off lever;
- function key (Fn);
- exposure compensation dial.
On the back panel are located, from left to right:
- button for deleting pictures;
- button for viewing pictures;
- electronic viewfinder;
- two customizable AE-L buttons and navigation wheel;
- three-inch tilting touch screen;
- the menu joystick is a new control that was not on the X-T20;
- menu button;
- button for switching the type of information displayed on the display.
On the right is a ledge under the thumb, and on it is a button for calling the quick menu. I must say right away that such an arrangement turned out to be not very convenient for me, since in the process of work I accidentally pressed this key from time to time - the manufacturer should either lower the sensitivity, or slightly drown it into the case, or even move it to another position. After testing, in the process of writing a review, the company released an update, thanks to which, to activate the quick menu, you need to hold down the Q key for a while. The problem should be fixed.
The front panel houses the Fujifilm X Mount and the lens release button.
To the left of the bayonet is a lever for switching the type of focus (single-frame, tracking, manual). In theory, this arrangement is quite convenient, but here I also encountered a situation several times when the lever switched by itself (probably, I touched it with my hand during the shooting) and ended up in the “M” position. You can not pay attention to this right away and because of this you get a certain number of shots with a marriage in focus. The increased sensitivity of some of the keys and selectors is the most noticeable control problem of the Fujifilm X-T30.
At the top right is a programmable wheel.
Below we see a tripod socket and a combined compartment for the battery and memory card. They are located in close proximity to each other, so that when using a tripod, it will not work to open the compartment and change the memory card - you will first have to unscrew the platform. I attribute this to the disadvantages of camera ergonomics. Unlike the older model X-T3, Fujifilm X-T30 has one slot for an SD memory card, which, of course, is not so convenient; but, bearing in mind that some top mirrorless cameras designed for professional work are still produced with one slot, I can’t call this a significant minus. The camera uses an NP-W126S battery.
The lens is also involved in the process of setting up the camera when shooting. For example, on a standard 18-55 mm lens there is a lever with which you can set the automatic (position "A") or manual selection of the aperture value - in this case, it is adjusted by turning the near ring; however, there are no digital designations here, and it is necessary to track the selected value on the camera screen. On other lenses (eg 23mm f/2,0) aperture values are indicated near the ring. It is also worth mentioning that the 18-55mm lens has an image stabilizer and a switch to turn it on / off - the X-T30 does not have a stabilizer built into the camera, you can only rely on optics in this regard.
Display, control and autonomy
I want to dwell a little more on the Fujifilm X-T30 display. As already mentioned, its diagonal is three inches, and the resolution is 1,04 million dots. This is today the standard for this class of cameras, although in the era of smartphones with six-inch displays with a resolution of at least Full HD, this undoubtedly looks archaic. The screen is equipped with a touch surface: by touching it, you can select the focus point, the principle is similar to what we use when shooting with a smartphone; such a scheme has already become mass, although here progress in specialized cameras is keeping pace. If desired, you can select a setting in the menu at which the camera will not only focus, but also take a picture when you touch the touch screen. For me, this is not very convenient, but someone will surely like this feature. Of course, the touch screen can be disabled. Of the minuses - touch control is not available when moving through the main menu, despite the fact that it is available in the quick menu. The screen has a tilt mechanism that makes shooting from difficult positions such as ground level easier. But you can’t turn the screen to the front plane and take a selfie. I will also attribute this to the minuses, since cameras of this class are still more designed not for “harsh” pros, but for amateur photographers and, possibly, bloggers, for whom the opportunity to take pictures of themselves is really important.
Building a frame on the screen on modern mirrorless cameras is more convenient for me by default than working through the viewfinder, but in the process I had to combine both options, since the screen did not always meet my needs: not only in bright sunshine, but sometimes in cloudy weather when shooting, for example , the image looked too dark and hard to see from the bottom position. In most situations, the display capabilities were enough for me.
The overall impressions of the camera control remained positive, but with a number of nuances that I outlined above. The camera fits perfectly in my hand. I like working with analog controls. If you are using an optic without a dedicated aperture ring, the exposure can be entered using the dedicated selectors, eliminating the need to frequently access menus. Despite the rather small size of the camera, the controls are not too miniature and do not interfere with each other. I like the idea of putting some of the creative functions on a separate control, as this encourages them to be used more often. When, for example, the multiple exposure mode is hidden deep in the menu, you may not even remember about it, and having it at hand, you no-no, and you will shoot a creative story that will diversify your work.
The Fujifilm X-T30 holds a charge well. I did not set myself the task of waiting for the camera to completely discharge, but for me an eloquent indicator is that, having walked with it a full day on a trip, without saving frames (however, without shooting in reportage mode, of course), I had a camera by the evening , only half discharged. According to the CIPA standard, the battery lasts for 380 frames - I can roughly confirm the information declared by the manufacturer.
The main menu of the camera contains six standard sections and the seventh, with the possibility of filling it yourself (the so-called "My Menu").
The sections are marked with symbols, moving between them and inside is carried out using the joystick and buttons on the camera (touch control, again, is not available). The menu is quite extensive and sometimes multi-stage, since the camera has many settings that allow you to fine-tune the tool to specific user tasks. A beginner switching to the X-T30 from, say, a smartphone may find this number of features intimidating, but of course, you don't have to use them all. An experienced user will certainly appreciate the wealth of settings. Only the focus item has several pages. The menu is Russified and quite understandable - it is certainly cumbersome, but it is not difficult to work with it. For the convenience of the user, as in other Fujifilm cameras, there is a quick menu called by the Q button: it is organized in the form of a table and contains 16 items. By default, the most popular settings are included in it, but the user can replace them with those that he needs.
Source: 3dnews.ru