New to Fuji: which X-T20 or X-T30 set?

Hi Fuji enthusiasts,

I am at the point of buying a new camera and the Fuji X-T20 and X-T30 draw my attention. First maybe some background so you might understand my situation. I am a student so my budget is a little tight, i am willing to spend around €1000. The last few years I haven't done much photography but I liked to take photos with my Panasonic DMC-FZ28 when I was younger. The coming year I will have some nice trips planned (Italy, Alps and Central America) and I would like to pick-up photography once again. However, I am not completely sure if I only like travel photography, or once I have the equipement I also like to do other kinds of photography back at home. For sure, I wouldn't be the first one to buy good photography stuff, use it twice and then let it catch dust for years.

I have found a deal online for the X-T20 combined with the XF18-55 and XC50-230 for about €900. On the other hand I could by the X-T30 combined with the XC15-45 and XC50-230 for about €1100. The difference of €200 is quite serious money and could be spend on accessoires or as additional budget to my travels.

So my question to you guys is, should I go for the better body with a simpler lens or should I go for the older body with a better lens. I have found a lot of discussion on the XC15-45 vs the XF18-55, what I conclude is that people not necessarily dislike the XC for the IQ but mostly for the lack of a zoom ring.

Looking forward to all your valuable responses!

DutchGijs wrote:

should I go for the older body with a better lens.

Yes.

Go with the X-T20.  Great little camera

The X-T20 to 30 isn't worth $200 really if you are budget constrained.  Both those lenses are good choices.  Gear fora will always try to get you to spend that little bit more often for modest gain or more specialised applications, just keep it in mind.  The 16-50 is good too if that were to work out more cheaply.

Is the xc50-230 a lens you would want over anything else for a second lens? If not, I would wait until you could find a bundle that fits your needs better and save some more money.

I’ve had that lens before, and very good when I took it out, but it was a rarely used lens for me.

From a stills image quality standpoint, the X-T20 with those two lenses should provide you excellent quality. The telephoto is an excellent lens, and likely will surprise you with its performance on that body. Great for travel.

If you feel a very strong need for better AF performance (sports action shooting), or extremely high quality video... the extra cost might be worth it. If anything, the more expensive rig yields you a slightly lower image quality due to the slower normal-range zoom, and slightly noisier sensor. That added noise is the direct trade-off for the very real improvements in AF - with more PDAF dedication.

The X-T20 is still good for video work, but the X-T30 is truly superb. For those who want to do a lot of video and can afford it, that's worth the upgrade no doubt.

MrSee wrote:

Go with the X-T20. Great little camera

I second this. Love mine and don't want to upgrade. I, personally, don't have any focusing issues. Image quality is top of the range for Fudji.

30 and 27/2.8? Fun, pocketable combo and newer guts are always better.

The 18-55mm is definitly better, but the 30 is definitly better also

The final word will be the type of photography you intend to do

if the bells and whistles of the T30 (AF + video) are needed go for it else go for the 20

The only thing that is better in X-T30 is focusing system.  X-T20's focusing system is still very good. The X-T30 is perfect for a ping-pong championship reporter. The T20 will cope with everything else. In 99% of situations my X-T20's focusing system is way better then it wood be necessary to do the job. The real advantage of T30's focusing system is video. Then it makes a lot of sense. For still images you won't even see a difference. I didn't.

vivanchenko wrote:

The only thing that is better in X-T30 is focusing system. X-T20's focusing system is still very good. The X-T30 is perfect for a ping-pong championship reporter. The T20 will cope with everything else. In 99% of situations my X-T20's focusing system is way better then it wood be necessary to do the job. The real advantage of T30's focusing system is video. Then it makes a lot of sense. For still images you won't even see a difference. I didn't.

Does T30 share the backlit sensor with the T3? If that isn't stripped - it's a HUGE perk for AF and superior in the dark that I'd personally keep in the belt than opt out of.

What is the point in fast autofocus at low shutter speeds? You focus very fast and then shoot a smear?

vivanchenko wrote:

MrSee wrote:

Go with the X-T20. Great little camera

I second this. Love mine and don't want to upgrade. I, personally, don't have any focusing issues. Image quality is top of the range for Fudji.

I haven't handled an X-t20 but the faster better sensor and AF and features are well worth every extra penny.  Ordinarily I would agree to spend more on glass but in this case I would jump to the newer body.

I have several lenses for my Fuji X-T1: XF18-55, XC50-230, XF 35 2.0 and the XF 10-24. I like to shoot mostly landscapes and architecture, so my most used lens is the XF 10-24, followed by the XF 18-55. I have had the XC 50-230 for over a year and have hardly used it, even though it is a great lens. The XF 18-55 is a very good and compact lens which might fulfill most your travel needs unless you have some very specific needs. I suggest you consider going for the combo of X-T30 and XF 18-55. Good luck!

That's you. I , personally, don't see the need to improve something which is not an issue for me already. A new lens would make a lot more difference to my photography. A T20 and 2 good lenses will allow one to achieve much better results than a T30 and only one good lens. Results is all that counts.

If the OP is not interested in video, the T30 won't make much difference at all.

vivanchenko wrote:

That's you. I , personally, don't see the need to improve something which is not an issue for me already. A new lens would make a lot more difference to my photography. A T20 and 2 good lenses will allow one to achieve much better results than a T30 and only one good lens. Results is all that counts.

If the OP is not interested in video, the T30 won't make much difference at all.

yes that me and having listened to criticisms of X-t20s abilities both in processing and focussing I would disagree PLUS the difference in the wider zoom for travel and its a little lighter also which is a bonus for travel.

If you haven't shot with an X-t30 you really should before proclaiming don't fix what isn't broke. Sure I can work around the lacking abilities of lesser cameras but why would you for the sake of  a few hundred bucks. To suggest the only improvement is video is just plain wrong!

Sticking my head in to say:

From OP’s words:

The difference of €200 is quite serious money

That price difference wouldn’t deter me from getting the latest and greatest, but my spending power is a lot different now than when I was a student.

vivanchenko wrote:

What is the point in fast autofocus at low shutter speeds? You focus very fast and then shoot a smear?

not to mention a burst speed of up to 30fps with the electronic shutter.. ALSO the biggest feature not mentioned yet is the preshot feature. no more crap I missed the shot moments because you didn't anticipate or react and hit the shutter button quick enough.

Not quite where you pulled this fast focus/slow shutter speed from? don't blink

SkvLTD wrote:

vivanchenko wrote:

The only thing that is better in X-T30 is focusing system. X-T20's focusing system is still very good. The X-T30 is perfect for a ping-pong championship reporter. The T20 will cope with everything else. In 99% of situations my X-T20's focusing system is way better then it wood be necessary to do the job. The real advantage of T30's focusing system is video. Then it makes a lot of sense. For still images you won't even see a difference. I didn't.

Does T30 share the backlit sensor with the T3? If that isn't stripped - it's a HUGE perk for AF and superior in the dark that I'd personally keep in the belt than opt out of.

Yes, same sensor and all those extra AF points. Its actually quite impressive how well focus tracks and face detection works. I took pictures of my granddaughter on a swing moving toward and away from my and it never missed a beat and that was with a slow focussing lens (so I am told)

I would agree that video is also very much improved altho if your shooting video of stationary objects switch to manual, it like most consumer cameras has a nasty habit of rechecking focus when nothing is moving.

cilucia wrote:

Sticking my head in to say:

From OP’s words:

The difference of €200 is quite serious money

That price difference wouldn’t deter me from getting the latest and greatest, but my spending power is a lot different now than when I was a student.

Given the cash dilemma I have in the past bought new bodies and second hand lenses to get by. (Before I switched to Fuji I built a fairly extensive Nikonkit this way) The X-t30 is a deal with the bundled lens option. I added the 35f2 to my bag for a mere $99!

To get started as travel kit something cheaper than the X-t20 would also be a good option and then jump into a newer body in the near future. In spite of its haters I have found the X-e2 to be very capable in most situations!

As a last resort theres always the YHA instead of hotels and the dollar menu instead of restaurants