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

Thank you all for your quick and clarifying responses. At first it seemed like a clear choice but the later comments exactly show the difficulty of the choice for me. I will try to respond to all of the messages.

First with regard to the lenses, I am looking for the 50-230 for wildlife photography in central America (birds and monkeys most likely). I want to buy it now so I can get a fair amount of practise at home first.

Regarding the prime lenses, they offer probably better quality than the compact zoom but as of now I wouldn’t know which one I should get. I think it is better to start with something more flexible and experience what setting I use most before looking into higher quality primes.

I might occasionally shoot a short film but I don’t expect to make extensive use of it. So no need there to go for the T-30.

I am a bit sceptical if I directly notice the difference between the T20 and T30 coming from such a different kind of camera. But on the other hand I do believe that the T30 offers more than only better video capabilities. What are the kind of situations during travel you will best notice the better AF system of the T30?

DutchGijs wrote:

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!

I owned an X-T20 and now own an X-T30 as my second body to my X-H1. If you want to hold to your tight budget, I also would go X-T20 to save a few bucks for lenses. The cameras are so similar the X-T20's controls and capabilities are good enough.

Having said that, I like the X-T30 much more than the X-T20 because I really like the focus stick on the X-T30 so much.  It also focuses faster; but, for stills, I think the X-T20 focuses fast enough.

Compare prices, especially if you buy used. You get within say €200 difference between the two setups, I would go X-T30 and save a bit longer before buying the rest of your lenses.

DutchGijs wrote:

Thank you all for your quick and clarifying responses. At first it seemed like a clear choice but the later comments exactly show the difficulty of the choice for me. I will try to respond to all of the messages.

First with regard to the lenses, I am looking for the 50-230 for wildlife photography in central America (birds and monkeys most likely). I want to buy it now so I can get a fair amount of practise at home first.

Regarding the prime lenses, they offer probably better quality than the compact zoom but as of now I wouldn’t know which one I should get. I think it is better to start with something more flexible and experience what setting I use most before looking into higher quality primes.

I might occasionally shoot a short film but I don’t expect to make extensive use of it. So no need there to go for the T-30.

I am a bit sceptical if I directly notice the difference between the T20 and T30 coming from such a different kind of camera. But on the other hand I do believe that the T30 offers more than only better video capabilities. What are the kind of situations during travel you will best notice the better AF system of the T30?

mentioning birds and wildlife. faster focus is good PLUS the ability to focus that 50-230 zoom in less than optimum light it huge! the preshot feature is something you'll love with those monkeys and birds!

Yeah, for wildlife the X-T30 is going to be way better. Also, for travel you are going to want a compact zoom. The extra range on the wide end of the 15-45 compared to the 18-55 is a huge deal for a lot of people, me included. I haven't used the 15-45, but it does seem like the most common complaint is people not liking the powerzoom rather than the image quality. I have the older 16-50 to get the wider end.

The most important thing about the focusing of the X-T30 with narrower-aperture lenses like the 15-45 or 50-230 is its ability to focus in low light, not necessarily the speed. It's not like the 20 and 30 can achieve focus in all the same situations, with the only difference being the speed. There will be a lot of situations in suboptimal light (which will be pretty common with zooms like those) where the X-T30 will be able to focus and the 20 won't. Combine that with wanting to shoot stuff like wildlife, the X-T30 would have a big advantage. There are few things more frustrating than watching your lens hunt and hunt for focus to no avail.

Edit: I'm also inclined to buy a more recent body new and then buy used lenses to save money. Three of my four Fuji lenses were bought used.

If interested wildlife, I agree with the others to go with the T30. If you got the T20 and were dissatisfied with the AF speed or performance you would always regret it!

Also, maybe worth considering the less expensive xc50-230 since it is a bit cheaper and has a bit more reach. Not sure if you’d need the faster aperture for monkey pics! I’m sure there are great comparisons out there to help with the decision.

cilucia wrote:

If interested wildlife, I agree with the others to go with the T30. If you got the T20 and were dissatisfied with the AF speed or performance you would always regret it!

Also, maybe worth considering the less expensive xc50-230 since it is a bit cheaper and has a bit more reach. Not sure if you’d need the faster aperture for monkey pics! I’m sure there are great comparisons out there to help with the decision.

I have the xc20-230 the el cheep lens.. I was amazed at how much it improved on the X-t30 over myX-e2.  high school football video was so hit or miss with the lost focus refocus problems in such poor light with this optically slow lens. It never missed a beat on the newer body! It almost light getting new lenses with the "kit" type lenses.

Patchy wrote:

Good to hear that the speed of the 50-230 is much improved on the X-t30 compared to the X-E2. I saw you have also the 60 2.8. Do you notice a similar AF improvement on this lens?

Can anyone report also on the 35 1.4? I might be tempted to ugrade my X-E2 to the X-T-30 because these 3 lenses still keep me in the Fuji Camp but I have the need for faster AF capabilities including eye-af.

YES!!!! the 60 2.4 which is horrid on the X-e2 especially for close up acts like a real lens on the X-T30. it was terrible at refusing to focus previously. I find myself using it for action now which was so hit or miss before. As a point and shoot lens it is great! My only complaint is the focus popping which was much less noticeable on the X-e2 (this has only occured with the 35f2 though. )

As an upgrade from an X-e2 usability improvements in focussing and operations coming are huge! no more write delays waiting for the buffer to empty either!

I would suggest the X-T20 and spend the money saved on your vacation.

Traveling in Italy I would want a wide field of view. Thinking about how tight some older areas are which to me is much of its charm along with it gracious people. To travel light one might omit an ultrawideangle lens and regret later.  An alternative is if the cameras use sweep panorama where it combines still images in camera giving a panorama view. If one of the 20 or 30 is more adept at this modern trickery that could lighten your camera bag and still provide the great shots in tight places. I am still shopping Fuji but have used the panorama function on other cameras and found it to be difficult to master but worhwhile while out an about and traveling light.

Patchy wrote:

Sounds really promising. What exactly is focus popping? Never heard about this phenomen.

It is when camera make a rapid focus adjustment and its almost like the lens focal length charges by a few % and back

dezinerd wrote:

Traveling in Italy I would want a wide field of view. Thinking about how tight some older areas are which to me is much of its charm along with it gracious people. To travel light one might omit an ultrawideangle lens and regret later. An alternative is if the cameras use sweep panorama where it combines still images in camera giving a panorama view. If one of the 20 or 30 is more adept at this modern trickery that could lighten your camera bag and still provide the great shots in tight places. I am still shopping Fuji but have used the panorama function on other cameras and found it to be difficult to master but worhwhile while out an about and traveling light.

That's what's nice about the 15-45 imo, especially compared to the 18-55. It's not ultra-wide, but its full-frame equivalent of 22.5mm is actually a pretty big difference from the 27mm equivalent of the 18-55.

I have a full frame 28-75mm Tamron for my a7III and I really miss 24mm. Enough to make me get a used 16-50 for my X-T30 instead of the faster 18-55. And I got the 16-50 rather than 15-45 to avoid the power zoom.