New X30 Owner

Just picked up a like-new X30.  This camera just recently came onto my radar, and once I found out about it, I had to have it.

Several things about this camera blow me away, especially considering it was a compact camera released in 2014 - some of these features are still fairly competitive for costlier cameras:

• Phase detect autofocus
• 2.36M OLED 0.65x EVF
• 4-stop IBIS
• Magnesium body
• Manual zoom (with twist to turn on)
• Pretty perfect zoom range (28-112), pretty fast (2-2.8)
• etc.

This camera just feels damn good in the hands, the build is phenomenal.  The EVF is absolutely insane for a camera of this class and vintage, and I love that the display rotates with the camera - I've actually never seen that in another camera, at any price. (that I can recall, at least).  Anyway, I'm just really excited about this thing, if you couldn't tell.

The one downside is the sensor size, and I actually think 2/3" isn't that bad.  I own several other compacts with 1/1.7" sensors, and have some wonderful images taken on a camera from 2006 with a 1/2.5" sensor.  Obviously, it's not ideal to go smaller and smaller, but in general I think sensor size is overrated as a predictor of final image quality (in terms of what makes a good image, that is, not speaking strictly about resolution or technical image quality).

Anyway, just wanted to gush a bit!

Lucky find. I had one when they first came out. Sorry I ever sold it. Have fun with it.

Yawlen Z wrote:

Yeah, we know ... that camera is so casually basic to Fuji lore that its legend abounds towards myth.

I've owned several Fujis over the years, but somehow was oblivious to this one.

Tom52 wrote:

Lucky find. I had one when they first came out. Sorry I ever sold it. Have fun with it.

Thanks!

You’ve made a fortunate find! If you start a new thread about it on the Fuji Finepix forum, some regulars there would definitely jump in with parallel stories. (The X30 is actually in the Finepix category.)

There's a used X70 on a site, and the price? 800 euros! OK, fine. Keep it!

Love mine to bits. Also have an X20 but hardly use it (no classic chrome, fixed screen, viewfinder is useless).

The extraordinary beauty of Greece, and on Santorini it's at every turn.

X30 captures this iconic Santorinian sunset

Young man has just proposed to his girlfriend.

Lunch by the sea

Iconic blue domes that dotted the pretty island

Santorini has something for the minimalist, too.

Santorinian-style stairs

Wine in the sun

Hopefully the mod sees this thread and moves it to the Finepix forum.

Go out and test your new camera. Enjoy.

Oops!  I was debating weather or not I should post in the FinePix forum or not.  As far as I can tell this camera was not marketed under that name, unlike the original X100 I used to own, which WAS a "FinePix."  What's the logic here?

Happy JPEGer wrote:

There's a used X70 on a site, and the price? 800 euros! OK, fine. Keep it!

Love mine to bits. Also have an X20 but hardly use it (no classic chrome, fixed screen, viewfinder is useless).

The extraordinary beauty of Greece, and on Santorini it's at every turn.

X30 captures this iconic Santorinian sunset

Young man has just proposed to his girlfriend.

Lunch by the sea

Iconic blue domes that dotted the pretty island

Santorini has something for the minimalist, too.

Santorinian-style stairs

Wine in the sun

Hopefully the mod sees this thread and moves it to the Finepix forum.

Go out and test your new camera. Enjoy.

Nice pics!

Just curious, which lens hood is that on your X30?  I've seen a lens hood for the X10, as well as a lens hood and filter combo for the X20 - are they basically the same?

It's Fuji's original metal vented hood. You can always order a similar one made by JJC.

The hood doesn't work on the X20. I don't see any lens threads either, so no way to attach it. The X20 probably has its own lens hood.

Happy JPEGer wrote:

It's Fuji's original metal vented hood. You can always order a similar one made by JJC.

The hood doesn't work on the X20. I don't see any lens threads either, so no way to attach it. The X20 probably has its own lens hood.

I don't agree with that information. I would say it's incorrect. The hood is the same for both models. It's a 40mm thread on the lens which that lens hood threads into (not 39mm or 40.5) and the hood permits using 52mm filters at the open end. There is no bayonet mount.

I bought the copycat version but it makes the camera big and it only looks good when the lens is in the collapsed state so I don't use it.

Yeah, looking at Fuji’s site it looks like the hoods are compatible with the X10/X20/X30.

grain_frame wrote:

Oops! I was debating whether or not I should post in the FinePix forum or not. As far as I can tell this camera was not marketed under that name, unlike the original X100 I used to own, which WAS a "FinePix." What's the logic here?

It has an X-Trans sensor and is late enough not to be a finepix.  You’re safe.

7rvar wrote:

Happy JPEGer wrote:

It's Fuji's original metal vented hood. You can always order a similar one made by JJC.

The hood doesn't work on the X20. I don't see any lens threads either, so no way to attach it. The X20 probably has its own lens hood.

I don't agree with that information. I would say it's incorrect. The hood is the same for both models. It's a 40mm thread on the lens which that lens hood threads into (not 39mm or 40.5) and the hood permits using 52mm filters at the open end. There is no bayonet mount.

I bought the copycat version but it makes the camera big and it only looks good when the lens is in the collapsed state so I don't use it.

As you please.

I just bothered to try putting the hood on the X20 (again). It didn't go in. The rim of both lenses in not the same. On the X20 there's nothing to attach the hood to, the rim is totally smooth.

If you also have the X20 then try it yourself. Otherwise...

Happy JPEGer wrote:

7rvar wrote:

Happy JPEGer wrote:

It's Fuji's original metal vented hood. You can always order a similar one made by JJC.

The hood doesn't work on the X20. I don't see any lens threads either, so no way to attach it. The X20 probably has its own lens hood.

I don't agree with that information. I would say it's incorrect. The hood is the same for both models. It's a 40mm thread on the lens which that lens hood threads into (not 39mm or 40.5) and the hood permits using 52mm filters at the open end. There is no bayonet mount.

I bought the copycat version but it makes the camera big and it only looks good when the lens is in the collapsed state so I don't use it.

As you please.

I just bothered to try putting the hood on the X20 (again). It didn't go in. The rim of both lenses in not the same. On the X20 there's nothing to attach the hood to, the rim is totally smooth.

If you also have the X20 then try it yourself. Otherwise...

Does the X20 have a "beauty ring" (always thought that was the weirdest name for a thing) that needs to be unscrewed to reveal threads underneath?

Happy JPEGer wrote:

7rvar wrote:

Happy JPEGer wrote:

It's Fuji's original metal vented hood. You can always order a similar one made by JJC.

The hood doesn't work on the X20. I don't see any lens threads either, so no way to attach it. The X20 probably has its own lens hood.

I don't agree with that information. I would say it's incorrect. The hood is the same for both models. It's a 40mm thread on the lens which that lens hood threads into (not 39mm or 40.5) and the hood permits using 52mm filters at the open end. There is no bayonet mount.

I bought the copycat version but it makes the camera big and it only looks good when the lens is in the collapsed state so I don't use it.

As you please.

I just bothered to try putting the hood on the X20 (again). It didn't go in. The rim of both lenses in not the same. On the X20 there's nothing to attach the hood to, the rim is totally smooth.

If you also have the X20 then try it yourself. Otherwise...

Had to dig through my junk drawer (mostly full of X-E1 accessory grips)

This is not the Fujifilm model but it threads onto the lens. I have a CPL on the X30.

And here I will swap them, I have no idea why yours doesn't work.

Btw, I agree about your assessment of the X20:

"hardly use it (no classic chrome, fixed screen, viewfinder is useless)"

I feel the same way and would add, tiny battery, no USB charging.

It's not as ugly as I remember but I like the standard lens cap.

Filter and hood fit both X30 and X20, threads are the same.

X20 is a good camera and takes good pictures, it just feels old compared to X30 which still feels semi modern, well about on par with an X-T1 era camera. I haven't tried an X10, not interested in learning to edit those files but I thought X20 was worth trying since it had the same sensor as X30. I haven't used it much at all and have considered selling it.

Have spent a few more days with the X30.  I know that I don't need to convince anyone here, but wow, what a camera.  It handles incredibly well, just feels so authentically analog in use.  And yet, it feels rather modern at the same time, and not as dated in the way many digital cameras do when they reach this age.  I do wish it had an FAS instead of the tilt-screen, so that I could reverse the LCD panel and completely forget about it, which is my personal preference on any camera with an EVF.  And, as long as I'm in make-believe territory, I suppose a 1" 20MP sensor would make the camera nigh perfect, but honestly it performs great as-is.

I found the accessory filter/hood set (LHF-X20) used from KEH for about $25, which is much better than the >$100 (!) price I saw on eBay - they rated it as "Excellent" and they're quite conservative in their ratings, so I expect it will be in great shape.

I also found a first-party thumb rest (TR-X30), which I didn't even know existed.  It's in a nice Fujifilm box, so I think it's legit.  It has the "X" logo on it, as well as a small patch of leatherette, a little rubber nub to protect the body, and it's engraved with the part number - basically, looks like really nice fit and finish.  I wonder if it was a limited-release, or maybe even Japan-market only?  I found it at on the website of a Japanese camera store chain (Kitamura).  Some of these Japanese sites are notoriously difficult for foreigners to access - this one required your name to be entered in both Kanji AND hiragana, and it looked like they required a Japanese-issued credit card for payment.  Luckily, I live in Japan and I was able to have the thumb rest shipped to the local Kitamura store, where they will accept my US-issued card for payment.