X-Transformed? Fujifilm X30 Review
We have a lot of 'tools' in the camera market, but not many that are designed to be as pleasing to the eye as their output aims to be. I rather admire Fuji for its recognition that photography is a passion, not just a job, for most of us and that we like to have nice looking things that work well. Most cameras are designed like most cars – to be efficient and to do a job well, but it is usually hard to get excited about the way that they look. Fuji’s X series has really made a mark in the camera world, and a good deal of the attention surrounding it has come about because of the classic styling of the products - as well as the image quality of the unique sensors, of course!
I'm pleased to say the Fujifilm X30 has carried on that thread, and the third generation of these double-digit X compact cameras takes some significant steps towards integrating itself into the X series proper.
Key Features:
- 12MP 2/3"-type X-Trans CMOS II sensor (8.8 x 6.6mm)
- EXR Processor II
- 28-112mm equiv. F2.0-2.8 lens with manual zoom adjustment
- Hybrid (contrast + phase detection) autofocus system
- ISO 100-3200, expandable to 12800 (JPEG only)
- Six customizable buttons plus ring around lens
- 2.36M dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 0.65x (equiv.) magnification
- 3.0" 920k dot 3:2 tilting LCD
- 12 fps continuous shooting
- Addition of 'Classic Chrome' Film Simulation Mode
- Built-in Wi-Fi including remote control from a smartphone or tablet
- Full HD movie recording (1080/60p, 36Mbps bit rate), with built-in stereo microphone and external mic input
The X10 from 2011 and the X20 from 2013 both managed to reflect the technologies that were integral to the main X series APS-C compact system cameras of their time, and the X30 follows this tradition with its use of the X-Trans CMOS II sensor, the EXR Processor II and a high quality electronic viewfinder with the same resolution as the X100T premium APS-C compact and the X-T1 compact system model. The only watering down from the high profile cameras is the size of the sensor.
Gear in this story
Gear in this story
DPReview score:
76%
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Dec 19, 2017
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Nov 21, 2016
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