Fujifilm X-T30 III Review: The Camera This Pro Photographer Actually Takes on Every Adventure

Before we start, I know the title of this article sounds like I’m talking about someone far more impressive than myself. But let’s be honest, “the camera I actually take on every adventure” was already taken, and apparently, we’re all supposed to write clickbait titles these days, haha. So here we are. I’m Cat, I’m a Fujifilm ambassador, I shoot professionally with the X-T5, and this is my completely un-humble review of the little camera that has quietly become my favourite thing in my pack.

I’m not a “tech bro”. This review isn’t about megapixels or camera specs. It’s about my real-world experience as a professional photographer, looking to find a smaller, lighter camera to take on everyday adventures and help me bring back the joy of photography that I was starting to lose.

As a Fujifilm Ambassador, I can borrow any gear I want to test, but if I want to own it, I have to buy it, just like anyone else. So when I tell you I loved the X-T30 III, you can take that with full confidence.

Why My Cameras Were Staying at Home

As I’ve already mentioned, I’m a professional photographer with no shortage of incredible cameras at home. I made the move from Canon to the Fujifilm in 2018/2019 and haven’t looked back since.

My first Fujifilm was the X-T2, which I still own today. Over time, I upgraded to the X-T3 (also still in my cupboard), and then to the X-T5 a couple of years ago. The X-T5 is my workhorse. I shoot with two bodies, and they come with me on every job, along with a selection of prime and zoom lenses.

I prefer to keep my work cameras for work, so when I upgraded to the X-T5, my older X-T2 and X-T3 cameras became my travel and everyday cameras. But recently, while searching for images to illustrate articles on my blog, I noticed something uncomfortable: I rarely take a camera out on adventures anymore. I’ve fallen into the habit of going fast(ish) and light, leaving the camera at home, and relying on my phone. And that’s resulted in a handful of mediocre snapshots that do absolutely no justice to the stunning locations I’m trying to promote to my guiding clients or showcase on this blog.

It had been on my mind for a while to find something small enough that I’ll actually take it out with me, but I’d never found anything that felt like it could meet my standards. So when Fujifilm announced the X-T30 III paired with the tiny new 13-33mm lens, I knew I had to try it.

First Impressions of the Fujifilm X-T30 III

The first thing I noticed when the camera arrived was just how small and light it actually is. Curious, I put it on my kitchen scales: body plus the 13-33mm lens came to 506g (17.8 oz), which is lighter than my X-T5 without a lens (586g). That stopped me in my tracks.

The body is noticeably smaller than the X-T5, but with fairly small hands, I didn’t find this an issue at all. I did wonder if it might feel too small for someone with larger hands, but Menno gave it a try and had no complaints, so I think most people will be fine.

Getting used to it did take a little adjustment. Coming from full manual dials for everything (shutter speed, aperture, ISO), I needed some time to work out how I wanted to set it up. Fujifilm lets you customise almost every button and dial, which is great, but it does mean there’s an initial learning curve. Once I’d found my configuration, though, it felt quick and intuitive.

Why I Chose the X-T30 III Over Other Fujifilm Cameras

As a professional photographer, most people assumed I would go with the X100VI – and I did consider it for a long time. There is no denying that the X100VI is an absolute beast of a camera. It’s the camera of choice for travel and everyday work for many of my friends and colleagues in the photography world – including many who shoot with Canon or Sony professionally. With the IBIS and built-in ND filter, it’s a great camera for video, as well as photos. And the fixed-focal-length F2 23mm lens is a great lens. In the end, two things put me off this camera: the fixed focal length lens and the price (€1799 new, €1640 used from MPB).

The other option I considered was the X-M5, Fujifilm’s lightest camera on offer right now (by around 30g). The X-M5 offered a fully tilting screen, aimed at those interested in vlogging (which I am not). However, it lacked the EVF and built-in pop-up flash that the X-T30 III offered. The specs of the X-M5 were almost identical to the X-T30, and since the weight difference was negligible, the X-T30 III won for me.

Since I already own the X-T2 and X-T3, I didn’t consider the X-T50. While it is a great camera, the body is only slightly smaller and lighter than what I already have.

Taking the Fujifilm X-T30 III On Adventures

While the X-T30 III might be seen as a beginner’s camera, it still allows me to have full manual control of all of my shooting settings – which is something that I want, since I use the camera for everything from landscapes to action photos.

The camera is so small and light, I genuinely forgot I had it with me on several outings. It wasn’t until I was unpacking my bag at home that I remembered it was there. For a camera review, I’m not sure there’s a better compliment than that!

The 13-33mm kit lens is great for switching up between wider landscape shots and some slightly more zoomed-in angles, whilst being so small and compact that it keeps the whole setup light.

Skiing and Winter Use

The camera also came with me on a few winter adventures. The battery life definitely did worsen in the cold, but this is true of all cameras.

The smaller buttons and dials were hard to operate with thicker gloves on, so I did find myself either just wearing thin liner gloves or taking my gloves off completely to be able to easily manage my settings. This meant I did get cold hands quite fast, which meant that the camera only came out of my bag for a few minutes at a time.

Action Shots

I wanted to test out the X-T30 III on some fast-moving action, so I brought it along with me while I was marshalling for the first stage of the Tour of the Alps cycling race in Innsbruck.

The camera has everything you need to capture fast-moving action: AF-C, zone-focusing, and different AF settings such as face detection, subject detection, and sports finder mode.

It was great at capturing the action, as well as allowing me the freedom to try some more creative shots with intentional motion blur. And because I was working as a course marshal, I didn’t have the camera held up to my face. I was shooting from the hip with the screen tilted, so that I could look down at the camera quickly to frame the shot and back up at what was happening around me.

City & Street Photography

I’m not really someone who tends to spend much time in cities, let alone photograph them. But when I was getting to know this camera, I took it with me around Innsbruck. While I’ve always felt very self-conscious walking around busy places with a big camera, the small and compact nature of the X-T30 III allows you to really fly under the radar when you’re doing street photography.

Fujifilm X-T30 III Image Quality

The X-T30 III is a downgrade compared to the X-T5 that I use for work – and I’m not going to pretend that it isn’t. The sensor is smaller, with 26 megapixels (compared to 40 on the X-T5, X100VI, etc). But for everyday shooting, the images are super good enough.

Compared to the alternative I was using (my phone), the image quality of the X-T30 III is on another level. Should I want to, the images are large enough to print; however, the reality is that most of the images I take on this camera will only ever be viewed on a screen and shared on social media.

I did upload some of the images taken with this camera to one of the stock photo sites that I use. And the resolution was good enough to be accepted.

Fujifilm Film Simulations

As a professional photographer, I spend more hours of my life editing photos than I do taking them (and that’s even with the help of a professional editor and the AI software Narrative Select + Edit). So when I take photos on personal trips, they can end up sitting on an SD card unedited for months.

In the past year, I started challenging myself to only shoot JPEGs when doing personal work – aiming to get everything right directly in the camera settings, so that I wouldn’t need to edit anything afterwards.

One of the biggest reasons I decided to stick with Fujifilm when looking for a small, compact camera (rather than opting for one of the more compact models on offer from Canon or Sony) is Fujifilm’s incredible film simulations.

Fuji’s colour science is something that is not matched by any other camera brand (to my knowledge). Their incredible selection of built-in film simulations helps you create incredible images straight in the camera – with no need to edit them.

Other Modes & Features

For an “entry-level” camera, it has a fantastic number of features that allow you to have fun and try different things. The ones I am likely to use are the in-camera double exposures, and for a camera that isn’t really being marketed for its video capabilities, pretty decent video too.

Wireless Image Transfer to my Phone

Because I’m mostly using this camera for shooting everyday photos, shooting JPEGs using Fuji’s film simulations, and sharing them on my social media without editing them, I’m loving the fact that I can easily connect the camera to Bluetooth and transfer the images to my phone via the Fujifilm app.

This makes taking and sharing photos so much easier. I don’t need to worry about having personal photos sitting unedited on SD cards for months. With this camera, I’m able to take and share them instantly.

Which Lenses I Use with the Fujifilm X-T30 III

Despite owning a large selection of lenses, I opted to purchase the X-T30 III with the 13-33mm kit lens, as the price difference worked out at less than €100 compared to buying just the body on its own.

While the XC13-33mmF3.5-6.3 OIS Lens isn’t the sharpest or fastest lens out there, it’s compact, light, and versatile. And honestly, for throwing in my bag for days out on the mountain when I wouldn’t otherwise take a camera, it’s super good enough!

For those times when I want a bit more flexibility, I’ll probably pair it with the XF18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. Whilst this lens does make the camera a lot heavier, it’s lighter than my 16-55mm F2.8 lens, and has a much bigger zoom.

I’m also currently testing it out with Fuji’s three pancake lenses (the 18mm, 23mm, and 27mm) to see if they may also make a great addition to this lightweight travel setup. (At this time, I’m leaning towards the 23mm as the best all-rounder).

What I Wish the Fujifilm X-T30 III Had

This camera isn’t perfect. There are a few features that I do wish it had:

The first is weather sealing. Since I got this camera as a lightweight camera to take on fast and light everyday adventures in the mountains around our home, it’s to be expected that sometimes I’ll be caught in bad weather. Because the camera doesn’t have weather sealing (unlike the higher-end models), I’m going to need to be very careful to protect it from the elements. This means I’ll probably keep it inside a small dry bag on long days out in the mountains.

I would have liked was IBIS. I understand that this is an entry-level model, and is designed for photography rather than video. But since it also takes pretty decent video, IBIS would have been an additional bonus.

The other feature I miss compared to the X-T5s that I have is the 3-way articulating screen. While this camera does have an articulating screen, it’s only helpful for shooting in landscape modes. It doesn’t have the functionality to tilt outwards for taking photos in portrait orientation.

Who Should Buy the Fujifilm X-T30 III?

The X-T30 III is designed to be an entry-level camera for photographers looking for a camera that is packed with incredible features and offers them the chance to grow. It’s a step up from a phone or point-and-shoot camera. You can set it up so that the camera still decides all of the settings for you, but it has the option to shoot in manual or semi-manual modes as your experience grows.

However, I honestly think this camera would also not disappoint any pro photographer who is looking for a smaller, cheaper everyday camera that they can just throw in a bag. The Fujifilm film simulations are incredible, and the camera is a lot of fun to shoot with. It still allows you to shoot full manual, and the interchangeable lenses mean that if you’re already a Fujifilm user, you can use your existing lenses with it.

Prices & where to buy it

As I mentioned at the start of this article, I opted for the X-T30 III not just because of its small, compact size and lightweight body. The price also played a big factor, being one of the cheapest options in the Fujifilm range.

The camera currently retails at the following prices:

• Camera body only – €949 in the EU / £829 in the UK /$999 in the USA
• Camera plus 13-33mm lens – €1099 in the EU / £999 in the UK / $1149 in the USA

I recommend comparing prices and offers on the following sites:

Europe

• Amazon
• MPB (great deals on trade-ins and used cameras)

UK

• Amazon
• MPB
• Wex

USA

• Adorama
• Amazon
• MPB