Fujifilm X-T30 vs X-T20
The Fujifilm X-T30 and the Fujifilm X-T20 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2019 and January 2017. Both the X-T30 and the X-T20 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The X-T30 has a resolution of 26 megapixels, whereas the X-T20 provides 24 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm X-T30 and the Fujifilm X-T20? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-T30 and the Fujifilm X-T20 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, silver).
In this particular case, the Fujifilm X-T30 and the Fujifilm X-T20 have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. Moreover, the two cameras also share the same weight. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the X-T30 nor the X-T20 are weather-sealed.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Fujinon X Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.
The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fujifilm X-T30 | 118 mm | 83 mm | 47 mm | 383 g | 380 | n | Feb 2019 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
2. | Fujifilm X-T20 | 118 mm | 83 mm | 41 mm | 383 g | 350 | n | Jan 2017 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
3. | Fujifilm X-A3 | 117 mm | 67 mm | 40 mm | 339 g | 410 | n | Aug 2016 | US$ 399 | ebay.com | |
4. | Fujifilm X-A5 | 117 mm | 68 mm | 40 mm | 361 g | 450 | n | Jan 2018 | US$ 399 | ebay.com | |
5. | Fujifilm X-A7 | 119 mm | 68 mm | 41 mm | 320 g | 440 | n | Sep 2019 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Fujifilm X-E3 | 121 mm | 74 mm | 43 mm | 337 g | 350 | n | Sep 2017 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
7. | Fujifilm X-E4 | 121 mm | 73 mm | 33 mm | 364 g | 380 | n | Jan 2021 | US$ 849 | amazon.com | |
8. | Fujifilm X-S10 | 126 mm | 85 mm | 65 mm | 465 g | 325 | n | Oct 2020 | US$ 999 | amazon.com | |
9. | Fujifilm X-T10 | 118 mm | 83 mm | 41 mm | 381 g | 350 | n | May 2015 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Fujifilm X-T30 II | 118 mm | 83 mm | 47 mm | 383 g | 380 | n | Sep 2021 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
11. | Fujifilm X-T100 | 121 mm | 83 mm | 47 mm | 448 g | 430 | n | May 2018 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
12. | Fujifilm X-T200 | 121 mm | 84 mm | 55 mm | 370 g | 270 | n | Jan 2020 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.
Sensor comparison
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.
Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the Fujifilm X-T30 offers a higher resolution of 26 megapixels, compared with 24 MP of the Fujifilm X-T20. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 3.92μm for the X-T20). However, it should be noted that the X-T30 is much more recent (by 2 years) than the X-T20, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.
The Fujifilm X-T30 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Fujifilm X-T20 are ISO 200 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.
In terms of underlying technology, the X-T30 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the X-T20 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use the X-Trans layout of photosites, which according to Fujifilm helps to minimize moiré.
For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fujifilm X-T30 | APS-C | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 4K/30p | 24.1 | 13.5 | 1895 | 83 | |
2. | Fujifilm X-T20 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 23.9 | 13.2 | 1704 | 81 | |
3. | Fujifilm X-A3 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.8 | 13.1 | 1664 | 81 | |
4. | Fujifilm X-A5 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/15p | 24.0 | 13.3 | 1800 | 82 | |
5. | Fujifilm X-A7 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.1 | 13.6 | 1955 | 84 | |
6. | Fujifilm X-E3 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 23.9 | 13.3 | 1764 | 82 | |
7. | Fujifilm X-E4 | APS-C | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 2085 | 85 | |
8. | Fujifilm X-S10 | APS-C | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 2057 | 85 | |
9. | Fujifilm X-T10 | APS-C | 16.0 | 4896 | 3264 | 1080/60p | 23.7 | 12.9 | 1546 | 79 | |
10. | Fujifilm X-T30 II | APS-C | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.8 | 2144 | 85 | |
11. | Fujifilm X-T100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/15p | 24.0 | 13.4 | 1829 | 83 | |
12. | Fujifilm X-T200 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.1 | 13.6 | 1991 | 84 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The X-T30 and the X-T20 are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2360k dots. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Fujifilm X-T30 and Fujifilm X-T20 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fujifilm X-T30 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
2. | Fujifilm X-T20 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
3. | Fujifilm X-A3 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
4. | Fujifilm X-A5 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
5. | Fujifilm X-A7 | none | n | 3.5 / 2760 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
6. | Fujifilm X-E3 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | n | |
7. | Fujifilm X-E4 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1620 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | n | |
8. | Fujifilm X-S10 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | Y | |
9. | Fujifilm X-T10 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 920 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
10. | Fujifilm X-T30 II | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1620 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
11. | Fujifilm X-T100 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
12. | Fujifilm X-T200 | 2360 | n | 3.5 / 2780 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Fujifilm X-T30 and the Fujifilm X-T20 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the X-T30 and the X-T20 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm X-T30 and Fujifilm X-T20 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fujifilm X-T30 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
2. | Fujifilm X-T20 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
3. | Fujifilm X-A3 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
4. | Fujifilm X-A5 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
5. | Fujifilm X-A7 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
6. | Fujifilm X-E3 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
7. | Fujifilm X-E4 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
8. | Fujifilm X-S10 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
9. | Fujifilm X-T10 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
10. | Fujifilm X-T30 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
11. | Fujifilm X-T100 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
12. | Fujifilm X-T200 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | - | Y |
Both the X-T30 and the X-T20 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The X-T20 was replaced by the Fujifilm X-T100, while the X-T30 was followed by the Fujifilm X-T30 II. Further information on the features and operation of the X-T30 and X-T20 can be found, respectively, in the Fujifilm X-T30 Manual (free pdf) or the online Fujifilm X-T20 Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Fujifilm X-T30 or the Fujifilm X-T20 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.
Advantages of the Fujifilm X-T30:
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
- Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
- More modern: Reflects 2 years of technical progress since the X-T20 launch.
Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm X-T20:
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in January 2017).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the X-T30 emerges as the winner of the contest (3 : 1 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm X-T30 and the Fujifilm X-T20 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the X-T30 and the X-T20 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fujifilm X-T30 | 5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2019 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
2. | Fujifilm X-T20 | 5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 82/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
3. | Fujifilm X-A3 | .. | .. | .. | 74/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2016 | US$ 399 | ebay.com | |
4. | Fujifilm X-A5 | .. | + | 4.1/5 | .. | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | Jan 2018 | US$ 399 | ebay.com | |
5. | Fujifilm X-A7 | 3/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | 81/100 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | Sep 2019 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
6. | Fujifilm X-E3 | 4.5/5 | + | 4.5/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2017 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
7. | Fujifilm X-E4 | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2021 | US$ 849 | amazon.com | |
8. | Fujifilm X-S10 | 5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 86/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2020 | US$ 999 | amazon.com | |
9. | Fujifilm X-T10 | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 80/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | May 2015 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Fujifilm X-T30 II | 5/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2021 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
11. | Fujifilm X-T100 | 4/5 | + | 4.5/5 | 79/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2018 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
12. | Fujifilm X-T200 | 3.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 82/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2020 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Nikon D800
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Nikon Z30
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Olympus Stylus 1s
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Panasonic GH5s
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Panasonic GX8
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Pentax K-30
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Fujifilm X-T30 II
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Fujifilm X70
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Nikon D5600
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Ricoh GR III
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Sony A5100
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Sony A99 II
Specifications: Fujifilm X-T30 vs Fujifilm X-T20
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Fujifilm X-T30 | Fujifilm X-T20 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Mirrorless system camera |
Camera Lens | Fujifilm X mount lenses | Fujifilm X mount lenses |
Launch Date | February 2019 | January 2017 |
Launch Price | USD 899 | USD 899 |
Sensor Specs | Fujifilm X-T30 | Fujifilm X-T20 |
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | APS-C Sensor |
Sensor Size | 23.5 x 15.6 mm | 23.6 x 15.6 mm |
Sensor Area | 366.6 mm2 | 368.16 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 28.2 mm | 28.3 mm |
Crop Factor | 1.5x | 1.5x |
Sensor Resolution | 26 Megapixels | 24 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 6240 x 4160 pixels | 6000 x 4000 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 3.76 μm | 3.92 μm |
Pixel Density | 7.08 MP/cm2 | 6.52 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 160 - 12,800 ISO | 200 - 12,800 ISO |
ISO Boost | 80 - 51,200 ISO | 100 - 51,200 ISO |
Image Processor | X-Processor 4 | X-Processor Pro2 |
Screen Specs | Fujifilm X-T30 | Fujifilm X-T20 |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.62x | 0.62x |
Viewfinder Resolution | 2360k dots | 2360k dots |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | 1040k dots |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Tilting screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Fujifilm X-T30 | Fujifilm X-T20 |
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | On-Sensor Phase-detect |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous Shooting | 8 shutter flaps/s | 8 shutter flaps/s |
Electronic Shutter | up to 1/32000s | up to 1/32000s |
Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | Intervalometer built-in |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
UHS card support | UHS-I | UHS-I |
Connectivity Specs | Fujifilm X-T30 | Fujifilm X-T20 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
USB Connector | USB 3.1 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | micro HDMI |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | External MIC port |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | no Bluetooth |
Body Specs | Fujifilm X-T30 | Fujifilm X-T20 |
Battery Type | Fujifilm NP-W126S | Fujifilm NP-W126S |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 380 shots per charge | 350 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
118 x 83 x 47 mm (4.6 x 3.3 x 1.9 in) |
118 x 83 x 41 mm (4.6 x 3.3 x 1.6 in) |
Camera Weight | 383 g (13.5 oz) | 383 g (13.5 oz) |
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