Fujifilm X-T200 vs X-T30
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Prior to January 23rd, 2020, choosing between Fujifilm’s entry-level X-T100 and its step-up model, the X-T30, was easy. The X-T100 was sluggish, its autofocus sub-par and 4K ‘video’ was limited to 15 fps.
Fujifilm really raised the bar with the X-T200 , which offers dramatically improved performance and autofocus, a massive LCD with a clever touch interface and proper 4K video.
With the X-T200 priced at $ 799 and the X-T30 at $ 999 (both with a 15-45mm kit lens, as of February 2020), potential buyers will want to know if it’s worth spending the extra dollars on the more advanced model.
In this article we’ll break down the similarities and differences between the two cameras – but your decision should come down to the type of photographer you are, and where you are on your photographic journey. The X-T200 is, after all, billed as the more user-friendly model, while the X-T30 gives hands-on photographers more control at their fingertips. Let’s take a closer look.
Sensor
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One of the upgrades on the X-T200 is its 24MP sensor. The former had aluminum wiring, while the latter uses copper. Fujifilm says that the new sensor can be read out 3.5x faster than its predecessor, which should reduce rolling shutter. Since we’ve yet to test a production-level X-T200 we can’t comment on its image quality, but we expect it to be better than its predecessor.
The X-T30, on the other hand, uses the same 26MP X-Trans CMOS sensor found on X-T3. Fujifilm’s X-Trans color filter both reduces moiré and exhibits less color noise at high ISOs. The sensor is excellent, with low noise levels at high ISOs and Raw files with plenty of room for brightening shadows and other adjustments. We didn’t find rolling shutter to be a major problem.
Autofocus
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The X-T200 has essentially the same AF system as the X-T30, though how you operate them is a bit different. Their shared hybrid AF system has 425 phase-detect points that cover 100% of the frame and offer single-point, zone and wide/tracking AF area modes.
Both cameras offer face and eye detection, and Fujifilm says that the X-T200 has the company’s latest algorithms. It’s too early to draw conclusions about AF performance, but it seems competitive with the X-T30 at first glance.
When it comes to selecting subjects on which to focus, the X-T200 is more touchscreen-based, which isn’t surprising given its target audience. The more experienced users that the X-T30 leans toward will spend more time with the joystick and may want to fine-tune settings more than a beginner.
The X-T30 can shoot bursts quite a bit faster than its less-expensive sibling: 20 fps vs 8 fps
For example, the X-T30 lets you choose how the camera functions when using continuous AF, either by selecting a preset option or tweaking the settings yourself. This is important when the default AF settings aren’t the right fit for shooting things like sports.
Speaking of action photography, the X-T30 can shoot bursts quite a bit faster than its less-expensive sibling: 20 fps vs 8 fps. It also lets you access playback mode and the menus while the camera is writing to the card, unlike the X-T200.
One very frustrating thing about the AF system on both cameras is that you cannot set the focus point whenever the camera detects a face in the scene, though this could change with firmware sometime down the line (but don’t count on it).
Design
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When viewed from the front, the X-T200 and X-T30 look quite similar. The X-T30 has a control dial and AF mode switch on the front, while the X-T200’s control dials are all on the top plate, and there’s no AF mode switch.
The X-T30 is all about dedicated dials, which isn’t surprising, given that it leans in the enthusiast direction. Some may say that it has too many dials, but that’s purely subjective. There are dedicated dials that allow you to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed and drive mode without ever entering a menu. It offers an 8-way joystick for setting the focus point, which is poorly placed and a bit fiddly, in our opinion (the X-T200 has the same issue).
Being the entry-level model, the X-T200 has a limited number of direct controls and leans heavily on a well-designed touch interface via its enormous fully articulating LCD. The camera still offers dual control dials and some customization, though not nearly to the extent of the X-T30.
Given the price difference, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the build quality of the X-T30 feels superior in your hand, with more metal and less plastic. The X-T30 isn’t weather-sealed, though: you need to go up another step to the X-T3 for that.
Both cameras offer USB Type-C ports (with USB 3.1 speeds) and support in-camera charging. They also use the NP-W126S battery, which you’ll find on many other Fujifilm cameras. While battery life is a reasonable 380 shots per charge on the X-T30 using the LCD, the X-T200 will last for only 270 shots (according to CIPA methodology). In reality you’ll get more life out of both cameras, but the X-T30 should still come out on top.
LCD and EVF
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Let’s not beat around the bush: the X-T200’s touchscreen display is fantastic and competitive with modern smartphones – this camera’s target audience. It’s 3.5″ in size (diagonally) and has 2.76 million dots worth of resolution. It’s fully articulating, making it good for ground-level photos as well as vlogging. The display’s 16:9 aspect ratio makes it ideal for video, though a lot of its real estate is wasted when shooting 3:2 stills.
Fujifilm put an easy-to-use touch interface on the X-T200, which makes it operate more like a smartphone than a camera. If you’re a beginner, you can adjust a ‘depth control’ slider to blur the background. If you’re more experienced, the camera has the usual manual exposure options and two control dials to adjust settings. Customization options are limited, but then again, this is an entry-level camera.
The X-T30’s 3″ display is more conventional. It has 1.04 million dots and can tilt upward by a little over 90° and downward by 45°. While it has the usual tap-to-focus and image playback touch functions, there’s no simple interface and only the Q.Menu can be navigated by touch (the X-T200 can do that as well as the main menu).
The two cameras have the exact same electronic viewfinder. They’re both OLED and have 2.36 million dots and a magnification of 0.62x, which is a bit on the small side.
Fun with Film Simulation modes
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A feature that makes Fujifilm cameras stand out from the pack are its Film Simulation modes. These aren’t ‘pop color’ filters; most are recreations of film stocks that were available in the days of analog photography.
The Film Simulation modes on the two cameras are largely the same, though the cheaper X-T200 does miss out on a few favorites: Acros and Eterna. Eterna is popular with video shooters, as it produces pleasing footage with low saturation that’s easier to grade in post-production. The X-T30 also has the ability to add a film grain effect. We think it’s a (very) safe bet that the X-T200 lacks these features for product segmentation.
Fujifilm came up with a clever way of selecting a Film Simulation mode on the X-T200. When you turn the left-most dial on the top plate, it opens up a screen with the current Film Sim mode on one side and the other options on the right. A slider lets you expand or contract the viewing area of the before or after sides. This feature is much easier to show rather than explain, so have a look at the video below (from the X-A7) to see how it works.
Video
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The X-T200 is no slouch when it comes to video, but if you’re a serious videophile who wants to take more control over their camera, then the X-T30 is the better choice.
First, here’s what the X-T200 offers. It can capture UHD 4K footage at 30p, 24p and 23.98p, as well as their PAL equivalents. The footage is oversampled and uncropped, though there is a 15 minute recording time limit. The X-T200 offers a ‘Digital Gimbal’ feature for reducing large mounts of shake, plus an HDR video mode. It doesn’t offer F-Log support like the X-T30, but that’s not exactly a point-and-shoot kind of feature. It has both 3.5mm mic and headphone sockets (the latter requires an included adapter) and a good number of controls over audio levels.
The X-T30 also records 4K/30p video, but supports the wider DCI 4K format in addition to UHD. It offers selectable bit rates of up to 200Mbps, while the X-T200 is fixed at 100Mbps. The 4K recording limit is less than that of the X-T200: 10 minutes.
There are considerably more video capture aids on the X-T30 if you’re getting more hands-on. It offers zebra stripes, time code support and tools for making focusing easier. The camera supports F-Log and can also output 10-bit 4:2:2 video to an external recorder while saving 4:2:0 8-bit footage to its memory card. A ‘movie silent control’ option allows you to use the touchscreen to adjust exposure while recording, so sound from the control dials is not picked up.
Like the X-T200, the X-T30 has an input for an external mic, but it’s 2.5mm and will require an adapter. Speaking of which, you can attach headphones via the USB port with an adapter that’s not included.
Wrap-up
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The two most significant factors which differentiate the X-T200 and X-T30 the most are their physical controls and video capture tools. Thus, whether it’s worth spending the extra $ 200 on the X-T30 comes down to how much control you want over the camera, and how hardcore of a video shooter you are.
If you want a simpler, more smartphone-like shooting experience, then the X-T200 is the smarter choice. The 3.5″ display is the best in this price range (and above it), and the touch-based interface is easy to use. The X-T200’s updated sensor and autofocus system should perform well, and we expect that its oversampled, un-cropped 4K video will look very good. The built-in mic and headphone (via USB-C) connectors are a big plus. The camera’s main downside is its battery life, which is below average.
For those who want to take more control over their camera, the X-T30 is the better of the two. It has several dials for controlling exposure and is highly customizable. It also uses Fujifilm’s newest sensor, which we’ve found to be excellent. Like the X-T200, it captures un-cropped 4K video, and offers the wider DCI aspect ratio, F-Log, zebra stripes, and 10-bit 4:2:2 output with simultaneous internal recording. Its battery life is quite a bit better than the X-T200’s, as well.
Overall, we think that the X-T200 is a great option for more novice users, and they can put that $ 200 savings into a lens like the new XC 35mm F2. But if you’re already a photographer and looking to get a new camera, the level of control the X-T30 gives you really does make a difference, and you’ll enjoy the camera that much more for it.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
