- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How it compares
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR
- 15.9 MP
- 30x f/2.8
- 1/2" CMOS
- 3" LCD
Released January, 2012
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)Full 1080p movie recording with stereo sound is the icing on the cake, making the HS30 a viable replacement for your video camera too.
Conclusion Check out the Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR
First reviewed February, 2012
Features Key features of the Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR
15.9 MP
1/2"
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)The Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR has 2 different image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 12 MP    | 20 MP |
FinePix HS30 EXR by c|net (Jun, 2012)If you're OK with smaller, 8-megapixel images (and you should be), you can get up to a fast 11fps.
FinePix HS30 EXR by c|net (Jun, 2012)And despite having a 16-megapixel EXR CMOS sensor like last year's HX20EXR, the new model gets an improved sensor and processor for better performance and image quality.
sensor size
FinePix HS30 EXR by THE-GO-BETWEENBut at least the Sony has an APS-C sized sensor compared to the tiny one on the 30EXR.
FinePix HS30 EXR by THE-GO-BETWEENThe consumer has been jerked around so much re sensor size that many will have lost patience with the whole b.s. marketing scheme and just ignore these producers.
wide angle lens
FinePix HS30 EXR by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)Throw in the 1cm Super Macro Mode and impressive maximum apertures of a bright f/2.8 at 24mm wide-angle to a slightly brighter f5.6 at 720mm telephoto, and it's clear that the HS30EXR is perfectly suited for any subject that you can think of, near or far.
FinePix HS30 EXR by K.-Barr (Sep, 2012)The 30x zoom is impressive and lets you get much closer to the subject, and in most cases the larger lens gives better depth-of-field effects than a camera phone or even many point-and-shoots.
aperture size
FinePix HS30 EXR by TrustedReviews (Jun, 2012)The lens itself is a Fuji-made Fujinon optic that offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at 24mm, rising progressively to f/5.6 at around 350mm and beyond.
FinePix HS30 EXR by Michael-T.-McCaffrey--sumofan (Mar, 2012)I have a MAC and use APERTURE 3, and Aperture 3 makes a notable difference in getting pictures to look the way I want them (that "finishing touch).
zoom range
| 0x | 50x   | 50x |
FinePix HS30 EXR by TrustedReviews (Jun, 2012)This gives the HS30 a big advantage over its competitors, simply because it’s much quicker and far more intuitive to operate than the fiddly, spring-loaded power-zoom controls employed by its rivals.
FinePix HS30 EXR by TrustedReviews (Jun, 2012)Furthermore, if 720mm doesn’t provide quite enough telephoto reach for you then the HS30 also offers 1.4x and 2x ‘intelligent’ digital zoom options that essentially take a crop from the central area of the sensor and enlarge it.
body size
131 x 97 x 126 mm
124 x 82 x 92 mm
130 x 100 x 78 mm
FinePix HS30 EXR by mumix (Aug, 2012)Weight and size suitable for everyday use, I think one very remarkable feature is the digital level, which keeps the horizon with ease.
FinePix HS30 EXR by Maggie (Dec, 2012)This camera is a decent weight and convenient to carry, but still takes quality photos and video.
Performance Real world tests of Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR
shutter lag
FinePix HS30 EXR by John-SturgeonAlthough all of the publicity says that you can use shutter speeds "from 30 seconds through 1 / 3200 of a second," that is not quite literally true.
FinePix HS30 EXR by Scott-N.-Cooksey--cookseyscott (May, 2012)I am working on learning all the details of what this camera can do and hopefully I can master the shutter proirity mode "S" to minimize some blur issues.
battery life
600 photos
315 photos
350 photos
FinePix HS30 EXR by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)At around 600 shots battery life is much improved thanks to the adoption of a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
FinePix HS30 EXR by TrustedReviews (Jun, 2012)The HS30's new EVF is infinitely more usable than its predecessor's, and battery life is better too.
max continuous shooting
FinePix HS30 EXR by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)Once the burst is completed, it now takes just over two seconds for the camera to clear the buffer, during which you cannot take another picture, a massive improvement on the HS20EXR.
FinePix HS30 EXR by c|net (Jun, 2012)The HS30EXR has a lot of burst shooting options to pick from depending on what resolution you want to use.
Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors
pros
-
Contrast detection focusing system -
f/2.8 -
HD video -
Generic -
1/2" -
Gives you more flexibility when framing your shot -
Adjust white balance and exposure more easily in post production -
12,800 ISO -
Great for recording movies -
600 -
11 fps -
800 ms -
HD video -
Create 3D photos to view on a 3D TV -
230 ms -
10 mm -
Create slow motion video -
Combines multiple photos together to capture both bright and dark areas -
Stitches together multiple photos into a single ultra-wide view -
1/4000 s -
30 s
cons
-
6.78 s -
Jan, 2012 -
131 x 97 x 126 mm -
126 mm -
687 g
Reviews Word on the street
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|---|---|
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 | Rated by 76 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by pbp4Katie--pbp4katie (Jul, 2012) Rated 100% by by Arch-Stanton (Jul, 2012) Rated 100% by by stitchhappy (May, 2012) |
Lens
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)The Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR's 30x zoom lens provides a focal length of 24-720mm in 35mm terms, as demonstrated below.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)This incredibly versatile lens offers a focal range starting at an ultra-wide 24mm and finishing at an ultra-telephoto 720mm, which, as Fujifilm cannily point out, would take at least two super-zoom DSLR lenses to offer similar reach.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 100% by by ProSound (Dec, 2012)This camera is amazing, you can absolutely get close in on all types of subject matter and they focus in clean and tight and can get some awesome Macro results.
Sensor
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)Other highlights of the HS30 EXR include a 16 megapixel EXR Back Side Illuminated CMOS sensor, a 3-inch tilting 460k-dot LCD monitor, 920k-dot electronic viewfinder with eye-sensor for automatic switching, and full 1080p HD movie recording with stereo sound.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)To help avoid blur resulting from camera shake when shooting in low light or hand-holding the camera at the telephoto extremity of the zoom, Fujifilm have added a 'belt and braces' solution of high ISO sensitivity, stretching up to ISO 12800 at full resolution (Small JPEG only), a built-in mechanical stabilizer with Continuous or Shooting Only modes, and digital image stabilisation too if required.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 80% by by Donald-W.-Dejarnette--EMA-person (Apr, 2012)JPEG enhancement is excellent and usually beats my ability to process RAW files.
Zoom
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)The Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR is a bridge compact camera with a massive 30x zoom lens, full 1080p movies with stereo sound, 3 inch tilting LCD screen, 8fps burst shooting and a 16 megapixel back-illuminated EXR sensor with RAW support.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 20% by by kurvbal (Oct, 2012)The resolution and crispness of images with this camera is terrible, even in broad daylight with minimal zoom being used; images are SOFT SOFT SOFT.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 100% by by Arch-Stanton (Jul, 2012)In fact the zoom lens is adjusted mechanically by twisting it, a must for me since it allows for greater control and accuracy.
Image quality
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 100% by by Emily-Martino (Dec, 2012)I was shooting 11 fps and every image is sharp and the low light has incredible depth ans detail.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)It definitely fits the bill as a great all-rounder and a real alternative to a DSLR, just so long as you don't expect DSLR-like image quality.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 100% by by derick (Jan, 2013)This is a very good Camara and the image quality is outstanding if you are looking for a Camara that is at a good price but want the pro image and feel this is the one.
Focus
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 100% by by Arch-Stanton (Jul, 2012)Changing the aperture and the shutter speed is pretty simple and there is a manual focus dial that makes it quite easy to use.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 80% by by Donald-W.-Dejarnette--EMA-person (Apr, 2012)Focus is faster and more accurate than the HS-20.
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR | Rated 60% by by John-SturgeonBut also to be honest about it, less than half of all the shots I took were very clearly in focus at all, using both manual focus and auto focus.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Canon EOS 1100D Largest sensor Canon EOS 1100D vs Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR |
 | 2 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Most detailed video recording mode Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 vs Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR |
 | 3 | Fujifilm X-S1 Many more contrast-detection focus points X-S1 vs FinePix HS30 EXR |
 | 7 | Fujifilm FinePix HS25 EXR Rated the best by consumers HS25 EXR vs HS30 EXR |
 | 8 | Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR Highest resolution screen HS50EXR vs HS30 EXR |
New duel?
Let the battle continue or dare to compare.
Editions Editions of the Fujifilm HS33 EXR / HS30 EXR
| Price | Edition | Model | Continents | Compare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | HS30 EXR | North America | | ||||
 | | HS33 EXR | Europe | | ||||
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