Fujifilm X-T3 vs X-T30 two years on which one still lives in my bag
Two years ago I bought both the X-T3 and the X-T30 with the intention of selling whichever I used less. Neither got sold. Both earned their keep on different jobs, and picking a single favourite has been harder than I expected. The Australian dollar was already punishing back then, so justifying two bodies only worked if they pulled different weight rather than duplicating it.
After plenty of street walks through Melbourne's laneways, a few wet mornings at Bondi, and a long weekend chasing light along the Tasmanian coast, the answer is fair dinkum hard to call. Here is how the two cameras have settled into my kit, and which one I keep reaching for now that the honeymoon period is well and truly over.
Two bodies, two different jobs
The X-T3 has become my event and travel body, the one I trust when conditions shift quickly or when clients are watching. Its weather sealing handled a misty dawn at the Twelve Apostles without complaint, and the larger grip is friendlier during long handheld sessions at a wedding. The deeper buffer also matters when I shoot bursts at Winkipop on the Gold Coast, where the light changes inside two seconds.
The X-T30 turned into my everyday walk-around camera, the one I carry on the train from Central to Redfern or when wandering the Queen Victoria Market with a coffee in hand. It is light enough that I forget it is there, and small enough to slip into a coat pocket with the 27mm pancake attached. The trade-off is real: the smaller grip and lack of dedicated dials mean I work the camera slower when the light drops.
Side-by-side at a glance
| Feature | Fujifilm X-T3 | Fujifilm X-T30 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 | 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 |
| Autofocus | 425 points, better tracking | 425 points, slower in low light |
| EVF | 0.5" OLED, 3.69M dots | 0.39" OLED, 2.36M dots |
| Burst | 11 fps mechanical, 20 fps electronic | 8 fps mechanical, 20 fps electronic |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit | 4K/30p 8-bit with crop |
| Weather sealing | Yes | No |
| Weight | 539 g | 383 g |
| Card slots | Dual UHS-II | Single UHS-I |
The table makes the X-T3 look like the obvious winner on raw specs, but specs don't shoot photos. Two years of regular use has taught me that the lighter camera gets used more often, and the used-more-often camera produces more keepers.
Where the X-T3 still earns its keep
For paid work, the X-T3 is the body I trust. The dual card slots give peace of mind during a wedding toast or a corporate shoot in a Sydney boardroom, and the larger EVF is a genuine help when framing in harsh midday light. The deeper grip also matters when I attach longer lenses like the 50-140mm for a sporting event at Olympic Park. Battery life is noticeably better too, which matters when shooting all day without wanting to carry a bank of spares.
Video is the other obvious win. The X-T3's 4K 60p 10-bit output has been useful for hybrid jobs where a client wants both stills and short clips. The X-T30 cannot keep up on that front, and the crop on its 4K makes wide shots harder to frame.
Where the X-T30 quietly wins
The X-T30 carved out a role I did not anticipate: travel and family camera. On a recent trip through Hobart and the Huon Valley, it stayed in my hand or bag at all times, while the X-T3 stayed at home. The lighter weight makes a difference after a full day of walking, and the smaller body is less intimidating when photographing people not used to being photographed.
Autofocus is close enough for most situations, and image quality from the shared sensor is essentially identical. The film simulations, including Classic Chrome and Classic Neg, render the same on both bodies. For pure image quality, there is no meaningful difference. It is also the body I take when heading overseas for short breaks — the kind of trip where street food market vouchers for places like Copenhagen's Torvehallerne end up being half the fun, and the camera needs to stay out of the way.
Lessons from two years of ownership
A few hard-won notes for anyone choosing between these cameras today:
- The X-T30's battery warning comes on with little notice. Buy a third-party spare early.
- The X-T3 benefits enormously from the grip extension if you use longer lenses.
- Both cameras share the same sensor, so lens choice matters more than body choice for image quality.
- The X-T30's lack of weather sealing is a real limitation, not a marketing footnote.
- Firmware updates have genuinely improved autofocus on both bodies since launch.
Daily shooting habits two years in
If I had to keep one camera tomorrow, it would be the X-T30, simply because I use it more often. The best camera is the one you actually carry, and the smaller body wins that argument every time. That said, the X-T3 still comes out for any paid job, any wet day, and any shoot where video is on the brief.
The real surprise has been how well both cameras have aged. Fujifilm's ongoing firmware support has kept them competitive, and the X-T30 II refresh only confirmed that the original was already a sweet spot for most shooters.
Choosing between them in 2026
After two years, here is the simple breakdown I give friends who ask which to buy:
Pick the X-T3 if you shoot:
- Weddings, events, or paid commercial work
- Video that requires 4K 60p or 10-bit colour
- Long days where dual card slots and weather sealing matter
Pick the X-T30 if you shoot:
- Street, travel, and family photography
- Shorter outings where weight matters more than specs
- Anything where you want a lighter, less intimidating camera
Both cameras are excellent choices and neither will disappoint a Fuji shooter. The honest answer is that two years on, I still use both, and I suspect most people who buy either will too.
Grab your favourite body and get out shooting this weekend. The light over Circular Quay at sunrise is hard to beat, and the coffee at any Sydney cafe afterwards is the perfect reward. If you ever need a break from editing and want something completely different, exploring new hobbies online is a surprisingly common rabbit hole among photographers I know.