Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR (Black) review: Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR (Black)

Fujifilm's 30x zoom HS-series camera hasn't changed much from generation to generation. It more or less just gets fine-tuned, and that's the case with the 2012 version, the FinePix HS30EXR.

7.9

Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR (Black)

The Good

The <b>Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR</b> has a great design and feature set for those who like to do more than leave their camera in auto. It also has several shooting options to improve photo quality for difficult lighting.

The Bad

Getting the best results from the HS30EXR can require a lot of effort and even then its photos might not be good enough for some.

The Bottom Line

Fujifilm's FinePix HS30EXR is a capable megazoom for those who like the controls of an SLR, but not the expense and weight of one.

For example, this newest version gets a redesigned manual zoom for smoother movement and a larger, ultrahigh-resolution electronic viewfinder. It also gets rid of the AA batteries in favor of a lithium ion rechargeable giving it excellent battery life. (Check out the HS25EXR if you want AA batteries instead.) 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.

It's not a huge step forward by any means, but it is a better camera and continues to have one of the best designs for users who really like to take control of their results. On the other hand, just because it looks like a digital SLR does not mean you're getting an SLR.

Photo quality
As with most compact cameras, photo quality really comes down to expectations and what you plan to do with your photos. In general, the HS30EXR's photos are very good, and it is capable of taking some excellent shots. However, it may take a lot of adjusting of settings, shooting in raw, or experimenting with its EXR modes to get the best results. If that's not something you're willing to do, this probably isn't a good choice. Its EXR Auto mode is very good as auto-shooting modes go, but even tweaking that mode's settings can get you better shots.

Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR sample pictures

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Basically, if you're considering this expecting digital SLR photo quality for this price with its lens and features, you're going to be disappointed. If you understand that this is essentially a point-and-shoot camera with a lot of control and a long lens, you'll probably be thrilled with what the camera can produce under the right conditions. My main issue with the results is that there's a lot of visible artifacts when photos were viewed at larger sizes, and subjects look soft. Both of these can be corrected to some extent by shooting and processing its raw files, though. You can read more about the camera's picture quality in the slideshow above as well as view full-size photos.

Shooting performance

The HS30EXR is pretty much on par with other cameras in its class in terms of shooting performance, which is an improvement over past models. From off to first shot took 1.8 seconds in our lab tests, though it felt a touch faster. From shot to shot it averaged about 1.2 seconds and its shutter lag -- the time it takes from pressing the shutter release to capture without prefocusing -- was very good at 0.3 second in bright lighting. However, it does slow down some in low light, with about 0.6 second lag. The autofocus also gets noticeably slower with the lens extended, which is typical for megazooms.

The HS30EXR has a lot of burst shooting options to pick from depending on what resolution you want to use. At 16 megapixels you get 3 frames per second (in raw plus JPEG, too), though our lab tests clocked it at up to 5.6fps. If you're OK with smaller, 8-megapixel images (and you should be), you can get up to a fast 11fps.

Focus and exposure are set with the first shot, though, so for really fast-moving subjects all of your shots may not be in focus. This is typical of most burst modes on compact cameras. Also, although the camera can continue to shoot continuously up to 200 shots, the speed drops significantly after the initial burst. For example, at full resolution, after about four or five photos it gets much slower. It's better to release, let it store your images, and shoot again.

The HS30EXR hasn't changed much at all from previous models, which is a very good thing. It is similar in size, weight, and appearance to an entry-level digital SLR. It might be a compact camera, but it's not small. A large, deep hand grip on the right allows you hold it securely, helped by a rubberized coating and a slight indent for your middle finger to rest in. (There's an ample thumb rest on back, too.)

On top at the front of the grip is the shutter release with a ring around it for quickly powering the camera on and off. Just behind the shutter are exposure compensation and continuous-shooting buttons. Behind those are the ergonomically slanted Mode and Command dials; the angle puts them in easy reach of your thumb.

Similar to button layouts you'd find on a dSLR, the HS30EXR has a row of direct-setting buttons down the left side of the LCD: ISO, metering modes, autofocus areas, focus modes, and white balance. You simply press the button for what you'd like to adjust and spin the Command dial.

Jumping to the right of the LCD is a discrete button for recording video; an AE/AF lock button; a four-way control pad with a Menu/OK button at its center; a Disp/Back button for changing shooting information onscreen and navigating out of a menu option; and a playback button for viewing photos and video.

The control pad can be used for menu navigation and in lieu of the Command dial. It also changes flash, self-timer, and macro settings, and one programmable function button that can be set to change things like raw, film simulation, and image quality modes. The control setup is excellent and continues to be one of the best layouts I've seen on a megazoom camera.

The LCD tilts from the body so you can see what you're shooting with the camera above or below eye level. It does not swing out to the side or rotate, though, so you can't use it for shooting from the side or framing shots if you're in front of the camera. There's an electronic viewfinder that is slightly larger and high resolution, which actually made it pleasurable to use. It's still small, but bigger and better than you'll find on competing models. Fujifilm built in a proximity sensor to the right of it as well, so as you bring the camera to your eye, and the view will quickly switch from the LCD to the EVF. On top of the eyepiece is a hot shoe for adding an external flash. The camera can be used with units that provide aperture adjustment, external metering, and sensitivity control.

The lens is, of course, the main attraction here, going from an ultrawide-angle 24mm with a maximum aperture of f2.8, out to a very, very long 720mm with a maximum aperture of f5.6. The lens is threaded, too, for use with 58mm filters, and a lens hood is included.

There is no motor for the zoom; it's manual, operated by rotating a wide lens ring. It's great for fast control when framing shots, and as the lens extends there are markings on the barrel and the lens ring so you can see your focal length. Since it is manual, you can use it while recording video, too. The movement is smooth, though you still may jerk the camera some when using it and if you're not careful you'll here a knock when the lens hits the 720mm mark. At the back of the lens where it meets the camera body is a manual focus ring.

Shooting modes range from Auto (with or without scene recognition) to semimanual and manual controls. In manual mode, available shutter speeds start at 30 seconds and go down to 1/4,000 second (though they're dependent on the ISO used); selectable apertures are f2.8, 3.2, 3.6, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.6, 6.4, 7.1, 8, 9, 10, and 11 at wide end, and f5.6, 6.4, 7.1, 8, 9, 10, and 11 at the long end. Again, because of the camera's control layout, using this camera outside of Auto is a pleasure; if you want fast access to settings, this is your point-and-shoot.

Of course, Fujifilm includes its EXR options as well. These consist of High Resolution Priority, D-Range Priority, and High Sensitivity & Low Noise Priority. The High Resolution Priority setting uses the full 16-megapixel resolution for photos, while the other two shoot at 8 megapixels to improve dynamic range in high-contrast scenes or reduce noise in low-light photos. (Fujifilm's site has a full explanation of the EXR technology if you're interested.) If you're not sure which to use, there's an Auto EXR mode that includes scene recognition and that can also recognize which EXR Priority option to use. It's effective and reliable as long as you're OK with the possibility that you'll end up with 8-megapixel photos if the D-Range and High ISO & Low Noise Priority modes are used for your shot.

The Advanced mode gives you a few more tools to work with that take advantage of the camera's speedy sensor: Pro Low-light and Pro Focus. The Low-light mode snaps off several photos and then combines them into one lower-noise photo, while the Pro Focus creates a shallow depth of field by digitally blurring the background. (The former works better than the latter.) In this mode you'll also find a cool multiple exposure option that lets you layer one shot on top of another.

That's just some of the things you can do with this camera. For more details you can check out my sample picture slideshow, or visit Fujifilm's site.

The Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR is a near-excellent megazoom camera. To me, this camera seems more geared toward advanced users who appreciate the extras like a hot shoe, direct controls of settings, and raw support. But these are also users who would expect the best photo quality to go along with those options and that just not here. That's not to say that it can't take some very good photos; it can. But you'll have to work with it and understand that even still, you won't be getting digital SLR quality just because of the way it looks.

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Typical shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim)

Shutter lag (typical)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

1.9 

1 

0.8 

0.3 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

1.7 

1.1 

0.3 

0.2 

Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR

1.8 

1.2 

0.6 

0.3 

Nikon Coolpix P510

1.1 

1.6 

0.7 

0.4 

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

1.6 

2.5 

0.6 

0.4 

Typical continuous-shooting speed (in frames per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Typical continuous-shooting speed

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

12 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

10.2 

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

10 

Nikon Coolpix P510

6.4 

Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR

5.6 

Find out more about how we test digital cameras.