In very harsh lighting situations, this allows you to maximize the dynamic range of the sensor for your JPEGs beyond anything Fujifilm has offered before. Fast-forward to 2022, and the X-T30 II represents only a modest upgrade; although considering that the original camera was so good, that’s perhaps no surprise. Fujifilm makes some of the best mid-range cameras on the market, and with its cracking sensor, fast shooting, good autofocus, and decent video options, the Fujifilm X-T30 II is a versatile all-rounder that suits a variety of genres.

Whilst it doesn't claim to be an astrophotography camera, we were still pleasantly surprised with the detail picked out on the moon even when shooting handheld (when zoomed in as we were using an 18-55mm lens). ISO 12,800 gets just a little noisier, and ISO 25,600 and 51,200 are noisier still and get rattier, but still quite usable. The many different film simulation modes are also great fun to experiment with; the two new options for the X-T30 II are Classic Neg and ETERNA Bleach Bypass, bringing the total number of simulations now available to 18. Once you get your menus and camera set as you want it it shoots fast due to all the dials, but unless you use your camera often you'll forget where to find things.

Between the improved sharpening and the extra 2-megapixels of resolution, JPEGs from the X-T30 appear more crisp, rich and detailed than those from the X-T20. You’ll get fabulous pictures, an attractively styled body, access to a good range of lenses and a slew of useful specs.

The high-resolution capability is coupled with exceptional AF performance that delivers fast, silent and highly accurate autofocus in both stills and video. Use X-T30 II’s Color Chrome effects to add depth, detail, and natural vividness to red, green, or yellow tones in your image where saturation is too high to achieve true gradation; or use Color Chrome FX Blue to adjust values in just the blue tones of an image. A comparable but slightly cheaper camera would be Canon's Rebel SL3/250D, however the X-T30 II 'wins' with more megapixels, more autofocus points, a better ISO range, more connectivity options and a higher max burst shooting speed.All these adjustments are displayed live in the EVF and on the LCD touchscreen, for you to create great-looking effects and save them as presets. Interestingly, if you’re using the electronic shutter, there’s also a ‘Pre-shot’ burst mode, which records images so long as you keep the shutter button half-pressed, saving those captured up to a second before you fully press the shutter, and hopefully ensuring that the moment is successfully captured. This isn’t a chunky camera, but it still feels relatively secure and comfortable in your hand; those with large hands may find it just a little on the small side, in which case we’d probably recommend the X-S10 instead. But that’s not to say you don’t get some excellent specs for your cash – and indeed in many ways it’s a very similar camera to the superb Fujifilm X-S10.

If the retro look is your bag and image sensor size isn't important then take a look at the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. Although it has a much slower FPS rate, this has 21 scene modes (versus 18), the same level of connectivity options and has 5-stop in body image stabilization, something the X-T30 II is lacking and relies upon lenses for. A frustration of the original X-T30 was this button’s placement – it’s awkwardly situated on the thumb grip, and it’s ridiculously easy to push it when you don’t want to, and conversely slightly hard to find when you do. The number of Film Simulation modes, built using over 85 years of colour science expertise, have been expanded with the addition of CLASSIC Neg.

Whilst we're on that note, we need to mention how easy it is to move files between your camera and a smartphone or tablet. You can also enable notifications for firmware updates, then download and install them remotely, without the need for a computer. Taking only stills I don’t need Ibis and also the usability of x-t4’s LCD is not good for me (I prefer tilt for full sviwel).

It’s worth going for the higher-quality 18-55mm lens if you’ve got the budget, and the space in your bag. That said, if you already have the original X-T30, or have a little more budget to spend, it’s worth looking further up the line. Film simulations and jpg’s straight from camera were important, but deciding factor between those three options was the size. One of the disadvantages of a smaller than full-frame sensor is that low-light shooting can result in noisier images. X-T30 II’s Intelligent Hybrid Phase Detection autofocus system delivers sharp, clear results in very dark interiors or low-light situations.This new-generation prime lens delivers exceptional image sharpness plus fast, silent and highly accurate AF in both stills and video. From a mild texture to the gritty look of a traditional high-ISO film, with X-T30 II you can easily add natural-looking grain to your photos in camera, controlling its intensity and size for perfect results.