FujiFilm T300 vs Sony HX30V: A Thorough Comparison of Two Compact Superzoom Cameras

When exploring the realm of compact cameras with significant zoom capabilities, the FujiFilm FinePix T300 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V emerge as two intriguing contenders. Both cater to photographers seeking portability without sacrificing the reach of a superzoom lens, but their design philosophies and feature sets cater to subtly different users. Having spent extensive time hands-on with both models in a variety of shooting scenarios, I find that comparing these two sheds light not only on their technical abilities, but also their real-world usability and intended photographic niches. Let’s dive in.

How They Feel in Your Hands: Ergonomics and Build Quality

Handling a compact camera for anything beyond casual snapshots demands good ergonomics, especially when stretching focal lengths into superzoom territory. The FujiFilm T300 leans into a pocket-friendly, streamlined compact form factor, weighing just 151 grams and measuring a trim 97 x 57 x 28mm. The Sony HX30V is a chunkier 254 grams and noticeably deeper at 107 x 62 x 35mm, reflecting its more complex zoom mechanics and advanced feature set.

Holding the T300, I appreciated how the slim profile slips easily into my jacket pocket, perfect for travel or street shooting when minimalism counts. Its somewhat softer plastic finish offers decent grip, although prolonged use revealed a few creaks and a hint of lightness that could confuse users expecting more heft. Conversely, the HX30V exudes sturdiness with a more dense body and grippier rubberized texture. The larger grip contour fits my fingers well, lending confidence during extended outdoor shoots - especially wildlife or sports photography where secure handling is vital.

The bigger, heavier Sony demands a dedicated camera pocket or strap, which might deter casual users but appeals to those prioritizing control and stability.

Control Layout: Navigating Features on the Fly

Neither camera features an electronic viewfinder, so LCD usability takes center stage, but button layout and physical controls matter greatly for rapid adjustments in dynamic shooting.

The Fuji T300’s top deck is minimalistic - power and shutter buttons only, reinforcing its straightforward design ethos. There’s no manual exposure dial or shutter priority mode, limiting creative control out-of-the-box. In contrast, Sony’s HX30V sports a cluster of function buttons and a mode dial that includes manual exposure options, exposure compensation, and quick access to ISO and white balance. This makes the HX30V far better suited for motivated photographers who want more direct control without diving into menus.

Neither camera offers touchscreen interfaces, with Fuji’s 2.7” TFT LCD falling behind Sony’s 3” XtraFine TruBlack panel in both resolution (230k vs 922k dots) and viewing angle quality. This difference is immediately noticeable when composing outdoors in harsh sunlight or checking fine details on shots.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras sport the common 1/2.3” sensor size (6.17 x 4.55 mm sensor area), a compact format typical of superzoom compacts to keep costs and lens sizes manageable. Here they diverge in sensor technology and resolution:

• FujiFilm T300: 14MP CCD sensor with anti-aliasing filter
• Sony HX30V: 18MP BSI-CMOS sensor with anti-aliasing filter

The Fuji’s CCD sensor beds well with its moderate resolution and color science, providing rich and true-to-life colors but falters in low light due to inherently slower readout speed and less light sensitivity. The Sony’s back-illuminated CMOS sensor, with nearly 30% more pixels, generally yields sharper results with better noise control at high ISOs - its max native ISO telescopes to ISO 12800 (compared to Fuji’s ISO 1600) giving Sony a significant advantage in dim conditions or night photography.

In practical landscape shooting, I noticed Fuji capturing pleasing skin tones and vivid greens alike, but shadows can clip more quickly, and fine detail can soften in lower lighting. Sony resolves more detail and dynamic range, especially at ISO 800 and above, where Fuji’s images become notably grainy.

Both cameras lack RAW support, which means enthusiasts and professionals wanting flexible post-processing will find this limiting - a typical compromise in this compact superzoom class.

Zoom Lenses and Focal Range: Reach and Optics in Action

A key reason to pick these cameras is their versatile zoom. The Fuji T300 offers a 10x zoom from 28mm wide angle to 280mm telephoto (35mm equivalent), while the Sony HX30V doubles that reach with a whopping 20x zoom covering 25-500mm.

While Fuji starts just a little wider, Sony’s longer reach opens many more possibilities for distant wildlife, sports, or candid street shots without physically getting closer.

The aperture ranges are similar, with Fuji’s lens varying from f/3.4 wide open to f/5.6 at maximum zoom, and Sony’s from f/3.2 to f/5.8. These moderate apertures limit low-light reach somewhat and make achieving shallow depth of field challenging.

Sony strikes a win in macro capability with a roughly 1cm minimum focusing distance versus Fuji’s 5cm, making close-up detail or insect photography easier and more rewarding, especially when paired with steady hands or a tripod.

Autofocus Performance: Speed and Accuracy in Different Contexts

Autofocus performance can make or break candid moments, and superzoom cameras often struggle with slower focus at long focal lengths.

The FujiFilm T300 relies on contrast-detection AF with an unknown number of focus points. Its single continuous shooting mode drops down to 1 frame per second, which coupled with a mid-speed AF system means sports or wildlife action captured can be a hit-or-miss affair, with occasional hunting in lower light.

Sony offers a more sophisticated contrast-detection system with 9 selectable focus points, multi-area AF, and face/detect tracking. While not blazing fast compared to mirrorless or DSLR systems, it feels notably snappier and more reliable, especially on continuous single AF exercises and moderately paced bursts up to 10 fps (albeit with AF locked on first frame).

In practice, I observed Sony’s autofocus able to lock on bird wings in flight and track runners in the park better than Fuji’s more hesitant and less precise system. Neither camera provides eye or animal eye detection autofocus, so portraits still require manual attention to focus.

Image Stabilization: Steady Shots Across the Zoom Range

Superzoom cameras tend to magnify handshake issues, making stabilization a crucial feature.

Fuji implements sensor-shift image stabilization, which physically moves the sensor to compensate for minor camera shakes. Sony uses optical image stabilization embedded in the lens - a tried and true method, often more effective for telephoto reach.

During handheld telephoto shooting, especially at longer focal lengths, Sony’s OIS noticeably increased the percentage of sharp shots, especially in lower light or slower shutter speeds. Fuji’s sensor-shift did help, but was less aggressive in counteracting the usual camera vibrations at 280mm equivalent.

For video, optical stabilization is generally better at smoothing motion, and Sony’s systems provided calmer, less jittery footage, supporting its stronger credentials as a casual video shooter.

Video Recording: Capabilities for Casual Filmmakers

Video quality might not be the primary concern for compact superzooms of this generation, but it’s worth discussing:

• FujiFilm T300: Offers HD video at 1280 x 720 (30 fps) in Motion JPEG format.
• Sony HX30V: Supports full HD 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps along with lower resolutions, recorded in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats.

The Fuji’s video output feels dated at standard definition levels with blocky compression and limited frame rate options, limiting smooth motion capture. Meanwhile, Sony delivers smoother, higher resolution video with realistic colors and decent detail.

Neither camera provides microphone or headphone ports, limiting audio control. Both lack touchscreen or advanced video autofocus modes like continuous AF during recording, but Sony edges ahead as better for casual video documentation.

User Interface and Viewing Experience

The Fuji’s 2.7-inch, 230k-dot TFT LCD limits fine focusing and playback evaluation, especially in bright daylight. Sony’s 3-inch, 922k-dot XtraFine TruBlack display is a clear winner with sharp clarity, deeper blacks, and improved contrast, making review and menu navigation far more usable.

Both cameras forego electronic viewfinders, a common compromise in this price and size segment, so they rely on LCD framing only - inconvenient when shooting in harsh light, a factor that bumps importance back to screen quality.

Sony HX30V offers a built-in GPS, allowing geotagging - a feature Fuji completely omits.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Sony HX30V offers almost double the battery life of Fuji T300, rated at 320 versus 180 shots per charge. In field use, this amounts to significantly longer shooting sessions without worry, impacting travel and event photographers directly.

Both cameras use proprietary rechargeable packs but different models: NP-45A (Fuji) and NP-BG1 (Sony). This is worth noting if upgrading or replacing batteries.

Storage-wise, Fuji supports SD/SDHC cards only, while Sony provides greater flexibility with SD/SDHC/SDXC cards alongside Memory Stick Duo formats - good for future-proofing storage needs.

Handling Different Photography Disciplines

Let’s now zoom out and examine how these two cameras perform across diverse photographic genres, grounding technical specs in practical, scenario-based insights.

Portrait Photography

Skin tone rendering and background blur matter here. Fuji’s CCD sensor provides pleasing natural skin tones, a Fuji hallmark going back decades, but limited aperture and small 1/2.3” sensor restrict bokeh quality.

Sony’s higher resolution CMOS sensor and longer reach zoom offer more framing flexibility and face detection autofocus - helpful for sharper portraits. That said, neither camera achieves shallow DoF separation like larger sensor cameras.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range is a weak point for these compacts, with both cameras limited in highlight and shadow recovery. Sony’s CMOS sensor outperforms Fuji’s CCD, affording crisper files with more detail, especially when hand-held at ISO 100-400.

Neither camera sports weather sealing, limiting harsh environment use. The Sony’s longer zoom permits tighter framing on distant subjects in landscapes, but the Fuji’s lighter weight aids in trekking.

Wildlife Photography

Sony’s 20x zoom and faster autofocus make it the clear choice here. Fuji T300’s 10x zoom is useful for casual wildlife but struggles with fast-moving subjects.

Continuous shooting at 10 fps on the HX30V beats Fuji’s 1 fps, crucial for action sequences. Fuji’s lesser AF tracking misses more frames.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, continuous shooting speed and AF tracking are key. Sony shines with faster burst rates and better tracking, though neither camera truly fulfills professional sports requirements.

Street Photography

Fuji’s smaller size and lighter weight make it more discreet and easier to carry for street photographers valuing portability. Sony’s larger size and longer zoom add some bulk and attention, but benefit from longer reach and better image quality. Both cameras lack silent shutter options, so candid shooting requires cautious technique.

Macro Photography

Sony’s 1 cm macro focusing trumpets over Fuji’s 5 cm, enabling detailed close-ups with less working distance. Coupled with steady hands, this can yield impressive results for flora or small objects.

Night and Astro Photography

ISO performance is Fuji’s Achilles’ heel here. Sony’s high ISO capability (up to 12800) and better noise control theoretically open mild astrophotography, but small sensor size limits image quality, producing significant noise at longer exposures.

Neither camera offers bulb mode or specialized astro features.

Video Capabilities

Sony’s full HD 60 fps video with dual recording formats appeals to enthusiasts wanting casual high-definition clips. Fuji’s HD video is serviceable but dated.

Neither camera offers advanced video features like image stabilization tunable for video, microphone inputs, or 4K recording.

Travel Photography

For travel, Fuji’s lightweight, pocketable body paired with versatile 10x zoom is attractive for casual day trips.

Sony's added zoom, better battery life, GPS tagging, and superior LCD make it better suited for longer excursions or wildlife safaris, where weight is less a factor than capability.

Professional Work

Neither camera fits the bill for serious professional work due to no RAW support, limited controls, and small sensor size. Fuji’s simplicity suits casual users; Sony’s manual modes offer more creative freedom but still fall short for pro workflows.

FujiFilm T300 front FujiFilm T300 screen back Sony HX30V front Sony HX30V screen back

Connectivity and Additional Features

Sony edges out Fuji with built-in GPS and HDMI out, useful for geotagging and media playback on HD TVs.

Both cameras lack Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, limiting modern wireless sharing conveniences. USB 2.0 is standard on both with no charging in-camera.

Flash range also differs - Fuji’s built-in flash illuminates up to 2.6 m, while Sony’s reaches 7.1 m, improving low-light fill around portraits or events.

Price and Value: What Does Your Buck Get?

Street pricing varies, but the Fuji T300 averages about $250, while Sony HX30V sits closer to $420. For roughly $170 more, Sony offers substantially more features, better image quality, higher zoom reach, and improved durability metrics.

For budget buyers prioritizing simplicity and portability, Fuji remains attractive. For users demanding more creative control, advanced video, and shooting flexibility, Sony justifies the premium.

Our Final Take: Which Camera Fits You?

When investing in a compact superzoom camera, consider your shooting priorities carefully:

• Choose FujiFilm T300 if: You want a pocket-sized, light camera for casual travel, street, or everyday snapshots, prioritize straightforward automatic shooting with decent color over speed or flexibility, and are on a tighter budget.

• Opt for Sony HX30V if: You want greater zoom reach, faster autofocus and burst rates for wildlife or casual sports, an improved sensor that performs better in low light and videos in full HD, better ergonomic handling, and added features like GPS.

Final Thoughts From My Experience

The FujiFilm FinePix T300 is a neat little camera for those entering the superzoom compact category with simplicity in mind. It’s quick to use but limited in creative features and handling finesse. The Sony Cyber-shot HX30V feels like a more thoughtfully engineered beast, offering serious all-around improvement - from sensor and lens to usability - lifting it into the realm of serious enthusiasts and travel photographers.

Neither is perfect: Fuji’s aging CCD sensor and low burst speed frustrate action shooters, while Sony’s larger size precludes stealth. My own field testing in fast-changing outdoor environments consistently favored the Sony for its responsiveness and image quality. If size and budget trump all? Fuji does the job admirably.

Either way, I’d strongly suggest trying each camera physically before purchase, as their handling and feature set determine which will align best with your photographic style.

I hope this detailed, hands-on comparison equips you with the insight needed to make an informed choice between these two solid superzoom compacts! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out - aftermarket options and accessories can also tilt the balance depending on your shooting needs. Happy shooting!