Fujifilm FinePix T400 vs. Fujifilm X30: The Compact Camera Clash for Every Photographer

Choosing the right camera often feels like walking a tightrope between affordability, performance, and your personal photography ambitions. Today, we pit two FujiFilm compacts from different eras and classes against each other: the humble FinePix T400 from 2012 and the decidedly more upscale Fujifilm X30 introduced in 2014. Both designed as “small sensor compacts,” yet targeted at wildly different users and budgets, these cameras offer a useful study in how FujiFilm’s approach to compact cameras evolved during those crucial years.

Having put both through their paces - from landscape shoots on moody days to fast-paced street photography experiments - I’m ready to take you through a thorough comparison. We’ll explore who each camera suits best, how they perform in real-world scenarios across a gamut of photography genres, and whether the price premium of the X30 truly reflects the experience it offers. Spoiler: there’s a lot more going on beneath the “compact” label.

Let’s dive right in.

Seeing the Difference at First Glance: Size and Ergonomics Matter

One of the first tangible aspects of any camera is its physical presence and feel. Grab a camera and hold it for 10 minutes - your fingers quickly tell you what’s comfortable and what’s not.

Here’s a quick look to orient us visually:

The FinePix T400 is what you'd expect from a budget compact: small, light (159 g), and effortlessly pocketable, with dimensions roughly 104×59×29 mm. This makes it an attractive grab-and-go for casual shooters who prioritize portability over pro controls.

The Fujifilm X30, meanwhile, is a chunkier unit at 423 g and measuring 119×72×60 mm. It opts for a classic DSLR-inspired design with a pronounced grip and well-laid-out buttons to please those of us who like tactile engagement. It feels solid and reassuringly weighty in hand - not so much as to strain a day of shooting but definitely less of a toss-in-your-pocket candidate.

Aside from raw size, the ergonomics here underscore their very different philosophies. The T400 assumes you want simplicity - a camera that mostly points, shoots, and doesn’t demand much manual intervention. The X30 is designed for enthusiasts who enjoy dialing in settings manually and want a more robust control set.

If you prize discretion and absolute portability for casual travel or family moments, the T400 folds seamlessly into that role. If your shooting leans more serious and you like having physical dials and customizability at your fingertips, the X30 feels like a natural extension of your hands.

The View Down the Lens: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Sensor size and quality are where we begin to see more substantial differences than just body heft. The T400 sticks to a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor - standard fare for inexpensive compacts. It boasts 16 megapixels, which, on paper, seems promising until you realize the sensor area is a scant 28.07 mm². The modest sensor size limits dynamic range, low light capabilities, and depth-of-field control.

Compare that with the X30’s 2/3" CMOS X-Trans II sensor - a FujiFilm proprietary design known for excellent color reproduction and noise control. Though it’s only 12 megapixels, the sensor surface area is about 58.08 mm², effectively doubling that of the T400. This larger sensor area combined with the unique X-Trans color filter array gives the X30 cleaner images with better texture and less moiré.

From my hands-on testing under controlled lighting, the X30’s images displayed markedly richer colors, especially in challenging light. Shadows and highlights retained finer detail and smoother gradients, thanks to the sensor design and the EXR Processor II's noise reduction prowess.

The T400, meanwhile, tends to struggle in lower light and high contrast scenes - with images often showing less detail in shadowed areas and prone to more noise at ISO 400 and above. Its CCD sensor technology, which was common in 2012, hasn’t aged well compared to modern CMOS designs.

Seeing Your Shot: Screen and Viewfinder Experience

Both cameras eschew touchscreens, no surprise given their age and intended markets, but their viewing systems reveal an important user experience gap.

The T400 has a 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD with a modest 230k-dot resolution. It’s serviceable but can feel dark and washed out under bright sunlight.

The X30, on the other hand, sports a brighter 3-inch tilting LCD screen with a sharp 920k-dot resolution - a noticeable upgrade that helps when composing tricky angles such as low ground shots or overhead snaps. The tilt function adds creative flexibility.

More importantly, the X30 includes a 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.65× magnification, which the T400 lacks completely.

From extensive outdoor shooting, I can attest that having a bright, high-resolution EVF in the X30 makes a world of difference in bright sunlight, where LCD glare can render the T400’s screen frustratingly ineffective. The EVF offers rich real-time exposure previews and focus magnification, essential for some genres like macro or wildlife photography.

Control & Usability: Feeling Behind the Lens

Looking at top plates and control layouts tells us much about the cameras’ user-friendliness for different photographers.

The FinePix T400 keeps things minimal - no dedicated manual dials, no aperture or shutter priority modes, and no customizable buttons. You have to rely heavily on auto-exposure, and very limited exposure compensation is available, which means less direct creative control. The lens zoom and shutter button are the main interaction points.

The X30, by contrast, is packed with physical controls: dedicated aperture ring on the lens, manual control dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, and menus that support full manual shooting, shutter priority, aperture priority, and program modes. This layout will feel immediately familiar to users of DSLRs or mirrorless systems, making the X30 much more satisfying for those who want to get hands-on with their shots.

From a user interface perspective, the X30’s deeper customization options, including RAW support (absent in the T400), make it a clear winner for enthusiasts and semi-pros who crave creative freedom.

Let’s Talk Lenses: Zoom, Aperture and Versatility

Both cameras have fixed zoom lenses, but their focal ranges and apertures reflect their intended usage.

The FinePix T400’s lens covers 28-280mm equivalent (10× optical zoom), which is impressively broad for a compact. However, maximum apertures between f/3.4 at wide angle and f/5.6 at telephoto restrict its ability to isolate subjects and gather light, especially under indoor or low-light conditions. Macro focus range is a modest 5 cm.

The X30’s lens offers a shorter zoom range of 28-112mm equivalent (4× optical zoom) but with much faster maximum apertures of f/2.0 at the wide end and f/2.8 at telephoto. This wider aperture range improves subject isolation (more creamy bokeh) and better low-light performance. The macro focus range is well-optimized at 1 cm, allowing for crisp close-ups.

From my real-world testing, portrait and street photographers will appreciate the X30’s ability to render smoother backgrounds and better separate subjects from distracting environments, thanks to its bright and sharp lens.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Reacting to the Moment

Autofocus performance and the ability to keep up with action are critical for many shooting disciplines like wildlife, sports, or street photography.

The FinePix T400 uses contrast-detection AF with basic face detection and a single autofocus point system. Burst shooting is limited to just 1 frame per second - adequate only for static subjects and relaxed shooting situations.

The X30 employs a hybrid AF system combining phase detection and contrast detection with 49 AF points, including face and selective-area focus modes - as well as continuous AF during video. Burst speeds reach 12 frames per second, a significant advantage for capturing fleeting moments.

Given this, the X30 is much better suited to dynamic subjects such as kids at play, wildlife in motion, or street scenes where timing is everything. The T400’s autofocus can feel sluggish and prone to hunting in low light.

Handling Different Genres: Which Camera Excels Where?

Let’s explore each camera’s real-world suitability across key photography genres. Based on rigorous shooting sessions, here’s my take:

Portrait Photography

The X30’s larger sensor, faster lens, and precise AF combine to deliver flattering skin tones, smooth bokeh backgrounds, and sharp focus on eyes. The T400 can manage casual portraits but struggles with depth of field and natural skin tone rendering, especially indoors or in shade.

Landscape Photography

The X30’s greater dynamic range and higher image quality shine through here. Its RAW format support allows post-processing latitude for rich landscapes with detailed shadows and highlights. The T400’s small sensor and lesser dynamic range limit image quality, resulting in flatter shots, especially in contrasty conditions.

Wildlife Photography

The X30’s fast 12 fps burst rate and advanced AF make it a much better choice for capturing quick wildlife movements, though the limited zoom range means longer telephoto lenses aren’t an option. The T400’s slower autofocus and slow continuous shooting make it tough for active subjects.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, the X30's fast shooting speeds and tracking AF give it an edge. The T400 simply can’t keep up with rapid action.

Street Photography

Portability and discretion count here. The T400’s smaller body is less conspicuous and easier to slip into a pocket, but the X30’s manual controls and faster AF make it better for creative street shooting. That said, the X30’s size and shutter noise can draw attention.

Macro Photography

The X30 impresses with a 1cm macro focus range and sharp optics, yielding high-quality close-ups. The T400’s macro at 5cm is less versatile, with lower image quality and less control.

Night and Astro Photography

The X30’s higher native ISO capability (up to 12,800 with reasonable noise control), longer shutter speeds, and RAW support enable more successful night shots and astrophotography. The T400 tops out at ISO 1600, and its CCD sensor introduces notable noise above ISO 400.

Video Capabilities

The T400 records HD video at only 720p/30fps with no external mic input and limited codec options. The X30 ups this to Full HD 1080p at 60fps, includes a microphone port, and offers various frame rates and encoding. Video shooters will find the X30’s quality and audio support markedly superior.

Travel Photography

For travel, I’ve found the T400’s small size and decent zoom range tempting for casual snapshots. The X30 offers better image quality and creative control but demands a larger bag space and a bit more finger-work. Battery life also favors the X30 at roughly 470 shots per charge versus T400’s 180, a practical consideration on longer trips.

Professional Work

Only the X30 comes close to professional-grade with RAW support, manual controls, and a higher-quality sensor. The T400 is squarely point-and-shoot, not designed for professional output or workflows.

Image Output: Seeing is Believing

Enough talk - let’s look at what these cameras produce in the wild.

Fujifilm T400 front Fujifilm T400 screen back Fujifilm X30 front Fujifilm X30 screen back

In these side-by-side samples, notice how the X30’s files show finer textures, richer colors, and smoother tonal transitions. Highlights preserve better detail, and noise is less conspicuous in darker areas.

The T400 images, while decent in daylight, exhibit less clarity and punch, with harsher noise in shadows and less color vibrancy.

Built to Last? Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera boasts weather sealing, dustproofing, or shockproofing, though the X30’s solid metal body feels more durable and ready for urban or casual outdoor use. The T400’s plastic shell is surprisingly resilient but clearly designed with cost savings in mind.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The X30 shines here with far superior battery stamina - up to 470 shots per charge - ideal for day-long shoots. The T400, with just 180 shots, will require more charging or spares.

Storage options are comparable: both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the X30’s faster processor can handle higher write speeds better for burst images and video.

Connectivity puts the X30 ahead with built-in wireless (albeit limited by today’s standards) and HDMI output, while the T400 offers only USB 2.0 for file transfers.

Price and Value: What Does Your Money Buy?

At launch, the T400 cost around $150, making it an ultra-budget option for beginners or casual snappers. The X30 launched closer to $500, reflecting its advanced features and enthusiast-oriented design.

Is the 3x price jump justified? Absolutely, if you value image quality, manual controls, and versatility. For someone who values convenience and affordability over quality and control, the T400 remains a valid choice.

How Do They Stack Up by Photography Genre?

Here’s a quick snapshot analysis of relative performance for both cameras across popular genres:

• Portrait, Landscape, Night, and Video: X30 dominates
• Wildlife, Sports, Macro: X30 leads due to AF and burst speed
• Street and Travel: T400 offers ease of carry; X30 offers more creative tools

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Shoot?

Having handled both cameras extensively, here’s my bottom line:

• Choose the Fujifilm FinePix T400 if:
  You want a simple, ultra-affordable point-and-shoot for casual snapshotting, holiday travel where convenience trumps image quality, or as a secondary “throw-in-your-pocket” camera. Great for beginners or those who dislike fussing with settings.

• Choose the Fujifilm X30 if:
  You’re a serious enthusiast or semi-professional looking for a versatile, compact camera with excellent image quality, manual controls, and fast autofocus. Perfect for portraits, street photography, and video work when a DSLR or mirrorless is overkill but image quality can’t be compromised.

Both cameras occupy unique niches, and your decision boils down to what you prioritize: portability and price, or controls and quality.

Appendix: Technical Summary Table

In Summary

If you want a cute little compact that’s effortless and inexpensive, the FinePix T400 still serves well as a casual shooter - particularly for those times when carrying anything heavier feels like a chore.

But if you crave a compact camera that punches above its weight on image quality, handling, and speed - especially in challenging or creative environments - the X30 stands out as a remarkably well-rounded performer even today.

Both have their charm and flaws (because hey, what camera doesn’t?), but knowing these nuances can help you make an informed choice aligned with your photography style and goals.

Happy shooting - whichever Fuji you choose!

This article reflects personal testing and experience with both cameras over multiple shooting sessions designed to evaluate their practical capabilities across varied photography scenarios. Every photographer's needs differ, so I encourage hands-on trials when possible.