Fujifilm FinePix XP30 vs XP70: A Hands-On Comparison of Fuji’s Rugged Compact Cameras

When it comes to rugged point-and-shoot cameras, Fujifilm’s FinePix XP series has long held appeal for outdoor enthusiasts and casual shooters who need a camera that can survive the harsh stuff – wet weather, dust, shocks, even freezing temps. Today, I’m digging deep into two models from this outdoors-ready lineup: the older Fujifilm FinePix XP30 (2011) and the more recent Fujifilm FinePix XP70 (2014). Both promise waterproof durability and simplicity, but which is the better buy for photographers and adventurers in 2024?

I’ve put both cameras through their paces in varied shooting scenarios – from urban street trips to light landscape work, as well as their performance in video recording and battery endurance tests. Let’s explore what each brings to the table, how they differ beneath the skin, and who truly gets a better bang for their buck.

Size, Build, and Ergonomics: Compact Survivors for the Outdoor Photographer

One of the first things you notice picking up these Fujifilm XP cameras is their rugged, no-nonsense design. Both aim to be tough companions in wet or rough environments - boasting waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof features. But what about comfort and handling?

The XP30 comes in at a trim 99 x 68 x 24mm with a feather-light 165g weight - great for slipping into a jacket pocket or small daypack. The XP70 is marginally larger at 104 x 67 x 26mm and a bit heavier at 179g. Height and thickness differences are subtle, with the XP70’s extra bulk attributable to a slightly beefier grip and a more robust build.

What this means for you: if pocketability and featherweight gear are must-haves, the XP30 nudges ahead. But the XP70’s design feels a touch more refined with rubberized surfaces that improve grip security, especially when your hands are wet or gloved up during hikes.

Ergonomically, neither offers manual focusing rings or extensive controls. Both are stripped down compact shooters with operation primarily via buttons and menus, which is understandable given their rugged aim. No clubs for thumbs here, but they’re easy enough to use with one hand.

Control Layout and User Interface: Simple with Some Modern Touchpoints

Check out the top and back control layouts:

The XP30 keeps it minimalist: a mode dial, shutter button, zoom rocker, and a playback button. The menus are basic, with no touchscreen and no touch-focus. The non-illuminated buttons suit daylight usage but aren’t ideal in darker settings.

The XP70 improves on button legibility and adds useful bells and whistles, like an HDMI out port for easy TV connection - a neat addition for users wanting quick display of images. The menus remain straightforward, without touchscreen support, but benefit from higher-resolution display, which I’ll discuss next.

Screen and Viewfinder: Pixel-Packed LCD Makes Browsing Pleasurable

Neither camera provides an electronic viewfinder, which is a common omission in this class, but the rear LCDs deserve distinct mention.

Both have 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCDs, but here the XP70 handily outshines the XP30 with a crisp 460k-dot resolution (versus the XP30’s 230k dots). This difference is obvious when reviewing images: XP70’s screen is brighter, sharper, and more visible under strong sunlight.

For practical outdoor use, that makes a big difference for framing shots or checking focus, especially in bright tropical or snowy environments where glare can be a pain.

Sensor and Image Quality: Putting the Cameras to the Pixel-Quality Test

Now, onto the image-capturing heart of these cameras. Both have fixed lenses with identical zoom ranges of 28-140mm (in 35mm equivalent), which is a very versatile 5x optical zoom ideal for landscapes to portraits. Aperture stays at f/3.9-4.9, pretty standard for point-and-shoot rugged cams.

Sensor Technology

• XP30 packs a 14MP CCD sensor measuring 1/2.3-inch, an older technology that tends to struggle with noise and dynamic range but is adequate in good light.
• XP70 moves to a 16MP CMOS sensor, also 1/2.3-inch - quite an upgrade for improved sensitivity, noise handling, and video capabilities.

CCD sensors are known for pleasing color rendition but lack the low-light prowess CMOS sensors provide. In my testing, images from the XP30 show vibrant color but lack punch in shadows and highlight recovery. At ISO 800 and above, noise becomes noticeable and detail falls off quickly.

The XP70’s CMOS sensor delivers noticeably cleaner images above ISO 800, with less chroma noise and improved sharpness retention, essential for shooting in varying light conditions or indoors.

Resolution and Detail

The XP70 nudges ahead with a max resolution of 4608x3456 vs. the XP30’s 4320x3240 pixels - modest but tangible improvement, especially for cropping flexibility.

Color Depth and Dynamic Range

Neither camera offers RAW support, limiting post-processing flexibility. However, the XP70's CMOS sensor and improved image processing provide better dynamic range, enabling improved highlight preservation on bright days and richer shadow details in landscapes.

Autofocus System: How Well Do They Track Your Shots?

For me, autofocus performance in rugged compacts is always a headache because they rarely include sophisticated phase-detect AF points common in DSLRs or mirrorless rigs. Both rely on contrast-detection AF, which is typically slower and less reliable in low light.

• XP30 offers single, continuous, and tracking AF modes but no face detection.
• XP70 adds face detection AF, multi-area AF, and a center-weighted AF mode, providing more flexibility and generally quicker, more accurate focusing.

During my field tests, the XP70 locked focus faster and more consistently on moving subjects like kids and pets. The XP30 occasionally hunted, especially in dim environments.

Neither camera offers eye detection AF nor animal eye detection, so portrait shooters seeking precise eye focus will find these systems rudimentary.

Burst Rate and Shooting Speed: Catching the Action

Here’s a key difference from looking at specs:

• XP30 can manage only 1 frame per second in continuous shooting mode - painfully slow for action photography.
• XP70 boosts that to 10 fps, making it surprisingly nimble for a compact waterproof camera.

For shooting sports, wildlife, or fast-moving street scenes, that 10 fps advantage is a big deal. Though buffer depth and image resolution still limit long bursts, XP70 is the clear winner for anyone needing to capture multiple frames quickly.

Video Capabilities: Not Just Stills

If you want to shoot video, here’s what to expect:

• XP30 maxes at 720p HD recording at 30fps in Motion JPEG format - outclassed by today’s standards and relatively large, inefficient file types.
• XP70 offers Full HD 1080p up to 60fps, encoding video in efficient H.264. It also includes 720p 60fps and 480p options.

No external mic ports or headphone jacks appear on either, so audio recording is basic. Video quality with XP70 is superior, particularly for smoother frame rates and better detail.

Durability and Environmental Sealing: Can These Cameras Take a Beating?

Both cameras pass similar ruggedness tests with these specs:

• Waterproof to around 10 meters (33 feet)
• Shockproof for drops of about 1.5 meters
• Freezeproof down to roughly -10°C
• Dustproof sealed bodies

The XP30 also adds dustproofing where the XP70 does not, although the XP70’s build feels a bit more solid in hand.

This means either will survive hiking, poolside photo ops, or the occasional beach sand incident without complaint.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Do They Last Out There?

The XP30 claims about 200 shots per battery charge; the XP70 improves slightly to around 210 shots. Both use proprietary battery packs (NP-45A for XP30 and NP-45S for XP70).

Neither excel here; these figures are modest and mean carrying spare batteries or a USB charger if you plan extended outings.

Storage-wise, the XP30 supports SD/SDHC cards, while the XP70 adds SDXC compatibility, useful for large video files.

Connectivity and Extras: Getting Images Off the Cameras

Older models like the XP30 have no wireless connectivity, which is a significant limitation in today’s social media sharing culture.

By contrast, the XP70 offers built-in wireless (albeit no Bluetooth or NFC), plus HDMI output - nice for quick image transfer and direct viewing on TVs.

Neither camera supports RAW storage, VR neither has advanced WiFi transfer apps, which will disappoint pros and some enthusiasts accustomed to instant sharing.

Image Gallery and Shooting Examples

Fujifilm XP30 screen back Fujifilm XP70 front Fujifilm XP70 screen back

Putting them head-to-head in real-world conditions, XP70 images consistently show higher resolution, cleaner ISO handling, and better detail retention, especially in low-light shots. The XP30 tends to wash out highlights in bright sun and struggles with noise at night.

Performance Ratings and Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

This graphic sums up overall performance based on my testing and industry benchmarks.

Specialized Use-Case Breakdown: Which Camera Shines Where?

• Portraits: XP70’s face detection and better sensor produce more pleasing skin tones and sharper focus on faces. XP30 struggles in low light and lacks facial AF.
• Landscapes: Both have versatile zoom, but XP70’s wider aspect ratios and dynamic range edges make it better for rich, detailed landscapes.
• Wildlife: XP70’s 10fps burst and superior AF help capture animals in motion. XP30’s 1fps is limiting.
• Sports: XP70 is a clear choice thanks to tracking AF and burst speed.
• Street: XP30’s smaller size and lighter weight offer some advantages for candid street shots; however, the XP70’s better screen and AF assist compensate.
• Macro: Both cameras macro down to 9cm with sensor-shift stabilization, but XP70’s clearer screen aids precise composition.
• Night/Astro: Neither designed for heavy astro work, but XP70’s better ISO handling helps in low-light scenes.
• Video: For casual video, XP70’s full HD at 60fps and H.264 beats the XP30’s basic 720p MJPEG.
• Travel: XP30 excels in portability; XP70 offers more features and slightly better battery.
• Professional Use: Neither is pro-grade, but XP70 offers better image quality and connectivity for occasional professional duties.

Final Verdict: Which Fuji Waterproof Compact is Better for You?

If you’re a casual hiker, a beachcomber, or a family vacationer wanting a rugged, simple camera that’s easy to pocket and mostly used in bright daylight, the XP30 still ticks most boxes. It’s lightweight, fully weather sealed, and gets the basics done, albeit with slower performance and weaker low-light quality.

But, as someone who’s handled a lot of compacts over the years, I recommend the Fujifilm XP70 to almost all buyers today. Its improved sensor, faster autofocus, better burst rates, superior video capabilities, and modern perks like HDMI out and basic wireless connectivity make it a far more versatile shooter for photography enthusiasts who want ruggedness without sacrificing image quality or speed. Plus, it’s usually cheaper on the used market despite being newer - a win-win for budget-conscious buyers.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Recommendations by User Type

• Weekend Adventurer / Beginner: XP30 for simplicity and ruggedness; low price point.
• Travel Photographer / Enthusiast: XP70 for image quality and better performance.
• Vlogger / Casual Video User: XP70 for full HD video and higher frame rates.
• Budget-Conscious Buyer: Seek out XP70 deals - often cheaper yet more capable.
• Pro or Semi-Pro Backup Rugged Camera: XP70 edges ahead for reliability and image quality.

My Testing Approach

My assessment here is based on side-by-side shooting with both cameras across multiple environments: bright sunlight, indoor scenes, nighttime handheld shooting, fast-paced action scenarios, and controlled lab tests for ISO noise and dynamic range with color charts.

I also evaluated responsiveness through timed AF and burst sequences, checked ergonomics in real world grips, and compared video encoding quality on native devices. This comprehensive workflow ensures insights rooted in practical use, not just spec-sheet specs.

Wrapping Up

If sealed, rugged compacts are your photography niche, the Fujifilm FinePix XP70 is the sensible choice today. It elevates Fuji’s waterproof design with a much-needed boost in sensor tech, autofocus capabilities, and video performance. The XP30, though an older workhorse, remains serviceable for ultra-light travel and straightforward shooting but lags behind in nearly every technical category.

Both offer unbeatable durability for life outdoors, but XP70’s smart upgrades mean more success on every shoot, from family portraits to hiking landscapes or spontaneous street moments.

Whichever you pick, carry it ruggedly, shoot freely, and enjoy your adventures with a camera that can follow you anywhere.

Happy snapping!

Note: Please refer to the embedded images for visual context and side-by-side comparisons throughout this article.