Fujifilm Finepix HS30 EXR Summary

The key is versatility and a mechanical 30X ultra-wide angle optical zoom lens covering 24-720mm more precisely than any of its peers is just the start. A high-speed EXR CMOS sensor capable of capturing 16 megapixels images at 8 FPS and recording 1080p HD videos pushes things further. The triple-mode EXR technology adds to this the ability to shoot low-noise images or up to 1600% the dynamic range of conventional sensors.

This may seem like the perfect all-in-one digital camera and it certainly gives a run for it. Image quality is good and, while visibly improved from the HS20 EXR, the small sensor-size still shows at 16 MP. Go down to a respectable 8 megapixels and the EXR sensor produces very nice images, be it low light or high-contrast situations. A lot of complexity is involved in making sure the HS30 EXR delivers its best and so this digital camera is clearly not for everybody.

This camera delivers a relatively speedy performance compared to its peers. Shutter-lag is instant, shot-to-shot speeds are good and autofocus is quite fast. It remains responsive most of the time and provides a large number of external controls for efficiency. The ergonomics are good all around and the mechanical lens is truly a pleasure to use.

The ultimate in quality from an ultra-zoom still comes from the long-discontinued S100FS
Fujifilm Finepix S100FS followed by the higher-end Fujifilm X-S1
Fujifilm X-S1 which is extremely similar to the HS30 EXR only bigger, weather-sealed and with a 26X ultra-wide optical zoom instead of 30X.

Fujifilm HS30 EXR

Fujifilm X-S1

Neocamera detailed review Read the Fuji Finepix HS30 EXR review here.