Buzz
Moreover, the menu system of the X-T30 is more user-friendly. Both cameras feature customizable Quick Menu (called Fn Menu on the a6400) as well as My Menu page where you can save your favorite settings.
Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)
As mentioned earlier, the EVF on both cameras differs.
An advantage of placing the EVF on the left side is that you can frame the composition while keeping your other eye open. For instance, some portrait photographers prefer to maintain eye contact with their subjects. Meanwhile, street photographers prefer to observe the scene while framing and shooting. However, left-eye dominant individuals won't fully utilize this advantage of the a6400.
Aside from the viewfinder position, the Sony a6400 has a larger magnification (0.7x vs 0.62x) and slightly faster refresh rate at 120 fps compared to 100 fps on the X-T30. However, if you're working with PAL mode, the speed on the a6400 will be 100fps, equivalent to that on the X-T30.
Both viewfinders utilize a 0.39″ panel with approximately 2.36 million dot resolution.
Rear Screen
Both cameras feature a 3″ LCD screen at the rear with the ability to tilt on two axes.
The X-T30's screen can tilt up approximately 90° and down 45°. It also has a higher resolution (1,040k vs 921k dots).
The a6400 allows you to rotate the screen up 180° for convenient selfie shooting or vlogging. However, note that this method doesn't allow for accessories to be mounted on the hot shoe.
Both screens are touch-sensitive. On the a6400, you can touch to select the AF point or use it as an AF Pad while composing through the EVF.
The X-T30 enables you to do more, such as touch to shoot, activate multiple functions, or prioritize face detection autofocus.
APS-C Sensor
Both X-T30 and a6400 utilize APS-C sensors. The X-T30's sensor boasts a resolution of 26.1MP, while the a6400's is 24.2MP.
The two sensors employ different pixel array layouts. Sony a6400 uses a standard Bayer type, whereas the X-T30 utilizes Fujifilm's X-Trans type (specifically, IV generation), ensuring the presence of at least one green, one red, and one blue pixel on each line (both vertically and horizontally).
The different pixel arrangements allow the X-T30 to forgo the low-pass filter and maximize sharpness, though there aren't many software solutions that handle Fuji's RAW demosaicing well.
For high ISO shooting, the X-T30 has a native range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800, extendable down to ISO 80 and up to ISO 51200.
Autofocus (AF)
X-T30 inherits the AF system from the X-T3, featuring 117 hybrid autofocus points covering 99% of the sensor surface. These points can be further divided into 425 points with specific settings. This is Fuji's fastest and most reliable AF system to date.
The a6400 boasts 425 native hybrid autofocus points covering a large portion of the sensor. It has the world's fastest autofocus speed, with a response time of just 0.02 seconds.
Additionally, the a6400 benefits from a new algorithm that improves motion tracking: this algorithm can recognize subjects based on color, texture (brightness), distance, and information about faces and eyes.
Accompanying this is Sony's renowned Eye AF feature, which works without assigning any function buttons and with the ability to prioritize the left or right eye.
X-T30 introduces Fujifilm's latest face and eye tracking algorithm with better responsiveness, performing well even when the subject is far from the camera and allowing you to prioritize faces when there are multiple people in a frame.
In the upcoming summer, Sony will add Eye AF feature for animals to the a6400 through a firmware update. This will be a useful and attractive addition for those who enjoy capturing wildlife or animals in general.
X-T30 gains an advantage in low-light shooting due to its lower minimum sensitivity compared to a6400 (-3Ev vs -2Ev with f2 lens).
Finally, both cameras offer customizable AF control settings depending on the scene being captured. The AF-C Custom settings on the X-T30 include five pre-set configurations, while the a6400 features AF Track Sens parameters that can be adjusted up to 5 steps.
Continuous Shooting Speed
With mechanical shutter, the a6400 shoots faster continuously (11 fps) than the X-T30 (8 fps). Direct view shooting with blackout is 8 fps with Sony camera model and 5 fps with Fuji's model.
With electronic shutter, the X-T30 boosts the speed up to 20 fps, or 30fps with a 1.25x crop for 16MP resolution images instead of 26MP. Additionally, these speeds work with direct view shooting and without blackout, meaning you'll have a clear and unobstructed subject view with fast refresh rates (40Hz and 60Hz in crop mode). In contrast, the a6400 can only reach 8 fps.
However, the a6400 boasts a superior buffer memory with approximately 99 JPG images or 46 RAW images at 11 fps, while the X-T30 can only capture 18 RAW images or 81 JPG images at 10 fps.
Video Settings and Recording Limits
Both X-T30 and a6400 can record 4K video at 30 fps utilizing the full width of the sensor with full pixel readout (6K information is utilized and compressed down to 4K).
a6400 has no limit when recording in 4K, although it encounters some issues with heat overload. X-T30's 4K mode has a 10-minute/clip limit, and even in Full HD, the camera cannot record beyond 15 minutes.
X-T30 offers dedicated video settings including noise reduction, dynamic range modes, Eterna film simulation mode, and F-Log color profile.
a6400 features multiple Picture Profiles filters that can be customized with video-oriented settings, HLG (High Dynamic Range color profiles), and two Log gamma profiles (S-Log2 and S-Log3).
Both cameras shoot at 120 fps in 1080p resolution (however, there's a slight crop on the X-T30).
Internal recording is limited to 8-bit 4:2:2, but X-T30 can output 10-bit via HDMI, unlike a6400.
Lastly, Sony equips a 3.5mm mic input port for a6400, whereas X-T30 has a 2.5mm port. However, the USB-C connection on Fuji's camera allows you to plug in headphones via an adapter.
Battery Life and USB Charging
- X-T30 uses a battery similar to the flagship models of the brand and can capture approximately 380 photos according to CIPA ratings.
- a6400 can capture 360 or 410 photos depending on whether shooting with the viewfinder or with the LCD screen.
Both cameras charge via USB, but Fuji's USB-C port also accepts power delivery while in operation.
Lens Lineup
Discussing the lens lineup of these two cameras from different manufacturers is always equally important.
In the past five years, Fujifilm has established an impressive catalogue of prime and zoom lenses for their X series cameras. Some pricey zoom lenses may seem bulky compared to the compact body of the X-T30, but there are also smaller prime options that are not too expensive, such as the 27mm f/2.8, f/2 series, and the latest addition, the 16mm f/2.8.
The E-mount APS-C camera lineup has less appealing lens options. There are some truly good prime lenses, but most are continuous or slower f/4 zoom lenses. Of course, we can expand the selection to lenses for the full-frame A7/A9 series, but while some lenses may suit small cameras like the a6400, others are quite large and expensive. Fortunately, Sigma has a decent lineup of f/1.4 prime lenses as alternatives.
Pricing
According to US prices, both X-T30 and a6400 retail for $900 for the body only.
Prices in the UK and Europe differ: X-T30 may be priced at £850 or €950 respectively. On the other hand, a6400 is more expensive, priced at £950 or €1050 respectively.
Both cameras offer kit options. Consequently, the prices also vary between regions. Interestingly, although they have the same price in the US, the a6400 kit comes with a more versatile zoom lens:
- X-T30 + 15-45mm f3.5-5.6: $1000 / £900 / €1250
- X-T30 + 18-55mm f2.8-4: $1300 / £1200 / €1350
- a6400 + 16-50mm f3.5-5.6: $1000 / £1000 / €1150
- a6400 + 18-135mm f3.5-5.6: $1300 / £1300 / €1450
Conclusion
Both Fujifilm X-T30 and Sony a6400 are great choices for photography enthusiasts, and their similar prices make it even harder for users to make a final decision.
X-T30 provides a familiar feeling not only from the unchanged design of its predecessor but also from the sensor, AF, and performance similar to the X-T3. It's a versatile camera for both stills and video with a user-friendly interface. It's a pity that video recording has limitations. If the rear screen could be upgraded to flip 180˚, this would be an attractive choice for vloggers.
a6400 fills in the gaps of its Fuji counterpart, boasting a promising new AF system, especially with the upcoming Eye AF update for animals. Unfortunately, Sony missed the opportunity to make slight changes in ergonomics and button layout; however, the more comfortable grip at the front is also very welcome.
