Very good all-rounder at a good price

I have now the HS30EXR for over six weeks, would like to play my impressions.
Even I would describe myself as an ambitious amateur photographer and I have next to the HS30EXR still doing a system camera with interchangeable lenses and a so-called noble Compact forever. Until just over a year ago I still photographed with the Nikon SLR and Olympus Company. Because I did not want to always carry around the heavy equipment, have switched to a system camera from Olympus.
I am very much with my dog ​​in the woods and fields go. In these excursions, a camera may not be missing. But even when the system camera I was always dependent a lot of baggage to lug around. For the scenery or lighting effects a wide angle. Should a deer or rare bird our way cross course, a telephoto and insects and everything so on the ground and leaves sits naturally a macro lens. That there were always two or three lenses with this and usually had just the wrong on the camera.
So I was looking for the all-rounders for my "forest and meadow excursions".
Of course I knew that compromises must be made with such requirements and I can not expect the image quality of a DSLR or system camera. But for viewing on screen and prints to 18x24 it should be enough already.
I have relatively quickly concentrated on the so-called bridge cameras, which offer a variety of manual settings in addition to a large zoom range. Important to me a large wide-angle range, as possible from 24mm and a viewfinder that enables me even in bright sunlight and at long focal lengths was also to be able to hold the camera still safe and Sense Motive. I also wanted to have the possibility to connect an external flash and the display should be hinged or pivoted.
In my search, the selection was therefore limited quite quickly. Actually, only the Fujifilm HS30EXR (or its predecessor) or the Fujifilm X-S1 meet my criteria. I have therefore extends the focal length range in the wide-angle to 26mm, so that even the Panasonic FZ-100 FZ-150 with fall in the selection.

Why now the HS30EXR?

The Panasonicgeräte were quickly out of the race because the zoom, unlike Fujifilm, only a zoom rocker and not by turning the lens can be adjusted. For someone who comes from the DSLR range to get used to, probably for others no problem. In the electronically controlled video zoom over the rocker has even an advantage, because the lens is evenly moved as if it operated manually. Video is for me, however, not an issue.

I have therefore tested the Fujifilm X-S1 against the HS30EXR. Luckily I had a weekend to try the possibility both cameras together (therefore also no purchase at Amazon, the dealer should get his effort also remunerated).
The obvious differences are easily explained: The S1 is larger and much heavier (almost one kilo) and is therefore very comfortable to hold. When processing a little more metal was used as in the HS30EXR. The HS30EXR has a slightly smaller sensor with 16 MP from the X-S1 with 12 MP and greater sensor. The zoom has a longer portion of 720mm compared to 624 in the X-S1. At 100% magnification, the X-S1 has a little ahead in picture quality. In the preferred output formats from me but this advantage is not noticeable. The X-S1 has the noise from ISO 3200 less interference and the images are still usable. Until ISO 1600, which is sufficient for me all the differences, however, are very low. Disturbing was the rattling sun visor, which is indeed made of metal, however, is loose on the camera in the S-1. Although the sun visor on the HS30EXR is "only" made of plastic but will not budge. Fulfill its purpose both. The viewfinder of the X-S1 is also slightly better, which is probably also the fact that it is slightly larger. The X-S1 offers 3 Custom modes on the personalized settings can be set individually and a second soft key from the HS30EXR has only gotten. Otherwise, equipment and facilities of both cameras are absolutely identical and can be operated absolutely equal.

After a short time I could see for myself that the minimal benefits of the X-S1 opposite the HS30EXR not justify a price difference of nearly 350, especially if you do not need the size and weight. So I'm looking for the HS30EXR decided by the I'll finally tell :-)

The camera has all the desirable features incl. Some goodies for me. Full manual operation but also a variety of automatic functions. Although I would not necessarily recommend the camera a beginner who simply want to take pictures drausflos. But the camera has too many options and some unused functions would in some cases lead to disappointment because the automatic does not deliver the desired result. In addition, the camera has a very good, up and down pivotal, display in 3 "format which dissolves excellently and is easy to read even in the sun. In a pinch, you can see the brightness in an" increase solar mode ", so that even direct sunlight not be a problem. The viewfinder has a streaky impression on me. Positive is the very well-functioning automatic switching between the viewfinder and display via approximation sensor. The viewfinder itself make a slight dim view what you look at but used to it. I've found that these turbidity disappears when the sun is and the viewfinder is very clear then. Probably you have optimized it to a mean value, which unfortunately falls back a bit in low light. For eyeglass wearers, the viewfinder is only very limited use. I take the glasses off and can the diopter compensation I work very well with the viewfinder, but this need not be the case every time.
As goodies in addition to the approximation sensor, which can not really be found in this price range, the expandable digital spirit level, which is very well supported aligning the camera in portrait and landscape format, unfortunately sometimes a bit sluggish, the possibility to connect a remote switch and an external flash to call and a swiveling display is not found in all devices of this class.
Besides the very good case mentioned, which is indeed made of plastic, however, is very stable. Even the display is very good and securely mounted, also expanded it's very stable. The camera has a well-defined handle that can be big hands but sometimes too small (there would be rather the X-S1 preferable to me it is enough but) and is coated with a good rubber.
The operation is very simple and catchy, especially because there are direct keys on the right side of the camera for all critical functions (ISO, white balance, exposure, AF). In the clear menu you must therefore quite rare.
On screen or in the viewfinder a grid line or a histogram can be displayed to support, but which is not very large and rather sluggish working.
Unfortunately, the camera does not offer absolutely genuine LiveView, ie settings such as aperture, exposure will be displayed in their impact not just as one knows it from other cameras. Also a display of too bright or dark areas is also not provided during playback.

The picture quality is good to very good for my purposes, if you want to enlarge any poster. Even in low light, the images are still well exposed. In the wide-angle lens has a slight barrel-type distortion, but which can be worked on well in the EBV in middle and high telephoto camera has its strengths. The image quality is very good and there are very few faults. In full telephoto the problems one has with cooker, etc. in these areas are considerably higher than the distortion of the lens. Very surprised me that even the so-called intelligent digital zoom, which allows an extension of the focal length by two times even gives you some very useful results. Also very good are the macro and super macro mode.
The autofocus is präzisse in almost all situations and quickly. Between 600-720mm it is a bit slow and at full zoom the point of focus is often only found when the zoom takes back something, focused and at full zoom sharp presents again.
The support means of magnifier with manual zoom and prefocus the possibility is quite good. The pity is that you always have to switch to manual focus and not only, will start as with my system camera, manual focus when you press the zoom ring.
The continuous shooting speed can be set between 3-11 images in different modes. Depending on the resolution was voted and which memory cards are used, the speed of 5-8 pictures breaks a little when taking the images as JPG. The RAW format is already after 3-4 pictures final and there will be made about 1 frame per second.

The HS30EXR offers some very sinnvolle- and mitigate mainly working functions to the limitations of such a camera with a huge zoom range and a small sensor. In EXR Mode, the dynamics or the noise can be reduced. If you select the resolution in the position M, the images are indeed taken up only with 8 MP, but each composed of 2 pixels and because of the image quality and the sound is of great benefit. 8 MP rich in my applications also from completely.
In Adv. mode, there is, inter alia, the possibility of the camera is known as bokeh (blurred background) to be expected, as it is precisely desired in portraits and what is always problematic with small sensors. The camera does this in quick succession up to 4 images and changed the focus behind the subject. The results are in most cases quite amazingly well. The Panorama function is with a little practice, not to be sneezed at and very easy to use.

Very good is the color fidelity and the white balance of the camera. The colors are usually reproduced very realistically. You have the opportunity to color reproduction, sharpness, etc. to adjust the menu. In addition, it is possible to simulate three Fuji Analaogfilme or take pictures in black / white or sepia, but what you really should do more later in the EBV. The internal flash lights up quite well, even in the corners and has a good performance sufficient to lighten or for a small group of good by his standards. In addition, you can equip the camera thanks hotshoe with external flash units. Unfortunately, the customization of the flash are very limited. You can only adjust the flashing on the second curtain, nothing more. In addition, you can control the flash brightness only via the menu and the function can not be placed on the free function keys.

On the whole, a very successful for me camera with a huge range of functions. The camera makes a very stable and sophisticated look and is fully equipped with everything you need to take pictures. The battery life is very long after the second load and is approximately 400-500 images. I have additionally a second battery from another manufacturer, which also comes to 400-500 shots. Unfortunately, the camera shows here the battery condition on. Appear once only 2 beams has approximately 20 images and then abruptly closing.

Highly recommended is definitely a deeper study of the camera to meet all possibilities. Even that handbook you should maybe read twice, you then discovered still some pearl. I can HS30EXR the ambitious photographer who likes to retain control of the camera and do not always want to endorse a complete equipment highly recommend. Especially when one is aware, however, where the limits are also strengths of a bridge camera, is at this price and with this range of equipment the camera - also in view of some equipment features such as zoom adjustment on the lens, many direct keys, eye sensor, level - in addition to the X-S1 almost no alternative and I think is often very underrated.