Fujifilm X-T30 II vs Nikon Z50 II

The Fujifilm X-T30 II and the Nikon Z50 II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2021 and November 2024. Both the X-T30 II and the Z50 II are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 26 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 20.7 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm X-T30 II		Nikon Z50 II
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Fujifilm X mount lenses		Nikon Z mount lenses
26 MP – APS-C sensor		20.7 MP – APS-C sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/60p Video
ISO 160-12,800 (80 - 51,200)		ISO 100-51,200 (100 - 204,800)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1620k dots		3.2" LCD – 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Swivel touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second		11 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
380 shots per battery charge		250 shots per battery charge
118 x 83 x 47 mm, 383 g		127 x 97 x 67 mm, 550 g

Check X-T30 II offers at
ebay.com
Check Z50 II price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm X-T30 II and the Nikon Z50 II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-T30 II and the Nikon Z50 II is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The X-T30 II can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the Z50 II is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon Z50 II is notably larger (26 percent) than the Fujifilm X-T30 II. Moreover, the Z50 II is substantially heavier (44 percent) than the X-T30 II. It is noteworthy in this context that the Z50 II is splash and dust-proof, while the X-T30 II does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-T30 II	118 mm	83 mm	47 mm	383 g	380	n	Sep 2021	EUR 899	ebay.com
2.		Nikon Z50 II	127 mm	97 mm	67 mm	550 g	250	Y	Nov 2024	EUR 999	amazon.com
3.		Fujifilm X-A3	117 mm	67 mm	40 mm	339 g	410	n	Aug 2016	EUR 449	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm X-A5	117 mm	68 mm	40 mm	361 g	450	n	Jan 2018	EUR 449	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-E3	121 mm	74 mm	43 mm	337 g	350	n	Sep 2017	EUR 899	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm X-E4	121 mm	73 mm	33 mm	364 g	380	n	Jan 2021	EUR 899	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm X-M5	112 mm	67 mm	38 mm	355 g	330	n	Oct 2025	EUR 899	amazon.com
8.		Fujifilm X-S10	126 mm	85 mm	65 mm	465 g	325	n	Oct 2020	EUR 999	amazon.com
9.		Fujifilm X-T20	118 mm	83 mm	41 mm	383 g	350	n	Jan 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
10.		Fujifilm X-T30	118 mm	83 mm	47 mm	383 g	380	n	Feb 2019	EUR 999	ebay.com
11.		Fujifilm X-T100	121 mm	83 mm	47 mm	448 g	430	n	May 2018	EUR 599	ebay.com
12.		Fujifilm X-T200	121 mm	84 mm	55 mm	370 g	270	n	Jan 2020	EUR 749	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D5200	129 mm	98 mm	78 mm	555 g	500	n	Nov 2012	EUR 809	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D5300	125 mm	98 mm	76 mm	480 g	600	n	Oct 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D5500	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	470 g	820	n	Jan 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
16.		Nikon Z50	127 mm	94 mm	60 mm	450 g	320	Y	Oct 2019	EUR 799	amazon.com
17.		Nikon Z fc	135 mm	94 mm	44 mm	445 g	300	n	Jun 2021	EUR 999	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The X-T30 II was somewhat cheaper (by 1 percent) than the Z50 II at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the Z50 II is 1 percent bigger. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the Fujifilm X-T30 II offers a higher resolution of 26 megapixels, compared with 20.7 MP of the Nikon Z50 II. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 4.22μm for the Z50 II). Moreover, it should be noted that the Z50 II is much more recent (by 3 years and 2 months) than the X-T30 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Fujifilm X-T30 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the X-T30 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 31.2 x 20.8 inches or 79.2 x 52.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.8 x 13.9 inches or 52.8 x 35.2 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon Z50 II are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Fujifilm X-T30 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Z50 II are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-204800.

In terms of underlying technology, the X-T30 II is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the Z50 II uses a CMOS imager. The X-T30 II uses Fujifilm's X-Trans layout of photosites, while the Z50 II employs the more common Bayer array.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm X-T30 II	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	24.2	13.8	2144	85
2.		Nikon Z50 II	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/60p	24.3	14.1	2467	86
3.		Fujifilm X-A3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.8	13.1	1663	81
4.		Fujifilm X-A5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	24.0	13.3	1800	82
5.		Fujifilm X-E3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.9	13.3	1764	82
6.		Fujifilm X-E4	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	24.2	13.7	2085	85
7.		Fujifilm X-M5	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	24.3	14.2	2558	86
8.		Fujifilm X-S10	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	24.2	13.7	2057	85
9.		Fujifilm X-T20	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.9	13.2	1704	81
10.		Fujifilm X-T30	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	24.1	13.5	1895	83
11.		Fujifilm X-T100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	24.0	13.4	1829	83
12.		Fujifilm X-T200	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.1	13.6	1991	84
13.		Nikon D5200	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60i	24.2	13.9	1284	84
14.		Nikon D5300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.0	13.9	1338	83
15.		Nikon D5500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1438	84
16.		Nikon Z50	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.1	13.6	1963	84
17.		Nikon Z fc	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.2	13.8	2131	85
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the Z50 II provides a faster frame rate than the X-T30 II. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/60p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The X-T30 II and the Z50 II are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2360k dots. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Fujifilm X-T30 II, the Nikon Z50 II, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm X-T30 II	2360	n	3.0 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
2.		Nikon Z50 II	2360	n	3.2 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	n
3.		Fujifilm X-A3	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	Y	n
4.		Fujifilm X-A5	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	Y	n
5.		Fujifilm X-E3	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	n	n
6.		Fujifilm X-E4	2360	n	3.0 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	n	n
7.		Fujifilm X-M5	none	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
8.		Fujifilm X-S10	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Fujifilm X-T20	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
10.		Fujifilm X-T30	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
11.		Fujifilm X-T100	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	Y	n
12.		Fujifilm X-T200	2360	n	3.5 / 2780	swivel	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
13.		Nikon D5200	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
14.		Nikon D5300	optical	n	3.2 / 1037	swivel	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
15.		Nikon D5500	optical	n	3.2 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
16.		Nikon Z50	2360	n	3.2 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	n
17.		Nikon Z fc	2360	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm X-T30 II and the Nikon Z50 II both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the X-T30 II and the Z50 II write their files to SDXC cards. The Z50 II supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the X-T30 II can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm X-T30 II and Nikon Z50 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm X-T30 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
2.		Nikon Z50 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Fujifilm X-A3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
4.		Fujifilm X-A5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Fujifilm X-E3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Fujifilm X-E4	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
7.		Fujifilm X-M5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-S10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
9.		Fujifilm X-T20	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Fujifilm X-T30	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
11.		Fujifilm X-T100	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
12.		Fujifilm X-T200	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
13.		Nikon D5200	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D5300	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Nikon D5500	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Nikon Z50	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
17.		Nikon Z fc	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y

It is notable that the Z50 II has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The X-T30 II lacks such a headphone port.

The Z50 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the X-T30 II has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the X-T30 II was succeeded by the Fujifilm X-T50. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Fujifilm X-T30 II or the Nikon Z50 II – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm X-T30 II:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (26 vs 20.7MP) with a 12% higher linear resolution.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 1040k dots).
• More compact: Is smaller (118x83mm vs 127x97mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 167g or 30 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (380 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2021).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon Z50 II:

• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/60p versus 4K/30p).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.68x vs 0.62x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 2 months of technical progress since the X-T30 II launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Z50 II is the clear winner of the contest (10 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm X-T30 II and the Nikon Z50 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the X-T30 II or the Z50 II. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-T30 II	5/5	..	4/5	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2021	EUR 899	ebay.com
2.		Nikon Z50 II	..	..	..	88/100	..	..	Nov 2024	EUR 999	amazon.com
3.		Fujifilm X-A3	..	..	..	74/100	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2016	EUR 449	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm X-A5	..	+	4.1/5	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2018	EUR 449	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-E3	4.5/5	+	4.5/5	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2017	EUR 899	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm X-E4	4/5	..	4/5	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jan 2021	EUR 899	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm X-M5	..	..	..	84/100	..	..	Oct 2025	EUR 899	amazon.com
8.		Fujifilm X-S10	5/5	..	4.5/5	86/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	EUR 999	amazon.com
9.		Fujifilm X-T20	5/5	+ +	5/5	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
10.		Fujifilm X-T30	5/5	+ +	5/5	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2019	EUR 999	ebay.com
11.		Fujifilm X-T100	4/5	+	4.5/5	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	May 2018	EUR 599	ebay.com
12.		Fujifilm X-T200	3.5/5	..	4/5	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2020	EUR 749	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D5200	4/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2012	EUR 809	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D5300	4/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D5500	5/5	+	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
16.		Nikon Z50	5/5	..	5/5	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2019	EUR 799	amazon.com
17.		Nikon Z fc	4/5	..	4.5/5	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2021	EUR 999	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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