The upcoming Fujifilm X-T30, which will be officially announced next week, will have a joystick instead of a d-pad, according to some leaked photos by nokishita-camera.com. This is no surprise to me. In fact, I predicted it in my vlog episode #008.
There are advantages and disadvantages to a joystick instead of a d-pad. There will be more touch controls on the rear screen that will accomplish some of the functionality of the d-pad. It will be similar to the X-E3, or even the XF10. Some people will appreciate the change, while others won’t. I personally would have liked both the d-pad and joystick, like on the X100F, but I didn’t really expect it since this isn’t Fujifilm’s flagship model.
For better or worse, a joystick and touch-screen functions will replace the d-pad on the X-T30. It’s not a huge deal, but it is a change, and with any change there will be those who like it and those who don’t. If you end up buying this camera when it comes out, you’ll get used to it after awhile. It’s not a big deal. But at least now you know, and if you don’t like it, there’s still the X-T20, which is basically the same camera with a d-pad and without a joystick.
Ritchie, your was not the first article I have read this week about the X-T30. However, yours is the first that seems rational. If I had a $1 for everytime I have the phrase “But it still doesn’t have IBIS” in relation to a cheap Fuji camera I would be a wealthy man. It seems that there are a set of Fuji owners who think that premium features reserved for the X-H, X-Pro, and X-T single digit cameras should be in every iteration of every Fuji camera with double digits.
It seems everyone wants the features of the X-H/Pro/T but at the cost of the cheaper offerings. I was happy to see your statement about the d-pad and joystick.
Thanks! I try to be logical and reasonable. I expect that the X-T30 will be 95%-ish the same exact camera as the X-T20, which is how upgrades usually go. If it was any more it would be an X-T3, and that is already a camera that one can buy. Thank you for your feedback!