The short version
- No PASM mode dial. Shutter speed dial (top right), exposure compensation dial (top), film simulation dial (top left), AUTO lever on the shutter dial.
- Aperture lives on the lens ring with most Fujifilm lenses. The kit XC zoom has no ring: use the front command dial instead.
- Click the front command dial inward to toggle it between aperture and ISO control.
- Set the shutter dial to T for full-range electronic shutter control via the rear dial.
- Auto ISO: Shooting Setting menu, ISO Auto Setting, pick Auto 1/2/3, set Min. Shutter Speed.
- The AUTO lever hands everything back to the camera instantly.
Last updated · Exposure Triangle Simulator editorial team
Where everything lives on the X-T30 III
Forget the mode dial. On a Fujifilm you read the exposure right off the top plate.
| Control | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Shutter speed dial | Top right | Pick a shutter speed directly, or set to A (auto), T (full electronic range via rear dial) or B (bulb). |
| Aperture ring | On the lens | Most XF lenses have one. The kit XC zoom does not, so aperture moves to the front command dial. |
| Front command dial | Front, by the grip | With the kit zoom: aperture by default. Click it inward to toggle between aperture and ISO. |
| Exposure comp dial | Top right, next to shutter dial | Brighten or darken in third stops. Set to C to hand it to the front dial. |
| Film sim dial | Top left | Switches film simulations (Provia, Velvia, Classic Chrome and more). Creative, not exposure. |
| AUTO lever | Side of the shutter dial | Flick to AUTO and the camera takes over exposure completely. |
Manual mode on the X-T30 III
- Set the shutter speed dial to the speed you want, or to T and use the rear command dial for the full range. The shutter speed guide explains which speeds do what.
- Set the aperture. With an XF lens, twist the aperture ring on the lens. With the kit XC zoom, turn the front command dial. If the dial changes ISO instead, click it inward once to toggle it back to aperture. The aperture guide covers the tradeoffs.
- Set ISO yourself. Click the front dial to ISO duty, turn it to 200 (Fuji's base), or open the Q menu. Read the ISO guide before raising it.
- Read the meter and shoot. The viewfinder shows the exposure scale. When all three dials sit off A, you are in full manual: nothing moves unless you move it.
The fastest way to learn this camera: put the shutter dial on A and drive everything with the aperture ring for a day (aperture priority), then flip it and drive with the shutter dial (shutter priority). Manual will feel obvious after that.
Auto ISO on the X-T30 III
Open the Shooting Setting menu and choose ISO Auto Setting. You get three presets (Auto 1, 2 and 3), each with its own Default Sensitivity, Max. Sensitivity and Min. Shutter Speed. Set Auto 1 for everyday use: default 200, max 6400, minimum shutter speed 1/250. Then leave ISO on Auto and let the camera float it while you drive shutter and aperture with the dials.
Keep Auto 2 for low light with a higher max, and Auto 3 for action with a faster minimum shutter speed. Switching presets is quicker than rebuilding the settings every time the light changes.
Three setups that just work
Dial these in on the X-T30 III with the kit zoom.
| Setup | Mode and settings | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait, blurry background | Aperture priority · 33mm · f/5.6 · ISO 200 | Zoom all the way in, open the aperture as wide as the kit zoom goes. Focus on the eyes. The 35mm f/2 prime is the classic Fuji portrait upgrade. |
| Landscape, sharp throughout | Aperture priority · 13mm · f/8 · ISO 200 | f/8 keeps the foreground and horizon sharp. Focus about a third of the way into the scene. |
| Action, freeze motion | Shutter priority · 1/1000 · Auto ISO | Shutter dial to 1/1000, Auto 3 preset with a fast minimum shutter speed. Use continuous AF and burst drive. |
Aperture priority on this camera means: aperture ring (or front dial) off A, shutter dial on A. Shutter priority is the reverse.
X-T30 III dial combos, one box
| Want to change | Do this |
|---|---|
| Full manual | Shutter dial off A + aperture off A + ISO manual |
| Shutter speed | Top shutter dial (or T + rear dial) |
| Aperture (XF lens) | Aperture ring on the lens |
| Aperture (kit zoom) | Front command dial |
| ISO | Click front dial to toggle → turn dial (or Q menu) |
| Auto ISO limits | Shooting Setting → ISO Auto Setting → Auto 1/2/3 |
| Exposure compensation | Top EV dial |
| Give up gracefully | AUTO lever on the shutter dial |
Want these as a printable card? Grab the free camera settings cheat sheet and practice the moves on the simulator first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I shoot manual on the Fujifilm X-T30 III?
There is no M on a mode dial. Turn the shutter speed dial off A, turn the aperture ring (or front dial on the kit zoom) off A, and set ISO manually. That combination is manual mode.
How do I change aperture on the X-T30 III kit lens?
The XC kit zoom has no aperture ring, so use the front command dial. Click the dial inward to toggle it between aperture and ISO control.
Where is Auto ISO minimum shutter speed on the X-T30 III?
Shooting Setting menu, ISO Auto Setting, pick one of the three Auto presets, then set Min. Shutter Speed along with default and maximum sensitivity.
What does the AUTO lever on the X-T30 III do?
The lever on the side of the shutter dial hands exposure back to the camera instantly, which is handy when you want to hand the camera to someone else for a quick shot.
Why does my front dial change ISO when I want aperture?
The dial toggles between the two jobs each time you click it inward. Click once to switch it back to aperture. If you keep hitting it by accident, assign ISO to the Fn button instead and leave the dial on aperture.