30 minute render time too long!!!
You're having a laugh right....
30 minutes is a quick render time, but as Shawn says it all depends on what quality you want and what's in your scene.

With GI lighting and all the other stuff, you get what you put in, you can tweak it in any number of ways.
I would suggest you visit geekatplay and check out some of the tutorials on there, that is prolly the best advice anyone can give you..

Injustice will be avenged.
Cofiwch Dryweryn.