Fujifilm X-H2 assessment: An ideal mix of velocity, decision and video energy

Fujifilm just lately launched the perfect, albeit most-expensive, APS-C digital camera but – the X-H2S. Nevertheless it wasn’t carried out. At present, we’re its stablemate, the 40-megapixel X-H2. It’s the highest-resolution APS-C digital camera ever launched and boasts spectacular video powers.

You possibly can shoot 15 fps RAW pictures at full decision, and it’s the primary APS-C mirrorless digital camera with 8K video. It additionally provides improved in-body stabilization, an upgraded autofocus system with new AI topic recognition, and extra.

At $2,000, it’s a full $500 lower than the X-H2S, however that’s nonetheless rather a lot for an APS-C digital camera. With that in thoughts, I needed to see if it’s that significantly better than rivals like Canon’s $1,500 32.5-megapixel EOS R7, and even the way it stacks up towards full-frame cameras just like the Sony A7 IV or unique Canon EOS R6 that value only a bit extra.

Physique and dealing with

Apart from the truth that the X-H2S has an “S” brand painted on the entrance, the X-H2 appears an identical. It even weighs the identical at 660 grams, or barely greater than the X-T4. That’s up there in full-frame territory, so it’s not precisely a pocketable road digital camera like different Fuji fashions.

Most Fujifilm cameras even have a number of dials for shutter velocity, ISO and publicity compensation, however not the X-H2. As a substitute, it’s extra like Canon, Sony and Nikon fashions, with entrance and rear dials, a mode selector, a joystick and a D-pad management. As a nod to road photographers who shoot from the hip, it does have a prime display that shows aperture, shutter speeds and different key data.

I used to be by no means an enormous fan of the traditional Fujifilm structure as a result of it’s not supreme for video, so I just like the X-H2 structure – however I do know that many Fuji followers don’t.

I additionally love the totally articulating 3-inch, 1.5 million dot show, which makes it simpler to shoot low and high-angle pictures or selfies. The brand new X-T5, which packs the identical 40-megapixel sensor, has a show that’s restricted to tilting. In the meantime, the 5.76-million dot, 120Hz EVF is sweet and sharp and provides blackout-free capturing in silent digital shutter mode.

Like its namesake, the X-H2 has a high-speed USB-C port with energy supply, together with microphone and headphone ports. You additionally get a full-sized HDMI port, which ought to be extra strong than the fiddly micro-HDMI inputs discovered on rival cameras. That was a smart move by Fujifilm, as a result of exterior RAW video is a key characteristic on this digital camera.

Battery life is barely lowered in comparison with the X-H2S, with 680 pictures per cost as an alternative of 720 – not stunning contemplating the additional decision. And it has each UHS-II and high-speed CFexpress reminiscence card slots. The latter is required for high-resolution ProRes video and to cut back buffering when capturing 15 fps, 40-megapixel bursts.

Efficiency

Usually, high-resolution cameras are among the many costliest fashions. Nonetheless, the 26.2-megapixel X-H2S truly prices greater than the 40-megapixel X-H2. That’s as a result of it has a stacked sensor that delivers additional speeds and reduces rolling shutter in silent capturing mode.

Rolling shutter isn’t an enormous situation on the X-H2 for pictures, although. It’s truly quicker in mechanical than digital shutter mode, with full-resolution RAW bursts as much as 15 fps in comparison with 13 fps. That’s spectacular, contemplating it’s designed extra for element than velocity.

What’s extra, you gained’t want silent mode actually because the mechanical shutter is among the many quietest I’ve ever heard. And for those who actually do want the digital shutter, rolling shutter is current for fast-paced topics, however surprisingly nicely managed. It’s significantly higher than different APS-C cameras like Sony’s A6600 or the Canon EOS R7.

The autofocus system can sustain with the burst speeds as nicely. It sticks tenaciously to topics, giving a good hit fee even when they’re transferring shortly. It’s not fairly as correct as Sony’s AF, although, notably when mild ranges drop.

Just like the S mannequin, the X-H2 has new AI smarts, with the power to trace birds and animals, together with vehicles, bikes, bikes, airplanes and trains. Face and eye detection is far improved over previous fashions just like the X-T4 too, monitoring topics easily and reliably.

I’d definitely select the X-H2S over the X-H2 for sports activities and wildlife, because the stacked sensor enables you to shoot at an superior 40 fps. Sony and Canon’s newest cameras beat them each, although, as they’ve superior AI and the autofocus is smoother and extra dependable. Nonetheless, the X-H2 provides good autofocus and burst efficiency contemplating the excessive decision.

The 7-stop in-body stabilization additionally labored nicely, letting me seize sharp pictures handheld all the way down to a couple of quarter second. And if 40 megapixels isn’t sufficient, you’ll be able to take 160-megapixel pictures with a tripod utilizing Fuijfilm’s Pixel Shift Combiner characteristic.

Picture high quality

The X-H2’s 40-megapixel X-Trans backside-illuminated sensor will not be stacked, nevertheless it’s a brand new state-of-the-art sensor. And it actually delivers the place it counts when it comes to picture high quality.

To start out with, the additional pixels offer you extra element that’s helpful if it is advisable crop in or make massive prints. And but, the additional decision doesn’t harm picture high quality in low mild at greater ISO settings. Noise is nicely managed at ISO 6400, and pictures are usable at as much as ISO 12800 if publicity is about appropriately.

In-camera processing of JPEG and 10-bit HEIF information is impeccable, with nice, correct colours and a pleasant stability of noise discount and element. If I needed to share pictures immediately, I might usually do it without having for any processing.

The X-H2 can take uncompressed, lossless or compressed RAW pictures with 14 bits of colour. That offers loads of room for fine-tuning, even in brilliant or darkish areas. Nonetheless, for those who underexpose pictures and attempt to increase ranges, noise can get out of hand. That’s one of many foremost drawbacks of APS-C in comparison with full-frame sensors, in fact.