Fujifilm X-H2S: specs
Sensor: 26MP BSI APS-C
Processor: X-Processor 5
Stabilization: 5-axis IBIS
AF system: Hybrid distinction/part detection AF
Viewfinder: 0.5-inch OLED EVF, 5.76 million dots
Show: 3-inch Vari-Angle contact display screen LCD, 1.62 million dots
ISO vary: ISO 80 – 51,200
Max video decision: 6.2K @ 30p
Ports: USB-C, HDMI, 2x 3.5mm (mic/headphones), 2.5mm (distant)
Storage: SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II, CFExpress Kind-B
Wi-fi/bluetooth: Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
Max capturing pace: 15fps mechanical; 40fps digital
Max shutter pace: 1/8,000 mechanical; 1/32,000 digital
Battery life (CIPA): 720 photographs
Measurement/weight: 5.37 x 3.66 x 3.33 inches; 1 lb 8 ounces
The Fujifilm X-H2S and its sibling, the Fujifilm X-H2, sit on the very prime of Fujifilm’s APS-C digital camera lineup, above the enthusiast-tier Fujifilm X-T5. The X-H2 siblings share many options in widespread, however are pitched at barely totally different customers.
The X-H2 prioritizes decision, with a 40MP picture sensor and 8K/30p video recording. The X-H2S examined right here as an alternative prioritizes stills pace, that includes a 26MP picture sensor however a blistering 40fps capturing charge. Its most video decision remains to be a decent 6K/30p.
Each cameras characteristic Fujifilm’s X-Processor 5, lending them the corporate’s newest AF algorithms, and each supply a spread of options to make life simpler for professionals, together with prime panel settings shows and a CFExpress port.
Is Fuji’s APS-C flagship nonetheless one of many finest mirrorless cameras in 2024? Briefly, sure — and it’ll make sense to extra folks now than ever. To seek out out extra, learn on for our full Fujifilm X-H2S overview.
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Value & availability
The Fujifilm X-H2S was launched in July 2022 and price $2,499 / £2,499, which is an inexpensive payment for knowledgeable physique, however would sometimes put it out of the attain of many fans. Nevertheless, in 2024, we’re now seeing costs drop to across the $2,000 / £2,000 mark direct from Fujifilm. That value might make a number of sense to fans (significantly wildlife photographers) prepared to spend just a little extra for the additional options, particularly in the event that they’re contemplating a dabble in paid skilled work sooner or later. It additionally brings it nearer to the Panasonic Lumix G9 II ($1,899), a micro 4 thirds digital camera additionally designed for top pace skilled work; and undercuts the Canon EOS R6 Mark II — Canon’s full body semi-professional physique ($2,499).
If skilled jobs are usually not on the horizon, otherwise you don’t want the X-H2S’ blistering 40fps capturing charge for wildlife or sports activities, the Fujifilm X-T5 might be higher suited to most fans due to its 40MP sensor and lower cost ($1,699).
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Design & controls
Designed with professionals in thoughts, the X-H2S prioritizes perform over type, evidenced by its chunky entrance grip, digital prime panel show and ergonomically positioned management dials. For Fuji’s trademark retro aesthetic, look as an alternative on the X-T5.
All that perform leads to a large digital camera, measuring 5.37 x 3.66 x 3.33 inches and weighing a hefty 1 lb 8 ounces. That stated, native APS-C lenses are typically a lot smaller than native full body lenses, and Fuji specifically makes some improbable small APS-C primes.
The X-H2S encompasses a vari-angle rear contact display screen monitor with a modest 1.62M dot decision. That is made up for by a brilliant excessive decision 5.76M dot EVF. There’s additionally the highest panel show for shortly checking settings — particularly helpful when wanting down on a mounted digital camera.
There are USB-C, headphone and microphone ports, plus a full-size HDMI port, giving ample connectivity choices. Naturally the X-H2S options twin card slots, though one is CFExpress Kind-B port to help sooner write speeds. Slot 2 is a normal UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC port.
Construct high quality is excellent, with not a cheap-feeling materials, button, dial or flap in sight. The X-H2S is mud and moisture resistant, too.
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Controls
The X-H2S encompasses a first rate array of on-camera controls, and though there are fewer remappable Fn buttons than on rival skilled our bodies just like the Sony A7 IV, the touchscreen options 4 mappable swipe gestures which serve the identical goal.
Most buttons and dials are sensibly positioned and simple to achieve in motion, making this a straightforward digital camera to shoot with. The exceptions are an awkwardly-placed Fn button on the highest panel, plus the main target joystick, which will get in the best way when you shoot along with your left eye to the viewfinder and is fiddly for utilizing to vary focus space measurement (you will need to change focus place earlier than altering measurement).
The first mode dial options a minimum of 7 customizable reminiscence presets, permitting customers to pre-program a variety of settings for various capturing situations.
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Autofocus efficiency
The Fujifilm X-H2S options the X-Processor 5 — in 2024 nonetheless Fuji’s newest and best picture processor, providing its most superior autofocusing expertise and functioning right down to EV-7.0. There are detection modes for human faces and eyes, animals, birds, vehicles, bikes, trains and planes. Human face and eye detection is great, reliably detecting and monitoring faces and eyes all through the body.
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To check out excessive pace monitoring, I examined the X-H2S with an especially fast whippet, as demonstrated within the gallery above. The X-H2S carried out phenomenally, delivering round half of the roughly 400 burst photographs in acceptable or sharp focus. That is the very best efficiency I’ve ever seen from a digital camera when conducting this check.
I additionally examined the X-H2S on smaller wildlife in my native park. When the squirrels stayed nonetheless or moved slowly, it carried out excellently, detecting their our bodies and eyes shortly (even in difficult backlit lighting situations). It did battle just a little with fast-moving smaller animals although, leading to a decrease hit charge of photographs in acceptable focus.
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Picture efficiency
The X-H2S makes use of Fuji’s 26MP X-Trans CMOS 5 sensor, which produces stunning photographs with sufficient decision for average cropping. Clearly, the 40MP X-H2 permits larger post-crop picture high quality and will likely be higher for giant format printing.
Colours are beautiful and natural-feeling in Provia (Customary), though there are a number of Fuji’s movie simulation profiles when you really feel like getting just a little inventive in-camera. The photographs under had been shot in Velvia (first), Basic Chrome (second) and Acros (third).
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The X-H2S’ headline determine is its drive charge: as much as a blistering 40fps utilizing the digital shutter. At these speeds, buffers fill after a beneficiant 170 compressed RAW or 184 JPEG information. 40fps is a good distance in need of the Lumix G9 II’s 75fps capturing charge, however ought to be quick sufficient for many sports activities and wildlife photographers, and comes with out the sacrifice of the smaller MFT sensor.
The Fuji additionally has the large good thing about a CFExpress port, permitting for minimal (if any) writing downtime between bursts (offering you bear in mind to inform the digital camera to cease twin writing to the SD slot). That’s a giant win over the G9 II which solely options SD slots.
The X-H2S characteristic’s a 7-stop IBIS system, which performs very nicely. The primary picture within the gallery under was shot handheld utilizing a 1-second shutter, with no blurring from digital camera shake.
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The second picture within the gallery above is similar shot, with the shadows lifted. As you possibly can see, the digital camera captured a large dynamic vary. There’s loads of element seen within the darker shadows of the foreground and sky, all the best way as much as the intense highlights on the clock face, which was barely clipped however retrievable in publish. There’s little or no noise within the boosted shadows.
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The photographs within the gallery above are the identical picture, taken at ISO 12,800. The primary is a JPEG export of the unique RAW file with solely the in-camera coloration profile utilized. Picture noise is noticeable within the sky, nevertheless it isn’t ruinous and definitely nowhere close to as dangerous as ISO 12,800 on a micro 4 thirds digital camera just like the G9 II. The second picture is the out of digital camera JPEG — the digital camera’s noise suppression has smoothed out the noise nicely, barely lowering sharpness however to not a damaging diploma. Once more, the distinction is stark versus ISO 12,800 photographs on the Lumix G9 II.
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Video efficiency
With its sooner drive charge and decrease most video decision, the X-H2S is barely extra photography-oriented than the X-H2. That stated, it’s hardly missing in video credentials. The X-H2S shoots inner 6K/30p in 4:2:2 10-bit coloration, together with in Apple ProRes, due to its CFExpress Kind B slot.
The X-H2S shoots 4K/60p, then on as much as 120p for top decision gradual movement footage. There’s additionally the most recent Fujifilm FLog 2, which delivers as much as 14 stops of dynamic vary; ALL-I or LongGOP compression; and a spread of bitrates for scaling high quality to storage or workflow necessities.
The BSI stacked sensor allows extremely quick readout occasions to attenuate rolling shutter. Naturally, the 7 stops of picture stabilization are additionally nice to have when capturing and panning handheld, lowering digital camera shake.
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Battery life & overheating
The Fujifilm X-H2S options Fuji’s stellar NP-W235 battery. It’s rated at 720 photographs within the X-H2S, which isn’t dangerous in any respect contemplating the power-hungry 5.76M dot EVF. You’ll be able to obtain a full day capturing with this battery, though it’s price taking a spare for significantly intensive shoots.
I am skeptical about Fuji’s 240-minute steady recording declare exterior a lab.
Fujifilm guarantees 240 minutes of steady capturing at 4K/60p (utilizing the exterior battery grip — successfully giving three batteries in whole) from the X-H2S, due to a warmth dissipating structural design and an inner fan.
In our 4K/60p battery and overheating check, the digital camera recorded simply over 80 minutes of footage from a single battery earlier than dying. With the temperature cutoff and fan each at most, it didn’t overheat however was extraordinarily heat to the contact and smelled of sizzling electronics. In its decrease default fan and cutoff modes, the X-H2S overheated after 40 minutes. Neither determine is dangerous, however I am skeptical about Fuji’s 240-minute steady recording declare exterior a lab.
Fujifilm X-H2S overview: Verdict
The Fuji X-H2S is the final word APS-C digital camera. Or somewhat, it’s one of many two final APS-C cameras — which one you select relies on your wants. Its sibling, the X-H2, is the final word APS-C digital camera for slower-paced, excessive decision footage, due to its 40MP sensor and 8K video recording. The X-H2S is as an alternative the final word APS-C digital camera for top pace pictures due to its blistering 40fps drive, minimal picture writing downtime and phenomenal autofocusing.
It’s no weakling in relation to video both, providing some highly effective specs like inner 6K ProRes recording. Plus, the X-H2S comes with the same old advantages of all trendy Fuji mirrorless cameras: nice appears to be like, improbable construct high quality and beautiful photographs. Being an APS-C digital camera, there’s additionally the additional benefit of smaller and cheaper lenses versus full body sports activities and wildlife cameras. So, in case you have $2,500 and need the very best APS-C digital camera cash should purchase for quick capturing, there’s no digital camera I’d advocate extra.
