Fujifilm X-H2 Evaluate | Pictures Weblog

Introduction

Ease of Use

Whereas the X-H2S centered on out-and-out pace with its spectacular 26 megapixel stacked sensor and 40fps steady capturing functionality, the even newer X-H2 concentrates on delivering sheer decision and excessive ranges of element, with a model new 40-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor making its debut within the Fuji X-series digital camera vary.

This can be a BSI (back-side illuminated) sensor design that has far more of a concentrate on element and determination than out-and-out pace, backed up by the introduction of the Pixel Shift Multi Shot mode which creates 160 megapixel photographs.

The 40 megapixel sensor additionally permits the XH2 to report 8K video, really surpassing the XH2S which may solely report as much as 6K video as a result of it is restricted by its 26 megapixel sensor.

The X-H2 is the primary ever X-Sequence digital camera to function Pixel Shift Multi-Shot, which delivers 160 megapixel photographs for the final word high quality when element actually issues.

Beforehand solely seen on the corporate’s GFX-branded medium-format cameras, within the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot the digital camera data 20 frames, shifting the sensor by 0.5 pixels between every body.

The ensuing photographs are robotically mixed into one DNG RAW file, which may be output to a desired file format utilizing appropriate RAW processing software program.

You might not just like the much less conventional, much less Fuji-like consumer interface or the somewhat eye-watering price-tag, however in order for you the highest-resolution cropped-sensor digital camera in the marketplace, that is the one to spring for.

The brand new Fujifilm X-H2 is outwardly completely similar to its sister mannequin, the X-H2S, by way of their exterior design, dimension and weight – every part is identical aside from their nameplates.

Measuring 135.5 x 92.9 x 86.9mm and weighing 660g, the brand new X-H2 is barely smaller however barely heavier than the unique X-H1 (which measures 140 x 97 x 86 mm and 623g) , though not by that a lot. If you happen to’re a long-time consumer of the XH1 than you will not discover an excessive amount of distinction between them in dimension and weight.

What’s going to turn into rapidly obvious, although, is the radically completely different management format of this newest digital camera. Lengthy identified for his or her retro styling and plethora of conventional controls, Fuji have determined to drastically pare again the XH2 interface, a lot in order that it bears little resemblance to its forebear.

Most notably, the basic Fujifilm ISO and Shutter Velocity dials that have been situated on prime of the XH1 have made approach for a lockable, DSLR-like PASM dial on this new mannequin, positioned to the left of the viewfinder.

Along with the PASM and video modes, there’s additionally somewhat curiously a Filter choice and in addition an enormous variety of Customized capturing modes – 7 in reality – which is essentially the most that we have ever seen on any digital camera.

The pondering is you can setup and register this hybrid digital camera in many alternative methods for each stills and video, then rapidly recall them utilizing the capturing mode dial.

It nonetheless stays to be seen how followers react to what’s fairly a radical departure from the standard Fujifilm blueprint, but it surely definitely makes plenty of sense for a digital camera that may probably be used to seize all kinds of topics in all kinds of the way.

The X-H2 has a big, sculpted hand-grip on the entrance. You possibly can positively match three fingers on it, perhaps even 4 relying in your hand dimension, along with your little finger naturally curling beneath the underside of the physique. There’s additionally a outstanding grip on the rear of the digital camera in your proper thumb.

A textured faux-leather floor runs across the full width of the digital camera, with two steel eyelets on both aspect of the physique used for connecting the equipped shoulder strap.

Different key adjustments to the X-H-series consumer interface embody the addition of much more Operate buttons, once more meant so as to add as a lot flexibility to the setup of the digital camera as doable, together with the substitute of the MCS dial on the entrance of the X-H1 with an unmarked Operate button on the X-H2.

The rear of the digital camera has additionally been considerably tweaked, with the thumb operated joystick sitting a lot increased than earlier than and the AF On and AE Lock buttons extra conveniently positioned round it.

Over on the suitable of the highest panel, the XH2 retains the very helpful top-panel LCD, but it surely’s now been transfer instantly alongside the viewfinder hump and been joined by a column of ISO, white stability and performance buttons, together with a brand new one-touch video-record button that sits alongside the shutter launch button, which is encircled by the Off/On swap.

Publicity compensation and shutter pace at the moment are set utilizing the entrance and rear command dials somewhat than by way of exterior controls as on the X-H1, with the aperture management dependent upon whether or not the hooked up lens has an aperture ring or not (the vast majority of Fuji’s lenses do) and whether or not it is set to Auto or not.

Total, the X-H2 reminds us of the X-S10, which additionally eschewed Fuji’s customary ISO dial, Shutter Velocity dial and Publicity Compensation dials. These adjustments have been made to that specific digital camera within the pursuit of simplicity and affordability, although, whereas with the X-H2 they have been made to allow the digital camera to be extra versatile and faster to make use of.

The X-H2 affords a barely completely different customary sensitivity vary of ISO 125 to ISO 12,800 to the X-H2S, which may be expanded right down to ISO 64 and as much as ISO 51,200. This makes the X-H2 properly suited to low-light capturing, permitting you to hand-hold the digital camera in locations the place you’d often be reaching for a tripod or different assist.

Fuji’s intelligent ISO Auto Management setting lets you set a most sensitivity (as much as 6400) and a minimal shutter pace (1/thirtieth is an effective start line), with the digital camera over-riding your ISO alternative if it thinks you are being too bold while sustaining a shutter pace that will not introduce digital camera shake.

The picture sensor used within the X-H2 is the following technology 40.2 megapixel, APS-C sized, X-Trans CMOS 5 HR back-side illuminated (BSI) sensor, making its debut within the Fuji X-series digital camera vary.

Though it may’t match as much as the headline-grabbing 40fps steady capturing pace provided by the X-H2S and its stacked sensor, the brand new XH2 is definitely no slouch in relation to burst sequences.

The X-H1 was a comparatively quick digital camera when it was launched in 2018, able to capturing at 14fps utilizing the digital shutter or 8fps with the mechanical shutter., however the brand new X-H2 with the X-Processor 5 on-board ups the ante significantly.

As compared, the XH2 can shoot at 20fps when utilizing the digital shutter, utterly blackout-free with steady phase-detect auto-focus and auto-exposure, somewhat than being locked on the first body. Not like the XH2S, a modest 1.29x crop is utilized although. It additionally affords a a lot quicker 15fps steady capturing pace when utilizing the mechanical shutter, this time with none crop.

This makes the X-H2 one of many quickest cameras that Fujifilm have ever made by way of burst capturing, second solely to the X-H2S in reality.

Relying in your topic, having the ability to choose from 20 incrementally completely different photographs might imply the distinction between a near-miss and a “excellent” picture, though you will want giant capability, high-speed CFexpress Kind B reminiscence playing cards to take full benefit of the sheer pace on provide.

To assist with capturing the exact second, the X-H2 additionally a intelligent Pre-shot burst capturing mode, with the digital camera continuously filling the buffer whereas your half-press the shutter button, after which maintaining the latest ones taken 0.5-1 seconds earlier than a full press of the shutter button, eliminating any digital camera and human-added delay. Observe that this function solely works with the digital shutter.

Due to its 40 megapixel sensor, the XH2 affords a larger variety of PDAF factors (3.3 million) than the XH2S. Fujifilm say that the brand new mannequin is not fairly as quick at monitoring shifting topics because the X-H2S, although.

The X-H2 really has two sorts of shutter, mechanical and digital. When utilizing its mechanical focal-plane shutter, it has a prime shutter-speed restrict of 1/8000th second in all capturing modes.

There is no built-in ND filter, so if you wish to use a really quick lens in very shiny daylight while utilizing the mechanical shutter, then it is a good suggestion to purchase an precise glass ND filter. The X-H2 has a flash-sync pace of 1/250th second with the mechanical shutter and 1/one hundred and twenty fifth second with the digital shutter.

The X-H2 additionally has a totally silent digital shutter which supplies a a lot, a lot quicker prime shutter pace of 1/180,000th second. This lets you proceed capturing wide-open with quick aperture lenses within the brightest of situations with out having to resort to becoming a glass ND filter or utilizing an exterior flash and lights.

To make the digital camera even much less obtrusive, when the digital shutter is chosen, there is a Silent menu choice which turns off the speaker, flash, AF-assist lamp and most significantly the shutter-release sound, immediately making the X-H2 completely suited to extra candid images.

It is all very properly having the ability to report at 20fps, however until the digital camera can rapidly, precisely and reliably concentrate on no matter fast-moving topic you are making an attempt to seize, it is all for nothing.

Fortunately, though the brand new X-H2 has the identical hybrid autofocus system with as much as 425 selectable part detection and and distinction detections factors because the X-H1, X-T4 and X-Pro3 fashions, Fujifilm have made various actually vital enhancements to make it their finest AF system but.

Chief amongst these is the debut of subject-based computational AI, with the XH2 having the ability to robotically detect animals, birds, cars, bikes and bikes, airplanes and practice.

You do need to particularly select which of these you need to observe from the Topic Detection Setting menu, however as beforehand talked about, you’ll be able to simply register completely different settings to the customized modes on the capturing mode dial to keep away from having to continuously dive into the menu.

Turning this function on resulted in a super-high hit price by way of auto-focusing, with the digital camera typically capable of concentrate on the topic earlier than we might even noticed it ourselves.

The improved auto-focus algorithm that is stated to be 3x quicker than the X-T4 and significantly the topic detection modes assist to make sure that most of your photographs are sharp.

Additionally serving to to maintain issues sharp is the XH2′ 5-axis in-body picture stabilisation (IBIS) system. The unique X-H1 was the primary ever Fuji mirrorless digital camera to function In-Physique Picture Stabilization (IBIS), and the X-H2 joins it and the X-H2S, X-T4 and X-S10 because the fifth Fuji digital camera to supply it.

And as with most of its different key options, this new mannequin ups the ante significantly. Whereas the X-H1 solely supplied as much as 5.5 shutter steps of compensation for stills, the X-H2 supplies as much as a most of seven stops, 1.5 stops higher and the joint-best of any present Fujifilm digital camera.

Equally, the OLED digital viewfinder on the X-H2 has larger 5.76M-dot decision, bigger 0.80x magnification and a quicker 120fps refresh price than the X-H1, which had a 3.68M-dot EVF with 0.75x magnification and 100fps refresh price.

Maybe extra importantly for a hybrid stills and video digital camera, Fuji have made an essential change to this mannequin’s LCD display. The older X-H1 had a intelligent three-direction tilting LCD display, but it surely did not tilt out to the aspect just like the one on the brand new XH2, which has a totally articulating, vari-angle, 3-inch LCD display with 1.62M-dot decision.

You possibly can flip out the display to the aspect, rotate it forwards for simpler operation when pointing the digital camera at your self, and fold it flat in opposition to the again of the digital camera to cease it from getting scratched, which proves to be a extra versatile display for vlogging, film capturing and images generally.

The X-H2S affords a greater video mode than the X-H2 and is unquestionably the one to purchase in the event you’re predominantly a videographer, though this new mannequin definitely provides it a run for its cash predominantly because of its 40 megapixel sensor.

The newer digital camera affords a highest high quality price of 8K/30p with no crop recorded in 4:2:2 10-bit internally for about 160 minutes. The XH2S cannot report in any respect in 8K due to its decrease decision 26 megapixel sensor, topping out at 6K/30p.

Mixed with a suitable HDMI recording system from Atomos or Blackmagic Design, 12-bit RAW video output from the X-H2 may be recorded as Apple ProRes RAW or Blackmagic RAW at resolutions and body charges of as much as 8K and 29.97 frames per second.

The X-H2 additionally includes a digital zoom operate that makes use of the digital camera’s 40.2MP sensor to ship as much as 2x of digital zoom with little to no loss in decision, when recording video in 4K.

Due to its stacked sensor design, the XH2S affords a quicker rolling shutter than the X-H2 (1/180s vs 1/88s in 4K), although, and in addition affords larger dynamic vary (14+ stops versus 13+ on the XH-2). For 8K recording the rolling shutter on the X-H2 is even worse at 1/33s.

Most crucially, the XH2S can report in 4K at as much as 120fps, whereas the X-H2 is restricted to 4K/60p, which for a lot of videographers might be extra essential than having 8K recording.

Each cameras can reap the benefits of a particular fan accent which screws into the again of the digital camera and improves the utmost recording time from 17 to 51 minutes at 40 Celsius.

The X-H2 options each built-in wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The latter choice creates a continuing, low-power connection between the X-H2 and a smartphone/pill to switch photographs and video utilizing the Fujifilm Digital camera Distant smartphone app, whereas the previous lets you remotely management the X-H2 by way of a 2.4Ghz wi-fi connection utilizing a smartphone or pill and the Fujifilm app, and switch photographs and video from one system to the opposite.

One other key change to the design of the X-H2 is reminiscence playing cards, particularly the sort that it makes use of somewhat than the quantity. Each the unique X-H1 and this new mannequin have twin reminiscence card slots, however whereas the older mannequin had two UHS-II SD format slots, the X-H2 has one UHS-II SD slot and one CFexpress Kind B slot.

So if you wish to reap the benefits of all of the pace and determination benefits that the XH2 affords, you will must put money into some CFexpress Kind B reminiscence playing cards and doubtless a brand new card reader too, because the digital camera merely cannot shoot and report at its quickest charges in the event you solely use SD playing cards.

Fujifilm have additionally paid shut consideration to the X-H2’s battery life, so that they’ve switched from utilizing the smaller capability NP-W126S battery that the X-H1 used to precisely the identical NP-W235 batteries because the X-T4.

This affords a CIPA-rated battery lifetime of as much as 720 photographs on a single cost in regular mode on the X-H2, with real-life utilization yielding even longer life. The X-H1 was rated at solely 310 photographs.

The XH2 will also be powered and charged by way of a USB-C connection, which is beneficial in the event you’re out and about and have a suitable power-bank to plug the digital camera into.

If you happen to actually need to lengthen the battery life, there is a Vertical Battery Grip (VBG-XH) obtainable for the X-H2 which accepts two NP-W235 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to increase the life for as much as 1700 frames between recharges.

A steel tripod mount is positioned inline with the centre of the lens and much away from the battery/reminiscence card compartment, so you do not have to take away the digital camera from the tripod to alter the battery or the reminiscence card.

Picture High quality

The entire pattern photographs on this evaluation have been taken utilizing the 40.2 megapixel Positive JPEG setting, which provides a median picture dimension of round 18Mb.

The Fujifilm X-H2 produced photographs of excellent high quality. It data noise-free JPEG photographs from ISO 64 as much as ISO 3200, with slightly noise at ISO 6400 and extra seen noise on the quicker settings of ISO 12800 and 25600 (ISO 51200 is finest prevented), an incredible efficiency for a digital camera with a 40 megapixel APS-C sensor. The RAW information have been additionally wonderful, exhibiting extra noise than their JPEG counterparts however nonetheless producing very usable photographs from ISO 64-6400.

The night time {photograph} was wonderful, with the utmost shutter pace of 30 seconds being lengthy sufficient for many after-dark photographs, and the Bulb mode permitting for much longer exposures if required. The Dynamic Vary and HDR settings subtly enhance element within the shadows and highlights, whereas the in depth vary of Movie Simulation modes hark again to a bygone period, and the Superior Filters will let you have slightly enjoyable along with your photographs in-camera.

Noise

There are 11 full ISO settings obtainable on the Fujifilm X-H2 for JPEGs and RAW information. Listed here are some 100% crops which present the noise ranges for every ISO setting.

File High quality

The Fujifilm X-H2 has 2 completely different picture high quality settings obtainable, with Positive being the very best high quality choice. Listed here are some 100% crops which present the standard of the assorted choices, with the file dimension proven in brackets.

Positive (18Mb) (100% Crop)	Regular (9.1Mb) (100% Crop)
RAW (85.5Mb) (100% Crop)

Evening

The Fujifilm X-H2’s most shutter pace is 30 seconds within the Time shutter pace mode, and there is a Bulb mode which permits exposures as much as 60 minutes lengthy, which is good news in the event you’re critically fascinated about night time images. The shot beneath was taken utilizing a shutter pace of 15 seconds at ISO 125.

Pixel Shift Multi Shot

Pixel Shift is a particular Multi-Shot operate that can be utilized to create 160 megapixel photographs!

The digital camera’s built-in IBIS unit is used to shift the picture sensor by as much as a pixel in numerous instructions in the course of the sequence of 20 photographs.

Pattern Photos

This can be a choice of pattern photographs from the Fujifilm X-H2 digital camera, which have been all taken utilizing the 40.2 megapixel Positive JPEG setting. The thumbnails beneath hyperlink to the full-sized variations, which haven’t been altered in any approach.

Pattern RAW Photos

The Fujifilm X-H2 permits customers to seize RAW and JPEG format information. We have supplied some Fujifilm RAW (RAF) samples so that you can obtain (thumbnail photographs proven beneath will not be 100% consultant).

Pattern Films & Video

Product Photos

Conclusion

2022 is shaping as much as be a giant 12 months for Fujifilm with the launch of not one, however two flagship APS-C cameras within the similar shapes of the speed-centric X-H2S and now the resolution-focused X-H2.

Each fashions signify absolutely the pinnacle of what Fuji can at the moment obtain with an APS-C sensor and, ably supported by a protracted checklist of wonderful lenses, they far surpass what the likes of Canon, Nikon and Sony have to supply with their equal methods.

Certainly, the 2 new X-H fashions are so good that additionally they signify a less expensive, but nonetheless very prime quality various, to their rivals’ full-frame methods, providing comparable ranges of pace and determination with out having to interrupt the financial institution.

The one query for us and extra importantly for you is which mannequin to plump for? The X-H2S affords unimaginable 40fps burst capturing, one of the best video capabilities of any X-series digital camera, and smart 26 megapixel decision.

In the meantime the brand new X-H2 ups the element ante to 40 megapixels, the very best of any APS-C digital camera, impressively with out introducing an excessive amount of noise at increased ISO values, and it additionally affords the cherry on prime of 8K/30p video recording and nonetheless blazing quick 20fps burst capturing, albeit the latter being with a modest 1.29x crop.

Because the X-H2 is similar to the X-H2S aside from their nameplates, you’ll nonetheless must get on-board with their very un-Fuji-like consumer interfaces, at the least till the X-T5 is introduced.

We really assume that the maybe controversially revised management format, with its reliance on operate buttons and customized modes somewhat than shutter pace and ISO dials, is healthier suited to what’s a flexible hybrid digital camera that lends itself to being utilized in a large number of various methods. Your mileage might properly differ although.

If you happen to do not want the excessive decision, higher AF and improved video capabilities of the X-H2, you’ll be able to fortunately save fairly some huge cash by choosing one of many cheaper former flagship fashions such because the X-T4, a deal that’s sweetened even additional in the event you want their extra conventional consumer interfaces.

The X-H2 does have one main benefit over its speedy sibling, particularly worth. The brand new Fujifilm X-H2 is priced at £1899 / $1999 within the UK and USA respectively, making it the second costliest X-series APS-C sensor digital camera ever launched.

That title goes to the Fujifilm X-H2S, which is priced at £2499 / $2499 physique solely. This makes the XH2S a whopping £600 / $500 costlier than the brand new XH2, a distinction that’s primarily pushed by the stacked sensor inside it, which is far more pricey to fabricate than the BSI sensor discovered contained in the X-H2.

In abstract, whereas the X-H2 and X-H2S might look completely similar, because of their sensor applied sciences they’re aimed toward two fairly various kinds of finish consumer, though the previous mannequin’s 8K video mode will muddy the waters slightly for some customers. Each are excellent cameras although – all it’s worthwhile to do is ensure that to choose the suitable one…

Principal Rivals

Listed beneath are a number of the rivals of the Fujifilm X-H2.

Specs

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