Fujifilm X-H2S review: The most powerful APS-C camera yet

4 years after releasing the X-H1, Fujifilm has lastly adopted it up with not only one however two fashions. A type of is the highest-resolution APS-C digicam so far, the 40-megapixel X-H2. The opposite is what we’re at this time, the high-speed X-H2S designed for sports activities, wildlife capturing and extra.

The largest function of the X-H2S is a brand new stacked, backside-illuminated 26.2-megapixel sensor. Its excessive pace permits burst capturing at as much as 40 fps, sooner autofocus and diminished rolling shutter. It additionally guarantees improved picture high quality, and comes with in-body stabilization, a high-resolution viewfinder, twin card slots and extra.

These enhancements and options don’t come low cost, although. At $2,500, the X-H2S is now one of the crucial costly APS-C cameras on the market, with the identical value as comparable full-frame fashions like Canon’s EOS R6 and the Sony A7 IV. Is it value paying that for a smaller sensor?

Physique and dealing with

The X-H2S isn’t your typical Fujifilm digicam. At 660 grams bigger and heavier than the X-T4, although it’s a contact lighter than the X-H1. It has a a lot greater grip as effectively that imparts a sense of stability, excellent for those who’re attaching huge lenses for sports activities or wildlife capturing.

As talked about, the format is extra like rival mirrorless cameras from Canon and Sony than different Fuji fashions. As an alternative of dials that show shutter pace, publicity compensation and ISO just like the X-T4, it has standard entrance and rear dials. The one one on high is a mode selector, and on the again you’ve got a joystick and D-Pad management. It’s acquired a minimum of 12 buttons, most of which could be reprogrammed for various features. As with the X-H1, it has a high LCD that reveals main settings.

Because it’s designed for sports activities and wildlife capturing, which requires altering settings on the fly whereas keeping track of the topic, the format is sensible. Nevertheless, I do know many Fujifilm followers choose the normal dials – although no less than you may see settings on the highest LCD show if capturing from the hip. The one management I didn’t take care of was the document button, because it’s tiny and awkwardly positioned. The X-H2S makes use of the identical logical menu system because the X-T4, so settings are comparatively simple to search out.

Additionally good for motion photographers is the digital viewfinder (EVF) that gives blackout-free burst capturing and better decision (5.76 million dots) than both the Sony A7 IV or Canon EOS R6 (3.68 million dots every). It additionally packs a high-resolution, fully-articulating contact show that allows you to management focus, fast menu and different features.

For I/O, you get a high-speed USB-C port with energy supply, plus WiFi and Bluetooth for digicam controls or transfers. Sadly, Fujifilm’s digicam app for reside view capturing or picture imports is comparatively primitive (the low 1.7 Play Retailer ranking is a clue), failing to indicate issues like publicity and audio ranges for video, or permit burst photograph capturing.

Video customers get each microphone and headphone ports, together with a pleasant full-sized HDMI jack for exterior recorders. To deal with the additional pace and video capabilities, it has a pair of card slots, each UHS-II and high-speed CFexpress. And at last, the battery (the identical sort because the X-T4 however upgraded) permits as much as 720 pictures on a cost and effectively over two hours of 4K 30p video recording.

Efficiency

With as much as 40 fps burst capturing speeds at full decision, the X-H2S is quicker than some other APS-C digicam, however there are some caveats to that. It should solely hit these high speeds in launch, fairly than focus precedence mode (which means it takes the shot even when it’s not in focus). Meaning loads of your pictures can be blurry, so it’s not a sensible mode for motion capturing. Dialing right down to 30 fps, nonetheless, I acquired much more pictures in focus and the hit fee was almost excellent at 20 fps

Capturing with the mechanical shutter, I noticed 15 fps burst speeds, very respectable and a match for Canon’s EOS R7. On high of that, the mechanical shutter may be very quiet (and sweet-sounding), notably in comparison with the clattery shutter on the EOS R7. In that mode or the 20 fps silent mode, I used to be in a position to seize upwards of 300 pictures at a time to a quick CFexpress card – over 10 seconds of capturing. That’s proper up there with sports-centric cameras like Canon’s EOS R3.

The X-H2S is Fujifilm’s first digicam with chook and animal monitoring, and also can observe automobiles, bikes, bikes, airplanes and trains. It labored fairly effectively for a primary iteration, although it might lose monitoring relying on the capturing angle and different components.

Face and eye monitoring, although, is one of the best I’ve seen on any Fujifilm digicam. It tracks easily and tenaciously, providing you with extra pictures in focus. It additionally did an excellent job of getting a topic’s eye and never their eyelashes or nostril in focus. Total, the autofocus on the X-H2S is far improved from earlier than, however not fairly as much as Sony and Canon’s requirements.

It does beat all its rivals relating to capturing discreetly, although. The stacked sensor’s speedy pace means it has minimal rolling shutter in silent mode, so you may confidently use it for capturing birds, wildlife, sports activities and different fast-moving topics.

Promising seven stops with supported lenses, the in-body stabilization additionally carried out effectively for pictures, letting me get sharp pictures at comparatively low shutter speeds. Nevertheless, it doesn’t work as effectively for video, as I’ll element shortly.

Picture high quality

With an identical 26.2-megapixel sensor to the X-T4 (with the addition of the stacked expertise), the X-H2S is among the many greatest APS-C cameras for shade rendition. Every thing appears pure, whether or not you’re capturing landscapes, animals or individuals. JPEGs look good straight out of the digicam, with a barely higher steadiness between noise and sharpening than earlier than due to the tweaked shade science.

Just like the X-T4, it makes use of a dual-gain sensor, with the candy spots at ISO 800 and 3200. Excessive ISO efficiency is sort of on par with the X-T4, with noise fairly effectively managed and detailed preserved as much as about ISO 6400. It does supply usable pictures past that, however publicity must be right otherwise you’ll have extreme noise when boosting blacks.

The 14-bit RAW recordsdata supply loads of room for adjustment, with some exceptions. Due to the dual-gain sensor, it’s higher to shoot at increased ISOs than attempt to shoot on the base ISO 800 after which enhance the blacks, as noise ranges are increased. Nonetheless, you may enhance blacks in high-contrast pictures by a number of stops with none points. It doesn’t carry out fairly in addition to the X-T4 on this regard, probably as a result of stacked expertise which might increase the noise ground.