We have been to the Italian presentation of Fujifilm X-H2s, in this preview article we present our first impressions of a product that represents the sublimation of the concept expressed with the H series
Here we are, returning from Milan, after Fujifilm’s first live presentation, and in grand style: X-H2s, the new reference for the sector. We were really curious, after the interactive announcement, to get our hands on this new body. The “old” X-H1 had left us a sweet memory and, clearly, the expectations for this new product were really very high. Following our hot impressions, or an opinion on the first approach with the machine. Of course, unlike the first contact with GFX 100, we know the X system well, but for this very reason we have been more “bad” by exploring all the critical points of the system. Without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the preview of Fujifilm X-H2s!
Technical features | Fujifilm X-H2s preview
The Fujifilm X-H2S is a mirrorless camera with APS-C sensor (1.5x) 26.1 megapixels produced from 2022. The sensitivity range, including extension, is 80 – 51200 ISO and can shoot in bursts of 40 FPS x 175 RAW, 184 JPEG. The detailed specifications are as follows:
- Sensor Format: APS-C, 23.5 x 15.6 mm
- Resolution: 26.1 Mpx
- ISO sensitivity: 160-12800 (80-51200 including extension)
- File formats: Raw, JPG
- Shutter speeds: 30 ″ – 1/32000 (15min max time in S / M)
- Exposure Compensation: +/- 5 stops, 1 / stop steps
- Exposure mode: M, S, A, P
- Types of light meters: Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
- Mount: Fujifilm X
- Stabilization: Yes, 5 axes, compensation declared 7 stops
- Autofocus (n. Aree AF): Intelligent Hybrid AF
- Live View: Si
- Anti-dust: Yes
- Video mode: 6k @ 30fps
- WiFi: Yes, more bluetooh
- GPS: No
- USB: Si, Type-C 3.2, in aggiunta HDMI type A
- Touchscreen: Si
- Display: 3 ″, articulated 1.62 million points
- Viewfinder: Electronic, 100% coverage, 5.76 million dots, 0.80x
- Built-in Flash: No
- Memory: SSD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-II) and CFExpress Type B on slot 2 (Double slot)
- Shutter: Mechanical and Electronic
- Batteria: Li-Ion. Fujifilm NP-W235
Camera body | Fujifilm X-H2s preview
As per tradition, we start with the impressions that the camera body gave us. In short words? The natural evolution of the X-H1. Best in everything, better studied from the point of view of ergonomics and with everything you could ever want from a camera for a mixed photo / video use. Fully tropicalized, it gives an excellent feeling in the hand, with a very secure grip even without the Vertical Grip mounted. The keys are all exactly where you would like, a classic setting, and what’s more they are practically all customizable. By installing the Vertical Grip the ergonomics improves further, making vertical shooting particularly easy and the body well balanced even with optics such as the 200 f / 2 and the brand new 150-600. The fantastic returns, even on this body shoulder display ready to ensure we always have the current settings on hand.
The new wheel is very useful which, in addition to the classic PASM selections, also offers us well 7 “Custom set” to be set at will to be ready for any possible condition, or simply to set up any type of video format without accessing the menu. If all this were not enough we find the inevitable double slot the audio in and out sockets and, surprise of the surprises, the porta HDMI Type A: so forget all those annoying adapters. But the news does not end there, there is also a fundamental accessory in long video sessions, a fan that can be attached to the body, fully configurable in the car, which helps to dissipate heat. A truly brilliant idea, the body remains tropicalized and benefits, when needed, from active dissipation. Small details for some, but essential traits in the video field.
The sum of all this makes the X-H2s camera body the best, in overall ergonomics, of the X series with heavy optics, and for video use. Subjective detail, if you loved reflex ergonomics here you will feel at home. The modularity of the body, in particular we refer to the vertical grip, makes the X-H2s perfect for every occasion and configuration. Fujifilm really compliments for the study carried out on every detail: a body without weak points.
Focus, sensor and stabilizer | Fujifilm X-H2s preview
Meanwhile, on the new X-H2s, we find a new processor, X-Processor 5, which greatly raises the performance bar compared to X-T4. Higher processor performance that implies improvements in the implemented algorithms and, as a final result, a more advanced autofocus, many fps in photos, better stabilization and high video resolutions.
We had the opportunity to test the car on the track with long foci (150-600, 200 f / 2 etc) with a very fast subject: a Ferrari. The first impression was excellent. The burst is really impressive, 40 fps with electronic shutter and 15 fps with mechanical shutter, and the responsiveness of the car with the new ones CFExpress. You have to be very careful not to “overdo” with the shots, finding yourself with thousands of photos in a photo session on the track is really too easy: you will have to tame X-H2s. Photo not in focus? a thing of the past. The X-H2s focusing system seems to know no bounds. Very fast, very precise, intelligent thanks to the recognition functions of various subjects. Complex to use? Maybe yes, but it’s just a matter of getting to know the car. The limit? We, not the car. The lightning-fast Ferrari has never escaped the X-H2swhich has always been able to immortalize it in every curve and straight.
However, we were not satisfied, we also tried in video, always with Ferrari as a “model” for the behavior of the focus. Also in this case X-H2s is passed with full marks: no problems encountered. The claimed 7-stop stabilizer was another interesting revelation. Given that in the time at our disposal we could not stress him as we would have liked, we still put his skills to the test in photos and videos with stabilized and non-stabilized optics. The impression is that it is better than X-T4, especially in video, but with still room for improvement. In photos we have not had any problems even with slow times, in video instead things change. For static shots, to be clear while remaining still in place, we could also think of doing without an external stabilizer. With more dynamic shots, for example while we are in motion, the stabilizer cannot fully compensate for movements. However, with the review, we reserve the right to deepen this aspect and make more accurate tests.
Last but not least the new sensor. Password? BSI e stacked. These features, implemented for the first time on X-Trans sensors, take image quality to a higher level by also eliminating the annoying rolling shutter. In our test we were able to appreciate it in all situations, where on the skin the impression is of a superior image quality especially in the tonal passages. A few shots, however, are not enough to fully understand the essence, we refer to the review “the burden” of this in-depth analysis.
The video mode | Fujifilm X-H2s preview
Let’s talk about the beating heart of this machine: the videos. Let’s start with some technical details on the available modes:
- 6.2K (3: 2)]6240 x 4160 29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 720Mbps/360Mbps/200Mbps/100Mbps/50Mbps
- [DCI4K(17:9)] 4096 x 2160 59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 720Mbps/360Mbps/200Mbps/100Mbps/50Mbps
- [4K(16:9)] 3840 x 2160 59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 720Mbps/360Mbps/200Mbps/100Mbps/50Mbps
- [Full HD(17:9)] 2048 x 1080 59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 720Mbps/360Mbps/200Mbps/100Mbps/50Mbps
- [Full HD(16:9)] 1920 x 1080 59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 720Mbps/360Mbps/200Mbps/100Mbps/50Mbps
- [DCI4K(17:9) High speed rec.] 4096 x 2160 120p/100p 720Mbps(recording)/360Mbps(recording)/200Mbps(recording)
- [4K(16:9) High speed rec.] 3840 x 2160 120p/100p 720Mbps(recording)/360Mbps(recording)/200Mbps(recording)
- [Full HD(17:9) High speed rec.] 2048 x 1080 240p/200p/120p/100p 720Mbps(recording)/360Mbps(recording)/200Mbps(recording)
- [Full HD(16:9) High speed rec.] 1920 x 1080 240p/200p/120p/100p 720Mbps(recording)/360Mbps(recording)/200Mbps(recording)
By simply reading this data you can get an idea of how flexible the camera is and how many possibilities and shooting modes are available. But it doesn’t stop there. We have at our disposal Apple ProRes 422 HQ, Apple ProRes 422, Apple ProRes 422 LT, HEVC / H.265, MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 internamente a 10 bit in 4:2:2with a lot of possibility to register a 12bit in 4: 2: 2 via external recorder. Obviously present all the film simulations, F-Log ed F-Log2.
The novelties are not limited to this, it is in fact possible to record without interruption up to 120 minutes of video in 6k, without the anxiety of “over-heating” thanks to the fan we mentioned above. The possibility of remote control of the camera in video in combination with dedicated optics is interesting. In the review we will go into these aspects, which in this quick test we could only touch for brief moments. We have focused a lot on the behavior of the stabilizer in video. The impression is that of a significant step forward compared to the past. Surely a notable leap from X-H1, but still an evident and papabile leap compared to X-T4 and X-S10.
Rolling Shutter? Obviously not received, totally absent in our brief experience: truly amazing. Finally, it should be underlined how, thanks to the 7 settable presets, we could have our X-H2s ready to record in any condition and in any format according to the needs without ever having to access the menu, with a truly substantial saving in terms of time. . In very dynamic situations these possibilities can make the difference and help a lot to grasp every moment: hardly X-H2s will be limiting for you.
The results in the field
Until now we have limited ourselves to talking in a discursive way about all aspects of this new Fujifilm, telling what our experience on the track has been. As usual, however, we do not want to limit ourselves to this and we want to provide you with some more food for thought: let you get to grips with the files produced by the machine. In this regard we have prepared a folder with the raw and some jpg of the shots we took, you can find it here. We do not insert, for reasons of space, all the sequences of photos in Raw and JPG of the bursts. Clearly, the actual test was obviously focused on only one genre, namely sports photography, however we took advantage of all the time available to us with the camera to take some shots also in the room. The selection that we propose offers in our opinion a way to examine the behavior in uncontrolled light conditions of the new sensor. On average, bringing home these shots was really too simple always and …