DPRTV Fujifilm X-H2S Review: “Similar Price Point of Some Full Frame Cameras, But in a More Versatile Package”

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DPRTV published its review of the Fujifilm X-H2S (production model with final firmware).

As to expect, lots of the things they complaint about in their pre-production review were completely fixed and improved.

Here is the summary:

  • some issues they noticed and complaint about in their review of the pre-production model are now fixed
  • punch in focus magnification is now very sharp (very unsharp on pre-production)
  • top LCD a bit of flickering when white on black mode. You can change to black on white mode and it won’t flicker
  • they love the EVF and fully articulating screen
  • on of the best Display setups on a mirrorless camera
  • BUFFER – lossless compress RAW
    – Using Sony Tough V90 UHS-II Card – 150 shots (a bit under 4 seconds of bursts)
    – Using DELKIN BLACK CFexpress B – 180 shots at 40fps and then it continues at 20fps for other 280 shots
  • usually stacked sensor cameras have to sacrifize a bit of dynamic range
  • in Flog 2 the X-H2S shoots with a bit slower read speed (11.5 milliseconds) but gets more dynamic range in video [which is still faster readout than X-T4 in video]
  • in regular video mode it has a faster readout speed (6.2 milliseconds) but we lose a bit of dynamic range
  • electronic shutter readout speed for stills is also 6.2 millisecond
  • like on other stacked cameras, also the X-H2S shows difference between electronic and mechanical shutter mode
  • not a big difference, we lose about a third or half a stop of dynamic range
  • for best dynamic range use mechanical shutter
  • they’d like Fujifilm to offer a feature similar to what happens in video, where the camera slows down readout speed in order not to compromise dynamic range
  • excellent image quality similar to Fujifilm X-T4
  • the issues he noticed with eye detect on the pre-production camera is now vastly improved
  • 40 fps with release priority and fast moving subject still gives a fair number of shots out of focus
  • better slow down at 20 fps for a near perfect hit rate
  • also 30fps gave a pretty good hit rate
  • 40fps the amount of sharp images dropped substantially
  • they got more sharp images shooting at 20fps than at 40fps
  • subject detection has also vastly improved over the pre-production model and Chris is pretty impressed
  • Canon and Sony still work a little bit better in rapid movement situations
  • VIDEO
  • detects subjects very quick
  • sometimes it can overshoot the subject and find its way back or won’t pull the focus at a consistent speed when moving between subjects
  • other brands offer a tap object to track feature (where it will track anything you tapped on), but with Fujifilm X-H2S it will track only those subjects that are in the list (human, birds, cars, etc). Other objects, you’ll have to keep them in your focus point and move them in there to keep them in focus
  • Would be nice to have a video tracking mode like there is in stills, but that’s not available yet
  • readout in 14 bit fast enough means real benefit in image quality
  • F-Log 2 extra dynamic range and absolutely beautiful, extremely detailed
  • F-Log has a bit of rolling shutter penalty, but still better than a lot of other cameras, like the X-T4
  • IBIS is improved but it can also fight you still a little bit especially when you are panning
  • IS locked mode for static scene you shoot handheld looks fantastic
  • best static stabilization he has ever seen along with Panasonic
  • With Ninja V+ you can shoot ProRes RAW
  • Jordan is blown away by how capable of a video camera it is at this price
  • brilliant photo camera and extremely powerful video capabilities
  • one of the best hybrid/video cameras ever made
  • very minor issues with AF and IBIS
  • the biggest issue with the X-H2S for video is the lens lineup
  • lots of the newer lenses (like the new f/1.4 lenses) are great in autofocus, but manual focus experience is not as good for video
  • there is the XF18-120mmF4, but Jordan would like more fast aperture lenses with great autofocus and excellent manual focus experience
  • CONCLUSION
  • excellent for sports, wildlife and action photographay
  • excellent for video
  • lots of potential as hybrid camera
  • it cements itself as Fujifilm flagship APS-C camera
  • flagship camera with flagship price point
  • gets into competition witn OM System OM1, Canon R6 and Sony A7IV
  • compared to full frame, you have advantages of more compact lenses, extra distance on telephoto lenses, but for example Canon R6 has not same fast readout and can’t touch bursts modes of X-H2S. Sony A7IV has even slower readout speed which really holds it back
  • Although in a similar price point, the X-H2S is such a versatile package that you can put it pretty much in any scenario and it can do well

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