BIRD TRACKING with Fujifilm X-H2S with XF150-600 (in Complex Condition) and EYE AUTOFOCUS on Par with SONY & Co

Bird Tracking

Just yesterday I reported about a video by tb- photography, who in 1 minute was able to give us more clues about the real autofocus performance of the Fujifilm X-H2S then some of the big youtube channels in 20 minutes of talks (and in some cases without showing and samples).

And since smaller youtube channels seem to often stay on the piece better than the big ones, today I’ll share a video of an even smaller youtube channel, in fact so small, that this time even I missed this video, but a fellow FR-reader made it notice to me today.

Passionate bird photographer liewwk Nature runs a 860 subscriber channel with hundred of bird photography videos.

He posted a 5 minute video of birds tracking with the new Fujifilm X-H2S and XF150-600mmF5.6-8.

A lot of it has been taken in tropical forest environment, often in tricky and low to very low light conditions and with a complex and distracting background.

In these objectively difficult conditions, Iiewwk Nature writes:

The new system just weight 2.4KG which allow us to shoot 150-600mm (225-900mm 35mm equivalent) which is one best available

This system allow me have >50% success rate 1/125 at 900mm which is my recommended minimum shutter speed for handheld.

The AF is fast and accurate (on bird eye), it may not best in market but it is very good and accurate even at low-light & complex environment.

For the Auto-focus, I think this is a huge upgrade compare previous X series. The Animal Detection just simple amazing

Keep in mind that this is the success rate mentioned is for shooting at 900mm.

In my eyes it already looks pretty amazing. And considering that this is an early pre-production firmware (on both, camera and lens), I guess it can get only better from this point on until the final firmware is released.

You can find the video down below and his blog post about his experience at liewwkphoto.

Eye Autofocus

The second video below is of Lee Zavitz, who used the Fujifilm X-H2 with the XF18-120mmF4 for a portrait session and he is says that eye AF is crazy and it detects the eye even when the eyes are mostly blocked by her hair.

He says he is really impressed by eye detection and he did not expect it to be that good.

It’s still a beta firmware, but it is on par with competitors in terms of eye autofocus.


WHOOPS: DPReview Removes Their (Bad) XF150-600mmF5.6-8 Samples While Other Photographers Show Super Sharp Images at 600mm

Some guys were sure: it is simply impossible that the Fujinon XF150-600mmF5.6-8 is sharp at 600mm, due to mathematical calculations considering f/8 on APS-C combined with statistical elaborations on the effect of diffraction for a pixel pitch of ….

OK, I hear you, let’s keep it short: the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 it’s an unusable piece of junk at 600mmF8.

And looking at the sample gallery shared by DPReview (not to be mistaken with DPRTV) at launch day, which were the worst possible samples, one would agree with the above.

But now it looks as if somebody at DPR had the decency to pull off the sample gallery, as the original link to them is now broken, the sample gallery never loads and on the main page any reference to the sample gallery (still visible in cached version) is gone.

So what happened? I see two options:

  • the lens was used in hot condition with lots of hazy air that influenced IQ
  • the pre-production copy had an issue
  • UPDATE: suggested in the comments, the X-T4 used does not support the lens yet

UPDATE: According to information I have received, the prototype lens didn’t have firmware for X-T4 (which was the camera used for the samples).

Anyway, damage done: the sample were so bad, that some Fuji shooters looking forward to this lens were hugely disappointed and moved away from it.

But the questions remains open: how does the XF150-600 perform at 600mm?

Well, I put to together a series of links where you can see the samples by yourself. Some of them I already shared in the live blog, but others are new links that I did not share in the original live blog coverage.

Look for example at samples of Alan Hewitt below. They show the performance at 600mm with an additional crop to it.

If you ask me, that is actually an excellent performance!

But as usual, watch by yourself and make up your own mind.

Pre-Orders

10 Things You Might Have Missed: Fujifilm X-H2 40MP X-Trans, September X Summit, Overheating Drama Ends, Crazy X-H2S Video Dynamic Range and More

What an event! What a day! And how much stuff to digest!

Now, the main specs of this camera are known. But going through the various video coverage, I’d like to highlight a few things that given the massive amount of information some might have missed.

All you read below can be found in the videos of our live blog coverage.

Fujifilm X-H2 40 MP is X-Trans

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

Fujifilm X-H2S vs X-T4 & Co and New XF Lenses Size Comparisons

Camerasize has uploaded the latest and greatest Fujifilm gear on their database.

Here are a couple of comparisons with other X series cameras and lenses.

Of course feel free to make your own comparisons at camerasize.

ANNOUNCED: Fujifilm X-H2S, New Autofocus Tested, XF150-600mm, XF18-120mm, New Lens Roadmap and More – LIVE BLOG

Fujifilm Launch Blog
(refresh for latest updates)

Pre-Order Options

Official Fujifilm Info

Fujifilm X-H2S – First Looks & Samples

  • BH Explora – Serious Video Comes to Fujifilm’s Upgraded Flagship
  • ivanjoshualoh -X-H2S: The king of APS-C
  • ephotozine – Fujifilm X-H2S Hands-On Review With Sample Photos
  • dpreview – Fujifilm X-H2S initial review
  • dpreview – X-H2 Samples
  • williamchua – The new Fujifilm XH2s + XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Lens

XF150-600mmF5.6-8 + XF18-120mmF4 – First Looks & Samples

  • photographyblog – Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Hands-on Photos
  • dpreview – XF150-600mm f/5.6-8 samples
  • ephotozine – Fujifilm XF 150-600mm F/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Lens Hands-On And Sample Photos
  • photographyblog – Fujifilm XF 18-120mm F4 R LM PZ WR Hands-on Photos
  • ephotozine – Fujifilm XF 18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR Hands-On And Sample Photos
  • alanhewittphotography – FUJIFILM X-H2S AND XF150-600MM LENS

New X mount Roadmap

↓ Launch Videos ↓
Fuji Guys, DPRTV & More

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **