Fujifilm X-H2S overview: A hybrid speedster

(Pocket-lint) – With the discharge of the X-H2S, Fujifilm has made one factor clear: it is bored with being neglected by the video crowd.

The mirrorless digital camera packs some severe video chops, together with the power to file ProRes 422 internally with no file deadlines. On the identical time, it maintains highly effective pictures options, together with staggeringly quick burst taking pictures at as much as 40fps.

The query is whether or not it may possibly compete with the likes of Sony, Canon and Panasonic, whose choices have lengthy been longstanding favourites of the hybrid-shooting world.

We have been placing it to the take a look at in a wide range of circumstances, and here is what we have discovered.

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Design

• Physique: 136.3 x 92.9 x 84.6 mm
• Weight: 660g
• Climate-resistant physique
• 1.28-inch monochrome LCD

The X-H2S is a delight to carry – the grip feels pure and safe whereas all of the vital buttons and dials stay inside straightforward attain.

There is a sizable show on prime of the digital camera that lets you verify your battery life, storage standing and key settings. It is much like the show on the older X-H1, however, this time, it is higher positioned, and the inverted colors make it look way more trendy.

It has been some time since we have used a digital camera with a standing LCD like this, and we had nearly forgotten how helpful it’s. It stays seen even with the digital camera powered down, and allows you to rapidly verify your remaining battery and what number of pictures you’ve got obtained left with out having to show the digital camera on. It is nice stuff.

The design is unassuming, we might say, but it surely’s enticing and has a refined retro allure about it. After all, it isn’t probably the most essential factor on the earth, however pictures is a visible medium, so it is truthful to imagine that lot of the goal market will respect a handsome software.

In a departure from its common choices, Fujifilm has performed away with the classic shutter velocity and ISO dials, as an alternative choosing a mode dial (with an abundance of customized presets) and a devoted video recording button. We’re positive some photographers shall be lower than happy with this determination, however, for a hybrid shooter, this structure makes way more sense.

Connectivity and shows

• Full-size HDMI, 3.5mm headphone and mic sockets
• CFexpress and SD card slots
• 3-inch 1.62 million dot LCD monitor
• 5.76 million dot OLED EVF

As it is a little bit of a video workhorse, having the suitable connectivity is essential – and, fortunately, Fujifilm has performed an amazing job right here. There is a full-size HDMI port that is able to outputting as much as 6.2K RAW or 4K 4:2:2 with 10-bit depth. And that is joined by a devoted 3.5mm microphone enter and a headphone socket – each the HDMI and mic socket could be accessed with out blocking the articulation of the flip-out display.

It is a small element, however one which’s actually appreciated.

A CFexpess sort B slot has additionally been added to deal with the weighty new codecs (we’re speaking 2754Mbps for six.2K ProRes HQ), however, for much less intensive duties, there’s nonetheless an SD card slot. The digital camera has a USB-C connector, too, which can be utilized to energy the digital camera, cost the battery or switch information to a pc. Sadly, you are not in a position to file on to an exterior SSD, although, which we discovered a bit disappointing.

We have examined the digital camera in very combined climate circumstances, from darkish overcast days to shiny sunshine, and each the EVF and monitor carried out admirably all through. Each provide loads of readability and allowed us to tug focus and overview clips with ease – even in direct daylight.

One factor we did discover, nevertheless, is that the auto-detect sensor for the EVF was a bit over-sensitive, typically shutting the monitor off whereas we had been making an attempt to border a shot. After all, this, together with just about the whole lot else, is configurable within the menu system, but it surely’s one thing to be careful for.

Images and movies

• APS-C stacked CMOS sensor – 26MP stills
• As much as 40fps burst taking pictures / 15fps with mechanical shutter
• As much as 6.2K 30fps/ 4K 120fps/ 1080p 240fps video
• Inner ProRes 422, HQ and LT assist
• 7-stop IBIS

We initially examined the digital camera at an occasion crammed with blazing-fast sports activities automobiles and high-flying stunts, and as such, we spent lots of the time taking pictures high-speed bursts and tremendous slow-motion video. These are areas during which the X-H2S excels. We shot the occasion with a mix of the XF16-55mm f2.8 and the XF50-140mm f2.8, relying on the situation.

Beginning with the photograph efficiency, we discovered ourselves taking pictures lots of 15 fps bursts with the mechanical shutter and autofocus. There’s one thing addictive about rattling off pictures with that machine-gun sound, and whereas we’re sometimes fairly reserved with what number of pictures we absorb a day, we rapidly racked up hundreds of pictures.

Autofocus is far improved over the X-T4, notably with the improved eye-detection algorithms for human topics. It really works with animals and birds, too, however we discovered that it was way more dependable with a human topic. We discovered it a bit fiddly to enter the menu and select your topic sort, we wished there was a mode that may routinely detect the topic sort with out person enter.

As we have come to count on from Fuji, the colors are nice and the pictures come out trying sharp and lifelike. We loved taking pictures with the assorted movie simulation modes, too, which is one thing that is much less frequent on high-end cameras however can produce nice outcomes with out the necessity to tweak colors in submit.

In low-light circumstances, pushing the ISO into 4 figures, we had been happy with the outcomes. After all, it is no match for a full-frame physique, however you’ll be able to count on related efficiency to the X-T4, with as much as ISO 5000 or so trying pretty clear. Larger ISOs are usable, in a pinch, however are finest prevented the place potential. 

Transferring on to video outcomes, the X-H2S continues to impress. We particularly liked the 4K 120fps footage that we had been in a position to seize, though it is price noting that high-speed 4K movies are topic to a 1.29x crop. At 60fps, you will get no such cropping.

For our testing, we had been typically coping with far-away topics and the restricted attain of our 140mm focal vary, so, the crop labored in our favour. We did not expertise any overheating, both, however your mileage could differ in hotter climates.

We shot lots of 240fps 1080p footage, too, and, whereas the whole lot seems to be spectacular at such a excessive body price, the picture high quality definitely suffers – and you’ve got a bigger 1.38x crop to cope with. We discovered that high-speed 1080p movies got here out trying a bit gentle and with some uncommon noise that wasn’t too pleasing to take a look at.

We’re not precisely positive why this occurs and, sadly, it isn’t a difficulty that has been addressed since launch. For sluggish movement, 4K 120fps is the place you will get the most effective outcomes in the meanwhile.

In regular framerates, the video high quality is great and produces very good colors and sharp, detailed footage. There’s an abundance of codecs to select from, together with ProRes 422, so you’ll be able to choose the suitable bitrate for nearly any venture conceivable.

The autofocus for video is superb, and the most effective we have seen from the model to this point – but it surely’s not fairly as strong as it’s in nonetheless taking pictures modes. Neither is it on par with Sony’s choices.

The IBIS is the same story. It is good, however not fairly on par with Panasonic. We regularly discovered that, notably with panning pictures, the stabilisation would stutter for a second after which rapidly transfer to catch up.

We expect this can put the digital camera in a little bit of a wierd middle-ground for pure video shooters except they’re useless set on 10-bit 4K 120fps with an APS-C sensor, which is completely supplied by the X-H2S, so far as we are able to inform. And definitely seems to be spectacular in its personal proper.

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Writing by Luke Baker. Enhancing by Verity Burns.