Geek Corner - Fujifilm XH2S Thoughts

Fujfilm UK were kind enough to loan me the XH2S for the weekend.

I wasn’t able to do any extensive testing with this system as I was just too busy with other things, but there are plenty of credible sources that have documented this cameras ability.

30/40 frames a second drive mode in electronic shutter is absurd! There is little to no rolling shutter at all. The amount of request for GIFS on jobs is exhausting. The GFX 100 burst mode of 5 isn’t even an option when shooting stills that are wishing to be converted into motion. This would be a viable option even just swapping cameras for these particular requests.

Image Quality

The image quality is very much the same to the XT3/4, which is a disappointment. I’m longing for a higher res X system, something I’ve stated several times across these blogs. 26mp is still fine for most situations but it can’t touch the latest released from full frame systems, let alone the GFX.

I read about a photographer who sold all his Fuji X equipment as he felt the images from the XH2S were ‘muddy’, after various tests at higher ISO, I can see no real difference at all. No Idea what that’s all about.

hardly an inspiring image, but didn’t have much time with this system.

Pros

  • 40 Frames a second [Electronic Shutter] with little to no rolling shutter, insane!

  • 6.2k Open gate footage

  • 6.2K Footage is super clean and sharp

  • 4k 120P

  • CF Express

  • The grip Chefs Kiss

  • EVF is super clear 5.76m dots, the best I’ve ever seen

  • Good Battery life

  • Fast Read out

  • Hinged port doors

  • Full Size HDMI

  • Superior AF in video & Stills

  • Cats can be detected via an AF algorithm

  • IBIS is really good from what I tested

Cons

  • No 3 way tilt, I’m not a Youtuber so don’t need a flippy screen. The 3 way tilt is far superior system.

  • 30-40 frames no roll out is great, but I can see myself over shooting in this mode…

  • Same image quality as the XT3/4, still good, but the R will hopefully surpass this.

  • Lack of dials, changing ISO and shutter just feels nicer on a physical wheel.

  • Why not a Stills > Video switch that’s on the 100s & 50sII?

  • Back wheel not clickable, not sure what this is about.

  • M, CF, SF switch to a button. I guess it’s another customisable button, but I prefer the switch.

  • Older Machines [Non M1?] laptops will struggle with 6.2k Playback, well mine definitely did.

  • The shutter button is too soft, I would be shooting stils/video and not even realise.

Would i buy this camera?

At this time no. Reason being, that Fujifilm have announced a higher resolution camera and I have said countless times that the resolution of these sensors need to greatly increase to keep up with the competition, let alone be considered pro/prosumer cameras.

I don’t need a stacked sensor with ridiculously high read out, nor do I need 30-40 frames a second.

The video on this system is the best I’ve seen out of a Fujifilm camera. I was really impressed with the XT3 4k footage I shot recently, but the sharpness of the 6.2k open gate footage is sharper and has more clarity.

With all that said, I’m actually renting this system for an upcoming shoot, the open gate 6.2K really sold me.

My only concern is that there is talks that the XH2R & XT5 will have 8K & higher image quality. Does this mean this system will go the similar route of the XH1?