Fujifilm on Tuesday launched an update to the company’s H-S1 model which is the company’s most advanced model with an APS-C sensor and includes vastly enhanced video features of technical and ergonomic upgrades. In addition, the company also announced two new telephoto zoom lenses.
Fuji has been relatively quiet in recent months when it comes to new cameras but beneath the surface the company has worked hard to develop the next generation of cameras and the X-H2S is the result of the long wait that brings capabilities we have seen so far only in professional FF APS-C cameras. Fuji with a long line of innovations.
The X-H2S – the most advanced APS-C hybrid
In many ways the X-H2S model is for Fuji what the GH6 model is for Panasonic for the 4/3 micro line. An advanced hybrid camera with video capabilities relevant to 2022 and beyond.
The X-H2S camera – a preview of the new sensor
So what’s new in the X-H2S? The new main component is the 26.1 megapixel BSI sensor in Fuji’s X-TRANS technology. The new sensor is capable of reaching a reading rate of up to 4 times that of the company’s previous sensors which is expected to create less rolling shutter when photographing motion (or displacement of the sensor). The sensor also comes with an improved dual-performance processor (X-Processor 5), improvements in every performance issue (including sensitivity, image quality and dynamic range, as well as improvements in autofocus and object tracking (including the addition of a dedicated AI processor).
The new focus system is very sensitive (up to minus 7 EV) and it also allows working with multipliers and as mentioned identifying and tracking objects such as animals, vehicles, planes and more.
The shooting speed of the camera is particularly impressive – up to 15 images with a mechanical shutter and no less than 40 images with a digital shutter although you will need a fast card to take advantage of this speed (more on that right away) but Fuji has incorporated a fairly large buffer so even with Fast SD cards will work relatively well.
The camera has a built-in stabilizer up to 7 stops (!) And a high-quality viewfinder with 5.76 million dots (0.8X magnification) that displays up to 120 frames per second. The rear screen by the way is a 3-inch articulated 1.62 million dots and there is a top data screen.
Joint screen and top data screen
When it comes to video the camera really sets new limits for Fuji APS-C cameras and in general. The camera captures a resolution of up to 6.2K at 30 frames per second (up to 720 megabits transfer rate) and is also capable of shooting 4K up to 120 frames per second in 10-bit 4: 2: 2 ProRes 422. There is also support for F-Log2 and -F-Log with an official dynamic range of up to 14 stops. By the way, for those who want to shoot RAW in video, two supported formats – Blackmagic RAW and ProRes Raw with external recorders.
The batteries are the same as those of the X-T4 and should allow up to 90 minutes of video shooting and there is even an optional fan that can be installed in place of the articulated screen when it is open (the previous model did not have a full articulated screen by the way).
The camera has a pair of memory card slots – SD and CFEXPRESS B, and it includes a full-size HDMI connection, USB-C.
New lenses
In addition to the camera, the company has launched a pair of advanced zoom lenses. The first is the XF 18-120mm F4 LM PZ WR lens. This zoom lens has 15 elements in 12 groups and is waterproof / dustproof and a feature we first see in Fuji – power-zoom with a button to control the side of the lens. Control is also possible from the camera (currently only with the X-H2S but also previous models will be updated later). The lens weighs 460 grams, has 7 aperture blades, a minimum focusing distance of 60 cm and a linear focus motor (and it does not lengthen).
XF 18-120mm F4 LM PZ WR lens
The second lens is XF 150–600mm F5.6–8 R LM OIS WR. This long zoom lens also supports multipliers (the XF 1.4X TC WR and the XF 2X TC WR) that will allow it to reach a maximum focal length of about 1200mm but at the cost of an ultra-dark aperture (f / 16).
The lens has 24 elements in 17 sets, it is waterproof and dustproof, includes several programmable buttons, aperture ring, zoom and focus and focus limiter, built-in 5-stop stabilizer, linear focus motor, minimum focus distance of 2.4 meters, weight of 1.6 kg, Structure made of magnesium and 82 mm filter. For a built-in foot lens with Arca support.
150-600 mm lens F5.6–8 R LM OIS WR
Fujifilm unlike Canon / Nikon and Sony has always insisted on updating its roadmap consistently when it comes to future lenses. Among other things, there are 3 future lenses – 8 mm f / 3.5 aperture, 56 mm f / 1.2 lens and 30 mm macro f / 2.8 lens.
Price and availability
The X-H2S is expected to be available in force from the beginning of July 2022 and its price abroad will be $ 2,500. We will update on availability and price in the country when we receive the information.
The shorter lens will be available in September 2022, (the XF 18-120mm F4 LM PZ WR) and will sell for $ 900, and in July 2022 the XF 150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR is expected to be available for about $ 2,000. dollar.
Videos and reviews from around the web
Quite a few videos have already been posted online about the camera and lenses:
Chris and Gordon our friend from DPR with the Fujifilm camera and new lenses
Gerald Anden in his in-depth review (mostly for videographers) about the X-H2S
Gordon Liang with the X-H2S
ZY Cheng with the X-H2S camera
Official B&H video about the XF 150-600mm
Maarten Heilbron with the XF 150-600mm lens
Gordon Liang with the 150-600mm XF lens
Gordon Liang with the XF 18-120mm F4 LM PZ WR lens
Vistek with a comprehensive overview of the X-H2S
Ido GanotIdo Ganot is the editor and founder of the megapixel photography site. He has been covering technology news since the late 1990s and has written and edited for a number of leading international magazines. He has been in the field of photography since 2009. Ido is also a co-founder of the production company Shooteat.co.il, which creates visual content for commercial companies.