Big test
SPECS › Price £1899 body only, body with XF16-80mm kit £2299 › In the box X-H2 body, NP-W235 battery, AC-5VJ adapter, plug adapter, body cap, shoulder strap, USB cable › Resolution 40.2 megapixels › Sensor 23.5x15.6mm X-Trans CMOS 5 HR, X-Processor 5, 7728x5152 pixels › Storage media Dual slot: SD/ SDHC/SDXC card and CFexpress Type B › ISO range 125-12,800, expanded 64-51,200 › In-body image stabiliser Five- axis, 7EV benefit (with 35mm f/1.4), Digital IS and IS boost (movie mode only) › Shutter Mechanical: 30secs to 1/8000sec. Bulb up to 60mins Electronic: 15mins to 1/180,000sec Flash sync: mechanical shutter ≥1/250sec, electronic ≥1/125sec › Exposure system PASM, 256 zone, multi, spot, average, centre- weighted. Seven custom modes › Exposure compensation +/-5EV in 1/3EV steps › Monitor 3in, 3:2, fully articulated touch panel, 1.62m dots › Sub LCD monitor 1.28in mono LCD › Viewfinder 0.5in OLED, 5.76m dots › Focusing Intelligent hybrid AF (TTL contrast AF, TTL phase detection AF) working down to -7EV (phase) and -4.0 (contrast). Face/eye and subject detection: animal/bird/car/bike/plane/train › Preshot mode 20fps electronic shutter with 1.29x crop, half press 20 frames, full press 1000+ frames. 13fps no crop. Half press 13 frames, 1000+ after full press › Video 8K (16:9) 7680x4320 59.94/50/29.97/25/24/23.98p › Battery NP-W235, approx 540 frames in normal mode, 680 in economy mode › Connectivity HDMI Type A, USB Type C 3.2 Gen 2, 3.5mm headphone and microphone sockets, Wi-Fi, 2.5mm remote release socket › Other key features USB charging, 19 Film Simulation modes, interval timer, pixel shift shooting, focus bracketing, multiple exposure, HDR mode, grain effect, advanced filters › Dimensions (wxhxd) 136.3x92.9x84.6mm › Body weight 660g (with card and battery) › Contact fujifilm-x.com 29.97/25/24/23.98p; 6.2K (16:9) 6240x3510 29.97/25/24/23.98p; 4K DCI (17:9) 4096x2160 29.97/25/24/23.98p; 4K (16:9) 3840x2160 “PIXEL SHIFT MULTI-SHOT TAKES RESOLUTION UP TO 160 MEGAPIXELS”
PERFORMANCE: ISO
125 shot was 1.6secs at f/4 using the XF10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR lens, with the duo on a Leofoto LS-324C tripod. Images were processed in Adobe Lightroom, and no extra noise reduction was applied. Images are both clean and free of digital noise, up to and including ISO 800. Beyond that you can see graining at ISO 1600, but detail still looks crisp until you get to ISO 3200, where grain is more evident – especially if you look closely at the shadows. Naturally, image quality suffers more when climbing the speed ladder. Personally, I wouldn’t go further than ISO 3200 if possible. ISO 6400 is quite noisy in shadows and areas of even midtone.
Conventional wisdom says the more megapixels packed into a set area, the higher the digital noise levels, and back-side illuminated sensors fare better for noise compared with front-illuminated versions. So, where does it leave the X-H2, a super high-resolution camera with a BSI sensor? From our test, its high- ISO performance is very good and comparable to the best out there. The X-H2’s native ISO range is 125 to 12,800, with expansion to ISO 64-51,200. I shot with the X-H2 at each ISO, with long exposure and high ISO noise reduction set to off and zero, respectively. This scene was shot at twilight and the base exposure for the ISO
125
800
1600
3200
6400
12,800
25,600
51,200
Switching to mechanical shutter, I got 15fps and 960 full-format Raws without hesitation – and could have carried on. In both modes, the buffer cleared almost as soon as I took my finger off the shutter button. Switching to an SD card – a ProGrade with 250MB/s write speed – I got 100 full-size Raws at 15fps and 133 shots at 20fps with the 1.29x crop before the camera paused for breath, and the buffer took around 20 seconds to clear. So, while the X-H2 is not as rapid as its stablemate, it is still very capable. If you’re a fan of action shooting, the X-H2’s top electronic speed is an incredible 1/180,000sec available in single frame and a shooting rate of 13fps. The top speed of the X-H2S and other X models is 1/32,000sec. A shift in quality A first for X Series cameras is the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot mode, taking the camera’s 40.2-megapixel resolution up to 160 megapixels. A static scene and dependable tripod are essential and there is no lower- resolution handheld version. Fujifilm does have the feature on its GFX System with its conventional Bayer 2x2 pixel array. However, providing the feature on the X Series is more complex with its X-Trans sensors that feature a 6x6 pixel array.
SWITCHED The physical AF/MF toggle from previous models has gone, replaced by a customisable Fn3 button at four o’clock to the mount
Issue 102 | Photography News 47
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