The Fujifilm X-H2S is a compelling mirrorless camera designed for sports and action photographers interested in shooting videos of professional quality. The price is high for an APS-C camera, and many people will find its capabilities, such as a burst shooting rate of 40 frames per second, unnecessary. However, the X-H2S is a hybrid camera with very few competitors, and its exceptional performance in all aspects helps justify the price tag.
2 used from C $2,869.99
A brand-new stacked 26-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HS APS-C sensor is the engine that drives its power. Today, only premier full-frame cameras such as the Nikon Z9, Sony A1, and Canon EOS R3 have been equipped with stacked sensors. These sensors feature a construction that enables them to achieve extremely rapid read-out rates.
But the X-H2S manages to pack some of that capability into a camera that can be purchased for the relatively “low” price of $2,499, or £2,499, or AU$ 4,449 (body only).
Although the sensor in the X-H2S is smaller than the ones found in full-frame cameras, it is still more capable of producing professional-grade photos. It has blackout-free continuous shooting at 40fps (with the electronic shutter) thanks to the combination of the new sensor and an X-Processor 5, as well as some excellent subject-tracking abilities and the option to capture 6.2K/30p or 4K/120p video with 4:2:2 10-bit color depth.
Fujifilm X-H2S Design
The Fujifilm X-H2S has the appearance and the handling of a high-end professional camera. Fans of Fujifilm’s classic dials may be disappointed to learn this. Still, the camera’s superior grip, top-plate LCD screen, and general heaviness balance out the longer lenses you’ll probably want to partner it with.
Additionally, the electronic viewfinder (EVF) of the X-H2S is among the very finest we’ve encountered on any camera.
The X-H2S weighs 660g and is somewhat more compact and lighter than its predecessor, the X-H1, which came in at 680g. In addition to this, it takes many of its design influences from Fujifilm’s GFX line of medium format cameras. For instance, its top plate is somewhat comparable to the one in the Fujifilm GFX50S II.
Fujifilm X-H2S Performance
Using a CFexpress card, it is possible to keep the frame rate at 40 fps for more than three seconds.
Autofocus follows the subject quite well. However, it is not the best in its class.
Image stabilization is helpful within the body and no difficulties with overheating.
The X-H2S is not just one of the most excellent hybrid cameras for stills and video that you can purchase, but it is also by far the most powerful camera that Fujifilm has ever produced.
It may not provide the dynamic range or low-light performance of full-frame competitors like the Sony A7 IV. Still, it more than compensates for this shortcoming with the rapid shooting, autofocus, and video capabilities that are opened by its stacked sensor.
The X-H2S, much like the OM System OM-1, is designed with a primary emphasis on speed for wildlife and sports shooters (thus including the letter ‘S’ in its name). The electronic shutter can shoot still images at a rate of 40 frames per second (raw or JPEG), all while maintaining complete AF and AE tracking and without producing any blackout in the viewfinder. But in terms of actual application, how useful is this multiple-shot burst?
Fujifilm X-H2S Image & Video Quality
Regarding photography, the Fujifilm X-H2S does not significantly improve image quality over its cheaper siblings, such as the X-T4. Considering the camera’s cost, this may sound like a bit of a letdown; nevertheless, the advantages of the camera’s new 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HS sensor include its quick readout speeds, which primarily affect focusing and burst shooting (alongside video).
When capturing moving subjects, such characteristics may unquestionably help you achieve photos that aren’t achievable with cameras like the X-T4, especially with low light. However, due to the fact that the X-H2S has the exact 26.1-megapixel resolution as its predecessors in the X-Trans IV camera line, you won’t notice any significant improvements in the overall quality of the photographs.
This is not a negative thing at all. The ‘color science’ that lies beneath that one-of-a-kind X-Trans design has consistently left us amazed with the results that X-series cameras have delivered over the years. It is the same with the X-H2S, which creates some beautiful JPEGs and raw files with several excellent stops of editing leeway. Likewise, it does not make a difference.
You can capture internal video at 6.2K/30p with a color depth of 4:2:2 10 bits, or you can shoot 4K/120p slo-mo video provided you are willing to accept a crop factor of 1.29x.
Unfortunately, while recording Full HD/240p video, there is a little crop, and that mode is somewhat soft; nevertheless, the sensor’s quick read-out rates limit any rolling shutter concerns.
Support for the flat F-Log2 profile, which gives 14 stops of dynamic range and can be used for color grading in post-production, will also be welcome news for professional videographers. There is also support for three Apple ProRes codecs if you bring a CFexpress card to the party. These codecs are the ProRes 422 HQ, the ProRes 422, and the very helpful ProRes 422 LT. The fact that each menu is so complicated is perhaps the only thing wrong with this place.
Fujifilm X-H2S Specs
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 6240 x 4160 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 26 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) |
| Sensor type | Stacked CMOS |
| Processor | X-Processor 5 |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | X-Trans |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 160-12800 (expands to 80-51200) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 80 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 51200 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (3 slots) |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | Some lenses limited to 5 stops of correction |
| CIPA image stabilization rating | 7 stop(s) |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, normal |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3)HEIFRaw (14-bit RAF) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 425 |
| Lens mount | Fujifilm X |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,620,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.2× (0.8× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 5,760,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed (electronic) | 1/32000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramShutter priorityAperture priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe or flash sync port) |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/250 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleContinuous (L/H)Bracketing |
| Continuous drive | 40.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedAverageSpot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±5 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 |
| Modes | 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 720 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 360 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 50 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | 1x CFexpress Type B, 1x UHS-II SD |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec) |
| USB charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes (Full-sized) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth |
| Remote control | Yes (via smartphone or wired remote) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | NP-W235 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 580 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz) |
| Dimensions | 136 x 93 x 95 mm (5.35 x 3.66 x 3.74″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Fujifilm X-H2S Verdict
2 used from C $2,869.99
Mirrorless sports and action photographers that shoot many videos will find the Fujifilm X-H2S a powerful and versatile camera. Its new stacked sensor enables unprecedented burst-shooting rates and much-needed enhancements to focusing; nevertheless, in the course of achieving these benefits, the X-H2S does lose some of the usual Fujifilm charms. Fans of Fujifilm’s X-series cameras, hopeful that some of the X-enhancements series may eventually make their way into cheaper cameras, might take heart from this development.
