Fujifilm XH2s 180 Days Later - Excellent with issues
I’ve been using the Fujifilm XH2s for just over 6 months on a daily basis for all my travel photography and videography. Originally it was a video only camera but in recent months it has also become my main photo camera. After a ton of daily use, I can finally share my thoughts on whether this camera is any good and if it’s the right one for you.
Context
Without context any camera review in my opinion is pretty empty. I’m a full time travel photographer with an emphasis on street photography. I have been using Fuji cameras for photo and video since 2018 for all my photography and video. However I am in no way affiliated with them nor will I ever be. I bought this camera from a shop and paid the same price you would. I am also not a fanboy. Matter of fact I hated the XH1 and my initial impressions of the XH2s were not overly positive either. This is not a detailed gear review. So if you want to know what type of plastic the joystick is made from, this isn’t the blog for you. Instead you will get a real world opinion based on daily professional use. However please remember that this is just my opinion and it is ok if you have a different one. No need to get offended. Finally if you are watching this video hoping that this camera will make you a better photographer, sorry but it won’t. Focus on light, composition and putting yourself in front of something worth shooting. In other words spend the money on education and travel…. Not gear.
Build quality
Let’s start with build quality and I think it is great. It feels solid, premium and durable. If I needed a camera that could withstand a tough environment, this is the one I’d go for. Overall the body shows almost no signs of wear apart from the battery grip cover and the odd tiny corner mark. The screen is just as good as new with no extra play. The buttons all sill feel the same with no weird creaks or noises. I’ve had a couple crashes where the screen turned purple but a simple restart fixed the issue. I’ve also had the camera freeze once which required a battery reset. Now and then I’ve had issues with exposure hunting around and sound levels changing when pressing record. However most of this was when the camera was on earlier firmware. So far on the latest firmware, it has been ok.
Ergonomics
Coming from an XT camera I initially didn’t like the ergonomics of this. However over time I found it more comfortable especially when using with bigger lenses. When paired with the f1.4 primes, the overall balance is perfect. The button placements are good if you have normal sized hands. Mine resemble that of a 10 year old girl so I really do need to stretch if I want to reach the joystick. Initially this was an issue but I slightly changed how I hold the camera and now I think I even prefer it to the XT.
Usability
This is the biggest area where I had to make a U turn on my opinion. Initially I wasn’t a fan of the PASM dial and preferred the traditional XT layout. However over time I found that this new layout was noticeably more efficient not just as a hybrid camera but for switching between photo modes. For example if I am shooting aperture priority and quickly need to go to shutter priority, it’s as simple as one turn. If I want to then grab some video with specific frame rates and image profiles, it’s another simple turn. You then have 7 custom modes too. Each mode can basically be a totally different camera. I will make a separate video on how this is set up in the near future too. Another change is the removal of the focus mode switch and instead having a custom button. This is very welcomed. The top screen is surprisingly useful especially when shooting from the hip. The fully articulating screen is great. The viewfinder is large and detailed. The overall performance is noticeably improved. I am not sure if it’s down to the camera or the CF express card but the improvement is noticeable even compared to the Fuji XT5. It’s not all great thought as there are a number of stupid quirks. First of all, the button set up does not change depending on the custom mode. Considering everything else changes and other manufacturers seem to do it too, I am not sure why a pro level camera can’t. Next issue is you can’t assign the ISO adjustment to either the thumb or index wheel. On cheaper Fuji cameras you can tho. This means that you now need to press the ISO button, then manually select the figure and exit the menu. Another issue is if you’re shooting in auto ISO, you can’t actually adjust the exposure compensation or lock the exposure. This is only an issue when you have the shutter speed and aperture manually set. So although the usability is good, it is severely let down by these software related inconsistencies.
Image quality
This is probably the most subjective aspect for two reasons. First of all any differences are hard to spot on a case by case basis. If you take two identical photos one on the XH2 and the other on an XT3 for example and put them side by side, you’d be lucky to see anything. Secondly is even if there were any side by side differences, it would never show up on a YouTube video. With all that said, I can give you a general overview having taken thousands of photos and videos with this camera. Also everything I am saying applies both to photos and videos. There is definitely a boost in dynamic range. This is evident when shooting harsh scenes and even into the sun. Both the photos and videos have a soft and almost filmic feel to them right out of the camera. When it comes to editing, both have ample room and retain plenty of data especially in the highlights. Having used the previous generation sensors as well as owning an XT5 with the latest 40mp sensor, I can say that the XH2s has the best image quality.
Autofocus
Autofocus is a huge improvement and for the first time I can 100% rely on it. On previous cameras there was always that risk that it would do something silly but here it is mostly accurate. Of course now and then it might hesitate but not enough for me to say anything. Face tracking is great. Subject tracking I haven’t used. General tracking is also great. Overall I am pleased.
Summary
Overall this is a great camera that will be pretty much perfect once all the small quirks are ironed out with software. There have been ample firmware updates so hopefully it won’t take long. In my opinion this camera is suited to those who mostly do hybrid photo and video work. Equally it is mostly suited to professionals given the price point and requirement for CF cards. Whether it’s worth it or not is subjective. To me this is worth every penny as it makes my life so much easier. If you just take photos as a hobby, then perhaps an XT4 would be a better choice. Either way this will be my main photo and video camera for a very long time.
*** The latest firmware has finally addressed the ISO on dial issue. Now you can adjust ISO using the front or rear dials. However you still can’t lock exposure in auto ISO only mode.
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Fuji XH2s