Fujifilm X-H2 Review -- Now Shooting!

by William Brawley | Originally posted 09/08/2022

Updates:
09/15/2022: Gallery Images (Beta Firmware) added
09/27/2022: First Shots added
11/28/2022: Gallery Images updated (Production Firmware sample)
12/07/2022: Hands-on Review added

Click here to jump to our Fujifilm X-H2 Overview

Fujifilm X-H2 Hands-on Review

Big on resolution and performance, the X-H2 checks off lots of boxes as an extremely versatile pro- or enthusiast-grade camera

by William Brawley | Posted 12/07/2022

When the Fujifilm X-H1 debuted back in 2018, it was a bit of a departure, design-wise, compared to the rest of the X Series lineup. The Fuji X Series was known for its classically-inspired "retro-styled" cameras with thin, compact form factors and lots of mechanical dials -- a nice throwback to film cameras in terms of their overall styling and handling characteristics. But the X-H1 was a bit of a shift, with the camera having a more modern, DSLR-esque design with a fuller handgrip, larger size and more controls and buttons. It was also the first X Series camera with IBIS. It still maintained classic Fujifilm design elements, but it was certainly different from the rest of the company's lineup.

However, as the years went on, other Fujifilm cameras received updates with new sensors, processors and more features, while the X-H1 oddly lagged behind. For instance, there was never an X-H1 update with the imaging pipeline that the X-T4 received. I, along with probably many other photographers and Fuji fans, began to wonder -- to assume? -- that the X-H1 was maybe not as successful as Fujifilm had hoped, and perhaps they were discontinuing that model.

But. Not so fast, as it turns out. It took a little while, but 2022 turned out to be the year of the X-H series. Fujifilm debuted not one but two follow-up models, each fully cementing the X-H models as Fuji's flagship series. Two new cameras, sharing the same body design, but each with imaging systems designed for different use cases. The first one to arrive, the X-H2S, introduced us to the first stacked X-Trans sensor, offering a 26MP camera with blazing speed and performance for all things action, wildlife and sports. A few months later and we have this one: the X-H2. While slightly less expensive than the "S" model, the X-H2 features a drastic increase in image resolution, with a 40MP X-Trans sensor -- making it not only the highest-resolution X Series camera so far (*at the time, until the 40MP X-T5 came along), but also the highest resolution APS-C camera on the market. The X-H2S is focused on speed, while the higher resolution and lower price of the X-H2 makes this model arguably a bit more general-purpose. That said, the high-res sensor makes it an ideal choice for landscapes, portraits, nature and other subjects where detail is key.

Design-wise, the X-H2 goes even further than its predecessor in differing from the pack of stylish, retro-esque X Series cameras. Gone are the classic mechanical dials for shutter speed and ISO. In its place is a top display like the one found on the GFX 100S. There are also more buttons to give it a more familiar, traditional usability. Sure, it doesn't look like the rest, but it still feels like a Fujifilm camera. And that's a great thing.

In my time with the camera, the Fuji X-H2 has proven to not only feel like a great camera but works like one, too. Comfortable, easy to operate, and durable. Plus, despite the high-res sensor, the camera is far from sluggish, offering fast performance to take on some high-speed subjects as well.

Let's dive into the details to see how this flagship Fujifilm handles in the field!

Fuji X-H2 Key Features & Specs

• Updated SLR-style body like X-H2S with improved ergonomics and controls
• Weather-resistant construction
• Brand new 40MP BSI X-Trans CMOS 5 HR APS-C-sized sensor
• X-Processor 5 imaging processing chip
• ISO range: 125-12,800 native (64-51,200 expanded)
• Up to 15fps with mechanical shutter
• Up to 20fps with electronic shutter (with 1.29x crop)
• 7-stop in-body image stabilization
• New 160MP High-Res "Pixel Shift" composite mode
• 8K 30p, 4K 60p, Full HD 120p video modes
• 0.8x 5.76M-dot EVF with 120fps refresh rate
• 3-inch 1.62M-dot LCD with vari-angle design
• $1999 body-only

Design & Handling: The X-H2 has the best design and ergonomics of any Fujifilm X Series camera ever

Much like the X-H1, this successor model features a larger overall design and a shape that's more akin to classic DSLR than to the slimmer and smaller X Series cameras in the rest of their lineup -- even compared to higher-end cameras like the X-Pro3 or X-T4. The X-H2 has a large, deep handgrip with ergonomic contouring. Not only does this make the camera both easy and comfortable to hold, but it also makes it a much better camera choice for those who shoot with longer, heavier lenses. If you love shooting with lenses like the XF 100-400 and XF 150-600 like I do, then you will greatly appreciate the larger grip. Plus, the X-H2 is compatible with a vertical battery grip, which supertelephoto fans will very much appreciate -- especially now as the recently-announced X-T5 removed compatibility with a battery grip.

And speaking of the X-T5, we just received that camera in-house, as well as the revised XF 56mm F1.2 WR lens that was announced alongside the X-H2. Fuji updated the grip design on the X-T5, making it a bit larger than on the X-T4. However, it's still nowhere near the size or offers the same kind of ergonomics as the X-H2. As for the XF 56mm F1.2 WR lens, I would certainly not consider it a "large" lens, but it does have a fairly large diameter and some noticeable heft to it. But, even a lens of that size feels much more balanced and comfortable on the X-H2 compared to the revised X-T5.

Suffice it to say, no matter the lens size, the X-H2, from a pure handling and ergonomic perspective, has to be my favorite Fujifilm X Series interchangeable lens camera to date. In fact, it's probably one of my favorite all-time cameras now in terms of handling and feel. It fits in my hand perfectly, yet the camera still isn't overly large, in my opinion. It's still fairly compact and portable.

Further, all the buttons and controls work well and are placed right where I expect them to be. I, for one, also really enjoy and appreciate the switch to a PASM mode dial and dedicated ISO button with the X-H2. Of course, I don't mind the uniqueness and quirkiness of the shutter speed and ISO dial of the other Fuji X Series cameras, but the more traditional control scheme of the X-H2 makes it much easier and faster to operate the camera.

For more of my thoughts on the design and a rundown of the X-H2's physical features, check out this hands-on video:

Image Quality: Fujifilm's Film Simulations and high-resolution highlight X-H2's excellent APS-C image quality

Fujifilm cameras have long been some of my favorites when it comes to image quality performance, not only at lower ISOs but at high sensitivities as well, and the high-res X-H2 is no exception. We've frequently praised Fujifilm cameras for their impressive and almost full-frame-rivaling high ISO performance. The X-H2 has a fairly broad but not extravagant ISO range, with a native range spanning ISO 125 at base and a high ISO of just ISO 12,800 -- the same maximum native ISO that Fuji's used in several previous cameras. However, the ISO range is expandable, down to very low ISO 64 and up to ISO 51,200.

At lower ISOs, grab a sharp X-mount lens, and you'll find yourself coming back with wonderfully sharp images filled with tons of fine detail. They always tell you, and I know you're not supposed to pixel-peep because detail and sharpness aren't always of the utmost importance to a good photo. But with 40 megapixels at my disposal, I can't help but zoom in on my shots to check and appreciate the resolving power of this camera.

I mention making sure you use a sharp lens, as you'll want some good glass in order to maximize the resolving power of this camera -- and Fujifilm themselves agree. This is the highest-resolution X Series camera that Fujifilm has made to date, and as it turns out, not all of their X-mount lenses are up to snuff when it comes to this new 40MP sensor. Or at least not up to the level of providing a full 40-megapixels worth of resolution from corner to corner. Fujifilm has a list of lenses on the X-H2 Product Page that they say have a high enough level of sharpness to fully realize the 40MP sensor. As expected, all of the lenses open the list are higher-end XF series -- not all of them, however, nor are there any of their consumer-level XC series lenses. Fuji does state that other lenses not listed will still be able to take advantage of the higher-resolution sensor, but at the end of the day, for the best images with this newer sensor, you'll want good glass.

When it comes to color and dynamic range, again, the Fujifilm X-H2 excels here. Fuji colors are second to none, in my opinion, and like all other X Series cameras, this one comes with the full array of Film Simulations. With the excellent Film Simulations, I honestly had a great time just picking a Film Sim and enjoying the resulting JPEG straight out of the camera. More often than not, I loved the look of the JPEGs that I didn't feel much of a need to edit the images after the fact, beyond some cropping here and there at times (for which the 40MP sensor allows in spades).

For nature and landscape subjects, I gravitated towards the more vibrant Velvia film simulation, which, most of the time, did an excellent job rendering wonderful colors and deep contrast. Sometimes it could be a little too saturated, but you can adjust that in-camera or process the raw files. I also often used the Classic Chrome or ACROS Film Simulations for cityscapes or my skateboarding photos.

One of my favorite aspects of Fujifilm cameras, and not just the X-H2, is shooting in RAW+JPEG mode. You always have a raw file backup in case the Film Simulation you chose for a given scene comes out not quite to your liking. You can either edit the raw file later in a photo editor or, better yet, simply pick another Film Simulation and use in-camera Raw Processing. You have a lot of flexibility in how your final images can look.

When I needed to edit RAW files, I found the dynamic range performance of the X-H2 to be more than adequate, especially at lower ISOs. You don't get the same level of dynamic range as you would from a modern full-frame camera, but I found the raw files to be plenty flexible when it came to tonal adjustments. It was easy to lift shadow areas and reveal a lot of additional detail without introducing a lot of extra noise. I found myself shooting in the harsh midday sun often, and I definitely had some photos with very bright and blown-out highlight spots that were simply unrecoverable. But for the most part, highlight areas were also pretty flexible if I needed to make some adjustments.

When the light levels fall, the X-H2 also does really well at higher ISOs to my eyes. It's a little surprising, as 40 megapixels is a LOT of pixels crammed onto a smaller APS-C-sized sensor. Traditionally, we've seen poorer high ISO performance for higher-res cameras compared to those with fewer pixels on the same size sensor. However, as modern image processing gets better and better, this is becoming less of a concern. And given Fujifilm's history of making cameras with excellent high ISO performance, I wasn't too worried here with the X-H2.

Shooting at night, or in the daytime with the XF 150-600mm, gave me a lot of time with the ISO hitting the upper digits, and the camera does an excellent job capturing useable images, even beyond the native maximum ISO. While they are noisy, even images at ISO 25,600 seem perfectly acceptable if the situation calls for it. Overall, the X-H2 displays very good control of stronger noise and balances it with nice fine detail at these higher ISOs. I found myself shooting a lot between ISO 3200-6400, and the images here show a consistent, fine-grain noise that I don't find distracting, while at the same time, still having a lot of crisp detail.

If you look closely at these higher ISO shots, you can definitely see the in-camera noise reduction at work, and personally, the default level of NR processing feels a touch too strong for my taste. Fortunately, the camera provides a good amount of adjustability with the NR processing, at +/-4 levels of processing strength. You can't turn the NR processing completely off, however, like you can with some other cameras. Most of the time, I shot with NR processing set to -3, which lets a bit more detail through at the expense of a bit more noise. As always, though, if you shoot in RAW, you always have more control over how your noise reduction and sharpening can look, and that can be a very subjective process. Overall though, high ISO images straight out of the camera look great, even with just some minor adjustments to the in-camera processing.

Lastly, I want to touch on one of the major new features of the X-H2: Pixel Shift Multi-Shot. Much like the medium-format GFX 100(S), the high-res X-H2 gets a high-res shooting of its own, thanks to its improved, higher-precision in-body image stabilization. With the Pixel-Shift high-res mode, you can create images with an incredible amount of detail, with the resulting composite images offering 160 megapixels of resolution.

The process, however, is a little cumbersome, and I found getting useable high-res shots a little tricky if you're not extremely careful in your shooting setup. For starters, you cannot create the high-res composite shot in-camera, like you can with the OM System OM-1 or Olympus E-M1X, for example. The Pixel-Shift mode in the X-H2 uses raw files and 20 individual frames in order to create the final image, and that's just too much data for the camera to efficiently process on its own. So you must use Fujifilm's "Pixel Shift Combiner" desktop software. Secondly, despite the better IBIS, you can't shoot with high-res mode handheld; it's tripod-only -- and the camera will warn you to use a tripod.

The shooting process, too, can be a bit finicky. First, it's best to shoot with a timed delay to lessen any sort of camera vibration, and then you also have an option of delays between each frame during the 20-frame shooting sequence. Depending on the delay set and your exposure time, the shooting process can be a bit long.

Once the images are shot, you also need to be mindful of the image sequence files on the memory card. The camera just saves them as a series of raw files, with no additional naming attached to distinguish them from other images you might have on the card, nor is there any way to distinguish the batch of 20 files should take multiple high-res shot sequences one after the other. I found it's easier to take a high-res sequence and either then dump the card immediately or shoot a blank frame in-between sequences.

I ended up having mixed luck with the resulting high-res shots. When the compositing process works, the resulting image looks incredible. There is an amazing amount of fine detail. Remember to use a sharp lens! However, I ran into compositing issues several times, either due to inadvertently forgetting to use the self-timer at the first press of the shutter button, or some elements in the scene (such as trees in the distance) moving during the shooting sequence.

The software would still create a composite image, but it would indicate if it detected defects in the compositing process. At the end of the day, the Pixel Shift mode is clever but somewhat limited in usefulness. You need to be careful to keep your camera very stable and still throughout the lengthy 20-frame sequence, and you can't really have anything moving within your scene. But, if you shoot architecture, fine art reproduction or product photography, for example, I can see this 160MP high-res mode being very useful if you need more resolution.

AF & Performance: High-res Fuji X-H2 proves capable with excellent all-around performance

Autofocus

Like the X-H2S, this 40MP version uses a similar autofocusing system featuring a hybrid AF system using both on-sensor phase-detection pixels and contrast-detection areas. In many areas, from a usability standpoint, the AF system isn't that much different from what already exists in prior cameras, such as the X-T4, for instance. Despite the higher-resolution sensor, the X-H2 offers the same number of selectable AF points, at up to 425 in a 25 x 17 grid, and features the same general variety of AF Area modes (single point with size different sizes option, Zone AF with three sizes, and Wide that uses all points across the entire sensor). However, Fujifilm has, obviously, increased the precise number of on-sensor phase-detection pixels compared to the 26MP X Series cameras, from 2.16 million to 3.33 million PDAF pixels.

The one major upgrade to the camera's AF system compared to previous X Series cameras is the addition of AI-based subject-detection modes -- a feature that more and more camera manufacturers across the industry are developing and including in their cameras. This, along with the X-H2S and new X-T5, are the first Fujifilm models to include such a feature. Previous X Series models have included Face- and Eye-Detection AF modes, and the X-H2 here is no exception, but the new subject-detection modes allow the camera to automatically detect animals (including the eyes), birds, automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles, as well as airplanes and trains.

In general, the AF system on the X-H2 proved both fast and precise for most situations. For sheer AF speed, the stacked sensor in the X-H2S helps it edge past this model, but the X-H2 is no slouch. In general shooting scenarios, the autofocus can be incredibly fast -- with both single-shot AF and continuous AF -- especially if you're using a newer XF series lens with a linear focusing motor. I shot a variety of subjects, from landscapes and macro to wildlife and late-night skateboarding, and for the most part, the X-H2's AF system passed with flying colors.

Now, I said the AF is fast "in most situations" because the AF performance certainly felt like it varied depending on the subject matter and/or the lens I was using. I had a variety of lenses to choose from, and I ended up shooting a lot with the XF 18mm F1.4 LM and XF 33mm F1.4 LM lenses -- two optics with Linear Motor focusing systems. These lenses were incredibly fast with focusing on the X-H2, even with low-light situations and moving subjects. For example, when it came to the skateboarding I photographed, the situation involved moving subjects and very low light, and the X-H2 with these lenses really did an excellent job at nailing focus.

Now, on the other hand, I did run into a few situations where focusing would struggle somewhat. The XF 150-600mm lens, which most of the time performed really well, could sometimes be a bit more sluggish and slow to acquire focus, even with static subjects like perched birds. However, I'm not necessarily sure it was the camera at fault here, but rather the quite dim F8 aperture when shooting at 600mm (plus low contrast or tricky lighting). Still, the experience felt different than say, when I'm shooting with the E-M1 Mark II or Mark III and a 300mm F4 that I often use. There were times when trying to photograph wildlife in forested conditions at 600mm or thereabouts, where the X-H2 had some difficulty focusing or focusing as quickly as I had hoped.

Another aspect of the X-H2's focusing system that I didn't initially realize might be to some of the focusing sluggishness I experienced is the camera's lack of cross-type phase-detection pixels. As far as we're aware, only the Olympus or OM System cameras have phase-detection AF that are cross-type. In other words, the focusing pixels can detect contrast both horizontally and vertically. The AF system in the X-H2, like most other mirrorless cameras with PDAF, can only detect contrast in one direction. It's sensitive to vertical detail.

I like to shoot in vertical orientation a lot, but in doing so, I was orienting the camera vertically, which put its AF system in a different orientation and thus was less capable of detecting vertical detail. Sure enough, in some controlled testing at home, I found that the X-H2 would very rarely if at all, achieve autofocus on a vertical line/object when the camera was positioned in a vertical orientation; rotate the camera back 90 degrees to horizontal orientation, and it is able to nail focus on the same object almost immediately. Now, in the real world, and especially with natural subjects like landscapes and wildlife, you aren't going to run into this issue all that much. But, I couldn't help but feel that the X-H2 struggled ever so slightly more when used in a vertical orientation.

Subject Detection

Lastly, I need to talk about the biggest AF feature of the X-H2: Subject Detection. Beyond just human face- and eye-detection AF, which Fujifilm cameras have had for quite a while now, the X-H2 is one of the first X Series models to have the ability to detect other types of subjects, such as animals, birds and automobiles. With this new feature, the X-H2 joins a growing list of mirrorless cameras with an AI-based intelligent subject-detection system.

This is Fuji's first go at this sort of AI or machine-learning-based subject-detection system, and for the most part, I found that it worked quite well. The X-H2 was able to quickly and accurately find and track the face/eyes of animals or birds (note that "animals" and "birds" are two separate detection modes in the menu) in most situations. It's not a perfect AI AF system, though, and it's not the best one I've used. I would sometimes get false positives, where the camera would incorrectly detect what it thought was a face or eye, or other times, I would be aiming at what I felt was a clear, easy-to-recognize subject, but the eye-detection just didn't catch on the subject all the time. All that said, the X-H2's AI subject detection worked well overall. Is it as good as the Sony A1, for example, which is probably my personal favorite camera in terms of its animal/bird eye-detection AF performance? No, it's not. But the A1 is $6500, whereas the X-H2 is $2000. The X-H2 is still great, especially at this price point, and I have to imagine we'll see additional AI AF improvements with firmware updates as time goes on.

As mentioned, the X-H2 also has face- and eye-detection for people, which several Fujifilm cameras have already had for years. This system also worked very well... and sometimes too well. For example, when I was photographing skateboarding, I would sometimes use the XF 18mm F1.4 lens, which is fairly wide. Despite using a somewhat smaller single-point AF area mode, if I had face/eye detection enabled, the field of view was wide enough that the camera might catch another person's face in the scene and focus would jump to that unintended subject. I missed a few shots due to this. I quickly disabled face/eye detection, and just did it old-school by manually keeping my subject behind the AF point(s). I wish there was a way to "bias" the face/eye-detection system to prioritize the initial focusing area or your manually-positioned focus box and then ignore other faces that might appear in the scene.

Lastly, a quick note that my colleague Jeremy Gray also pointed out with the X-H2S, but the X-H2 also separates People Face/Eye-Detection and the other AI-based subject-detection settings into two separate menu items. If face/eye detection for people is enabled, and you then select the bird-detection option, it will disable the people face/eye detection setting. However, it won't do the opposite; if you turn off bird detection, it won't switch people face/eye detection back on.

I'm also not sure if these two subject-detection systems are entirely separate in terms of how the camera processes detecting human faces/eyes versus the other subjects. Is the human subject detection not an AI-based detection process, which is why it's a separate menu item? If they are the same, why not just have all subject-detection options under the same, single menu item? I would love to get clarification from Fujifilm on this.

Performance

Finally, let's talk performance. Despite the 40MP sensor, the X-H2 is capable of some really fast burst speeds, but you need to be okay with dropping some resolution if you want the maximum burst rates. With the mechanical shutter, the maximum burst rate possible is a healthy 15 frames per second, while the electronic shutter at full resolution is a bit slower at 13fps. BUT. You can crank things up to 20fps with the electronic shutter, at the cost of a 1.29x crop penalty which results in a 24MP image. That's still plenty of resolution for most situations. However, one must be careful with fast action shots and the electronic shutter, as there can be issues with rolling shutter if you're not careful. The sensor readout speed of the 40MP sensor isn't nearly as quick as the stacked 26MP sensor inside the X-H2S.

Overall, I found the X-H2 to be a very swift and responsive camera, and the 15fps mechanical shutter burst rate was more than enough for the type of shooting I was doing with the camera, even the fairly hectic and fast-paced skateboarding contest I shot. With a 40MP resolution and 15fps, I was filling up my hard drives very quickly!

The fast CFexpress Type B card really came in handy in terms of performance when dealing with lots of fast bursts and these high-resolution images. In normal shooting, I never felt limited in performance or ran into any buffer-filling slow-downs.

I did some in-house testing of the maximum number of frames in burst mode, as well as buffer clearing times using a fast CFexpress Type B card. When shooting at 15fps with the mechanical shutter, the Fujifilm specs give you several different results depending on the image quality settings you chose. With JPEGs, compressed raws, or lossless compressed raws, you get essentially unlimited buffer capacity -- or 1000+ frames as Fujifilm states. If you combine a raw format with simultaneous JPEGs, then you can run into a buffer limit, but it's still quite a healthy amount. The worst-case scenario is uncompressed RAW+JPEG, which Fuji states is about 104 frames. In my testing, I averaged about 93 frames until the burst rate slowed. On one run, I got 102 frames. Several shooting factors could vary the results here, such as ISO level, NR processing, the subject itself, but overall, the camera managed to get close to its listed spec for buffer capacity.

It was a similar story with the electronic shutter at 13fps. The stated spec for uncompressed RAW+JPEG is 127 frames, and with similar testing, I averaged 114 frames.

Buffer clearing times were fairly quick and consistent in my testing, taking about 12 or so seconds to fully finish writing to my CFexpress card. However, you're not prevented from taking more burst shots while the camera is writing to the card; burst rate of course slows downs when the buffer is full, but give it a few seconds of pause, and you can capture some more frames at the full burst rate.

Fujifilm X-H2 Hands-on Review Summary

All in all, the Fujifilm X-H2 is an absolutely fantastic camera. I was already a fan of Fujifilm cameras and the images they capture, but the X-H2 has to be one of my favorite Fuji cameras to date, especially from a usability standpoint. I love the design, the feel, and the handling. I love the huge, bright EVF and the rugged build quality. The camera feels incredibly sturdy, comfortable, and easy to use. I can't really ask for much more in a camera when it comes to its operability.

The image quality and the performance are also top-notch. The high-res 40MP sensor and newer processor let you capture some stunning images with amazing fine detail combined with Fujifilm's wonderful colors. It's not the speediest of cameras, but the burst rates plus a fast and sophisticated autofocus system let this camera get in on the action very easily.

From a photographer's standpoint, at the end of the day, it comes down to whether you prioritize speed or resolution, and Fujifilm has an X-H camera for either. If sports, action and wildlife are more your thing, then the X-H2S is probably the better choice. The X-H2, meanwhile, fits more in the hands of a landscape, portrait, and fine-detail-centric photographer. However, I'd argue that the X-H2 is surprisingly versatile and can still do sports and wildlife very well. Perhaps, you can use the $500 you save with the X-H2 compared to the X-H2S and purchase some additional memory cards or hard drives because you're going to fill these up quickly, unfortunately. But that's life with a camera that's both high-speed and high-resolution!

Stay tuned for more!

Stay tuned as we continue to test the Fujifilm X-H2. This hands-on review focused purely on still images, but we plan to update this review with a look at the X-H2's extensive video features and add sample videos.

• • •

Fujifilm X-H2 Overview

by William Brawley | Posted 09/08/2022

Well, would you look at that? Fujifilm now has not one but two flagship X Series cameras with the debut of the new X-H2. Back in May, Fujifilm unveiled the X-H2S, a long-awaited successor to the Fuji X-H1 that launched all the way back in 2018. But rather than just a single successor model, Fujifilm now offers a pair. The X-H2S, as the "S" naming suggests, is all about speed and features a new stacked X-Trans sensor, but one that keeps the same 26.1-megapixel resolution we've seen in several other Fujifilm X Series cameras.

On the other hand, this new "standard" X-H2 camera uses an entirely different and all-new X-Trans sensor -- the highest resolution X-Trans sensor to date. The new Fuji X-H2 features a 40-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR image sensor. It's not a stacked sensor, like in the X-H2S, but it is a back-side illuminated design. The Fuji X-H2 uses the same high-speed image processor as its sibling model and, by and large, offers a similar array of features and performance specs. However, there are some differences due to the higher-resolution sensor.

With the unveiling of the Fuji X-H2 model, Fujifilm is offering professionals and advanced enthusiasts a choice, with two models that are more tailor-made for different types of creators. If you're a sports photographer, an action photographer or a motorsports photographer, the Fuji X-H2S, with its ultra-fast performance, is the ideal choice. On the other hand, if detail is what you're after, for landscapes, nature scenes, portraits and perhaps even wildlife, then the 40MP Fuji X-H2 is up for grabs. And with both models utilizing an identical physical design, you get excellent handling and fantastic usability no matter the camera you pick.

So which one will you pick? It depends on what you shoot. High-res or high-speed?

We're aiming to get some hands-on time with the new Fuji X-H2 just after the announcement, so be on the look out for additional hands-on photos, some initial handling notes and hopefully some real-world sample images. (Plus, our Fuji X-H2S review is currently underway!)

Read on below for all the details about Fujifilm's other flagship X-H camera!

Fujifilm X-H2 Key Features & Specs

• Second flagship X Series camera
• Updated SLR-style body like X-H2S with improved ergonomics and controls
• Weather-resistant construction
• Brand new 40MP BSI X-Trans CMOS 5 HR APS-C-sized sensor
• X-Processor 5 imaging processing chip
• ISO range: 125-12,800 native (64-51,200 expanded)
• Up to 15fps with mechanical shutter
• Up to 20fps with electronic shutter (with 1.29x crop)
• 7-stop in-body image stabilization
• New 160MP High-Res "Pixel Shift" composite mode
• 8K 30p, 4K 60p, Full HD 120p video modes
• 0.8x 5.76M-dot EVF with 120fps refresh rate
• 3-inch 1.62M-dot LCD with vari-angle design
• $1999 body-only

Image Quality: Fuji's new 40MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor crowns the X-H2 as the highest resolution APS-C camera yet

As mentioned, the heart of the new Fuji X-H2 is its all-new high-resolution sensor. At 40 megapixels, the X-H2 has the highest resolution sensor ever offered in a Fujifilm X Series camera. In fact, the X-H2 is now the highest-resolution APS-C camera on the market.

While the recent X-H2S camera is equipped with Fuji's first stacked X-Trans sensor, the X-H2 uses an X-Trans CMOS chip with a traditional circuitry arrangement, much like the X-H1 and previous-generation X-Trans-equipped Fuji cameras. The sensor is still backside-illuminated, which will help with light-gathering performance for low-light and high ISO shooting. As such, the sensor readout performance of this higher-res chip isn't as fast as that of the stacked sensor in the X-H2S. The X-H2 is designed more for landscape, portrait, wildlife or other somewhat slower-moving subjects. For the pinnacle of performance, the Fuji X-H2S is the way to go.

That being said, I don't want to give the impression that the Fuji X-H2 is at all slow or offers sluggish performance. At least on paper, the new high-res X-H2 offers a healthy dose of high-speed shooting capabilities combined with excellent high-resolution image quality performance. However, if rolling shutter artifacts are a concern for you, such as when photographing fast-moving subjects with the electronic shutter, then the X-H2S has the leg up in this area.

Speaking of the electronic shutter, the Fuji X-H2 has an impressively fast one, offering shutter speeds up to 1/180,000 of a second. Yes, that many zeros! That's faster than the electronic shutter on the X-H2S, which tops out at 1/32,000s. The mechanical shutter, meanwhile, has the usual top speed of a 1/8000s and is rated for an impressive 500,000 shutter actuations.

Paired with the new 40MP sensor is Fuji's latest image processor, X Processor 5, which is the same silicon powering the high-speed X-H2S. This newest-generation processor features a 1GHz main CPU, a sizable clock-speed increase over the 608MHz X Processor 4 chip. The X-H2 also includes a dedicated 600MHz sub-processor just for the camera's new in-body image stabilization unit (more on that in a bit). With the new sensor, the Fuji X-H2 has a slightly different ISO range as its high-speed sibling, at least on the low side, with a native range now starting at ISO 125 and rising up to 12,800. The ISO can be expanded down to a low ISO of 64 and up to an extended high ISO of 51,200.

Thanks to the new sensor and processor, the Fuji X-H2 offers several new shooting features over both the original X-H1 and its sibling X-H2S camera. In addition to the standard 40MP still shooting mode, the X-H2 has a handy built-in "digital teleconverter" option thanks to its higher-resolution sensor. Users can enable a "1.4x" or "2.0x" teleconverter mode, which crops in on the sensor, but allows for some easy additional telephoto reach on your image without adding physical teleconverters to the end of your lens. Now, imagine combining both digital and physical teleconverters together. That's a nice bit of versatility!

If you need more resolution than a "basic" 40-megapixel image can provide, the X-H2 offers an in-camera high-resolution shooting mode that creates a whopping 160-megapixel final image. Thanks to the new high-precision in-body image stabilization system, the X-H2's high-res mode moves the image sensor a total of 20 times due to the X-Tran sensor pattern to create a full 160MP composite image. Unlike the OM-1, for example, which offers a hand-held high-res shooting option, the X-H2's High-Res mode is strictly for tripod-based shooting. The IBIS system here is great -- rated at up to 7-stops of correction for normal shooting -- but it's not that powerful as to keep things tack-sharp and steady during a 20-frame multi-exposure sequence while being handheld. The pixel pitch is 0.37 microns, and the IBIS needs to move the sensor by a fraction of a pixel (0.5 pixels) and 20 times in quick succession. It's an impressive feat of engineering precision nonetheless, but yes, a tripod is required.

The inclusion of a pixel-shift multi-shot high-res mode is a first for an X Series cameras, with the technology first appearing from Fujifilm in their medium-format GFX line, with the GFX 100S and GFX 100 (via a firmware update). This allowed for a whopping 400MP composite high-res shot on these GFX series cameras. These medium format cameras only need to take 16 frames for a composite sequence rather than 20 frames with the X-H2. However, despite the increase in the number of frames, Fujifilm states that the processing time for the X-H2's high-res mode should be much quicker at creating the final 160MP composite image.

Autofocus & Performance: Versatile hybrid AF with higher-precision algorithms and deep-learning-based subject-detection modes

Although the sensor is different, the X-H2 shares the same array of powerful autofocusing features as its high-speed sibling, including the advanced Deep-Learning-based subject detection features we first saw on the X-H2S.

While we don't yet know specifics about the number of AF points or firm details about AF performance improvements compared to the X-H1, Fujifilm did specify that the X-H2S offers three times the performance of the X-T4 in terms of its autofocusing system. With the two X-H2-series cameras sharing the same image processor, the AF performance is likely somewhat similar. However, the faster, stacked sensor of the "S" model should give that camera the edge in terms of sheer speed and continuous AF performance.

That being said, the X-H2 should be no slouch in the AF department, either. The camera includes new AF algorithms, which should result in better autofocus prediction, accuracy, and tracking. Zone AF subject detection and low-contrast autofocus performance are said to be particularly better.

As mentioned, the X-H2 also includes sophisticated subject-detection AF features based on deep-learning technology. It can automatically detect humans (face and eye), animals (including the eyes), birds, automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles, as well as airplanes and trains. (Animals and Birds are separate options.)

In terms of burst-shooting performance, the X-H2, as expected, isn't as fast as the X-H2S, at least when shooting with the electronic shutter. If you opt for mechanical shutter mode, the X-H2 is the same as the high-speed model, with up to 15 frames per second at full resolution and with full AE/AF -- which is still pretty fast overall, and especially so for such a high-res camera. However, when using the electronic shutter, the X-H2 is capable of up to 20fps with full AE/AF rather than the whopping 40fps that the X-H2S offers. Further, the 20fps burst mode on the X-H2 uses a slight crop of 1.29x.

Video: Packed for professionals - 8K 30p, Apple ProRes, 12-bit 8K RAW, F-Log2 and more

Despite the high-res sensor seemingly geared more towards high-res stills photography, the Fuji X-H2 is quite well-appointed for high-quality video, too. Due to the 40MP sensor, the X-H2 can offer higher-resolution video than the X-H2S, featuring video at 8K resolution at up to 30p rather than 6.2K. Additionally, the camera, of course, includes an array of 4K settings, with frame rates up to 60p, as well as Full HD video at up to 120fps. Like the X-H2S, the X-H2 also offers high-quality internal Apple ProRes video recording, and in the case of the X-H2, ProRes with 8K/30p video.

The X-H2 also includes F-Log2 support, just like the X-H2S. However, the dynamic range here is slightly less than that of its lower-res sibling with "just" 13+ stops of dynamic range with F-Log2 rather than the 14+ stops offered on the S model. The X-H2 also includes an in-camera digital zoom mode, which allows you to smoothly extend the zoom range of Fuji's "power zoom" lenses for even more versatility.

Much like the X-H2S, the X-H2 also supports the add-on cooling fan accessory. This attached fan unit screws in behind the rear LCD panel (after first removing a small rear covering). The addition of the cooling fan will allow for even more extended video recording time as it dissipates more heat away from the camera than the body does on its own. Although we don't yet have specifics on the video recording limits of the X-H2, the X-H2S, for example, allows for about 50 minutes of continuous 4K/60p recording in 40° Celsius ambient temperatures (104° Fahrenheit) with the add-on cooling fan accessory. Without the fan, the X-H2S will overheat after 20 minutes.

Design & Handling: Same as the X-H2S - Rugged and weather-sealed, SLR-shaped contouring, modern operability and controls

The Fuji X-H2 shares an identical body design to the X-H2S. So, picking a flagship Fuji camera essentially comes down to if you want speed or resolution; the ergonomics and usability of either camera are the same.

Like its X-H1 predecessor, the X-H2 offers a similar SLR-styled body design with a deep, full handgrip and many physical buttons and dials. However, the new X-H2 and X-H2S offer a slight departure in terms of control configuration compared to what Fujifilm historically does with their X Series cameras. Most Fujifilm X Series cameras have offered a fairly unique set of mechanical dials to change exposure settings. Most had a dedicated shutter speed dial and ISO speed dial, while aperture can be controlled via the lens's aperture ring. Configuring these dials not only gave you control over exposure parameters, but they were also how you switched between the major exposure modes: Program Auto, Shutter Speed Priority, Aperture Priority, and of course, full Manual Exposure mode.

The X-H2, and X-H2S, opt instead for a more conventional control layout, much like we see from other major camera manufacturers. Gone are these unique mechanical exposure control dials, and instead, the X-H2 features a large PASM mode dial off to the left of the EVF, including an impressive set of seven custom mode preset slots. Off to the right of the EVF, we have a large E-Ink display panel, similar to that of the GFX 100/100s cameras. In fact, the X-H2 takes a lot of design cues from these GFX-series cameras. The E-ink display offers a quick view of primary exposure settings and other important shooting info. There are also dedicated ISO and White Balance buttons, as well as a customizable button right on top of the camera. The X-H2 features front and rear control dials, allowing for fast and easy adjustments to shooting parameters, all without having to take your eye away from the camera to fiddle with mechanical dials.

Overall, the design philosophy for the X-H2 (and X-H2S) is to make the camera easy to use and familiar to a broader array of customers. For those moving to Fuji from other camera systems or also simply using a Fuji camera alongside other brands, the X-H2 is designed to offer a more familiar user experience and faster operability.

Looking at the rear of the camera, the X-H2 is fairly simple, but all the major controls and buttons are there. The camera has a multi-directional joystick control toward the top near the EVF, while at the same time maintaining the handy 4-way directional buttons that surround the Menu/OK button. A few other recent Fujifilm cameras, including the GFX 100S, have done away with this 4-way directional button cluster. However, we're fond of these controls as they make menu navigation easier and be customized with various functions while shooting, as we're glad they're still around on the X-H2 and X-H2S cameras.

Lastly, we have to mention the EVF and the rear LCD screen. The viewfinder is all-new, with a 5.76M dot display. The X-H1's EVF has 3.69M dots. The X-H2's EVF also has a 0.8x magnification factor, up from 0.75x on the X-H1, a 24mm eye point and a refresh rate up to 120fps (when using Boost mode). The rear display, meanwhile, is now a vari-angle display, making it more friendly for video applications. The 3-inch display has 1.62M dots, up from 1.02M dots on the X-H1.

Battery, Ports & Connectivity

When it comes to ports and connectivity, the X-H2 includes a full-size HDMI Type-A port, headphone jack, mic jack, 2.5mm remote release, Ethernet and a USB-C (USB 3.0) connection. The camera has dual card slots, as one might expect from this class of camera -- a CFexpress Type B slot and a UHS-II SD card slot.

In addition to built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, the X-H2 offers several network-based features. The X-H2 can be used as a webcam and a live-streaming camera with video quality up to 4K resolution. There's also FTP server support and wired tethered shooting via the built-in 600Mbps Ethernet port. You can also control multiple cameras for multi-cam recording through a web browser. Wi-Fi connectivity is faster than the previous model, and you can tether your 5G smartphone for true wireless connectivity.

When it comes to battery, the X-H2 is powered by the same NP-W235 lithium-ion battery as the X-T4, GFX 50S II and GFX 100S. We don't yet have specifics on battery life ratings for the X-H2, but with the X-H2S using the same battery and image processor, we are likely to see similar overall battery life performance. In "Economy" mode, the X-H2S can shoot at up 720 frames (LCD) or 610 (EVF). When used in "Normal" mode, the number drops to 580 and 550, respectively. Lastly, when using "Boost" mode, which gives you the option of the 120fps refresh rate for the EVF, the camera promises 530 shots (LCD) and 390 shots (EVF). NOTE: We will update this section once we have full product specifications.

Pricing & Availability

The Fujifilm X-H2 is set to go on sale at the end of September 2022 with a body-only retail price of $1999, which is $500 less expensive than the high-speed Fuji X-H2S model.

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