A Fujifilm X-H2S review

This is my Fujifilm X-H2S impressions blog post

This blog post is about my first impression of the Fujifilm X-H2S. This is not a review.  But if you want to know my thoughts about this camera the three times I used it so far, keep on reading.

To get a more specific review of this camera’s specifications, read to the end of the blog post. I can point you to a good number of resources that do excellent technical reviews of the Fujifilm X-H2S.

So this serious hobbyist will give you his impressions on

• Fujifilm X-H2S ergonomics
• My experience using this camera
• Camera image quality
• Camera performance 
• My experience using the Fujifilm X-H2S for street photography, and two portrait photoshoots

• X-Trans CMOS 5 HS sensor (with XProcessor 5 image processing engine)
• 26.16 millions effective pixels
• 7 stops of image stabilization
• 5.76 million dot viewfinder
• 3.0 inch vari-angle Touch Screen Color LCD Monitor (1.62 million dots)
• Shoots in Apple Prores and all the movie codecs you could want (Including 6.2K)
• Dimenstions: Width: 136.3mm, Height: 92.9mm, Depth: 84.6mm
• High capacity Li-ion battery NP-W235S

Ergonomics

Feel in the hands

Excellent. The feel of this camera is much like the feeling I got when I was testing Fujifilm’s larger GFX line of cameras. But here are the points about ergonomics I need to make

• Those who like smaller cameras might be disappointed. It is larger than an XT-3, X-T4, X-T5, or even an X-H1. Although you do not lose the benefit of a smaller mirrorless, it might be larger than what you are used to.
• Build quality is excellent. It has a nice solid vintage finish. It manages to give an impression of solidity even though it is quite plasticky and lighter than other models. 
• Buttons are all over the place. They are also extremely customizable
• All dials are well placed. Dials on the front and rear are also very nice. They are also very configurable compared to my XT3.
• The grip is lovely. I owned the X-T3, so any larger grip will be a bonus to me
• The EVF resolution is astounding! 5.76 million dots, for my portrait photography workflow, I really appreciate this upgrade!
• Memory card and battery placement are what you would expect from a flagship camera in 2023. Battery access is on the bottom, and card access is on the side

Using the Fujifilm X-H2S

Battery life of the X-H2S

Battery life is excellent. This camera has the NPW-235 model of batteries. The battery life is much better than what older batteries used to offer. When shooting with my Fujifilm X-T3, I used to always have three or four batteries. I am fine for the day on this camera if I shoot photography. Even when stabilization mode is on, the extra battery consumption is absorbed.

Charging can be done through the USB-C port. Gone are the days of having a separate charger at Fujifilm.

Memory cards

The Fujifilm X-H2S has one CF express slot and one SD card slot that can read and write to UHS-II. It also has a multitude of different ways to configure the saving of image captures. I personally have configured my camera in the following way. 

• Video goes to the CFExpress card. 
• Photos are saved to the CF express card in RAW while a lower resolution jpeg is saved to the SD card as backup and also a quick delivery possibility

Available jacks

The available jacks are everything that is possible on a hybrid camera:

• There is a “remote” jack over the card slot door 
• Microphone Jack
• Earphone jack
• Full-size HDMI jack (Which I find really beneficial)
• USB-C port. (With tether security latch supplied) Nice touch Fuji

I.Q. (Video and photo)

RAW and JPEG Photos

I have been sold on the Fuji look for years, so I might not be the best judge of image quality performance. The Fuji image treatment has continued on the same path, and it is a path that I am particularly fond of.

Using the Fujifilm X-H2S:

Adapting from the Fujifilm X-T3 to the X-H2S was a breeze. I moved from the vintage workflow to the PASM workflow and had no problem. The menu system, dial placement, and button responsiveness are the very best.

I had recently purchased an X-S10 and had adapted a bit to the PASM workflow, so it really was not that difficult.

Image stabilization

If you are someone who has worked with a non-stabilized camera and is considering the X-H2S, you will fall in love with its image stabilization capabilities. It has seven stops of stabilization and one can see the difference. 

For my photography workflow, this opens up many new artistic possibilities. I saw the difference when night shooting in the streets. It really is a game-changer for me.

Focus performance

The Fujifilm X-H2S has the latest sensor technology. What does this mean? It is equipped with a backside illuminated stacked sensor. X-Processor 5 X-Trans CMOS. so far this camera has been a very good upgrade. 

How I have used the Fujifilm X-H2S so far

I have used the Fujifilm X-H2S on two flash photography shoots and out and about in the streets of Quebec city. I will leave you with some behind-the-scenes footage of the camera in use. Take a look at the gallery as well.

Conclusion

Because there is a lot of video production in what I do, I opted for the Fujifilm X-H2S. It offers me room to grow and a range of choices for my YouTube video content. But the price is a deal breaker here. The Fujifilm X-H2 is priced much lower and might be a better option for people where an extra 14 megapixels count. Landscape and studio photographers might want to hop on the X-H2 model rather than the X-H2S.

But, both cameras continue Fuji’s black sheep legacy I have grown to love. In both cases, you will not be disappointed.

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