My thoughts on the XH2s after a day of shooting motorsport

Batdude wrote:

shotbyvittorio wrote:

Yesterday I had my first chance to take out the XH2s for a day at the track shooting for nearly 3 hours straight and taking over 2000 pictures. I used the same gear as I would with my X-T4 mainly the 50-140 f2.8 lens which is my go-to for almost all track days. I tried to match all of the settings between the X-T4 and XH2s except for those that were new features. I initially posted this to a fuji subreddit after asking what questions people had before I went shooting but figured many people here would also appreciate it.

Autofocus: Being primarily a motorsports photographer, vehicle subject detection was by far the most exciting new feature in the XH2s to me, and it didn't disappoint. Coming from someone who has never had subject detection before, it worked just as I expected it to. It picked up cars coming into frame incredibly quickly and accurately. It does flip between the whole car, front wheel, and driver's head quite often; however, this didn't seem to detract from my hit rate and prioritized the driver's head. Other than subject detection, I used the same af-c settings as I would on my X-T4: wide/tracking, maximum tracking and speed sensitivity, and zone switching auto. Before I even left the track, I could tell there was a much higher hit rate, especially when it came to cars quickly entering and exiting the frame.

Buffer and shot rate: This was the second biggest reason I bought this camera. Compared to the X-T4, the buffer is enormous and allows almost constant shooting at 15 fps. I was able to take nearly 500 photos in a row, and the only reason I stopped was that I was tired of holding the shutter release button. At 40 fps, I could take 180 photos before the camera slowed down. It clears the buffer extremely fast due to the CFexpress B card, another noticeable upgrade from previous cameras. There was essentially zero wait time between taking a burst of photos and viewing all of them.

Ergonomics: The feel of the XH2s is almost entirely different than the X-T4 I am used to. It reminds me much more of the DSLR I came from not long ago. While at home toying around with the camera, I wasn't a massive fan of the feel of it compared to the X-T4; however, while shooting at the track, I quickly grew into it and adjusted my habits. The deeper grip was excellent when coupled with my 50-140 lens, which was always a struggle to use comfortably with the X-T4. The new button layout took a little getting used to but was never an issue, and the joystick, while sensitive, is an improvement over the X-T4. The battery grip is also quite good if you don't mind the extra weight; however, the buttons are positioned slightly differently than on the main camera body, which can be a little confusing initially.

Dials: This was initially combined with ergonomics, but it was enough to warrant its category. While hotly debated with some, the dials or lack of dials is something I'm a fan of, especially in a fast-paced shooting environment. The old top dials are fun but can be slow and clunky in the field and can lead to accidental settings changes if not careful. The new layout is much faster and requires fewer shifting of the hands to change the shutter speed or ISO. I initially thought the lack of push-in function of the front and back dials would be an issue, but I almost immediately abandoned that thought after using the camera at all. This was also the first time I used a dial to adjust my aperture on a Fujifilm camera, and I must say it speeds up the shooting process a noticeable amount but isn't quite as fun.

Battery Life: I did no real technical test, so I hope this remains short. Battery life seems pretty good. After roughly 3 hours of shooting and 2100 shots with the electronic shutter, I killed one whole battery, but I expect its life was prolonged slightly due to the battery grip.

How many batteries did you have in the camera, I'm not too familiar with the XH2S does it take two or three batteries?

Thank you.

TLDR: Car subject detection is excellent, but I don't have much to compare it against. Higher hit rates, faster tracking, and detection now exist. The buffer and buffer clear speed is crazy thanks to the stacked sensor and the new card format; it's a massive improvement over the X-T4. Ergonomics are good, it feels much more professional, and operation is much faster with the lack of top dials. I don't mind the lack of ISO and SS dials, but I didn't buy into the fuji ecosystem because of the retro look; I believe it will come down to preference for most. Battery life is good, but I didn't conduct any accurate tests to compare it against the X-T4.

If you have any additional questions that I didn't answer here I will try my best to answer them.

I'm by no means a professional reviewer so please don't take this as fact.

It only takes one battery however the optional battery grip allows for an extra 2 for 3 total. When I was at the track I was using all 3 and it only showed one battery empty at the end of the day.

curtx wrote:

Thank you Vittorio for your thoughts on the X-H2s!

In another forum someone wrote he could not find a way to map ISO to a dial. I think this is important to me. I am shooting wildlife always in full Manuel Mode. I often change shutter speed and ISO between shots, and it has to be done fast. I would like to be able to change also ISO without any clicking or meny diving. Is this not possible?

Yes - sort of - you only have two dials so one is for aperture and one is for shutter speed in manual mode.

To change ISO you press the ISO function button - next to the shutter button and the rear dial becomes the ISO dial until you press the ISO button again. It's an easy and fast compromise.

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Thank you Vittorio for your thoughts on the X-H2s!

In another forum someone wrote he could not find a way to map ISO to a dial. I think this is important to me. I am shooting wildlife always in full Manuel Mode. I often change shutter speed and ISO between shots, and it has to be done fast. I would like to be able to change also ISO without any clicking or meny diving. Is this not possible?

Yes - sort of - you only have two dials so one is for aperture and one is for shutter speed in manual mode.

To change ISO you press the ISO function button - next to the shutter button and the rear dial becomes the ISO dial until you press the ISO button again. It's an easy and fast compromise.

Thanks, ok! In that case, If I just use the ring on the lens for aperture the dial can always stay on ISO?

That is my thinking as well…

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Thank you Vittorio for your thoughts on the X-H2s!

In another forum someone wrote he could not find a way to map ISO to a dial. I think this is important to me. I am shooting wildlife always in full Manuel Mode. I often change shutter speed and ISO between shots, and it has to be done fast. I would like to be able to change also ISO without any clicking or meny diving. Is this not possible?

Yes - sort of - you only have two dials so one is for aperture and one is for shutter speed in manual mode.

To change ISO you press the ISO function button - next to the shutter button and the rear dial becomes the ISO dial until you press the ISO button again. It's an easy and fast compromise.

Thanks, ok! In that case, If I just use the ring on the lens for aperture the dial can always stay on ISO?

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Thank you Vittorio for your thoughts on the X-H2s!

In another forum someone wrote he could not find a way to map ISO to a dial. I think this is important to me. I am shooting wildlife always in full Manuel Mode. I often change shutter speed and ISO between shots, and it has to be done fast. I would like to be able to change also ISO without any clicking or meny diving. Is this not possible?

Yes - sort of - you only have two dials so one is for aperture and one is for shutter speed in manual mode.

To change ISO you press the ISO function button - next to the shutter button and the rear dial becomes the ISO dial until you press the ISO button again. It's an easy and fast compromise.

Thanks, ok! In that case, If I just use the ring on the lens for aperture the dial can always stay on ISO?

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

Thank you for making this clear! But, what a pity!

IS shutter speed adjustment still in full stops?  I'd love 1/2 or 1/3

Thank you,

Morris

Morris0 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Thank you Vittorio for your thoughts on the X-H2s!

In another forum someone wrote he could not find a way to map ISO to a dial. I think this is important to me. I am shooting wildlife always in full Manuel Mode. I often change shutter speed and ISO between shots, and it has to be done fast. I would like to be able to change also ISO without any clicking or meny diving. Is this not possible?

Yes - sort of - you only have two dials so one is for aperture and one is for shutter speed in manual mode.

To change ISO you press the ISO function button - next to the shutter button and the rear dial becomes the ISO dial until you press the ISO button again. It's an easy and fast compromise.

Thanks, ok! In that case, If I just use the ring on the lens for aperture the dial can always stay on ISO?

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

Thank you for making this clear! But, what a pity!

IS shutter speed adjustment still in full stops? I'd love 1/2 or 1/3

Thank you,

Morris

1/3 on the dial - same as X-S10 (isn't this the same as the X-T3 with the T setting?)

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Thank you Vittorio for your thoughts on the X-H2s!

In another forum someone wrote he could not find a way to map ISO to a dial. I think this is important to me. I am shooting wildlife always in full Manuel Mode. I often change shutter speed and ISO between shots, and it has to be done fast. I would like to be able to change also ISO without any clicking or meny diving. Is this not possible?

Yes - sort of - you only have two dials so one is for aperture and one is for shutter speed in manual mode.

To change ISO you press the ISO function button - next to the shutter button and the rear dial becomes the ISO dial until you press the ISO button again. It's an easy and fast compromise.

Thanks, ok! In that case, If I just use the ring on the lens for aperture the dial can always stay on ISO?

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

Thank you for making this clear! But, what a pity!

While it can’t be mapped only to the dial it was surprisingly easy to find the button and change ISO without looking up from the viewfinder or even really thinking about it. Much easier than on my old Canon 5D mark iii

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

curtx wrote:

Thank you Vittorio for your thoughts on the X-H2s!

In another forum someone wrote he could not find a way to map ISO to a dial. I think this is important to me. I am shooting wildlife always in full Manuel Mode. I often change shutter speed and ISO between shots, and it has to be done fast. I would like to be able to change also ISO without any clicking or meny diving. Is this not possible?

Yes - sort of - you only have two dials so one is for aperture and one is for shutter speed in manual mode.

To change ISO you press the ISO function button - next to the shutter button and the rear dial becomes the ISO dial until you press the ISO button again. It's an easy and fast compromise.

Thanks, ok! In that case, If I just use the ring on the lens for aperture the dial can always stay on ISO?

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

Thank you for making this clear! But, what a pity!

IS shutter speed adjustment still in full stops? I'd love 1/2 or 1/3

Thank you,

Morris

1/3 on the dial - same as X-S10 (isn't this the same as the X-T3 with the T setting?)

I think you are correct about the T setting.

Morris

shotbyvittorio wrote:

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

Thank you for making this clear! But, what a pity!

While it can’t be mapped only to the dial it was surprisingly easy to find the button and change ISO without looking up from the viewfinder or even really thinking about it. Much easier than on my old Canon 5D mark iii

Yes - if this is a big deal for someone thinking about buying the camera its worth getting a demo to see how easy it is.

Greybeard2017 wrote:

shotbyvittorio wrote:

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

Thank you for making this clear! But, what a pity!

While it can’t be mapped only to the dial it was surprisingly easy to find the button and change ISO without looking up from the viewfinder or even really thinking about it. Much easier than on my old Canon 5D mark iii

Yes - if this is a big deal for someone thinking about buying the camera its worth getting a demo to see how easy it is.

I agree people should try a camera before purchasing.   To me, the placement of all the buttons and dials felt like they used my hand to measure where to place them.

Morris

Morris0 wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

shotbyvittorio wrote:

Unfortunately not. I exaggerated when I said the rear dial stays as ISO - it only stays until you have changed the value or dismissed the selection. Each time you need to change ISO you have to press the ISO function button.

Thank you for making this clear! But, what a pity!

While it can’t be mapped only to the dial it was surprisingly easy to find the button and change ISO without looking up from the viewfinder or even really thinking about it. Much easier than on my old Canon 5D mark iii

Yes - if this is a big deal for someone thinking about buying the camera its worth getting a demo to see how easy it is.

I agree people should try a camera before purchasing. To me, the placement of all the buttons and dials felt like they used my hand to measure where to place them.

Morris

With my hands they actually felt pretty weird at first just unboxing the camera and messing around with it, once I started actually shooting they felt nearly perfect and the quick record button is just in the right place to not confuse it with the ISO button.

Fuji Maine wrote:

Appreciate the written review but photos of results would be much more informative.

Just made another post with the photos from my first day shooting.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4660661

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.