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MissionMan
22-03-2018, 1:14pm
Introduction

The Fujifilm X-H1 launch has come and gone and I have had my hands on one for a little while now. It's the most expensive APSC camera developed by Fujifilm to date and also the first one to feature IBIS. The arrival has not been without controversy, there have been some changes made to exposure compensation, a larger size and it probably wasn't helped by Sony's release of the full frame A7iii which has come in at a similar price.

Who is it targeted at? Fujifilm is saying professional photographers, video and sports shooters. My knowledge of video is somewhere between terrible and horrible, and as a result, this review will be focussed primarily on photos. If you want a video review, I can 100% guarantee you there are better and more reliable sources than me.

I'm reviewing the grip and camera in combination, as it is sold as a combined option.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Reviews/Photography/X-H1/i-gLrHdMS/0/96f9bbff/X5/20180309-AJH20864-X5.jpg

Pricing

The X-H1 is offered in two versions, one for body only and the other with body combined with a battery grip. This is the first time I've seen Fujifilm package the grip as a single boxed entity with the camera but happy to be corrected if they have done it before. Either way, it's clear they see a large portion of their user base buying the X-H1 with the grip.

The X-H1 comes priced in at a recommended retail of US$1,899 or US$2,199 with the grip, it's about $300 more than the release pricing of the X-T2 which is good, and still $100 cheaper than the release pricing of the D500 so it isn't the most expensive APSC on the market in case you are wondering. Pricing may be closer to recommended retail now, but expect this to drop fairly quickly.

Should you buy the version with or without the grip? I'd personally recommend getting it with the grip if it’s within your budget. There are times where the grip comes in handy and it's only US$300 difference. In conjunction to this, you also two extras batteries as part of the package deal, and the grip allows you to charge 2 extra batteries at the same time. It's important to note that the kit contents may differ by country. If you live in Australia as an example, Fujifilm Australia are supplying the camera and grip separately even when you buy them as a kit, so Australian customers will not be benefitting from the 2 extra batteries unless the dealers package these in. I'm not sure if this applies to other countries.

Packaging and contents

Contents and number of boxes will depend largely on the model you get and what country it's purchased in.

The packaging is classic Fujifilm, black box, nicely packaged. Inside the box you find:

Camera with body cap
Battery Grip
3 x W126s Battery (most of the entire known camera world)
1 x W126s Battery (Australia)
Single battery charger
Grip charger
Connector thing
eyelets for strap attachment
mini external flash
Manuals, warranty stuff
Strap


In the typical Fujifilm fashion, it’s missing the USB3 cable, something that is a complete mystery to me. It really should really be included at this price range. The oddity is Fujifilm give you tethering accessories and no USB cable. Fortunately they splashed out 10 cents and gave you a hotshoe cover.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Reviews/Photography/X-H1/i-pJQzNTw/0/66bf7f13/X5/20180309-AJH20896-X5.jpg

The camera/grip combo comes with 2 chargers (3 if you include charging the camera via USB3), one charger for a single battery and a dual battery charger built into the grip so you can charge 2 batteries at the same time. You can actually charge 4 batteries at the same time, if you use the external battery charger, the grip and the USB 3 cable to the camera. That aside, the ability to charge two batteries in the grip is something I really like from Fujifilm and I'm shocked to see that no one else (Nikon, Canon etc) has introduced this on their grips. If you're a Nikon buyer, you're having to charge your batteries separately or buy a dual battery charger.

Strap is a slightly upgraded version as a result of the heavier weight. I believe this is the same offered the GFX but having never had a GFX, I can't comment. It's actually a really nice strap although not the sort of strap I would consider with the grip. I'm not a fan of the neck straps as I prefer straps that are easily removable, or slingstyle straps. If you're not a fan of neck straps, I'd personally recommend a sling style strap, either something like the RRS or Black Rapid sling strap with the arca clamp as this will give you the flexibility to move the strap between camera and lenses depending on what lens you have on. (XF100-400 requires the attachment on the lens, not the camera)
As is usually the case, Fujifilm give you the little external flash with the kit. It's better than a built in flash but not very good for photos in general. Mine is still untouched and if you are considering using this, I would recommend rather looking at a TT350 or TT685. Please do not construe this as a complaint about Fujifilm, this flash is still better than any internal camera flash I've seen to date, but I'm not completely sure it's necessary for a camera of this type. I would hazard a guess most stay in the boxes and never get used.

Construction

If you thought the X-T2 construction was good, wait until you feel this camera. Construction is very solid and the camera feels fr more robust than the X-T2. Construction quality is impeccable and it's exactly what I expected from the higher price range. Fujifilm's quality on all of the X-series has always been very good, so this should come as no surprise.

The weight on this camera will come as a surprise for X-T2 users, granted it is only about 150grams more than the X-T2, but its actually not far off the weight of a Nikon D750 and it's about the same weight as a D7200 camera which may come as a shock for Fujifilm customers. Add the grip and it's a monster by Fujifilm's usual standards. If you compare the X-H1 side by side with some of the DLSRs, you'll however find the D7200 seems to be more lightweight plastic where the X-H1 is more metal so it has the construction of a high end Pro DLSR.

The construction extends to the buttons and controls. The dials have a more solid feel with slightly more resistance. I prefer this but I can understand if some users might find it frustrating.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Reviews/Photography/X-H1/i-9xQ36qV/1/6da4110f/X5/20180309-AJH20916-X5.jpg

Features & Controls

I'm going to review this to some degree in the context of the other Fujifilm cameras, so I apologise if this doesn't cover the camera from a "I've never seen a Fujifilm camera" perspective.

I see X-H1 as the evolution of Fujifilm design. It's modern, but still has some retro genes in it's blood. I find the Sony cameras to be a little soulless with their designs. They almost look too clinical from a design perspective, and I despise the orange ring on the lens mount.

The top display is a welcome addition to the camera and this will appeal to DSLR users. I like having this on the camera, I don't like having to look at the rear of the camera to get access to settings. This comes at the expense of the exposure compensation dial, which is not a big loss from my perspective. It was to easily bumped and I think the button will work just as well.

There had been talk that the shutter button is a little too sensitive (and potentially that it can be adjusted through firmware). I don't know if that is correct, it is sensitive, but I'm a big fan. It's simple a case of getting used to it, like moving to a car that has ABS. The quiet shutter comes as a bit of a shock, when you hear it's silent, you don't quite understand how silent it is. Within a matter of days I was fine and my X-T2 shutter feels like a tank. I’m personally hoping this is something they introduce across the entire line.

Ergonomics

Given it's a brand new body, I included ergonomics to talk about the difference in the feel compared to the existing bodies like the X-T2 and X-E3.

I didn't buy into Fujifilm solely for small bodies, although the reduction in size has been great for some occasions when you want to travel light. I have big hands so there are times I actually like using the X-T2 with the grip when size isn't a constraint. I think this is what people fail to realise on occasion, smaller size isn't always better. For those with bigger hands, the X-H1 is definitely more comfortable for everyday use.

Then there are the buttons. Ah, the buttons. It's also great to see a shutter button that doesn't require a soft shutter. I don't miss a lot of things from my Nikon days, but the Nikon buttons were one of those. The X-T2 buttons were designed for 5 year old and I'm going to be honest and say I don't think there are a lot of toddlers and children with that sort of disposable income required to justify an X-T2. It's great to see Fujifilm finally implemented a usable AF-On setup. This is what buttons should look like, no sugru required. The rest of the buttons are also better. They stick out enough to provide firm and easy access and it's easy to keep the AF-On button down for extended periods. Positioning of the AF-On button is great, although I'd like to see the design of the AF-On switched with the AF-L to make it easier to keep down.

This section on ergonomics was going really well until I switched the camera to portrait mode and…um…what the? Yes, Fujifilm made amazing buttons on the camera but if you are holding the camera horizontally with the grip, they left the AF-On buttons exactly the same as they did on the X-T2…our vertical grip has buttons still designed for 5 year olds again! I'm not sure whether the grip were designed in isolation but the only thing I can come up with in this case is *face palm*.

Buttons aside, the grip is great, but it becomes large when you add the grip, and whilst the X-T2 was also large with the grip, this is larger. The deeper grip helps but I can't help feeling they didn't need to go this big.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Reviews/Photography/X-H1/i-kzBVM3S/0/3d98c7b2/X5/20180309-AJH20907-X5.jpg

IBIS

I haven't had a camera with IBIS before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I've heard people make a lot of excuses for having IBIS. 1 second landscapes? Sorry, I don't buy it. If you know you are headed out for landscapes, you take a tripod, not IBIS.

I think the challenge is some people see IBIS as the holy grail of bad photography. There is a limit to what IBIS can do. People move so you can't use it to take photos of kids in the dark.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's useless, I see a lot of value in IBIS. Having a stabilized 90mm or stabilized 16-55 is amazing, but it only works for a limited amount of scenarios.

One of the areas that appealed to me for IBIS was stock photos. I take a lot of photo's for my site, so I use an Orange Monkie Foldio for photos. I hate using a tripod because it limits my flexibility to get the angles I want. That typically means I have to shoot at around ISO800 or higher to maintain the aperture and shutter I want to get sharp photos, and that's only shooting at f/5.6. If I want to go up to f8, the ISO rises. Does IBIS improve this? Definitely.

The EVF

The EVF size is similar to the X-T2. That in itself would be barely noticeable if it wasn’t for the resolution of the EVF, and therein lies the bad news for X-T2 users…the higher resolution is noticeable and it is beautiful. Faster, better quality, not quite like going from an old iPhone to a new retina screen but pretty damn impressive.

The mirror blackout time has been reduced but 8fps still results in the slideshow effect which is disappointing. It means you often lag behind the action so it is difficult to keep up with action at more then 5fps if you fill the frame. Child jumps in a pool at 8fps and you'd be follow them for the first 3 frames before they would disappear off frame because you were a split second behind the action. This makes the higher frames rates largely unsuitable for action where the subject fills the frame. I don't do much at more than 5fps so it's not a problem for me personally.

The ISO issue with only showing max ISO is still there. Not sure when Fujifilm will get around to changing this, but it's a mystery to me that the issue hasn't been resolved yet.

Battery and Battery life

Fujifilm opted to stay with the W126S battery which is the same battery found in the majority of Fujifilm's new cameras like the X-T2 and X-Pro2. As a result, the X-H1 offers a 320 shot battery life based on the CIPA standards. This is nearly 40 shots lower than the X-T2. In reality, this is approximately 400-500 photos off a single battery, depending on the conditions. The CIPA tests are fairly brutal and unrealistic.

I think potential buyers will be split into two camps: there will be there those who will remain happy about the ability to interchange batteries between the X-T2 (or other bodies) and the X-H1 and those who will be frustrated that Fujifilm didn't sacrifice size for a larger battery, if they even had to with the larger size.

I personally fall into the latter camp, the "give me more battery life. I don't mind a slightly larger body" group but I think this is a classic case that you can't please everyone. I understand that they are trying to keep some consistency in their cameras, and having this ability to swap batteries between the X-H1 and other bodies is an advantage, but it comes at a big price. I think this may put off some prospective buyers they are trying to attract because for a pro body I would have expected to see double the battery life, a minimum of 600-800 (CIPA) shots off a single battery. I think it's a lost opportunity, but as I said, you can't please everyone.

On the positive, whilst the battery life is poor, Fujifilm has done a great job of addressing this with the camera/grip combo package by including two free batteries, but only if you buy the camera and grip as a combo. What it means from a consumer perspective is that you should get a minimum of 900 shots, with potentially upwards of 1200 depending on how you use camera. Unfortunately not all countries (Australia as an example) will benefit from this arrangement so you can expect to see some aggrieved users in these countries.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Reviews/Photography/X-H1/i-dscXZbX/0/35fcb070/X5/20180309-AJH20872-X5.jpg

AF Performance

The AF performance on the X-H1 (like the X-T2) is very good. I've used the X-T2 for sports and it's proved to more than adequate to the task. There is this perception that the Fujifilm AF system isn't up to sports but that isn’t the case. It does require a little bit of work to get the best out of it.

The AF Performance on the X-H1 is supposed to be an improvement on the X-T2. So what does this mean in real life usage? Not a lot, to be honest. There are limited improvements in facial recognition, and in some case, the performance is worse, but I suspect this is more to do with firmware teething problems. People forget about some of the initial issues when the X-T2 was released.

How does it compare to the competition? It seems that Sony is the one to beat and from the looks of the AF videos, it still holds onto first place. There is no eye tracking in AF-C with the Fujifilm, and the facial recognition isn’t up to the level of the A7 iii so Fujifilm has it’s work cut out. I think competition is good so hopefully this will see Fujifilm pushing hard in the AF department.

Image Quality

You would assume image quality coming from the same sensor is the same, there has been some reviews showing better quality at higher ISO's. Personally, I can't see a difference other than some of the slower shutter stuff being sharper due to ISO.

Conclusion

As the most expensive APS-C camera in Fujifilm’s range, is this the new benchmark? Should you buy one as an X-T2 owner?

If you were an X-T1 owners this question would be easier, but for X-T2 owners it's a much harder choice and I can only say "it depends". If you were looking at a new camera right now, the X-H1 makes perfect sense, but then again so does the new A7iii. The X-H1 is the best APSC camera that Fujifilm has ever produced, the question is whether that's enough. The problem for existing X-T2 owners is not with the X-H1, but that the X-T2 is also such a great camera. Whilst the X-H1 is takes it that one level higher, it is just an incremental upgrade that makes it a bigger X-T2 with IBIS.

If you are regularly shooting video, then the X-H1 will make sense because of the IBIS. If you have shaky hands and battle to handhold primes like the XF90 at 1/125, the X-H1 makes perfect sense, but it isn't a miracle technology, it won't stop subject movement so you need to manage your expectations. There also seem to be some AF teething issues in video they need to work on.

For sports shooters, the improved controls may be helpful and users with bigger hands will find this more comfortable, but as an upgrade to the X-T2, it is still quite hard to justify.

For me personally, there are 3 things that would have made this camera an instant winner and probably avoid some of the mixed reviews they seem to be getting:

A bigger battery
A bigger buffer
Improved AF


The first and second can't be changed now, the question is whether they can improve on number 3. The X-H1 carries two processors due to the IBIS and I'm hoping Fujifilm could potentially implement a firmware that can redirect the IBIS processor for better AF, because the times where AF is important are typically the times where IBIS isn't required. I don't know if it's technically possible, but if Fujifilm could do that, it could offer a substantial improvement over the X-T2 and bring them up to the likes of Sony.

The problem Fujifilm have right now is the X-T3 is coming out, potentially with a new sensor and if the AF is improved, that could leave them with a flagship that isn't as good as the X-T3, a concerning problem to have.
Despite how good this camera is, I do think that Fujifilm will still have some seriously competition on their hands with the new A7iii having been released. It's full frame, offers a 600-700 shot battery life, 10fps and superior AF with eye detect from the look of the launch videos. For most existing Fujifilm owners, this won't be a temptation, but if I was a pro looking to switch from DSLR to mirrorless and I had no investment in Fujifilm glass, the A7iii would be very tempting.

That said, competition is good. If Sony is producing good camera, Fujifilm will have to do the same and that benefits everyone.

Overall, it gets a 4/5 for me.

glennb
28-03-2018, 6:10pm
ive seen mixed ISO results with this sensor, some results that are the same as the current line up camera x T2 ,X T20 etc and saw one result with a 1/2 to 1 stop better.

MissionMan
28-03-2018, 6:23pm
ive seen mixed ISO results with this sensor, some results that are the same as the current line up camera x T2 ,X T20 etc and saw one result with a 1/2 to 1 stop better.

From what I have seen the raw files are the same but the jpgs are about a stop better

Tannin
28-03-2018, 9:11pm
That's a very impressive bit of work, MissionMan. I haven't finished reading it yet but already I can complement you on your clear, comprehensive writing and excellent presentation. There a lot of work in this.

I'm responding early just to offer a small addition or correction. All Canon pro cameras come as standard with a dual slot battery charger. (You are talking about grips, I know, however it's fair to think of the pro models as having built-in grips.) They also have a giant battery, not the same as the squibby little things in a 7D or a 5D IV, so two fully-charged batteries is sufficient for around a fortnight's medium to heavy use each day. On a field trip, I usually charge my 1D IV about every four days, just to be on the safe side, but it's still half-full at that point.) Having said that the battery is brilliant and last forever, and that you get a dual charger free with the camera, what theydon't give you is a second battery to put in that dual-slot charger. That's another couple of hundred dollars. :(

But this is a minor aside. My main point is that I reckon it is great to see someone put this much time and effort into a review. Applause!

MissionMan
28-03-2018, 9:52pm
That's a very impressive bit of work, MissionMan. I haven't finished reading it yet but already I can complement you on your clear, comprehensive writing and excellent presentation. There a lot of work in this.

I'm responding early just to offer a small addition or correction. All Canon pro cameras come as standard with a dual slot battery charger. (You are talking about grips, I know, however it's fair to think of the pro models as having built-in grips.) They also have a giant battery, not the same as the squibby little things in a 7D or a 5D IV, so two fully-charged batteries is sufficient for around a fortnight's medium to heavy use each day. On a field trip, I usually charge my 1D IV about every four days, just to be on the safe side, but it's still half-full at that point.) Having said that the battery is brilliant and last forever, and that you get a dual charger free with the camera, what theydon't give you is a second battery to put in that dual-slot charger. That's another couple of hundred dollars. :(

But this is a minor aside. My main point is that I reckon it is great to see someone put this much time and effort into a review. Applause!

Thanks Tannin

What I meant by the grip comment is that you can charge two batteries while they are inside the grip instead of having to remove them and put them in a separate single or dual charger.

It's something I'm surprised neither Nikon or Canon has done with their battery grips. Obviously the 1D/D5 style bodies are in a separate class (in performance and size) but for those bodies that offer battery grips, it seems like an easy way of charging up multiple batteries quickly and I can't imagine the cost is exorbitant to add it.

glennb
29-03-2018, 10:28am
From what I have seen the raw files are the same but the jpgs are about a stop better

Ahh maybe it was the jpg result I saw, ta


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