New Fujifilm X-H2 +amp; XF 56mm lens unveiled

Fujifilm launches camera's first 40 MP APS-C sensor

After Fujifilm already introduced the X-H2s in May 2022 with a brand new sensor, 6K video, high continuous shooting speed and many more features, now yesterday came the long-awaited new flagship APS-C camera, the Fujifilm X-H2. And it truly is a true flagship. Find out everything you need to know about the new 40 megapixel APS-C camera in this blog post.

Fujifilm X-H2 - What's all new?

Those who have already dealt with the X-H2s will already know some of the new features of the X-H2. But what was the sensation at yesterday's launch was the new 40.2-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor, which is the heart of the new camera. This new, backside exposed (BSI) sensor, enables some useful features.

Like the X-H2s, the high-resolution X-H2 model now comes with the new X-Processor 5, which makes both cameras in the X-H2 series the fastest Fujifilm cameras the manufacturer has ever built.

The body hasn't changed compared to the X-H2s, so we also have the option of using the new battery grips on the X-H2, as well as the external fan. The latter should also become relevant, because with 8K at 30 fps in 4:2:2 10-bit video recording, heat development could still play a big role.

The new 40 MP BSI sensor, image processor +amp; IBIS

But let's talk about the sensor again first. With 40.2 megapixels, it is the first APS-C sensor with such a high resolution, and this offers new possibilities in both the photo and video areas, such as a higher video resolution, or even 160 MP photos using pixel shift.

The craziest number dropped in the presentation is the minimum shutter speed in the electronic shutter of 1/180,000 second. With such a fast shutter speed, it is possible to shoot with a wide open aperture even in very bright environments without having to use an ND filter.

When it comes to continuous shooting speed, however, the X-H2s still has the edge as a sports camera. Due to the stacked design, which is missing in the X-H2, the X-H2s achieves a continuous shooting speed of up to 40 frames per second. However, the X-H2 only achieves up to 20 frames per second here with a 1.29x crop in the electronic shutter. In the mechanical shutter, up to 15 frames per second without crop are possible here.

Intelligent autofocus

Autofocus also benefits from the new sensor resolution. With 3.33 million phase-autofocus metering sensors, the X-H2 comes with over 1 million more metering sensors than previous Fujifilm cameras with the 26 megapixels. Like the X-H2s, various recognition functions, such as face, eye and vehicle recognition, are used. By means of deep-learning algorithms, the autofocus is supposed to run even smarter and faster than in previous Fujifilm cameras. Especially compared to its predecessor, the X-H1, this is a huge step forward.

8K 30fps +amp; 8K to 4K downsampling

With the new, high-resolution sensor, 8K video resolution is now possible. As in the X-H2s, however, it takes the X-Processor 5 to process these data rates, and so a maximum frame rate of 30fps is possible here. But 4K video also benefits from the high resolution, as it is downsampled from 8K to 4K here, resulting in a clearer, sharper and lower noise image result, as the entire sensor is used here. All video resolutions, can be recorded internally in Apple ProRes 4:2:2 HQ at up to 720Mbps and 10-bit.

As with the X-H2s, which reaches a maximum video resolution of 6K, the X-H2 can also record a RAW video file via HDMI. However, this only works with supported Atomos recorders, such as the Ninja V+.

160 MP RAWs via Pixel Shift Multi-Shot

If 40 megapixels are still not enough for you, you can now also use Pixel Shift Multi-Shot to take RAW pictures with up to 160 MP with the X-H2. The integrated image stabilizer (IBIS) shifts the sensor in all four directions during shooting. After each shift, the camera triggers and then automatically combines all the shots together, allowing the 4x resolution of 160 MP to be achieved.

We already know the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot feature from the medium format GFX cameras with IBIS and now Fujifilm is bringing the feature to their smaller APS-C cameras as well.

Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR

For a new, high-resolution camera, you naturally need the right lenses, and Fuji has stepped up its game here as well. With the XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, Fuji introduces the first XF lens with 11 aperture blades to the market, and the imaging performance here has been improved by quite a bit compared to its predecessor. It is the perfect companion for the new X-H2 and now comes in a weather sealed body.

Conclusion

The new Fujifilm X-H2 meets exactly the expectations we had for the camera since it became clear with the X-H2s that a high-resolution model would also be coming. The 40.2 megapixel sensor brings everything the X-H2s doesn't, so there's now the right camera in the lineup for every Fujifilm photographer. The X-H2s for sports and reportage photographers and the X-H2 for landscape, portrait and architecture photographers. But both cameras also bring a professional environment for videographers in the same breath.

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