Fuji X-H1 first hands review

Fuji X-H1

First hand review

Simply the best Fuji ever made. Yes, it’s that good.

Wow.

This was my first reaction when I first got started shooting with it. The shutter! It’s like Leica-quiet. It’s definitely a very unique shutter sound, unlike anything I’ve used before (Pen-F, Sony A7R, Fuji X100S, Fuji X-Pro1 and 2, Nikon Df/D800/D300/D3s and Canon 5d MK-something). Ken Rockwell compares the shutter sound of the Fuji X-H1 to the Nikon F6, and I believe that he’s right.

This camera is the offical camera of the guy that knows what’s up. That’s the best definition I can come up with. It’s virtually the best camera ever made: 11 FPS with autofocus tracking, 325 autofocus points, touch screen, 14 fps without tracking, 24mp, industry-leading image stabilization, weather sealed, great ergonomics, best shutter sound ever…the list goes on and on. The video mode is fantastic too. And the price! You could buy 4 of these for the price of one Nikon D5!

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The battery life isn’t very great, but for $1000 USD, Fuji includes the battery grip with 2 extra batteries.

The EVF is amazing and ahead of the X-Pro2.

I cannot believe that this camera exists… It is literally what I ever wanted in a body! Finally! It’s a beautiful piece engineering and it does make me want to hold it just for the sake of it.

Classic Chrome setting (16-55mm f/2.8 Fuji and the X-H1.)

Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 with the Fuji X-h1

The 16-55mm f/2.8 still delivers quite a bit of a smooth bokeh.

The 16-55mm f/2.8 still delivers quite a bit of a smooth bokeh.

Those Fuji colours!

One thing to note: The autofocus of the X-H1 is faster than the X-Pro2 and the sensor, even tho it is the same on paper, does better at high iso. It’s the pinnacle of Fujifilm X series of camera and it shows. It’s fast – with the 16-55mm f/2.8 XF, the X-H1 is as fast as a 1Dx or Nikon D5 with a 24-70mm f/2.8 in good light. It’s that good. In poor light, it’s better than my X-Pro2, but not like a D5 and the likes. More maybe like my Nikon Df/D600. It’s good, it’s wedding-ready, but it isn’t the best.

I’ll get write more about the X-H1 as I go travel the world this winter… I’ll get back to you guys!

Cheers,

JP