Cameras


Fujifilm’s X-H1 Is a Mirrorless Monster

February 15, 2018

By Greg Scoblete

Fujifilm is jumping on the in-camera stabilization bandwagon with its newest flagship mirrorless camera, the X-H1.

The stabilizer on the new X-H1 delivers up to 5.5 stops of image correction and 5-axis correction when paired with XF and XC lenses.

Beyond the stabilizer, the X-H1 features a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sized X-Trans CMOS III sensor and X-Processor Pro image processing engine. It offers a native ISO range of 200-12,800 with expanded settings of 100, 125, 160, 25,600 and 51,200.

The X-H1 can fire off at up to 14 fps when using the electronic shutter or 8 fps with a mechanical shutter. You can increase mechanical shutter shooting speeds to 11 fps using the optional battery grip (VPB-XH1)

It features a weather-resistant body that uses a magnesium alloy that’s 25 percent thicker than the X-T2’s body. It incorporates a leaf-spring switch for the shutter-release button, a new focus level, a new AF-ON button and generally larger buttons on the rear of the camera.

In addition, a new spring mechanism has been added to reduce micro-vibrations from the shutter.

You can compose your scene through a 3.69-million dot EVF with a .75x magnification, 100 fps refresh rate and a lag time of .005 seconds. There’s also a 3-inch tilting touchscreen display and a 1.2-inch top panel status display.

In another first for Fuji, the camera offers a Flicker Reduction mode for shooting under fluorescent and mercury lighting. Fuji says that new AF algorithms have improved low light focusing by 1.5 stops, enabling the X-H1 to acquire focus down to -1EV. AF-C performance has also been improved during zooming, the company said.

The X-H1 also looks like the most formidable Fuji camera for filmmaking. It uses a new film simulation mode called ETERNA, which the company says creates understated colors and rich shadow tones. You can record 4K at 4096 x 2160 at 24p with 12 stops of dynamic range using the Fuji F-Log. Full HD can be captured at up to 120 fps. There’s support for verbal time codes.

Finally, the X-H1 offers Bluetooth Low Energy for automated image transfers to a mobile device.

Joining the X-H1 is a Vertical Power Booster Grip (VPB-XH1) that fits two extra batteries and bumps the camera’s battery life to 900 shots. 4K video recording, normally capped at 15 minutes per clip, can last for 30 minutes with the grip attached. The grip is weather-resistant and features a shutter release button, focus lever, AE-L button, AF-ON button, command dial, Q button, and Fn button. There’s also a headphone socket for audio monitoring.

The X-H1 will sell for $1,900 for the body or for $2,200 with battery grip. Both configurations ship in the beginning of March.