Watch Out, Sony: Fujifilm X-H2s Firmware 3.0 Tracking Tests Show 95% Hit Rate in Tough Conditions

Watch Out, Sony ;)

Watch out Sony and Canon, as it really looks like Fujifilm is now right up there with you in terms of autofocus tracking… but with one potential advantage left for Fujifilm.

While Canon, Sony and Nikon’s very best cameras can’t shoot more than 20/30 fps (full RAW), the Fujifilm X-H2s can go up to 40fps. So, if accuracy is also increased at the highest 40fps frame rate, then the Fujifilm X-H2s could give significantly more sharp images per second than any other brand, which for some photographers might be a big deal.

And let’s just skip the fact that in order to get comparabable AF performance in full frame you have to spend at least two or three time as much as for the X-H2s (one can buy lots of nice lenses with the money saved)

So why this intro? What happened?

Let’s go with order.

What Happened

Fujifilm has very recently released a major firmware update for the Fujifilm X-H2s, which promises to drastically improve the autofocus performance.

First tests we have shared here show that indeed the Fujifilm X-H2s is now getting to a point, where you can call it at least on the same level of the other top performing stacked sensor cameras (all of which cost massively more than the X-H2s).

Now we have a few more tests.

You can see all the videos below as well as read a summary in case you are in a hurry.

The Tests

Test 1 – Birds

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Fujifilm X-H2s New Autofocus Firmware Tested (Huge Improvement)

Fujifilm has just released a bunch of firmware updates, including a rather substantial one for the Fujifilm X-H2s.

It promises to drastically improved autofocus tracking in a variety of situations as well as additional subject trackings. You can read all the details and download the firmware in this article.

Well, the first tests of this firmware are out. You can find them down below.

If you own the X-H2s, feel free to share your impressions in the comments, but it seems to be on the level of the very best you can find from other brands out there (and that cost several thousands of dollars more than the X-H2s.).

Especially the first video linked below shows the X-H2s performing brilliantly in backlight, with far away subjects and other very challenging conditions.

We remind you that Fujifilm also announced the next Fujifilm X Summit for April 2023.

X-H2s Firmware Tested

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Tricky Numbers, or How 61% AF Accuracy on Fujifilm X-H2s are Better than 85% Accuracy on Sony A9

I posted an X-H2s autofocus test made by a German guy specialised in Wildlife photography, and translated it for you here.

The particular thing about his test: he set up a dedicated “bird tracking test track“, which basically allows him to compare the various cameras for bird tracking under comparable conditions.

On his test track, he got the following results for the Fujifilm X-H2s.

  • 30 out of 49 = 61% tack sharp images
  • 33 out of 47 = 70% tack sharp images

Some people were disappointed by those numbers, especially when compared to the 85-90% hit rate of stacked Sony cameras.

But percentage alone is not the whole story. You have to factor in the frames per second into the equation.

So let’s do just that (taking the worst results he got with X-H2s – 61%)

  • Fuji X-H2s: 61% of 40 images per second = 24 sharp images per second
  • Sony A9: 85% of 20 images per second = 17 sharp images per second
  • Sony A1: 90% of 30 images per second = 27 sharp images per second
  • Sony A7IV: 50% of 10 images per second = 5 sharp images

Conclusion:

In his test, when every camera is shot at its maximum burst, the X-H2s will give you more sharp images than any other camera, except for the Sony A1.

If you want to get 3 additional sharp images per second (27 instead of 24), then you have to spend $4,000 more and get the very expensive Sony A1.

My take:

I want Fujifilm to beat any other brand in terms of sharp images per second. So I am not happy with the result of the X-H2s. I want a hit rate of 80%+ at 40fps.

And I also want an even smarter autofocus and the camera to match in terms of AF smartness in this case is the new Sony A7rV.

That’s why I am not completely satisfied and I want firmware, Fujifilm… more firmware in 2023!

Tracking Birds with Fujifilm X-H2S vs Sony Stacked Cameras (Best Test I Have Seen so Far)

The German Youtube channel AmazingNature Alpha (who shoots a lot with Sony cameras), tested the Fujifilm X-H2s autofocus with the XF200mmF2 and the XF150-600mmF5.6-8.

Now, there are lots of autofocus tests for wildlife out there. But what sets this one apart from all the others? Well, I’ll tell you below.

Before we dive into it, here are few considerations he makes.

NOTE: it’s in German, so you get it “Patrick-translated” below.

Gear Used

General Considerations:

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TESTED: Sirui 1.25x Anamorphic Adapter on Fujifilm X-H2 and XF33mm f/1.4

Let’s catch up with a piece of gear that I can’t remember I have ever talked about: the Sirui 1.25x Anamorphic Adapter.

As far as I can see it is available at Amazon since October 2022, but the Japanese guys at Mapcamera, who have now shared a test of the adapter on a Fujifilm X-H2 with XF33mmF1.4 lens, say that it will be available only this month.

Anyways, it’s something I have not talked about so far, so here is how it works.

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