BREAKING: Fujifilm X-H2S to Offer Animal/Object Autofocus Tracking

Do you remember the legendary Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR?

No?

Well, the Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR is legendary because it actually was the first digital camera to offer some sort of animal autofocus (limited to cats and dogs and called “pet detection”).

As you can read in the product description here:

For those who enjoy the company of four-legged friends, the F80EXR has Pet Detection, allowing users the ability to detect up to 10 faces of dogs or cats and automatically optimize the focus. The F80EXR is programmed to recognize 57% of the Fédération Cyno Logique Internationale (FCI) Registered Dogs, 80% of the Top 20 Dogs in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Ranking and 60% of The Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) breeds. Pet Detection works by matching various dog or cat data of facial parts with patterns to detect the dog or cat being photographed.

Yep, Fujifilm was once leading the computational photography innovation with animal autofocus.

However, things have drastically changed.

Not only has a feature, that Fujifilm already developed, completely disappeared from their newest digital cameras, but many other brands are offering animal and object autofocus tracking, with Fujifilm definitely lagging behind in this area.

But that’s going to change.

According to trusted information we have received, the Fujifilm X-H2S will offer animal and object autofocus tracking.

Well, that’s nice, but…

but I would not be overly enthusiastic for now. Sure, the Fujifilm X-H2S with its stacked sensor can truly unlock some computational photography magic, but before rejoicing too much I want to see how these features actually work.

I mean, Fujifilm also offers “real time tracking” a la Sony, but in my experience, especially during the wedding I shot last year, it does not work nearly as good as the Sony version (so far that I rather quickly switched back to zone focus tracking for better results). I guess that’s probably also why Fujifilm does not advertise this feature on their cameras (even though it’s there).

And yet, it’s coming, and I am looking forward to see it at work on May 31.

Remember:

Fujifilm set itself a 3 year plan for huge implementation of computational photography on their cameras. And the release of the Fujifilm X-H2S marks exactly that 3-year deadline that Fujifilm has given itself.

Fujifilm X-H2 rumored specs list:

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“Create with Me”: Fujifilm USA launched Wedding Photography Competition with Chance to win Fujifilm X-T4 kit

This month the Fujifilm X/GFX USA “Create With Me” competition will focus on wedding photography. You have a chance to learn something new and also an opportunity to win a Fujifilm X-T4 Kit!

Learn More at the dedicated Create With Me page.

How Create With Me works

A hand-picked selection of FUJIFILM Creators will be sharing insight and secrets behind their distinctive photographic styles, then inviting you to create and submit images inspired by their advice. Send an image and you could win some incredible prizes, but you can also simply use each round as a new challenge for your photography – and maximize this fantastic opportunity to learn from the best!

The competition is split into twelve monthly rounds, with two FUJIFILM Creators setting a challenge each round. There’s something for everyone from portraits to landscapes, street to weddings. Sign up below to be informed when each round goes live.

Fujifilm X-H2S Images in Slightly Higher Resolution

Yesterday we share the first hands on images of the Fujifilm X-H2S.

And while they gave us a lot of clues about the Fujifilm X-H2S already, some readers wished to get higher resolution samples of the images.

Now, due to the nature of the leak, it is impossible to get crystal clear images. However, I organized for you some slightly higher resolution images which you can see below.

Today I also have a bit more time to check out the images closer (yesterday I made the impossible possible in order to even be able to report about it).

So here is what I see:

  • joystick in X-T4/GFX100S style but place higher up
  • the D-Pad is there
  • fully articulating screen (as we told you)
  • no in-camera cooling system (as we told you)
  • the left side seems to give access to lots of different ports
  • looks like no drive dial under the big dial on the top left side of the camera
  • I can’t spot any dedicated dial on the top right side
  • probably PSAM layout like Fujifilm GFX100S
  • Fujifilm X-E4 style strap lugs

Down below the images.

And remember: huge party here on FujiRumors on May 31 at the Fujifilm X Summit.

Oh, and stay tuned… we are not yet done with the rumors ;).

UPDATE:

A FR-reader took the Fujifilm X-H2S leaked images shared here on FujiRumors and let the files pass through Topaz Gigipixel AI. The result are definitely sharper images, although overall they do not add any information to what we already previously observed. You can see the images down below.

Reminder: You can use our checkout code “FUJIRUMOR” to get an additional 15% discount on all TOPAZ products (Click here) :

LEAKED: First Fujifilm X-H2S Hands-On Images

These are the first hands on images of the Fujifilm X-H2S (thanks a lot for providing them to us!). A total of 4 images have been provided to FujiRumors, which you can all find below… and they tell us quite a bit about the Fujifilm X-H2S.

First off: yes, the D-Pad is still there ;).

Other than that, the leaked images also confirm what we already told you: no in-camera active cooling system (hence no ugly fan protruding from the camera).

Also, definitely a flippy screen.

We can also see the shutter button and 3/4 buttons next to the top LCD (one of them seems to be red), but that one is quite low resolution and it’s hard to say anything more.

If you observe anything I missed (I have a very stressful day today and write this article in the little wholes I can find), feel free to let us know in the comments down below.

Other than that, the button layout seems to be familiar to what we know from other cameras.

TAKE NOTE: Fujifilm X Summit on MAY 31 with LIVE BLOG on FujiRumors!

Fujifilm X-H2 rumored specs list:

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Lenstip Fujinon XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR Review: “SENSATIONAL Image Quality” and More XF18/23/33 Reviews

So, here is what I am probably going to do. I do plan to replace my current Fujinon XF 23mm F1.4 R with the brand new Fujinon XF23mm F1.4 R LM WR.

Not that I am unhappy with my 23mm, which has served me well for many years. At my parents-in-law home there are two big prints of images I took with that lens. And also at the wedding I shot last year is was my absolute workhorse along with my XF56mmF1.2 delivering images that the bridal couple totally love.

However, if I am in love with my XF35mmF1.4 and will never sell it, I can’t say the same of the XF23mmF1.4. So, if Fujifilm releases something “better”, then I have no problem to sell my good old 23mm for the newer version.

And I must say, the latest Lenstip review of this lens, is really pushing me towards replacing my XF23mmF1.4 faster than I actually planed. The only problem: go and find one! It’s mostly out of stock.

Look at the Pros and Cons that Lenstip identified for the new Fujinon XF23mm f/1.4 R LM WR:

Pros:

  • solid, weather-sealed casing, mostly made of metal,
  • sensational image quality in the frame centre,
  • very good image quality on the edge of the frame,
  • negligible longitudinal chromatic aberration,
  • excellent correction of lateral chromatic aberration,
  • sensible coma correction,
  • blur areas pleasing to the eye,
  • efficient, silent, and accurate autofocus.

Cons:

  • a bit too high vignetting,
  • performance against bright light should have been better.

They conclude:

The results of our test show clearly that refreshing the 1.4/23 model was a very good idea. The new lens provides an excellent image quality across the frame, no matter what aperture you employ. Taking into account the fact that you deal here with a fast, wide-angle lens such an achievement is especially praiseworthy. The price of the Fujinon XF 23 mm f/1.4 R LM WR is not low, reaching $900, but complaining here would be justified only if the lens had some serious slip-ups. Our test showed that it performs exceedingly well in almost all categories so you can only shrug and say that high quality doesn’t come cheap.

You can read the full review at lenstip here.

And since we talk about the latest and greatest lenses, let’s add to Lenstip review also some other about the XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR, but also about the other two siblings, the XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR and the XF33mm F1.4 R LM WR.

More XF18/23/33 Reviews

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