Fujifilm X-H1 Field Test

Introduction
The Fujifilm X-H1 is the company's newest flagship X Series camera. The "H" stands for "high performance," per Fujifilm, and the specifications and overall design of the camera backs up their claim. With a revised design, improved video specs and bumps to performance in numerous areas, the X-H1 certainly looks to be the most capable and versatile X Series camera to date.

However, beneath the surface, how many changes are there? Let's take a look at the Fujifilm X-H1 and how it performs in the real world across three Field Tests. This first Field Test will look at the design of the camera, the new optional battery grip, the image sensor as well as image quality and the flexibility of the RAW files. The second Field Test will explore shooting modes, metering, wireless connectivity, film simulations, autofocus and performance. The third Field Test will be all about video, including the enhanced 4K video functionality of the X-H1.

Shooting Experience
The Fujifilm X-H1 offers a pleasing overall shooting experience, thanks in part to the redesigned and very nice, ergonomic body, but I am also a big fan of the overall user experience with the camera. If you are unfamiliar with Fujifilm X Series cameras, they typically rely upon a combination of camera dials and dials on the lenses for setting the shooting mode rather than using a simple PASM mode dial. For example, to shoot in manual mode on the X-H1, you can set the shutter speed dial to a specific exposure time or you can set it to "T" and dial in a manual shutter speed using a command dial. You then set aperture using a dedicated dial on the lens itself or by using a separate command dial. This method of working with a specific shutter speed dial and then an aperture ring on a lens is distinct in this day and age, and I find it to be an enjoyable way to shoot.

Moving on to metering, the X-H1 does a pretty good job in many lighting conditions, although I have found it -- and other Fujifilm cameras -- to come up a bit short with its low-light metering, particularly with respect to auto white balance. The X-H1 tends to underexpose and produce cooler images in dim light. Fortunately, it's quite consistent, so you can predictably rely upon exposure compensation, which is accessed by a dedicated exposure compensation button on the top of the camera, right near the shutter release.

In the previous Field Tests, I discussed the Fuji X-H1 mostly in terms of a stills camera. While my discussions of design and usability apply to using the X-H1 for video in addition to stills shooting, my discussion of autofocus, performance and image quality was, so far, solely relative to shooting photographs. In this final X-H1 Field Test, I will be exclusively discussing its video features, performance and overall video quality.

More so than any previous Fujifilm cameras, the X-H1 is designed to be a true multimedia camera. Fujifilm blends together high-end photo capabilities and video performance into a single camera. Does the X-H1 succeed with this lofty goal?

Video
The Fujifilm X-H1 has a dedicated movie setting menu, which is nice, because it allows you to alter various shooting settings independently for stills and video recording. While I won't list the full assortment of settings you can adjust in the movie mode, a few of them are particularly notable, such as being able to choose separate Film Simulation, dynamic range, white balance and other image quality parameters for movie recording. Further, you can also select different focus area and autofocus settings for movies.