| Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Full model name: | Fujifilm X-T2 |
| Resolution: | 24.30 Megapixels |
| Sensor size: | APS-C (23.6mm x 15.6mm) |
| Kit Lens: |
3.06x zoom
18-55mm (27-84mm eq.) |
| Viewfinder: | EVF / LCD |
| Native ISO: | 200 - 12,800 |
| Extended ISO: | 100 - 51,200 |
| Shutter: | 1/32000 - 900 sec |
| Max Aperture: | 2.8 (kit lens) |
| Dimensions: |
5.2 x 3.6 x 1.9 in. (133 x 92 x 49 mm) |
| Weight: |
28.8 oz
(817 g)
includes batteries, kit lens |
| Availability: | 09/2016 |
| Manufacturer: | Fujifilm |
| Full specs: | Fujifilm X-T2 specifications |
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24.30
Megapixels |
Fujifilm X |
APS-C size sensor |
|---|---|---|
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X-T2 Summary
The Fuji X-T2 is a professional powerhouse of the mirrorless world, with enough external controls to please any retro-fanatic. It offers top-notch weather sealing, and the autofocus engine has also been heavily amped from the original X-T1, bringing its C-AF chops more in line with its modern DSLR rivals. Under the hood, the X-T2 sports the latest-generation 24.3mp X-Trans sensor, and we found the resulting image quality both in the lab and out in the field to rival or top most any APS-C camera out there.
ProsExcellent image quality from both JPEGs and RAW files; Superb high ISO performance; Very fast hybrid AF; Robust weather sealing; Dual UHS-II card slots; 4K video.
ConsPrecise manual focus is tricky with fly-by-wire focusing; Battery life is only decent; Video quality still not on par with competing cameras.
Price and availabilityOn sale since September 2016, the Fujifilm X-T2 body-only is priced at US$1,599.95 or in a kit bundled with the XF18-55mm lens for US$1,899.95. Both configurations include the EF-X8 flash.
Imaging Resource rating5.0 out of 5.0
Fuji X-T2 Review
by William Brawley, Dave Pardue and Zig Weidelich
Overview posted: 07/07/2016
Last Updated: 06/07/2017
Updates:
09/09/2016: Production First Shots
09/15/2016: Field Test Part I
10/11/2016: Performance
11/09/2016: Field Test Part II
01/31/2017: Image Quality Comparison and Print Quality
04/03/2017: Field Test Part III
05/18/2017: Review Conclusion
The bigger, better Fuji X-T1 successor is here! Say hello to the aptly-named Fujifilm X-T2. Sporting both cosmetic improvements as well as a variety of under-the-hood advancements -- a number of which are shared with the X-Pro2 -- the classic SLR-styled X-T2 packs in the performance, build quality and high-end features that should make both advanced enthusiasts and professionals alike take notice.
X-T2 gains "latest generation" X-Trans sensor capable of 4K video
Let's begin with the heart of the matter: the sensor. Like its X-Pro2 sibling, the X-T2 features a 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III APS-C image sensor. Up from a 16.3-megapixel X-Trans sensor in the X-T1, the X-T2 offers a sizeable jump in image resolving power. As with other X-Trans sensors, the X-T2's has the characteristic non-Bayer-style color filter array, which is designed to combat moiré and other aliasing artifacts without the use of an optical low-pass filter.
The X-T2 is the first X-series camera to offer 4K video recording. Offering Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 video at both 24p and 30p (as well as 25p for PAL regions), the X-T2 offers more for the multimedia creators out there than other Fuji cameras from years past. Further, the X-T2 can make use of its characteristic array of film simulation modes for video as well, including 4K video.
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Stay sharp: more AF points & a focus on AF performance
Like the X-T1, this newer model sports on-chip phase-detect autofocus sensors, but the X-T2 features a dramatic increase in the overall number of AF points for its hybrid phase/contrast detect AF system: 325 points, to be exact. The central 169 points have phase-detect pixels, which cover approximately 40 percent of the sensor area, while nearly 65 percent of the total sensor offers contrast-detect AF. The number of Zone Focusing points has been increased as well, from 49 points originally in the X-T1 to a healthy 91, with 49 of those offering phase-detection (versus only 9 on the X-T1).
Thanks to the X-T2's updated image processor, the X-Processor Pro -- which it also shares with the X-Pro2 -- and new AF algorithms, the camera reportedly offers vastly improved autofocus performance. The X-T2 is said be able to focus in only 0.06 seconds in "Boost" mode, according to Fuji, which is down from the 0.08s claimed speed of the X-T1.
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The X-T2 features a large 0.48-inch, 2.36 million dot OLED viewfinder and a tempered glass 1.04 million dot 3-inch LCD monitor that tilts in three directions. |
With the new focusing algorithms and faster processor, Fuji states that not only can the X-T2 focus better on small objects, low-contrast subjects and other items with very fine details, it also refocuses more frequently, thereby offering more accurate predictive AF for better subject tracking.
Fuji has focused (pun intended) on improving continuous AF performance in the X-T2. New and improved C-AF-specific algorithms are said to help with focus accuracy for tracking moving subjects. Users are now also given some C-AF fine-tuning options, where they can customize the C-AF performance parameters to suit the subject at hand, such as tracking acceleration and deceleration, how long the camera maintains focus on a subject, and a parameter called Focus Zone Characteristic. The camera also offers a set of five AF presets for various shooting scenarios, which sounds similar to Canon's various autofocus "Case" presets found in a number of their recent EOS models. Like the Canon system, users of the X-T2 can further tweak and customize these AF focus presets as needed.
Fuji states that the X-T2's contrast-detect capabilities have been improved as well. Sensor readout performance has been increased -- 2x compared to the X-T1 and earlier Fuji models -- which should increase AF speed. The camera is also said to be capable of focusing in very dim conditions, down to -3EV.
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X-T2 offers greater responsiveness & faster shooting
In addition to focus performance improvements, Fuji says the X-T2 gets a number of other performance boosts across the board, including faster start-up time which is reportedly shortened to just 0.3 seconds from 0.5s on the X-T1.
The top mechanical shutter speed has increased from 1/4,000s to 1/8,000s, and X-sync speed has increased from 1/180s to 1/250s. Top electronic shutter speed remains at 1/32,000s.
Continuous shooting for both phase-detect single-AF and predictive C-AF with the mechanical shutter hits up to 8fps for full-resolution images, which is unchanged from the predecessor, but up to 14fps is possible with the electronic shutter. However, by adding on the accessory Vertical Power Booster Grip, you can increase the burst rate to 11fps with the mechanical shutter in Boost mode. Cycle time, shutter lag and viewfinder blackout time are also said to be improved in Boost mode when using the optional grip. (More on this Booster Grip later.)
Rated buffer depths are generous, at 83 JPEGs, 33 lossless compressed RAW or 27 uncompressed RAW frames at 8fps. At 11fps, the rated buffer depths are 73, 30 and 27 frames respectively, and at 14fps, buffer depths are 42, 28 and 25 frames respectively.
Although the electronic viewfinder in the X-T2 appears to use the same 0.48-inch 2.36 million dot OLED panel as before, along with the same manufacturer-rated 100% coverage, 0.77x magnification (35mm equivalent), 23mm eyepoint and -4 to +2m-1 diopter adjustment, it improves on the earlier camera in a number of ways.
The X-T2 now features a 5fps Live View mode to make tracking moving subjects easier. And there's also a bigger eyecup.
While viewfinder lag time is still specified at 0.005 seconds, the standard refresh rate of 60 frames per second can now be increased up to 100fps in Boost mode without the need for the battery grip. Fuji says a reduction in false color in the EVF is also a benefit of Boost mode.
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High quality images but a seemingly limited ISO range
The image quality from the X-T1 was excellent, for both low and higher ISOs, from RAWs files and even JPEGs straight out of the camera. The native ISO range of 200-12,800, when compared to a number of recent cameras feels a bit limited, but the X-T2's ISO can be expanded down to ISO 100 and up to ISO 25,600 or 51,200 as selected in the menu for the camera's 'H' setting on the ISO dial.
As with other Fuji cameras, the X-T2 features a number of in-camera film simulations such as Provia, Velvia, and Astia, as well as new filter offerings like Classic Chrome and Acros, for rich, deep monochrome images. Of course, film simulations are for JPEG images only, but fear not RAW shooters; the X-T2 offers in-camera RAW processing, which let's you process files with image settings and film simulations as you want, all in-camera. As mentioned earlier, film simulations and filters are also available while shooting video, including in 4K.
Additional shooting options include interval timer shooting for in-camera timelapse photography, with intervals of one second up to a full 24 hours for an unlimited number of frames -- basically until your memory cards are full. The X-T2 also features a sweep panorama mode and a multiple exposure setting as well as a variety of bracketing options.
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The X-T2 with the included EF-X8 hot-shoe flash unit attached. |
The X-T2 is more video-friendly, including 4K!
As stated earlier, the X-T2 now offers a more advanced array of video features, including 4K Ultra HD recording. According to Fuji, 4K video requires a UHS Speed Class 3 or faster memory card, and continuous 4K video recording is limited to just 10 minutes with the standard camera body. Add on the optional Vertical Power Booster Grip, however, which supports up to two additional battery packs, and continuous 4K recording can be extended to 30 minutes. The X-T2 also offers Full HD video up to 60p (as well as 50p/25p for PAL), with continuous recording limited to 15 minutes. 720p video is also available at up to 60p, for a maximum of 29 minutes.
Videos are recorded in MOV format using MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 compression with 48KHz linear PCM stereo sound. Bitrates are 100Mbps for 4K and Full HD, and 50Mbps for HD. 4K mode has a 1.17x crop, while Full HD and HD are 1.0x.
Other video features are fairly straightforward. Single-shot, continuous AF and manual focus are all available in movie mode, and with on-sensor phase-detect AF, focus adjustments is smooth and quick without much hunting. Stereo audio is available from either on-board microphones or through an external microphone via the newly-added standard 3.5mm mic jack. Audio levels are adjustable in 20 increments, and on-screen left and right channel audio levels can be displayed before and during recording.
One thing of note, that's also mentioned below in our Hands-On Tour, is that while the X-T2 body itself gains a standard 3.5mm mic jack, as opposed to the dual-function 2.5mm mic-and-remote jack of the X-T1, the X-T2 also supports a headphone jack...if you purchase the Vertical Power Booster Grip. If your workflow requires headphones to monitor audio during a shoot, be sure to budget for that grip.
The camera records video to either the SD card(s) or can output a clean video signal via HDMI, at up to 4K resolution, should you want to capture a video signal with an external recording device.
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Standard issue Wi-Fi connectivity with remote control features
As with its predecessor, the X-T2 features built-in wireless connectivity for easy sharing and transferring of photos. Wireless connectivity is Wi-Fi-based (no NFC connectivity yet), so both Android and iOS have a level playing field in this regard. Using the Fuji companion app, users also have rather robust remote control shooting capabilities, including the ability to adjust exposure compensation, aperture, ISO, white balance, and self-timer functions.
Pricing & Availability
On sale since September 2016, the Fujifilm X-T2 body-only is priced at US$1,599.95 or in a kit bundled with the XF18-55mm lens for US$1,899.95. Both configurations include the EF-X8 flash.
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Best Lenses for the Fuji X-T2
What lens should you buy?
Portrait: |
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Standard: Fuji XF 50mm f/2 WR |
Upgrade: Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 |
Landscape: |
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Wildlife: |
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Standard: Fuji XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 OIS |
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• • •
Fujifilm X-T2 Hands-On Preview
Hands-on with the bigger, better X-T2
The X-T2 looks similar, but offers numerous fixes & tweaks
There's no doubt that the original Fuji X-T1 is an amazing camera. It's wonderful to look at, for starters, with its compact, thoroughly retro-inspired design. Its ergonomics are quite nice as well, with a good handgrip shape and excellent, tacky grip material. Then, add on the grip attachment, and things are even better in terms of grip and balance, especially with larger lenses.
On the surface, the Fujifilm X-T2 appears to be more or less identical to the original: the same DSLR-esque shape, similar top-deck array of control dials with the characteristic Fuji non-PASM dial layout, and a large electronic viewfinder. As before, the X-T2 is also meant to be rugged. It's fully dust- and moisture-resistant with a die-cast magnesium body. According to Fuji, there are 63 points of weather sealing, and the camera is freeze-resistent to 14F (-10C) like its predecessor.
However, upon a closer inspection, it's clear that there are a lot of small yet important new features and improvements to the design and the controls that make the X-T2 more user-friendly as well as much more appealing to the advanced enthusiast and professional photographer.
Fujifilm X-T2 Field Test Part I
Taking the new flagship Fuji into the eye of the storm
They were calling it Tropical Depression 9, and it was already starting to intimidate the Gulf of Mexico. I was packing for the Atlantic Coast to try out the new X-T2, the highest-end camera I'd yet to have the privilege of Field Testing, and was feeling a bit intimidated myself. The X-T2 is reportedly sporting a hugely improved C-AF system complete with new custom presets, and I wanted to try and bring our readers the full picture.
I'd shot extensively with the predecessor X-T1, primarily for gallery samples of many of the recent Fujinon XT lenses that have come our way, including the latest long zooming XT 100-400mm f/4-5.6. I've grown to very much love the X-T1, have learned to utilize most of its capabilities as well as dodge some of its quirks, but I knew that it wasn't quite up to fully competing against enthusiast DSLRs in the C-AF world of sports and wildlife. It was good, but simply not as good as the best in that class.
With that in mind, I got the nod to head to an area deep in the Carolina low country, replete with a wealth of National Wildlife Refuge sanctuaries, with the goal of putting the X-T2 through its paces in a real-world and challenging environment. But a funny thing happened on the way to the Atlantic Coast, as TD-9 morphed into Hurricane Hermine, and the eye of the storm took a path towards me.
Fujifilm X-T2 Field Test Part II
Toting 4 high-end zooms into the wild for C-AF exploration
For those of you who've read my first X-T2 Field Test centered around the storm Hurricane Hermine, which made her way along the eastern seaboard just a few months ago, you'll only need to fast-forward a day in time to begin this second part of the X-T2 shooting journey with me. I'd gone to the coast to find wildlife in secluded national sanctuaries, and found a hurricane instead. (Oh well, roll with it!) But the storm was here and gone in a veritable blink, and the wildlife and natural fauna returned to do their thing. So, I shook off several fitful nights of sleep and headed out into the welcome return of the sun.
Fujinon XF zooms: I can see for miles and miles
Nobody buys a flagship, high-performance camera unless they intend to pair it up with high-quality lenses based on their own shooting needs. The X-T2 is the "DSLR-styled" family member of the higher-end Fuji line, being geared more towards sports and wildlife than its rangefinder-styled X-Pro2 brother, and therefore screams at you to mate it with comparable zoom lenses. Seeking both wildlife and nature across several national wildlife preserves in the Southeastern US, I was grateful to have access to this treasure trove of high-end zooms lenses.
Fujifilm X-T2 Field Test Part III
Of portraits and performance
Shortly after posting Field Test Part II, our X-T2 sample was abruptly confiscated from us by our friends at Fuji, in order to give other reviewers out there a shot at the camera. I went into a state of shock for some time, having really bonded with the camera and was eager to continue with our testing, but with no sample at my disposal all I could do was stare at the lenses on the shelf. This waiting further fueled my inner fire to finally get another sample, because I was yearning to try it out in the portrait world. My repeated requests were finally answered. What makes the X-T2 so special as a portrait-shooting companion? A variety of interweaving factors, and we'll take a closer look at many of them here.
Fuji X-T2: Portraits
Everyone has their favorite type of shot they like to shoot, and mine are of the portrait variety. Not just people, but the notion of trying to capture the essence of something, anything. It's a very hard field to master, and I consider myself a learning amateur when compared to professional portrait photographers. But the X-T2 brings a lot of fire-power to the table in this regard and can certainly give a jump-start to budding amateurs like myself and to professionals alike.
Fujifilm X-T2 Image Quality Comparison
See how the X-T2's image quality stacks up against rivals
Here we present crops from our laboratory Still Life target comparing X-T2 image quality to its predecessor, the X-T1, as well as against several recent premium interchangeable lens cameras: the Nikon D500, Olympus E-M1 II, Sony A6500 and Sony A7 II. The Sony A7 Mark II is the only full-frame model in this comparison and doesn't really compare performance-wise, however we decided to include it because at the time of writing it is selling for less than the X-T2, and because of Fujifilm's claim that their X-Trans sensors produce image quality that can rival full-frame Bayer-filtered sensors.
NOTE: These images are from best quality JPEGs straight out of the camera, at default settings including noise reduction and using the camera's actual base ISO (not extended ISO settings). All cameras in this comparison were shot with our very sharp reference lenses. Clicking any crop will take you to a carrier page where you can click once again to access the full resolution image as delivered straight from the camera. For those interested in working with the RAW files involved, click these links to visit each camera's respective sample image thumbnail page...
Fujifilm X-T2 Print Quality Analysis
Find out just how large you can print at each ISO!
Print quality and image quality are similar but not identical, because what you see on a print isn't always the same as what you see on the screen. Our print quality analysis answers the important question: "Just how big can I print my photos at higher ISOs?"
The X-T2 was honored on our site with a Camera of Distinction award for the Best Overall cameras from 2016, and with good reason. We now know that its print quality more than bolsters this honor, and we're frankly pretty amazed by just how well it performs here. Only a precious few APS-C cameras can match it in the print quality department, while none thus far can exceed it for print sizes as ISO rises nor the sheer quality of the printed imagery.
Fujifilm X-T2 Conclusion
A stylish, all-around, professional-grade mirrorless camera.
Following in the footsteps of the popular Fuji X-T1 was no easy task, but the designers and engineers at Fuji have excelled in splendid fashion with the professional-grade, powerhouse X-T2.
Sharing the flagship spotlight with its rangefinder-styled brother, the Fuji X-Pro2, the X-T2 is the DSLR-styled member of the family and very much designed with sports and wildlife shooting in mind, especially when combined with the new booster battery grip. Over the course of several different sample models, we put the X-T2 solidly through its paces in our test lab, and took it to some fairly harsh and exotic destinations for extended shooting out in the real world.
Ultimately, we came away thoroughly impressed with this capable and hearty flagship mirrorless camera from Fuji.
In the Box
The Fujifilm X-T2 body-only retail kit (as reviewed) contains the following items:
- X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only)
- NP-W126S Li-Ion Battery Pack
- BC-W126 Battery Charger
- EF-X8 Flash
- Body Cap for Fujifilm X-Mount Cameras
- X-T2 Cover Kit
- Shoulder Strap
- Strap Clip
- Clip Attaching Tool
- Protective Cover
- Vertical Power Booster Grip Connector Cover
- Sync Terminal Cover
- Limited 1-Year Warranty
- Camera instruction manual
Recommended Accessories
- Large capacity SDHC/SDXC memory card. 32GB should be a minimum, and we highly recommend a fast UHS-II card.
- At least one spare NP-W126S Li-Ion Battery Pack
- VPB-XT2 Vertical Power Booster Grip
- RR-90 Remote Release
- Fujinon lenses, particularly the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS Lens
- Medium camera bag
Buy the Fujifilm X-T2
$849.00 (18% less)
32.5 MP (25% more)
Lacks viewfinder
45% smaller
$1799.00 (44% more)
26.1 MP (7% more)
Also has viewfinder
12% smaller
$699.00 (43% less)
19.61 MP (24% less)
Also has viewfinder
53% larger
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