Fujifilm X-H2 tipped to be its long-awaited next-gen camera
But we probably won’t see it until 2022
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TheFujifilm X-H2has been rumored for over two years now, but the long-awaited mirrorless camera is starting to take shape – with the latest rumors predicting it will definitely be the firstFujifilmcamera to rock an exciting new sensor and processor combo.
Traditionally, other Fujifilm camera lines have been the chosen ones for debuting next-generation X-Trans silicon. The X-Pro series, Fujifilm’s line of compact rangefinders, has twice introduced new sensor-processor combos (in 2013 and 2016), while the latest X-Trans CMOS 4 tech arrived in 2018 with theFujifilm X-T3.
ButFuji Rumorshas responded to speculation that this means a Fujifilm X-Pro 4 might instead deliver Fuji’s next-gen silicon in 2022. In a post, the reliable site confirmed that “the Fujifilm X-H2 will be Fujifilm’s first X series camera to introduce the new sensor and processor platform, and not the X-Pro4.”
Why is this significant? Firstly, the rumored new sensor is expected to be a new ‘stacked’ CMOS design and this lends credence to that theory. This is because stacked sensors, like the one we saw recently in theSony A1, deliver the read-out speeds needed to achieve high burst shooting speeds (for things like wildlife photography) and reduce rolling shutter in video.
Both of those areas, wildlife and video, are key ones for Fujifilm’s X-H series and its fans. So it would certainly make sense for the Fujifilm X-H2 to be the first camera to debut that new stacked sensor and processor combo.
If true, this news also points towards the Fujifilm X-H2 being a landmark launch for Fujifilm and its X-series range, which are aimed at both hobbyists and pros. Fuji Rumors claims that ‘Fujifilm is crafting a monstrous camera”, which suggests that the X-H2 will be its attempt to make a strong alternative to the full-frame offerings that are dominated bySony,Canon, Nikon andPanasonic.
The long view
The rumored development of the Fujifilm X-H2 as a powerful flagship, plus recent speculation that Fujifilm now won’t release any more new cameras in 2021 after the Fujifilm X-E4, does also hint at the road ahead for Fuji cameras.
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Fuji’s hobbyist cameras, like the excellentFujifilm X-S10andFujifilm X100V, are now firmly established, while the Fujifilm X-T4 remains top of our best cameras guide due to its mix of all-round performance and value.
But it’s been a tough year for camera companies whose primary audience is hobbyist shooters who’ve been unable to travel or justify splashing out on a new camera body. And the competition from thebest full-frame cameras, which have larger sensors than those in the APS-C X-series, has become increasingly hot, with rivals like theNikon Z5andSony A7Coffering great value at the more affordable end.
So it makes sense for Fujifilm to go all-out on a high-performing model that can mix it with the best full-frame cameras when it comes to autofocus, video and burst shooting. That said, a rumored 2022 launch for the Fujifilm X-H2 is quite a long wait, and it remains to be seen whether or not Fuji will be able to deliver the lenses needed to tempt experienced wildlife and sports shooters away from some tempting full-frame alternatives.
Mark is TechRadar’s Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he’s contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph’s Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London’s Square Mile.
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