So... I Bought An X-H1; My Thoughts So Far

Sunset over Assateague Island, Eastern Shore, Virginia (click to enlarge)
Fujfilm X-H1; 50-140mm f/2.8 lens @ 94mm; 1/1000th sec. @ f/11; ISO 200

Back in January, for a variety of reasons, I bought the currently heavily discounted Fujifilm X-H1 kit, which includes the Power Grip and two additional Fujifilm batteries.  Until recently, I hadn't had an opportunity to use the camera much, but now that I have made almost 1000 images with it under a variety of conditions, I thought I would give those of you who are interested my thoughts about this camera.  Also, I'm going to split this into two parts so it doesn't get too long and to keep the readers' interest.

Fujifilm X-H1 Front View Press Photo (click to enlarge)

This is not a review.  Over the past 50 years, I've owned easily more than 50 cameras (yes, I'm a bit embarrassed over that number) so I've had some experience with all kinds of film and digital cameras in multiple formats.  Some of those cameras I've really liked a lot and some not so much.  My goal here is to just tell you what I think about the Fujifilm X-H1 based upon my experiences and compared to other Fujifilm cameras as well as other cameras in general I've owned.

Rear; Press Image (click to enlarge)

To me, this camera is sort of a combination of the X-T2 and X-T3 as it has features from both plus, as we all know, in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS).  For example, the X-H1 has the EVF and LCD touchscreen of the X-T3 but the sensor and image processor of the X-T2.  Fujifilm muddies the waters, so to speak, as they retrofit older cameras with newer features and improved capabilities.  Cameras that used to be dissimilar are now similar in features and function.  This camera fits that description.  No complaints.  In fact, I think I can speak for most of us Fujifilm users in thanking Fujifilm for their Kaizen updates.  Please continue.

The price reduction was unexpected and quite startling.  The camera/power grip combination is now priced at $1300 US, a reduction from less than a year ago when it was introduced and sold for $2200 US.  That is a $900.00 US savings, which is a game changer when it comes to the value of this camera/power grip combination.  I can categorically say that I would not have purchased it a year ago (and didn't) because I thought it was overpriced for any differences or advances it possessed as compared to the X-T2.  Now, I think what this camera provides to the photographer makes it a very good value.

Top View (click to enlarge)

When I first picked up the X-H1, immediately it felt very different than my other X cameras, the X-T1 (which I no longer own), X-T2 and X-T3.  The four things that I immediately noticed were 1) the grip is large and really well defined.  This new grip allows one to comfortably and securely grasp the camera.  2) The shutter button is on the grip and not on the top of the body.  It feels like it is in the "right place," a more natural position and I don't have to twist my wrist rearward to place my finger on the top of the camera body to activate the shutter as I do with my other X cameras, although I've gotten used to that hand position over the past 5 years using Fujifilm cameras.  3) The material that covers the camera feels different, less slippery, if that makes sense.  Maybe it feels "grippier" because of the material or maybe because the way your fingers wrap around that grip and securely hold the camera.  The fourth and final difference that was immediate was that the camera just felt more substantial.  It felt a bit heavier and larger but at the same time, if felt better built.  All that being said, initially, I didn't like the way it felt in my hands.  Hold that thought.  I'll come back to that.


As stated by Fujifilm, there seem to be three reasons the X-H1 is slightly larger and heavier than the X-T series cameras.  First, the magnesium alloy frame is 25% thicker, which adds some additional weight but also provides extra insurance from damage.  Second, Fujifilm says the size of the body had to be increased due to a completely newly designed shutter.  The shutter, I think, is quieter than any other camera I've used, even my Leica rangefinders.  Sort of on par with a soft click of a leaf shutter you might find on a large or medium format camera.  We are told this new shutter is necessary because of the inclusion of the third reason, the IBIS feature.  The shutter mechanism "floats" and is designed to have the least vibration and effect on images with slower shutter speeds.  Fujifilm says the shutter is necessarily larger and more complex.  

(click to enlarge)

Fujifilm representative (Fuji Guy) Billy Luong, in a recent interview on the Fuji Love podcast, indicated that the IBIS system is their first attempt and the engineers are working diligently to continue design refinements to make it smaller and more effective.  That tells me that maybe, in the future, there may be IBIS in an X-T series body.  If Olympus, Sony and Nikon can design and place a state-of-the-art IBIS system in their mirrorless cameras, I'm sure Fujifilm can do as well for the future.  I'm hoping.

If you have not held an X-H1, I've included some photos from the website, Camerasize.com, to show you the differences in size between the X-H1 and X-T3.  Also, if you think this camera is large, I've included a couple of comparisons between the X-H1 and the Olympus E-M1 Mark II.  I think you will be a bit surprised that the size differences are not that large.  For example, the X-H1 is .18 inches taller than the X-T3.  Not even 0.2 of an inch (4.5mm).  It is also .29 inches (7.3mm) wider.  Less than 1/3 of an inch.  The biggest difference is from the size of the grip, which is actually a benefit to handling this camera.

As far as most of the buttons and dials are concerned, the camera is very familiar.  If you already own an X series camera, you should have no trouble setting up and using this camera.  With the exception of a few, all the buttons and dials are in familiar places. What is different is the placement of the shutter button, which I already mentioned, the exposure compensation (EC) dial, which is missing altogether due to the addition of a small LCD on the top plate and the "Q" button is moved to a position under your right thumb.  The AF-L button has been replaced and repositioned with an AF-On button, which now sits next to the AE-L button.  None of these are of consequence to me with the exception of the exposure compensation function, in my opinion.

Stormy morning; Deadrise work boats, Bull Island, Virginia (click to enlarge)
X-H1, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 20mm; 1/200th sec. @ f/11; ISO 200

In place of an EC dial on the camera's top plate, there is a button close to the shutter button (see image above) which you press to activate exposure compensation while simultaneously rotating the rear command dial. This function is similar to what was in my Nikons, but the location of the button on the X-H1 is terrible, in my opinion.  The Nikon version worked well and felt seamless.  I will tell you right now that I do not like this arrangement at all.  The placement of this EC button and I are not getting along.

With the X-H1 you can set the EC button to function in two different ways.  You can change EC upon your push and hold of the button while you rotate the rear command dial or you can set the button to toggle on/off the EC function. I had a very hard time finding and pushing the button with my eye to the viewfinder and quickly became frustrated.  I found I had to take the camera from my eye, push the button and rotate the dial, view the top small LCD to see what EC I was dialing in, then put the camera back to my eye.  As it functions on this camera, I would much rather have the exposure compensation dial rather than that small LCD on the top of the camera.  The dial works wonderfully!  I'm not sure why Fujifilm had to go and fiddle with something that was working well.

Fishing net and floats (click to enlarge)
X-H1; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 55mm; 1/2500th sec. @ f/8;
ISO 200

However, after what I just said, because Fujifilm provides a lot of customization options, I fixed this issue to my satisfaction.  I mapped the function button located on the front of the camera between the grip and lens mount, which I can easily push with my middle finger, to take the place of the designated EC button on top.  I also programmed the camera to use the push on/push off option to activate the exposure compensation feature.  Now, I can easily find and push the new EC button with my right middle finger, causing a small icon to appear in the EVF.  I can see when it is activated.   I then rotate the rear command dial with my right thumb, push the button again, and I'm good to go.  This works very well for me.  Problem solved, only not as good as that tried and true EC dial on the X-T camera bodies.

I will end Part I here.  On Wednesday, I will post more about image quality and operation of the camera as well as post more images, both color and black and white.

Join me over at Instagram @dennisamook or my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 


All content on this blog is © 2013-2019 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.