A Funny Thing Happened To This Fujifilm X-T3 User....

Top view of the Fujifilm X-H1.  Notice the large grip and the shutter button located on the grip
a more natural location and where it feels much more comfortable.

Funny, meaning unexpected and interesting...

Something very unexpected and interesting, to me anyway, has happened regarding my use of my Fujifilm cameras.  Now that I own the X-T3 and the X-H1, and after considerable use, I find myself picking up the X-H1 almost all of the time instead of the X-T3.  What?

But isn't the X-T3 the a newer and more advanced camera with more pixels and faster focus?  Yes it is.  Then why?  As I've written about cameras many times in the past, to me, it all has to do with how a camera feels in my hands and how the buttons, menus and controls work.  I find the X-H1's feel to be superior to the X-T3.  How?  I've been thinking about this and here is what I have concluded.

First, the placement of the shutter button on the top of the large grip is perfect.  This is where a shutter button should be.  In prior posts, I written that using an X-T camera requires you to rotate your hand slightly backwards to find and press the shutter button as it is located on the top plate of the camera.  That is not a big deal and I know I adapted quickly to where it is.  But placing the shutter button on the grip feels much more natural and much more comfortable.  It belongs in a forward position.

Second, despite being portrayed as a negative, the little larger size of the camera allows my little finger to rest securely on the camera's grip and not hang off the bottom.  Sometimes cameras can be too small.  When I first bought mirrorless, I purchased an Olympus E-M5.  Wonderful camera but too small for my average sized hands.  I had to buy the 2-piece grip (one piece had a spare battery and the other a 1/4" thick plate with a hand grip in front) and attach the one piece so the camera felt comfortable instead of too small.  To me, the X-H1 certainly feels more comfortable than the X-T3.  Not that the X-T3 is bad, just not as comfortable.

Third, the grip itself is really substantial and feels really good in my hands.  Holding the camera without a battery grip attached feels secure and safe.  It fits nicely.  With the X-T3, I normally keep the battery grip attached to attain that same solid feeling.

The grip on the X-H1 is large enough that I can fully grasp
it with all of my fingers.  My little finger has room and is
not relegated to hanging off the bottom.

Fourth, I also find the extra little bit of weight, also portrayed as a negative, gives the camera just a little more substance which allows me to better stabilize the camera when using very slow shutter speeds.  The difference in weight between the T3 and H1 is pretty small, 19.01 oz (539g) versus 23.74 oz. (673) or just over 4 oz. (134).  Did you ever hold a camera that is very small and lightweight and find you had a hard time stabilizing it because it was so small and light?  If so, then you know what I mean.

Fifth.  Oh!  Did I mention that shutter that everyone says is too sensitive?  I love it!  The very light pressure (to which I adapted within a very short time—even while wearing fleece gloves) allows me to hand hold the camera a slower shutter speeds thus increasing the effectiveness of the in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS).  By having to apply only very light pressure there results in a reduced tendency to introduce camera movement just by pressing the shutter button.  Also, I have had no problem going back and forth between the different "feeling" shutters of the X-H1 and X-T3.  Not hard to do at all.  One other note, the X-H1 shutter sound is so quiet and pleasing.

Both cameras have the same resolution EVF.  The X-T3 has better focusing, more pixels, faster frame rates, etc. and that is when I pick it up.  The EVF in the X-T3 has less shutter blackout as well.  I use the X-T3 for bird photography and for tracking focus on fast moving subjects.  I use the X-H1 with lenses that don't have image stabilization (like my "go to" lens the 16-55mm f/2.8) or when I think I need dual image stabilization.  Sounds like the two camera nicely compliment each other, doesn't it?  They do.  Together the two cameras make a powerful pair.

A couple of comments that I've read about the X-H1 that I thought I would pass on.  A now retired scientist turned professional photographer, Stephen Scharf, has written more than one time that he is convinced that the image quality from the X-H1 is better than the image quality in the X-T2 or X-T3.  At this moment I don't remember what he said was the difference, but since I've had the camera I've been subjectively assessing differences in image quality between the X-H1 and the X-T3.  Also, here is his blog post outlining some of the advanced technical aspects Fujifilm built into this camera.  If you are not familiar how this camera is different from the X-T series and what Fujifilm built in to this camera, his post is worth a quick read.  

Kirk Tuck, a long time professional photographer out of Austin, Texas, initially bought an X-T3.  He then bought an X-E3 as a backup.  Then he acquired an X-H1.  After buying the X-H1 he bought 2 more of them and uses H1's almost exclusively in his professional work.  The other day in his blog (The Visual Science Lab) he offered to trade his X-T3 to anyone who wants to trade their X-H1 for it.  He really loves those cameras.  By the way, Tuck also bought 13 Fujifilm lenses to go with his cameras.  He is "all in" with Fujifilm now.

Recently, I saw where another professional photographer said that the X-H1 feels a lot like the Panasonic G9.  Since I've never held a Panasonic G9, I can't comment.  But that camera has had rave reviews by the M4/3 community.  Two interesting points of view.

This preference for the X-H1 is something I didn't expect.  I believe this camera has been really underrated and unappreciated because the "influencers" on YouTube and the Internet proclaimed it was so.  Don't believe them.  Don't believe me.  If necessary, rent one and try it for yourself before blindly accepting someone else's opinion as your own.  Get out of line and don't become a cow in a cattle drive or be one of those "sheeple" who do what others tell them to do.

I think the current price of $1299 for the X-H1 body, grip and two additional Fujifilm batteries is one of the best bargains out there today.  I really can't find anything about which to criticize this camera.  Hmmm.

Just thought I would pass on this new found enjoyment.

And...I'm not sponsored nor get anything free or discounted from Fujifilm or anyone else.  Just my humble opinion based upon my experience.

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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