Close to two years ago, I wrote a post about the Fujifilm X-E4 and why that camera was great for travel. At that time, I had been using the X-E4 for over a year and had used it on many travel destinations. Since I had moved from a two-camera setup while travelling down to using only the X-E4, I felt I had enough experience with the camera to say it was one of the best I had owned and used for my travels. There were numerous reasons why.
In December 2023, I sold the X-E4 and replaced it with the X-H2. It’s hard to say goodbye to a camera you love, one that you are attached to and still use often, but the X-E4 lacked a few features that I was looking for in a replacement, and the X-H2 seemed to fill those gaps. After trips to Spain, Scotland, and Italy, is it what I anticipated, and does it satisfy what I desire in a camera?
The Specifications (A Summary)
Regarding this summary, I’ll highlight only the most relevant features for my use. I did not use the X-E4 for video and do not plan to do so with the X-H2. I use a dedicated video device, an Osmo Pocket 3, for all my video needs.
Fujifilm X-H2
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40.2 MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR
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Autofocus: 425 points phase detection with AI-based subject detection
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Screen: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.62M dots
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Viewfinder: Electronic, 5.76M dots
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Weight: 660g (with battery and memory card)
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Battery Life: Approx. 680 shots per charge
Fujifilm X-E4
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26.1 MP X-Trans CMOS 4
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Autofocus: 425 points phase detection
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Screen: 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots
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Viewfinder: Electronic, 2.36M dots
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Weight: 364g (with battery and memory card)
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Battery Life: Approx. 380 shots per charge
Image Quality
The X-H2 has a higher resolution sensor (40.2 MP vs. 26.1 MP), translating to more detail and larger print sizes. However, if presented with a sample from the X-H2 and the X-E4, even at 100% zoom, it would be difficult for me to spot the differences between the two easily. The X-E4 was never a slouch regarding image quality, and jumping to the X-H2 was not primarily to get better-quality images. Technically, the X-H2 is better, but both cameras produce great visuals. However, the methodologies of capturing those images give the X-H2 a significant advantage. I’ll touch on that below when discussing ergonomics.
Image Size – How That Matters
How is going from 26.1 (X-E4) to 40.2 (X-H2) a factor? Larger files affect storage and workflow and require more storage space on your camera media and your intended long-term storage. I use Lightroom and anyone who also does knows that speed is not one of Lightroom’s standout features. When the X-H2 files are imported, the time to complete that task noticeably increases compared to the X-E4. Once imported, processing times also seem to be slower. It’s not too bad, but it will take longer to make significant alterations to an image. This will vary based on the hardware you use but will affect workflow.
In my experience, X-E4 RAW images are approximately 50MB (JPEGs 16MB), and X-H2 RAW files are above 80MB (JPEGs 25MB). Although this is an average and files will vary in size, this added file size adds up quickly when you are shooting consistently. This is something to keep in mind when considering your long-term storage.
However, larger files have many advantages, including cropping. The X-H2’s ability to crop closely is much more flexible than the X-E4 while keeping a relatively large image size. I don’t usually do significant cropping, but I’m happy to have the option to do so if I want to improve the composition.