Fujifilm Brings Stacked CMOS to Flagship X-H2S Camera
The Fujifilm X Summit is a regular event that serves as a platform for the company to launch new products, and the big news today is the X-H2S, the much-anticipated successor to the X-H1, a model that debuted at the beginning of 2018.
The X-H1 was a groundbreaking model for Fujifilm; it was the first X series camera to include in-body image stabilization, and added pro-quality 4K video recording to a system that had been previously criticized for lackluster movie-making tools. Its Eterna film simulation profile, tuned to match one of Fujifilm's beloved motion picture emulsions, made its debut as well.
With the X-H2S, the company is moving its system another step forward. Its image sensor is brand new and is made with a Stacked CMOS architecture. These sensors are able to process information faster than the BSI CMOS chips Fujifilm uses in cameras like the X-T4. The faster readout makes it possible to freeze motion using an electronic shutter, to track and focus at 40fps, and does it all with an interruption-free view when making photos.
We expect to see more cameras aimed at serious hobbyists and professionals use this type of sensor in the future. OM System's recent OM-1 does in the Micro Four Thirds format, but the X-H2S is the first time we've seen it come to the upsized APS-C chip size. Before this year, the $4,500 Sony a9 II was the lowest cost Stacked CMOS mirrorless on the market.
The X-H2S is priced at $2,499, the most Fujifilm has ever charged for an X series model by a wide margin—before this it was the titanium finish edition of the X-Pro3 for $1,999; the X-H1 debuted at $1,899. It's representative of a general uptick in prices in the camera market, but the camera also promises exceptional performance to
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