Fuji has always been on the forefront of the mirrorless revolution and the Fujifilm XH-1 is the company's attempt to apply its mirrorless imaging technologies from taking stills to taking video.

Stills are still the bread and butter of any camera. The XH-1 doesn’t disappoint, sporting a 24.3MP APS-C sensor and having the same ISO and shutter speed settings as its slightly older brother, the XT-2. However, the preview seemed to be more vibrant probably because of its updated rotatable 3-inch LCD screen.

The XH-1 inherits the raw concert function from the XT-2. This allows users to shoot raw photos and then color correcting, applying filters and film simulation in the camera and save as JPEGs without needing to save the file and edit using an external program like PhotoShop or Lightroom.

Taking video is where the XH-1 really shines. Mirrorless video has long been the bailiwick of Sony with its alpha series. Note that the XH-1 isn’t competing with the top of the line α7riii. Rather, it’s the α7iii that the XH-1 is going up against. It is recommended to use high-speed UHS II SD cards for video to shoot 4K video on 60fps. Doing this with a slow card will force the user to shoot in lower resolutions and framerates. Having video specific features like displaying an artificial horizon on startup

Where the XH-1 really shines is taking slow motion video. It was amazing being able to take 120fps at 1080p with such a compact camera.

Form factor

Looking at the XH-1, it seems to have an anti-mirrorless camera aesthetic. Instead of being light and tiny, it has a beefy handgrip that photographers defecting from DSLRs would appreciate. It is still smaller than a DSLR, but is hefty where it counts making it feel solid and substantial. Photographers transitioning from DSLRs will be comfortable with the protruding grip which houses its shutter/on-off switch.

Gone is the exposure compensation dial from the XT-2 but is replaced with what a small low power LCD screen that could be mistaken for an e-paper display that summarizes the camera’s current settings, battery level, and space on the SD cards.

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Perhaps the biggest feature that will be a boon for videographers will be Fuji’s proprietary IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization). It works well enough with prime lenses, but really shines when used with X-lenses that have internal stabilization. This is footage with IBIS turned off.

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With IBIS turned on, the body and the lens work together to dramatically dampen movement, jitters, and shake. While it is possible to shoot stable video while walking, shooting with a stabilizer is still recommended.

IBIS can also help taking better still photos. With IBIS turned on, it is possible to take pictures at several F-Stops lower or slower shutter speeds for low light situations. For shooting-on-the-go situations, handheld shooting without a monopod or a tripod produces better quality shots with Fuji’s stabilization.

Slow motion

The ability to capture 2X, 4X, and 5X slow motion at 4K resolution is another feature videographer will find useful. While the old XT-2 has been patched for slow motion capture, the XH-1 has more modes with varied resolutions and frames per second (rates).

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This is a sample of 2x slow motion. The XH-1’s IBIS definitely helps with slow motion. When capturing slow-motion footage like this, shaking and vibration is more noticeable

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At 5x slow motion, it is highly recommended to load up the XH-1 with the fastest and highest memory capacity UHS-II SD cards you can find as slow motion eats up storage rather quickly.

Color correction

As the XH-1 is targeted to videographers, Fuji added two features for videographers are into post-production color grading. The first is adding the low contrast and low saturation Eterna film simulation mode. For those looking for absolute control over grading, internal Log recording that used to be available on really high-end video/cinema cameras, is a key feature of the XH-1.

Fuji has its own F-log profile which is comparable to the S-Log profiles on the high-end Sony α cameras. In the past, the log files needed an external recorder connected via USB. With XH-1’s internal log recording capability, it provides a powerful portable tool for the most creative videographer.

Battery pack

An additional battery pack is a pricey, but recommended accessory. Unlike most DSLR battery packs, this doesn’t slot in to the main body’s battery slot. Rather, it connects through a contact point at the base of the main body. That means that you get a total of three batteries instead of just two, one in the main body, and two in the battery pack.

While the additional hours of footage are a bonus, the drawback is that this makes the XH-1 heavier and more massive. Not a good thing if you’re traipsing through the woods.

For the dedicated videographer, the pack is a must for two reasons. One, if you need to listen to audio while recording. The XH-1 does not have a stereo out jack. The battery pack is needed if you need a monitor.

Two, if you are continuously shooting at 1080p or 4K, the Fuji batteries are rather small and will only get you a couple of minutes of shooting. The extra juice will matter for those long uncut shots.

VERDICT:

The XH-1 is not for everybody. If you need a full-frame camera, you may want to look at the Sony a7 series as this won’t be the camera you’re looking for. It may be overkill for vloggers who just need a camera on a tripod to speak into.

However, for videographers and vloggers who have the budget, who need to go out and about to shoot footage, and who have expertise in post-prod software like Adobe Premiere, the relatively compact size and the relatively affordable price get you a monster of a photo and video camera considering IBIS, internal F-log recording, and its slow-motion capabilities.