[Leica] Thoughts on the Fujifilm X-HS2 and lenses

[Adam Bridge]

Hi Chris,

Yes, I was using the new Fuji app. I had to always be the current app - if it was somehow sifting into background it quit sharing GPS data from my iPhone 15 Pro Max. If I could have ripped it out by its bits and tossed it into the Pacific I would have. Or Caribbean. I’m not sure I was in an area of high electronic interference - mostly there was WiFi. I’ve never had this experience with the new Leica app which Just Works.

I really needed the reach of the 100-400. A few times I was able to use the 50-140 f2.8 and it did okay. The 200/2 is just not in my future.

I shoot basketball with the 50-140 and it does a reasonable job. A 30 fps burst is really useful there and the lhigh ISO performance of the X-H2S is very good. Crowded scenes with lots of moving people is always a challenge.

Thanks for your observations. Happy shooting!

Adam

> On Dec 27, 2023, at 6:14 AM, chris williams via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> 
> Are you using the new Fuji app (X)? It’s 1,000 times better than the old one. I use it all the time for work and personal use (Fuji XH2 and XH2s). Sometimes it can disconnect if there’s a lot of electronic interference (concert venues, crowded rooms if everyone is on their phone). 
> 
> The Fuji 100-400 is not the best for fast focusing and tracking. I use the 200/2 which is a speed demon for focusing. Yes of course it’s much more $$$. The 50-140/2.8 is a good alternative. 
> 
> You can customize the AF-S mode for tracking animals but you really need the faster lenses for that. 
> 
> Enjoy! 
> 
> Chris Williams
> www.zoeicaimages.com
> 504-231-6261
> 
> 
> 
>> On Dec 27, 2023, at 4:05 AM, Adam Bridge via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I had two choices of cameras to take on the cruise: the Fujifilm and my Leica SL2-S. I chose the Fuji because it’s smaller and, with lenses, vastly lighter. There’s a price for using full-frame lenses and weight is not the least of them.
>> 
>> I found that the X-H2S had real problems separating foreground objects (like birds and dolphins) from the waves. Even choosing to use the “Bird” focus mode the camera was much more interested in white-caps than creatures. Also, its exposure control consistently fought me in wanting to over-expose whites (again in ocean scenes.)
>> 
>> I’ve had very good luck with the SL2-S ability to keep the whites from being blown out. There’s an exposure setting exactly for that and it seems to work brilliantly. I haven’t tested it in the same manner as I did the Fuji, though.
>> 
>> I suspect some of the issues came from the 100-400mm lens which just seemed to struggle with focusing well. But the Fuji can shoot 30fps bursts into a very fast memory card. The Leica is much slower.
>> 
>> My biggest problem on the cruise was the humidity which was very high - often over 80%. I’d take the camera outside and the lens would instantly be covered with mist. The same with binoculars. I started to wake up and put the camera outside on the veranda so I’d be able to use it at need. I’ve never had this experience before.
>> 
>> The human factors one the Leica are simply better than the Fuji - as is the app on my iPhone to pass along GPS location data. More than half the time the Fuji app just didn’t work and had to be restarted so I lost location information. This made me very grumpy.
>> 
>> I’m pondering buying an SL2 (used) or perhaps waiting for an SL3 that uses the Q3 sensor. But, man, the kit is heavy.
>> 
>> Adam
>> 
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