I love Fuji. I've had an X-T3 and X-T30 in the past and currently have an X-H2s & X-T5. On top of this, I also own several of their top tier lenses. I have sold off all my other photography gear, including full frame Canon bodies. It's fair to say, I'm all in on Fujifilm. This isn't to bash the brand.
I also want to note that I'm writing this to people who know the Fuji system. I'm not going into detail about everything. This is written with the understanding that the reader has preexisting knowledge of the Fuji system and its current state of affairs.
I've noticed some odd things about Fuji cameras and their users. This all started a few weeks back when I realized that I liked the X-h2s (or rather the X-H2 PASM body style) better than the X-T5.
Initially, I was disappointed with Fuji's decision to crown the new H2 line of cameras as "flag ships". I felt it went against everything the brand claimed to be and that distinction should have gone to the XT line. After all, the XT cameras really put the brand on the map and are responsible for its loyal following. (Sorry X-Pro Users, I will never understand your love for that painful to hold Leica wanna-be, I don't get it and never will.)
I bought the X-H2s first as it was the first of the new bodies released and I needed the "S" version over the regular H2 because I shoot a lot of sports. It is important to note that all camera manufacturers are selling two bodies now that have different purposes. The reason behind this, I believe, is so they can make more profit as a pro photographer would, in most cases, need both a camera built for speed and one built for resolution.
At this time, there were rumors that the X-T5 would be released soon and that camera would be designed as a "photography first" camera. Essentially the same as the H2, but with the classic retro dials. Having used the XT3 and loving the it, I couldn't wait for the XT5 and ordered one as soon as it was released. I felt it was a better camera in style and execution than the H2 line.
For the next year, I primarily used the XT5 for everything excluding sports. But then, something happened in the last few months. I hadn't picked up my H2s since last football season and when I did, I noticed how much quicker it was to shoot with than the XT5.
It's important to note that I shoot mostly in full manual.
I've always found that the X-T line was a bit awkward to shoot in manual. I find this weird as one would think with all the analog dials that it would be the better option to shoot manual. But that really isn't the case. In fact, to shoot in manual pretty much negates needing an exposure compensation dial, since you would handle that with one of the other aspects of the exposure triangle, usually ISO.
In the last few years, auto ISO has been perfected. I remember a time when the auto ISO function, didn't really pick the best ISO or would fluctuate wildly. Now it is extremely reliable. So much so, that most people, from my experience, shoot with auto ISO. Technically, I'm not shooting fully manual if I'm using Auto ISO and therefore, I also don't need the ISO dial.
That brings us to the third dial. Shutter speed. This and the aperture ring are really the only settings I change most of the time; which means, I'm not really shooting manual like I think. In actuality, I'm only shooting two/thirds manual. This is an important realization, because one, it lessens the need for the dials like I had originally thought. And two, most people that swear by the dials shoot in aperture priority which is really shooting two/thirds auto.
In addition to this, I found it cumbersome to adjust the dials on the XT5 while looking through the view finder. I think it is because the XT5, while the same size as the XT3 I had, somehow feels cramped. This makes me have to pull the camera away from my eye and look down at the dials to adjust. This not only takes me out of the moment and slows me down, but it is a total pain in the ass in the dark or in low light situations.
The top screen on the H2 line is easier to see in almost all situations, and also has a light for dark environments. Making the H2 line much quicker to operate in the moment without even taking into account the PSAM dial or custom modes.
Of course, the H2 is bigger and this is viewed by most Fuji purists, as a negative. However, most of them, myself included, find the need to add a grip to the X-T line of cameras. I believe the pushback most users expressed over Fuji removing the battery grip accessory from the X-T line, had more to do with the need for a grip to compensate for poor ergonomics than it did as a useful battery extension. This is an odd thing you find in the Fujifilm universe. Everyone seems to push for small / smaller cameras but then they go and put a grip on them. This is stupid. I don't understand this thought process at all.
Since I have both the X-T5 with an aftermarket grip and the X-H2s, I can say for certain, that looking at both cameras together, the H2s is only very slightly bigger than the X-T5 when the X-T5 has the hand grip. Like a quarter of inch longer and maybe one eighth taller. Really, nothing significant.
I find myself thinking that the only real, in use advantage of the X-T5 over the H2 is the tilting LCD screen. The H2 should have had a tilt screen like the H1 and the X-T5. In every other way, the H2 is the better camera, including build quality and weather sealing.
I haven't decided 100% if I'm going to trade in the X-T5 for an H2. The purist in me says no, but the everyday photographer, says yes.
