Unveiled: Fujifilm Enhances Autofocus and Adds 4K to the X-T2

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It has been a great summer of camera releases so far, and Fujifilm is continuing the trend with the official release of the X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera and the flagship EF-X500 Flash. The X-T2 is a welcome evolutionary step, bringing in the 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor and X-Processor Pro Engine first seen in the X-Pro2, for vastly improved image quality. The X-T2 also makes some extremely notable processing upgrades, enabling exceptional customization of the autofocus tracking settings and the added ability to record UHD 4K video—a first for Fujifilm cameras.



 

One of the more substantial improvements brought by the new sensor and processor is a much improved focusing system. Featuring phase-detect AF points covering 50% of the horizontal area and 75% of the vertical area, users will be better able to track and capture fast-moving subjects. The system dramatically improves the frequency of the AF search during continuous shooting to account for movement. Users will be able to control continuous focus parameters in a variety of ways, including sensitivity, speed, and in relation to subject movements.

For speed, the X-T2 can shoot continuously at a rate of 8 fps, which can be boosted to 11 fps when using the optional VPB-XT2 Vertical Power Booster Grip. This grip improves performance of the camera across the board, and can hold two batteries, in addition to the one in the camera body. The camera can also maintain a 5 fps burst rate with live view enabled for crystal-clear viewing. Speaking of batteries, the one available with the X-T2 is the NP-W126S, which offers a new design for more efficient management of heat, permitting improved performance and features throughout the camera.



 

Moving to the body design, a welcome improvement is to the EVF, which features a larger eyecup, a magnification of 0.77x, and a 2.76m-dot OLED screen. Users will see a clearer picture, thanks to a base refresh rate of 60 fps, which can be boosted to 100 fps when needed. The Real-Time Viewfinder 2 also offers 1-stop improvement in low light and 25% better image quality during focusing. It is twice as bright as its predecessor, as well, and has auto adjustment.



 

The body design remains, in essence, the same, with a variety of tweaks made to improve ergonomics. This includes heightened ISO and shutter speed dials with a locking mechanism, a larger grip, an exposure compensation dial with the C setting, a focus-point joystick, and raised four-way buttons on the rear. Also, the LCD now has three directions of tilt, so users can shoot vertically from high and low angles.

Let’s talk about video now. UHD 4K makes its introduction on the X-T2 with a very capable internal bit rate of 100 Mbps. Also, when working in 4K, it uses a 1.17x crop of the sensor with an input resolution of 5120 x 2880, which is down-sampled to 3840 x 2160 for increased resolution. Multiple frame rates are available for all resolutions, including True 24.00 for cinema. It even features a 3.5mm microphone jack for improving audio quality. Internally, it can record for up to 10 minutes at a time, but with the addition of the Vertical Power Boost Grip, users can capture up to 30 minutes of footage and will gain a 3.5mm headphone jack.



 

For more advanced videographers, Fujifilm has introduced a flat F-Log Gamma setting for improved control over grading in post. Also, it has HDMI output for uncompressed 4:2:2 8-bit footage with an external recorder. Users will even have access to all film-simulation modes, as well as a video gamma intended for quick turnaround. Additional adjustments can be made, as well, including to highlight and shadows, tone, color, and sharpness.

Being released alongside the camera is the EF-X500 Flash, a new flagship model that offers high-speed sync for the latest camera models. The weather- and dust-resistant flash is ideal for the X-T2 and offers a guide number of 164' at ISO 100 and the 105mm zoom position. It also has a zoom head capable of covering 24-105mm in 35mm terms, which is equivalent to 16-70mm when discussing APS-C format lenses found in Fujifilm’s system. The flash features full bounce and swivel features and sports an LED light for working in video. Additionally, it introduces a wireless TTL system with four channels and three groups for remote communication with multiple flash units via an optical pulse.

A variety of accessories will be available in addition to the camera, which is itself being offered as a kit with the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS Lens that features a 27-84mm equivalent zoom range. These include more practical options like a replacement X-T2 Cover Kit and spare batteries, along with the BLC-XT2 Bottom Leather Case and the MHG-XT2 Metal Hand Grip. The EF-X500 Flash isn’t being left out either, with its own EF-BP1 Battery Pack for longer shooting times and improved performance.

 

 

 

X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Lens Mount Fujifilm X Fujifilm X
Image Sensor APS-C X-Trans CMOS II APS-C X-Trans CMOS III
Effective Pixels 16.3 MP 24.3 MP
Total Pixels 16.7 MP Not specified by manufacturer
Maximum Resolution 4896 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Aspect Ratio 3:2, 16:9, 1:1 3:2, 16:9, 1:1
Still Image File Format RAW, JPEG RAW, JPEG
Storage Media SD, SDHC, SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC
Card Slot 1 x SD (UHS-II compatible) 2 x SD (UHS-II compatible)
Viewfinder Type 0.5" 2.36m-dot OLED EVF 0.5" 2.36m-dot OLED EVF
Frame Coverage 100% 100%
Magnification 0.77x 0.77x
Eyepoint 23mm 23mm
Diopter Adjustment -4 to +2 m-1 -4 to +2 m-1
Shutter Type Mechanical and Electronic Mechanical and Electronic
Shutter Speed Mechanical: 30 to 1/4000 sec.
Electronic: 1 to 1/32000 sec.
Mechanical: 30 to 1/8000 sec.
Electronic: 30 to 1/32000 sec.
Flash Sync Speed 1/180 sec. 1/250 sec.
Drive Modes Single, Continuous (High, Low) Single, Continuous (High, Low)
Top Continuous Shooting Rate 8 fps Electronic Shutter: 14 fps
Mechanical Shutter: 8 fps (11 fps with optional grip)
Self-Timer 10, 2 sec. 10, 2 sec.
Exposure Metering System TTL 256-zone metering TTL 256-zone metering
Metering Method Multi, Spot, Average Multi, Spot, Average, Center-Weighted
Exposure Modes Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual
Exposure Compensation -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 EV steps -5 to +5 EV in 1/3 EV steps
Exposure Bracketing -1 to +1 EV in 1/3 EV steps -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
ISO Sensitivity Auto, ISO 200-6400 (Extended: ISO 100-51200) Auto, ISO 200-12800 (Extended: ISO 100-51200)
Autofocus System Intelligent Hybrid AF Intelligent Hybrid AF
Number of Focus Points 49 areas 325 points
Focus Modes AF-S, AF-C, Manual AF-S, AF-C, Manual
Built-In Flash No, EF-X8 External Flash Included No, EF-X8 External Flash Included
Flash Control TTL, Manual TTL, Manual
Flash Modes Auto, Auto/Red-Eye Reduction, Commander, On, Rear Sync, Slow Sync, Off Auto, Commander, Manual, Off, Slow Sync
External Flash Interface Hot shoe, PC sync terminal Hot shoe, PC sync terminal
White Balance Modes Auto, Custom 1-3, Color Temperature (K), Fine, Shade, Fluorescent (Daylight, Warm White, Cool White), Incandescent, Underwater Auto, Custom 1-3, Color Temperature (K), Fine, Shade, Fluorescent (Daylight, Warm White, Cool White), Incandescent, Underwater
Movie Recording Full HD 1920 x 1080: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p
HD 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p
UHD 4K 3840 x 2160: 30p, 25p, 24.00p, 24p
Full HD 1920 x 1080: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24.00p, 24p
HD 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24.00p, 24p
File Format MOV MOV
Compression H.264 H.264
Audio Recording Yes, stereo with video Yes, stereo with video
Audio File Format Linear PCM Linear PCM
External Microphone Input 1 x 3.5mm microphone input 1 x 3.5mm microphone input
Headphone Jack No Via optional grip
Maximum Recording Time Full HD: 14 min.
HD: 27 min.
UHD 4K: 10 min. (30 min. with optional Power Grip)
Monitor 3.0" 1.04m-dot tilting LCD 3.0" 1.04m-dot 3-way tilting LCD
Interface 2.5mm remote port
Mini HDMI
Micro-USB (USB 2.0)
2.5mm remote port
Micro HDMI
Micro-USB (USB 3.0)
Wi-Fi Yes, built-in Yes, built-in
Power Source 1 x NP-W126 Li-Ion Battery Pack 1 x NP-W126S Li-Ion Battery Pack
Operating Environment Temperature: 14 to 104°F / -10 to 40°C
Humidity: 10 to 80%
Temperature: 14 to 104°F / -10 to 40°C
Humidity: 10 to 80%
Dimensions 5.1 x 3.5 x 1.8" / 129.0 x 89.8 x 46.7mm 5.2 x3.6 x 1.9"  / 132.5 x 91.8 x 49.2mm
Weight 1.0 lb / 440 g with battery and memory card 1.1 lb / 507 g with battery and memory card

31 Comments

Will the XT2 come with a 18-135 mm kit lens?

Currently the XT-2 is only avaiilabe in a 18-55mm and/or 35 mm kit seen here. While they may offer an 18-135mm kit in the future, we would not have any confirmation of that currently. 

Will the X-T1 batteries be cross compatible with the X-T2 or do I have to buy all new batteries for the X-T2?

Hi Louis,

The X-T1 batteries will be compatible with the X-T2, though you may not be able to get certain high-end features due to the need for the better heat management of the newer battery. The exact limitations we are not sure of.

Can Nikon lenses be used with this camera?

Are there adapters for it?

Hi Jason,

There are a variety of adapters available to do this. However, none will allow for autofocus or electronic communication of any sort. Some of the G-type adapters will feature aperture rings to account for the lack of one of the lenses themselve. And, others provide added functionality.

If you shoot, in raw, at the 1:1 aspect ratio will the file import at 1:1 or default to 3:2?

Hi John,

If it is anything like the X-T1, which fellow writer Todd Vorenkamp owns and was able to check, then when you shoot in raw it will always have the native 3:2 aspect ratio and the camera will not let you change it. Now, if you shoot JPG or RAW + JPEG, then the aspect ratio will crop the JPEG image though for RAW images it will only write the crop information to the metadata for your software to recognize and does not actually throw away any information. But you will only be able to recover the original image data on RAW files.

Is there anyplace to see actual (unprocessed) 4k video output samples from this camera? I would love to see samples in natural light of what it can record both internally and externally.

Hi Lawrence,

I don't think unprocessed footage is going to be available quite yet. We will likely have to wait for production and review models to become available.

Looks extremely good...but where is the GPS?

Hi Scott,

Unfortunately there is no mention of a GPS and at this time Fujifilm does not offer a separate attachment.

Flash sync is listed as 1/250 for both cameras.  My XT-1 has a max sync of 1/180.  Did I miss an update, or is this a typo?  Does the XT2 have a 1/250 sync?

Hi Rick,

Sorry for the confusion, the X-T1 syncs at 1/180 sec. The X-T2 does upgrade this to 1/250 sec.

Thanks Shawn.  The combo of a base ISO200 and the 1/180 sync is the biggest issue I've found.  Brings me back to the limits of the Kodak SLRn with the 160ISO and 1/125 sync.  Very limiting for outside fill.

I can see that being an issue. High-Speed Sync has finally been introduced on the X-Pro2 and X-T2 and the EF-X500 Flash supports it, so hopefully in the future HSS will become a way to help alleviate some of these issues with flash photography.

You list the auto bracketing for both the X-T1 and X-T2 as +/- 2 stops. The X-T1 is ONLY +/- 1 stop - this has been a major disappointment in a great camera.  So, what is the correct auto bracketing for the X-T2?

Hi Steve,

You are correct, the X-T1 does only have bracketing from ±1 stop. The X-T2 does in fact improve upon this with a range of ±2 stops.

What a relief!  I love my two X-T1s, but the 1 stop bracketing has been so frustrating.

Do you know if the X-T2 will have "back-button focusing"?  As a wildlife shooter, that's so helpful, but Fuji gave us only a clunky fix with an X-T1 firmware update.  Have they taken care of this with the X-T2?

That is a good question. We will have to wait until a production model or the manual becomes available to find out that little tidbit.

Hi David,

Given the fact that the X-T1 has a plug-in available for tethering to Adobe Lightroom, it seems likely that the X-T2 will have similar treatment. However, Capture One has historically not had tethering support for Fujifilm cameras, so I would be surprised to see it here. It's not impossible though.

Yes, the same sensor as the Xpro2. That's not a bad thing at all though.

Hi Greg,

Yes, the X-T2 uses the same 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor found in the X-Pro2.

Can the X-T2 shoot flash in continuous mode, or just in single mode like the X-T1?

Hi James,

We do not have this specific tidbit of information yet, but because of the nature of flash, it would seem unlikely, at least not at any of the faster continuous shooting rates possible on the X-T2.

The X-T1 can shoot in continuous burst mode if the latest firmware is installed

Thank you for the update. I did find the information that flash shooting will be supported in continuous and bracketing.

What's the price for fuji XT-1,with : lens,what kind of memory card does it used: ,doesn't it has a built 8n Flash

Hi Larry,

Check here for our current pricing of the Fujifilm X-T1 with 18-55mm Lens. It takes SD cards and while it doesn't have a built in flash, it comes with a compact shoe-mounted flash that serves the same purpose.