Fujifilm X-H2 vs. Sony A7 IV
Fujifilm X-H2 vs. Sony A7 IV.
First Impressions of the Fujifilm X-H2 and Sony A7 IV
Fujifilm APS-C vs. Sony Full-Frame
Fujifilm Canada kindly sent me the X-H2 last week for my upcoming review and while I had this camera available I thought it would be interesting to shoot it alongside the Sony A7 IV.
I am not a Fujifilm ambassador but when it comes to digital cameras I currently only have Fujifilm X Series cameras and a GFX 50R in my kit.
I have been toying with the idea of also having a full-frame camera available, mainly in order to use for various lens reviews. But before dipping my toes in, I decided to rent a Sony A7 IV for a weekend to see what it is all about.
The comparison images in this review are captured with the best possible full-frame 35mm equivalent lenses. For the Fujifilm photos, I used the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and for the Sony photos, the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM.
Please click to view larger images.
The Lure of Sony
From the sidelines, I have been watching Sony’s march forward becoming the leading manufacturer of full-frame mirrorless cameras. In June 2021 I tried the Sony A7R IV over a weekend and came away positively surprised. I did have a few quibbles but really liked the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM.
Sony is a strong contender in my deliberations to add a full-frame camera to my kit. They have an excellent line of GM prime lenses that appeal to me, such as the 24mm f/1.4 GM, and 35mm f/1.4 GM, and just yesterday they released a lens that could be a deal breaker, the FE 50mm f/1.4 GM.
Add to this a plethora of third-party lens choices such as options from Sigma and Tamron and it would take me a while to run out of lenses to review.
Specs
Below are some of the key specs for the Fujifilm X-H2 and Sony A7 IV, the most glaring difference being the fact that the X-H2 has an APS-C sensor and the Sony is full-frame.
Fujifilm X-H2
40MP APS-C X-Trans5 BSI Sensor
8K 30p, 4K 60p, FHD 240p 10-Bit Video
CFexpress Type B & SD UHS-II Card Slots
7-Stop In-Body Image Stabilization
5.76m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
20 fps E-Shutter, 15 fps Mechanical Shutter
Weight: 1.5 lb / 660 g
Price: $1,999.00
Sony A7 IV
33MP Full-Frame Exmor R CMOS BSI Sensor
4K 60p Video in 10-Bit, S-Cinetone
Slot 1: CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II)
Slot 2: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)5-Axis SteadyShot Image Stabilization
3.68m-Dot EVF with 120 fps Refresh Rate
Up to 10 fps Shooting
Weight: 1.4 lb / 658 g
Price: $2,498.00
I am primarily a still photographer and while video specs are less important to me it is notable and may be important to some that the Fujifilm X-H2 is capable of shooting 8K.
These are merely a few of the highlights and I encourage you to look up the full list of specs as some features may be deciding factors for you.
Handling and Setup
Having used Fujifilm X Series cameras for the past 11 years I am familiar with the Fujifilm DNA and it did not take me long to set up the X-H2 for this quick comparison. The Sony naturally was a bit more challenging but I was able to find things fairly quickly, like turning off the sound for the AF sound for instance.
The two camera bodies are very similar in size and weight and also feel very similar in the hand and both are of a nice built quality. The top OLED display on the X-H2, however, does set it apart and I find this display great for getting a quick glance at your settings.
The 5.76m-Dot EVF on the Fujifilm X-H2 is far superior to the 3.68m-Dot version on the Sony A7 IV and more so than the numbers would indicate. It is almost a night-and-day scenario.
The LCD is also nicer on the X-H2 with 1.6 million dots of resolution versus 1,036,800 Dots on the Sony.
Visually I find the X-H2 more pleasing to the eye but this, of course, is very subjective.
The shutter sound on the X-H2 is more dampened while the Sony is louder but perhaps feels more determined and old school. I am torn as to which I prefer. Sometimes I like the quiet and discrete and sometimes I like the feeling and confirming sound of a shutter at work.
Image Quality
40 megapixels APS-C versus 33 megapixels full-frame. It’s an interesting scenario. Both of these cameras are obviously capable of delivering great-looking images but they do look slightly different, especially if you pixel-peep.
The images in this article were shot in RAW and have not been edited (comparison photos only). The Fujifilm X-H2 photos were exported from Capture One and the Sony A7 IV from Lightroom. The Fujifilm images appear slightly warmer but this, of course, can easily be adjusted to your liking.
The higher pixel density of the X-H2 is also noticeable and although I did not make time for a high ISO comparison you should expect the A7 IV to perform slightly better in this regard due to having fewer pixels in a larger area.
I like the images from both but am probably biased toward the overall look of the Fujifilm files but I wouldn’t say I have a clear favorite. Below I have a few more street photography images from the Sony A7 IV.
Autofocus Performance
In my limited testing, I had no issues with both cameras providing rapid autofocus performance. In more demanding eye-tracking scenarios Sony is likely to pull ahead if I am to believe other reviews I have seen on this. (I did not test this). If Fujifilm updates the firmware as they did on the X-H2S the playing field may be more level.
Wrap Up
My feet are firmly planted in the Fujifilm camp but that doesn’t mean that a Sony camera could not supplement my current setup. Sony may have a body/lens combination that is hard to match in the Fujifilm universe. Sony may handle autofocus better in certain scenarios.
My comparison photos are not lightyears apart and you should be able to create excellent images with both of these cameras.
So it boils down to personal preference. Pick the camera that gives you the most joy, or the setup that works for the task at hand.
It may make sense to stay with one system, but you could also argue the benefit of combining brands in our setup.
There are parts of the Sony A7 IV I enjoyed and I can certainly see the potential of combining the full-frame sensor with a line of excellent f/1.4 GM lenses. But then were things like the EVF and LCD that left me with a lukewarm feeling about the A7 IV.
I demoed a Sony A7R V in my local photography store and this camera ticked more boxes for me with a better EVF and LCD which can be fully articulated for photographers and videographers alike.
The A7R V has 61 megapixels which would be overkill for me and the $3,898.00 price tag is rather steep if I am not absolutely sure this is the correct route for me.
I did however like the feel and shutter sound on the A7R V as it felt like a happy medium between the X-H2 and A7 IV. Perhaps Sony’s elves are working on a combination of the A7 IV and A7R V as we speak?
At $500.00 less than the A7 IV, the X-H2 is a joy to use and a compelling option. If I only had a split second to decide I would grab the Fujifilm X-H2 and do my best to remain content in my current paradigm instead of looking over the fence.
I have now completed my X-H2 review and you can read it here:
Sony A7 IV Sample Images
Price / Availability
Thank you for reading my review to the very end. I hope you found it helpful. If you are considering a purchase of the Fujifilm X-H2 or Sony A7 IV, you can help support our site by using the links below. There is no additional cost to you.
Check the availability and current price at B&H Photo:
Fujifilm X-H2 at B&H Photo
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR at B&H Photo
Sony A7 IV at B&H Photo
Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM at B&H Photo
Thank you for your support.
