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. 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 having a full-frame camera available, mainly to use for various lens reviews. But before I dove in, I rented a Sony A7 IV for a weekend to see what it was all about.
The comparison images in this review are captured with the best possible full-frame 35mm equivalent lenses. I used the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR for the Fujifilm photos, and for the Sony photos, the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM.
Please click to view larger images.
Fujifilm X-H2, XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/2.8
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/2.8
The Lure of Sony
From the sidelines, I have been watching Sony’s march toward 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 I 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.
Fujifilm X-H2, XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/5.6
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/8
Specs
Below are some of the key specs for the Fujifilm X-H2 and Sony A7 IV. The most glaring difference is that the X-H2 has an APS-C sensor, while 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, they are notable. It may be important to some that the Fujifilm X-H2 can shoot 8K.
These are merely a few of the highlights. I encourage you to look up the full list of specs, as some features may be deciding factors for you.
Fujifilm X-H2, XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/11
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/8
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 was naturally 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. Both are of 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 X-H2's LCD is also nicer, 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 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.
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/5.6
Image Quality
40 megapixels APS-C versus 33 megapixels full-frame. It’s an interesting scenario. Both cameras can deliver great-looking images, but they 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 photos were exported from Lightroom. The Fujifilm images appear slightly warmer, but this, of course, can easily be adjusted to your liking.
The X-H2's higher pixel density is also noticeable. 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. I wouldn’t say I have a clear favorite. Below, I have a few more street photography images from the Sony A7 IV.
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/5.6
Autofocus Performance
In my limited testing, I had no issues with both cameras' autofocus performance. However, 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, and 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.
Dominion Building, Vancouver
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/7.1
It may make sense to stay with one system, but you could also argue the benefit of combining brands in our setup.
There were 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 there 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. It has a better EVF and LCD that 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.
However, I did like the feel and shutter sound of the A7R V, which felt like a happy medium between the X-H2 and the 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
West Pender Street, Vancouver
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/1.4
Dominion Building, Vancouver
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/6.3
Chinatown, Vancouver
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/1.4
Chinatown, Vancouver
Sony A7 IV, Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM @ f/1.4
Price / Availability
Thank you for reading my review to the very end. I hope you found it helpful. If you are considering purchasing a Fujifilm X-H2 or Sony A7 IV, you can help support our site 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
I appreciate your support.
