Fujifilm X-T2 Complete Review

I admit that we took our time finishing our review of the Fujifilm X-T2. We bought the camera last September but then multiple other things kept pushing the completion of this full review to a later date. In a way, this is positive though, as it has allowed me to have a more comprehensive experience with the camera.

As with all our most recent reviews, this full review is available in video format. However, we’ve also included a summary of our findings for your convenience.

Ethics statement: We bought the Fujifilm X-T2 for review purposes. We were not asked to write anything about the camera, nor were we provided with any other compensation of any kind. Within the article, there are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. Don’t worry – prices remain the same for you. To know more about our ethics, you can visit our full disclosure page. Thank you!

Main Specs

Sensor: 24 MP APS-C X-Trans III CMOS
Lens system: X-mount
Weatherproof: Complete (Splash dust and freeze proof)
Internal Stabilisation: None
Autofocus: Hybrid with up to 325 points (7×13 and 13×25 grids selectable)
Continuous shooting: 8 fps and 5 fps, up to 11fps with optional battery grip, 14fps with electronic shutter (AF-S and AF-C)
ISO Sensitivity: 200 – 12800 ISO (pull 100, push 25600 to 51200)
Shutter Speeds: 1/8000 to 30 seconds, 1/32000s with electronic shutter
Viewfinder: 0.5in OLED with 2,360k dots, approx. 100% FOV coverage, 23mm eyepoint, 0.77x magnification and 100fps refresh rate
Rear monitor: 3-ways articulated 3″ LCD (1.62M dots)
Movie recording: 4K up to 30fps, Full HD up to 60fps
Built-in Flash: No but EF-X8 unit is included
Extra Features: WiFi, Panorama, Timelapse, Bracketing, Multiple exposure, Advanced filters, silent mode
Dimensions: 132.5 x 91.8 x 49.2mm
Weight: 507g (including battery and memory card)
Latest firmware version used when publishing this review: 1.10

Video Review

Table of Contents:

1:34 – What I like the most: autofocus system (stills and video)
8:49 – What I like: design and ease of use
11:27 – What I like: image quality
15:11 – What I like: 4K video
17:36 – Good but not great: battery life
18: 25 – Nitpickings
19:33 – Conclusion

Summary of our findings

Design and ease of use: the X-T1 was already a good camera (see our articles here) but with several aspects that required enhancing. Mission accomplished with the X-T2: there is very little to complaint about. It’s one of the most straightforward cameras I’ve ever used, most dials and buttons are comfortable, and the menu system is one of the most uncomplicated of all mirrorless cameras. The EVF is still one of the best on the market and the 3-way LCD mechanism is clever. Yes, I could highlight the lack of a sturdier grip when using bigger lenses but otherwise, it’s close to perfection.

Autofocus: as I’ve said many times, to me the X-T2 is the best mirrorless camera when it comes to autofocus performance and only the a6300/a6500 from Sony are at the same level as of now. It’s fast and reliable in S-AF and does really well in C-AF for stills and video. The AF-C Custom Settings won’t always make a relevant difference but when they do, your keeper rate can significantly increase. Face and Eye detection aren’t yet perfect but a good improvement over the X-T1. The options concerning the AF areas are excellent and the AF joystick is very helpful.

Image quality: the sensor is exactly the same as the one found on the X-Pro2 (detailed review here). You get good resolution, excellent dynamic range and high ISO performance from the RAW files, as well as the beautiful monochrome results and colour profiles we know and love. You’ll also encounter a few drawbacks from the latest X-Trans technology like the need for a more specialized software to pull out better details, a greenish tint in manual white balance and the purple flare issue that other blogs have now started to talk about (see our original article). Still overall I consider the IQ from this camera to be excellent and there is a solution for every one of these little negative aspects.

4K video: if I consider in-depth settings and features, there are definitely more appealing cameras out there for video work. Some drawbacks concerning image quality are valid for video as well but then the camera can surprise you with its colour rendition, which is among the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. If you want great colours straight out-of-camera, the film simulation modes will do the job. High ISO are excellent up to 6400. It’s a shame that the F-Log profile only works via HDMI though, and that recording is limited to 10 minutes (15min for Full HD) without the battery grip.

Battery life: it’s not bad but with continuous shooting or especially 4K recording, it drains quickly. The new NP-W126S battery gives you a little more juice but the difference is not huge. One the bright side, you can charge it via USB and the percentage indicator is very accurate.

Nitpicking: there are only a few small issues here and there. Perhaps the most annoying aspect is that all those appealing little extras can only be accessed via the optional battery grip. These include an extended video recording time and continuous shooting speeds (from 8fps to 11fps with the mechanical shutter).

Our Verdict

If we dig deep, we can certainly find a few flaws (after all, no camera is perfect) but it is hard not to praise the many qualities of the Fujifilm X-T2. It combines extreme attention to detail with excellent IQ, 4K video and autofocus. Even more importantly, it really is a nice camera to work with and I think that its simplicity and the overall user experience are what make this camera stand out from the crowd.

It is easy to appreciate the resolution, dynamic range and high ISO performance of the new sensor, and the colour profiles (Film Simulation modes) are beautiful, which could only be expected from a Fuji camera. As for the autofocus, it is the best I’ve used so far. It’s fast, reactive, and reliable and there are advanced options to help you fine-tune the performance in specific situations.

Very little if nothing would stop me from recommending this camera. The various negative points I found don’t impact my overall judgment as they never bothered me to the point that I stopped enjoying shooting with the camera. The X-T2 is excellent and currently one of the best mirrorless cameras you can find today. And if it follows the same path as its predecessor, it is likely that the X-T2 will receive interesting firmware updates in the future.