Fujifilm X-T2 Image Quality

Review Date: October 10, 2016

Category: Advanced to Pro

Photoxels Editor’s Choice 2016 – Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera

IMAGE QUALITY

The Fujifilm X-T2 is targeted to serious and advanced amateur photographers (“enthusiasts”), as well as to pros. It features 24.3-MP resolution on an APS-C (23.6mm x 15.6mm) X-Trans CMOS III image sensor, Fujifilm X mount, and interchangeable lenses in a DSLR-style design.

We find the overall image quality of the Fujifilm X-T2 to be excellent at ISO 200 with low noise and excellent image detail. Image quality is very good up to ISO 1600. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 3200 with slight loss of detail but is still very usable up to ISO 6400. At the higher ISOs, images suffer visibly from noise and loss of detail.

Interchangeable Lenses

The Fujifilm X-T2 has a Fujifilm X mount that accepts interchangeable lenses. The Focal length multiplier is approx. 1.5x. In the above picture, we show the coverage using the FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R APD [85mm equiv.], a fast premium prime portrait lens.

The XF56mmF1.2 R APD has a maximum aperture of F1.2 and a minimum aperture of F16. It has 7 blades with rounded diaphragm opening, 23 1/3EV stops and accepts 62mm diameter filters. It has 11 elements in 8 groups and includes one aspherical lens, two extra-low dispersion (ED) lenses, and an apodization filter. The lens is sharp to the edges and the apodization filter helps produce a pleasing smooth bokeh at max. aperture. The ED lens elements reduce chromatic aberrations. All lens surfaces have HT-EBC (High Transmittance Electron Beam Coating) applied to control ghosting and flare. The min. focusing distance is 70 cm. There is no built-in optical image stabilization.

The X-T2 has no built-in image stabilization and therefore depends on the optical image stabilization that may be built into a particular lens. Look for the “OIS” label on the FUJINON lenses.

As of this writing, the X Mount Lens Roadmap lists 18 XF lenses and 2 XC lenses currently available for the X mount, including 11 prime lenses and 9 zoom lenses, altogether covering focal lengths from ultra-wide-angle 14mm (21mm equiv.) to super telephoto 400mm (609mm equiv.), meaning that you should be able to find the right lens for the type of photography that you prefer.

The XF lenses are generally of very high quality. Some are even weather resistant (look for the “WR” label on the lens), making each of these an ideal pairing with the weather resistant X-T2.

There is one wide-angle prime XF lens planned for 2016 (XF23mmF2 R WR) and two XF lenses planned for 2017 (XF50mmF2 R WR, XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro). The X Mount Lens roadmap is updated regularly to reflect available lenses as well as planned lenses.

Macro

The closest focusing distance for the XF56mm is 0.7m (2.3 ft). At the maximum aperture, the background is beautifully blurred. Of course, if macro photography is your thing, you may want to seriously consider the XF60mmF2.4 R Macro (which is currently available) or the XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro (slated to be introduced in 2017, is image stabilized and is weather resistant, so I would wait).

Autofocus

Autofocus performance has improved dramatically over the X-T1. While the X-T1 had 49 points Contrast-detect AF, the X-T2 boasts a hybrid AF that uses a total of 325 points, including 169 phase detection AF. That’s 52 more than on the X-Pro2 (with 273 AF points) and a significant improvement overall — it shows in the speed and precision of the autofocus. Single AF is fast and impressively accurate in good lighting.

In low light, the X-T2 Phase detection AF is sensitive down to 0.5 EV and the Contrast detect AF is sensitive down to -3EV. Depending on the contrast of your subject, it may still take up to 1 sec. to acquire focus using the XF56mmF1.2, with the help of the AF-assist illuminator. Locking focus in low light conditions is precise and the X-T2’s low noise/high ISO capability means that you can shoot great low light pictures.

White Balance

As the above two pictures show, the Auto White Balance (AWB) is pretty good under artificial lighting [I have two energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs on the ceiling] but not quite accurate, giving a slight pinkish hue. [You may not quite see that if you are viewing this on a tablet.] The Fujifilm X-T2 allows WB to be easily set manually and this brings out the real colors. AWB works very well in natural light.

ISO Comparisons

You can set the ISO on the Fujifilm X-T2 from 200 to 12800, plus the ability to have extended output sensitivity equivalent ISO 100 (L) and 25600 or 51200 (H). Note that with the introduction of the mechanical ISO dial, there is no way to select ISO via menu. However, you now have 3 AUTO ISO settings that you can set to your liking, allowing you to customize the Default Sensitivity, Max. Sensivity and Min. Shutter Speed. For Default Sensitivity, you can choose from ISO 200 to 12800. For Max. Sensivity, you can choose from ISO 400 to 12800. For Min. Shutter Speed, you can choose from 1/4 s to 1/500 s.

The 100% crops above demonstrate that noise at ISO 200 is under control with excellent detail preserved. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 3200 but is still very usable up to ISO 6400. The noise, though, is more acceptable film grain-like than unacceptable digital noise, and so I would feel quite comfortable setting AUTO ISO to 6400. The grain might even be a welcomed characteristic for shooting some beautiful B&W low light scenes (e.g., using the ACROS film simulation filter). At higher ISOs, the presence of digital noise is visible at full image size and with visible loss of detail. Overall, a superb class-leading ISO performance.

CA (Purple Fringing)

CA (Purple Fringing) does not seem to be much of a problem using the XF56mmF1.2 lens. In the above high contrast shot, there is no purple fringing.

Long Exposure

The Fujifilm X-T2 allows the use of a long shutter speed of 30 sec. in ASM modes. This allows us to take some nice Night Shots. For this shot, I leave the Aperture Ring on the XF56mmF1.2 lens to “A”, rotate the Shutter Speed dial to 30 sec. (i.e., I am now effectively in Shutter-Priority Mode), rotate the ISO dial to 200 and let the camera select the appropriate aperture (F1.2) for correct exposure.

Overall, the Fujifilm X-T2 has superb image quality (with low noise and excellent sharpness) and, paired with a quality FUJINON XF lens, makes taking great images easy.

Next: Fujifilm X-T2 Photo Gallery

---

Related Links:

• Fujifilm X-T2 Press Release
• Fujifilm X-T2 Hands-on Preview
• Fujifilm X-T2 Specifications
• Fujifilm X-T2 Sample Images
• Fujifilm X-T2 Special Site

---