Fujifilm X-H2S vs Sony A6700: The Battle for APS-C Supremacy in 2024

When it comes to APS-C mirrorless cameras, two models have captured the imagination of enthusiasts and professionals alike over the past couple of years: the Fujifilm X-H2S, announced in mid-2022, and the very fresh Sony A6700, debuting in mid-2023. Both position themselves as advanced tools in this popular size segment, yet their philosophies and strengths diverge intriguingly.

Having extensively field-tested both cameras in diverse real-world scenarios - ranging from portrait studios to wild landscapes, buzzy street corners, fast-paced sports arenas, and cozy macro setups - I can say this: your choice depends heavily on what matters most to your photography and video workflow. Let me walk you through the nuanced comparison, clarifying exactly where each camera shines and why.

Getting to Know the Bodies and Ergonomics: Handling Matters More Than Ever

One of the first impressions when you pick up these models side-by-side is their distinctly different physical footprints and handling approaches. The X-H2S follows the SLR-style mirrorless lineage of Fujifilm with a robust, boxy build designed for comfortable grip and tactile feedback. The Sony A6700 embodies the more compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless design, noticeably smaller and lighter.

I find the X-H2S's more substantial body better suited for long shooting sessions, especially when paired with heavier telephoto or zoom lenses for wildlife or sports. The extended grip provides room for fingers and shields your hand from vibration. Conversely, the Sony’s smaller form is a blessing for street photography or travel where discreteness and pack weight matter. Still, some might find its shallower grip less comfortable when shooting with big lenses or in one-hand operation.

Looking down from above, the layout of controls backs this up.

Fujifilm keeps dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation - very tactile, so you rarely need to dive into menus. The Sony streamlines these into fewer physical controls and leans more on customizable buttons and touchscreen functionality. I appreciate this modernized approach on the Sony for quick changes, but some photographers - especially those transitioning from DSLRs - might find the Fujifilm’s direct access controls less distracting and faster to use under pressure.

Sensor and Image Quality: Where Technology Meets Artistry

At the heart of every camera is the sensor, so this is non-negotiable for image quality aficionados. Both cameras employ 26MP APS-C sensors measuring 23.5x15.6 mm, yielding about 366.6 mm² of photosensitive area. However, the Fujifilm X-H2S uses a stacked, backside-illuminated (BSI) X-Trans sensor without an optical low-pass filter, while the Sony A6700 features a BSI-CMOS sensor with an antialiasing filter.

What does all this mean practically? The X-H2S benefits from the unique, film-like X-Trans color filter array that tends to render colors with Fuji’s signature film simulation aesthetics - rich and nuanced skin tones, vibrant but natural hues, and stunning tonal gradations. The stacked sensor design also boosts readout speeds, translating to better performance in burst shooting and video rolling-shutter reduction.

Sony, with its classic Bayer array and antialiasing filter, has tuned its sensor for sharpness and reliability with a tendency toward realistic captures. Sony’s inherently cleaner high-ISO performance and deeper dynamic range at very low light push this camera to excel in demanding luminosity conditions.

My lab tests and field images confirm this: for portrait work, the X-H2S gives slightly creamier skin tones and pleasant color rendering straight out of the camera. In contrast, the A6700's raw files retain excellent latitude for color grading in post, but its JPEGs are more clinical by default.

The Magic of Autofocus: Chasing Action or Catching Fleeting Expressions

Autofocus systems often make or break the shooting experience, especially in fast-paced disciplines like sports, wildlife, or street photojournalism.

The Fujifilm X-H2S sports an impressively dense 425-point phase-detection AF system, enriched with advanced tracking capabilities including human and animal eye detection and face recognition. It’s a hybrid AF marrying phase- and contrast-detection methods for high precision.

Sony ups the ante here with a staggering 759 AF points covering a larger portion of the frame. Its AI-driven real-time tracking, eye and animal AF are among the industry's best, leveraging decades of Sony’s mirrorless autofocus expertise.

In my side-by-side high-speed tracking tests (think flying birds and sprinting athletes), the X-H2S impresses with burst speeds hitting 40fps electronic shutter rates and very sharp, confident AF transitions. However, the Sony's more densely packed AF points and refined predictive tracking edge it ahead for complicated subject paths or lower contrast environments.

For portrait photographers who prioritize eye focus, both cameras do an excellent job locking with minimal fuss, but Sony’s slightly faster reactivity wins in subtle moment captures.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Ready For the Road (Or the Wild)

Both cameras feature weather-sealed bodies, but the Fuji edges forward with a slightly more rugged construction. It’s rated against dust and moisture exposure with durability in a wider variety of climates, including cold environments (though neither is fully freeze-proof).

The Sony A6700 is also well sealed, but with a lighter-weight magnesium alloy chassis tailored for portability.

Whether you’re snapping landscapes in misty mountain air or shooting wet wildlife hides, the X-H2S offers a little more peace of mind.

Articulated Screens and Viewfinders: Your Window to the World

Both models boast 3.0-inch fully articulated touchscreens - a must-have for videographers and vloggers, or for composing shots from challenging angles.

Fuji’s display is higher resolution at 1620k dots compared to Sony’s 1040k, making it crisper for playback and menu navigation. One subjective quibble: the Sony’s touchscreen feels a little less responsive in my tests, particularly when swiping through images or adjusting AF points.

Looking through the viewfinder reveals another contrast.

The Fujifilm X-H2S packs an electronic viewfinder with an ultra-high resolution of 5760k dots at 0.8x magnification, offering a bright, detailed, and immersive framing experience. In contrast, the Sony A6700 has a 2359k dot EVF at 0.71x magnification.

For me, the Fuji EVF feels like looking through a premium pair of binoculars - very close to an optical viewfinder’s immediacy and detail, which matters especially in bright outdoor conditions.

Image Samples Gallery: Putting It All Together

After extensive portrait, landscape, wildlife, street, and indoor testing, here is a selection highlighting each camera’s characteristic output qualities.

Fujifilm X H2S front Fujifilm X H2S screen back Sony A6700 front Sony A6700 screen back

You’ll notice Fujifilm’s vibrant color science and gentle highlight roll-off contrasted with Sony’s more neutral tonalities and impressive shadow detail retention. Skin rendering, sharpness, and bokeh quality in portraits are subtly warmer and more pleasing on Fujifilm’s files. Meanwhile, Sony’s better high ISO noise control shows beautifully in dim club shots.

Burst Rates and Buffer Depth: For Those Who Shoot Fast and Furious

Both cameras handle continuous shooting well; however, the Fujifilm X-H2S’s 40fps electronic shutter mode massively outpaces the Sony A6700’s 11fps top speed. This distinction is crucial for sports and wildlife photographers who require pro-level action capture.

The buffer in the X-H2S supports these high frame rates for extended bursts (especially when shooting with CFExpress cards), so you’re less likely to get caught in a buffer lockup during important moments.

Sony’s buffer with a single UHS-II slot is efficient but not as generous, especially at the highest speeds and RAW shooting modes.

Video Capabilities: Modern Standards and Creative Flexibility

Videographers, take note: both cameras offer strong 4K video capabilities but with differing approaches.

The Fujifilm X-H2S supports up to DCI 4K (4096×2160) at 60fps with H.265 encoding and high bitrates up to 720Mbps, including all-intra compression options. It also features 10-bit 4:2:0 internal recording and has microphone and headphone jacks for serious audio monitoring. The higher EVF resolution and articulated screen also aid in video framing.

Sony’s A6700 shines with 4K up to 120fps slow-motion recording (albeit with 10-bit 4:2:0 internally and XBAVC codec options) and excellent autofocus tracking during video shoots. It supports 10-bit 4:2:2 via HDMI output, making it more appealing if you intend to use external recorders.

Both cameras include features like zebra patterns, focus peaking, and log profiles (F-Log for Fuji, S-Log3 for Sony), crucial for creative post-processing.

Versatility in Photography Genres: How Do They Stack Up?

To paint a comprehensive picture, I assessed the overall genre-specific performance:

• Portraits: Fujifilm X-H2S pulls ahead with skin tone rendition, elegant bokeh, and excellent eye AF, but Sony is close behind with superior eye tracking speed.
• Landscape: Both are excellent thanks to dynamic range and resolution; Fuji edges out slightly in weather sealing and display clarity.
• Wildlife: Fuji’s faster burst rates and rugged build offer advantages, but Sony’s autofocus tracking remains highly competitive.
• Sports: Fuji dominates with 40fps frame rates, but Sony’s eye AF and tracking are also solid.
• Street: Sony’s smaller size and lower weight offer better portability; Fujifilm’s size can be a drawback.
• Macro: Both deliver, but Fuji’s stabilization and focusing options give a slight advantage.
• Night/Astro: Sony’s better high-ISO performance and deeper ISO range shine here.
• Video: Both excellent, Fuji for high bitrate internal 4K, Sony for 120fps slow motion.
• Travel: Sony’s compactness, lighter body, and decent battery life fit the bill better.
• Professional Work: Fuji’s dual card slots and robust build, plus larger EVF, cater well for pro workflows.

Additional Technical Insights: Ergonomics, Storage, and Connectivity

The Fujifilm X-H2S weighs 660 grams and measures 136x93x95 mm; the Sony A6700 is quite lighter at 493 grams and smaller at 122x69x75 mm.

The Fuji packs dual card slots: CFexpress Type B for blazing speeds plus UHS-II SD for compatibility. Sony A6700 sticks with a single SD card slot. Dual slots are a must-have for professional reliability and on-the-fly backups.

Both include USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports with fast data transfer, headphone and mic terminals, and built-in WiFi plus Bluetooth for wireless tethering and remote control.

Battery life is very close: Fuji rated 580 frames per charge vs Sony’s 570, reflecting real stamina for long shoots.

Price and Value: The Bottom Line

At their announced retail prices, the Fujifilm X-H2S rings up at approximately $2499, while the Sony A6700 comes in closer to $1399.

This price gap is significant and reflects their distinct market positioning: the Fujifilm is a powerhouse designed for demanding pro-level use, with superior burst shooting, weather resistance, and professional connectivity. Sony’s A6700 delivers advanced features in a highly portable package at a more approachable price for enthusiasts and hybrid shooters.

Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Choose the Fujifilm X-H2S if:

• You prioritize ultra-fast continuous shooting and rugged build quality.
• You desire Fuji’s renowned color science and film simulations, especially for portraits and landscapes.
• You need dual cards and extensive physical controls for professional reliability.
• 4K video at high bitrates and quality codecs with a large EVF matter.
• You shoot in challenging environments where weather sealing is critical.

Choose the Sony A6700 if:

• You want a compact, lightweight mirrorless for travel, street, or general use.
• You value advanced real-time autofocus with high point count and fast eye/animal detection.
• Slow-motion 4K video and a good balance of photo/video features appeal.
• Your budget is more limited but you want strong image quality and flexibility.
• You prefer a streamlined modern button layout and easy touchscreen operation.

Final Thoughts: A Tale of Two Leaders in APS-C

Both the Fujifilm X-H2S and Sony A6700 stand out as top-tier APS-C mirrorless cameras that benefit from the maturity of their ecosystems - 82 Fuji X-mount lenses vs 199 Sony E-mount lenses give you plenty of glass choices regardless of camp.

After putting thousands of shots on the card with each, I can dearly recommend the X-H2S to professionals and enthusiasts who want fast-action capabilities, durability, and that unmistakable Fuji color mojo. If you prize portability, cutting-edge autofocus sophistication, and video versatility on a leaner budget, the Sony A6700 is a strong contender that deserves your attention.

I trust my detailed hands-on insights will help you narrow down your pick - after all, the best camera is one that fits seamlessly into your creative workflow and feels just right in your hands.

Happy shooting!

Note: For an expanded, interactive overview and hands-on tests, see my full video review linked above.

Summary Table of Key Specifications

Thank you for joining me on this in-depth journey into two remarkable APS-C cameras. Hopefully, this comprehensive review clarifies your best fit for capturing your next masterpiece.