So I just picked up the X-H2S after years on the X-T3 because I needed the stacked sensor for some faster work I've been doing lately and I thought my old gear would carry over perfectly but I ran into a massive wall today while testing for a gig. I have this huge fashion/lifestyle portrait shoot this Saturday in a studio in Brooklyn and my trusty old 56mm f1.2 R is just... it's not cutting it anymore. I don't know if it's the old motor tech or what but the autofocus is hunting way more than it should on this body when the model is moving even a little bit. It feels like the camera is way faster than the glass can handle and it's driving me crazy because I've never had this issue with the older bodies.
I'm kind of panicking because I need that specific look but with modern reliability. I've been looking at the new 56mm f1.2 WR because I heard the optics are insane but some reviews say the AF motor is still the older DC type? Then there's the 50mm f1.0 which looks amazing but that thing is a literal brick and I'm worried it'll be even slower to rack focus during a fast session. Or maybe I just go with the 90mm f2? I usually love that 85mm equivalent focal length but maybe the 90 is the only way to go to get those quad linear motors that can actually keep up with the X-H2S tracking.
Budget is around 1200 bucks and I need to buy it like tomorrow to get it here in time for the weekend. I've been doing this for ten years and I feel like a total amateur being stuck on a lens choice this late in the game. Does anyone have real world experience with the X-H2S specifically for high-end portraits? I need something that wont miss eye-AF when I'm shooting wide open at 1.2 or 1.4 while the subject is walking toward me. Is the new 56mm WR actually fast enough for a moving subject or should I be looking at the Viltrox 75mm or something totally different...
I went through the exact same headache when I jumped to the X-H2S last year. I was shooting a lookbook and my old 56mm was just constantly lagging behind the eye tracking. It's frustrating because that body is a beast but the old motors just cant move the glass fast enough. I ended up grabbing the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR thinking it would solve everything. Honestly, while the optics are a massive upgrade, the AF speed still isnt instant because of that DC motor. If you really need that hit rate for a walking subject, I actually swear by the Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR. Those quad linear motors are no joke. I used it for a lifestyle shoot and it nailed every single frame of the model moving. If you need to stay closer, the Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 XF Pro is surprisingly snappy and the bokeh is gorgeous. Its way cheaper and actually keeps up with the high-speed tracking better than the old R series.
Like someone mentioned, that sensor speed is basically bottlenecked by the older lens tech. Ive been testing a few setups and honestly, you have to look at the motor specs if you want that sticky eye-AF for a moving model.
- The Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 AF XF is a total steal at under 600 bucks. The STM motor is surprisingly snappy and the optics are easily on par with Fujis best.
- If you want the absolute fastest, the Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR is the gold standard. Those quad linear motors are no joke and wont hunt at all.
- The new Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR is better than the old version, but it still uses a DC motor which is inherently slower than linear options. Im really happy with the Viltrox 75mm tho. It works well, stays well under your 1200 budget, and gives you that 1.2 look. No complaints on the AF speed even with a walking subject.
> I need something that wont miss eye-AF when I'm shooting wide open at 1.2 or 1.4 while the subject is walking toward me. If you really need that sticky focus for a walking model, be careful with the new Fujifilm XF 56mm f1.2 R WR. Even though the glass is way sharper, the DC motor is still not quite sports-speed fast and might still hunt in low light. Since you're on a tight deadline, I would suggest looking at the Fujifilm XF 90mm f2 R LM WR instead. It fits your 1200 budget easily—usually goes for about 950 bucks—and those quad linear motors are basically instant. You lose the f1.2 look but the background compression at 90mm is gorgeous for fashion. Just make sure to check your studio dimensions because it gets tight indoors. I'd hate for you to buy the 56mm WR and realize the motor tech still lets you down on the X-H2S during a live gig. The 90mm is really the only one that can fully keep up with that stacked sensor movement.
Same boat, watching this
