Fujifilm X-H2S vs Leica S1

The Fujifilm X-H2S and the Leica S1 Pro are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in May 2022 and August 1996. Both the X-H2S and the S1 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (X-H2S) and a medium format (S1) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 26 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 26.4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm X-H2S		Leica S1
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Fujifilm X mount lenses		Leica R mount lenses
26 MP – APS-C sensor		26.4 MP – Medium Format sensor
6.2k/30p Video		no Video
ISO 160-12,800 (80 - 51,200)		ISO 50-1,600
Electronic viewfinder (5760k dots)		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1620k dots		no LCD
Swivel touchscreen		no rear screen
15 shutter flaps per second		0.01 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens stabilization only
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
136 x 93 x 85 mm, 660 g		339 x 214 x 119 mm, 2500 g

Check X-H2S price at
amazon.com
Check S1 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Leica S1 Pro? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Leica S1. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica S1 is considerably larger (474 percent) than the Fujifilm X-H2S. Moreover, the S1 is substantially heavier (279 percent) than the X-H2S. It is worth mentioning in this context that the X-H2S is splash and dust resistant, while the S1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Fujinon X Lens Catalog (X-H2S) and the Leica R Lens Catalog (S1). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The power pack in the X-H2S can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-H2S	136 mm	93 mm	85 mm	660 g	580	Y	May 2022	EUR 2 749	amazon.com
2.		Leica S1	339 mm	214 mm	119 mm	2500 g	..	n	Aug 1996	EUR 21 499	ebay.com
3.		Canon R6 Mark II	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	670 g	450	Y	Nov 2022	EUR 2 899	amazon.com
4.		Fujifilm X-H1	140 mm	97 mm	86 mm	673 g	310	Y	Feb 2018	EUR 1 899	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-H2	136 mm	93 mm	85 mm	660 g	680	Y	Sep 2022	EUR 2 249	amazon.com
6.		Fujifilm X-S20	128 mm	85 mm	65 mm	491 g	750	n	May 2023	EUR 1 399	amazon.com
7.		Fujifilm X-T4	135 mm	93 mm	64 mm	607 g	500	Y	Feb 2020	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
8.		Fujifilm X-T5	130 mm	91 mm	64 mm	557 g	580	Y	Nov 2022	EUR 1 999	amazon.com
9.		Leica CL	131 mm	78 mm	45 mm	403 g	220	n	Nov 2017	EUR 2 490	ebay.com
10.		Leica Q Typ 116	130 mm	80 mm	93 mm	640 g	300	n	Jun 2015	EUR 3 999	ebay.com
11.		Leica S2	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1410 g	..	Y	Sep 2008	EUR 18 599	ebay.com
12.		Leica TL2	134 mm	69 mm	33 mm	399 g	250	n	Jul 2017	EUR 1 949	ebay.com
13.		OM System OM-1	135 mm	92 mm	73 mm	599 g	520	Y	Feb 2022	EUR 2 199	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GH6	138 mm	100 mm	100 mm	823 g	360	Y	Feb 2022	EUR 2 799	amazon.com
15.		Panasonic S5 II	134 mm	102 mm	90 mm	740 g	370	Y	Jan 2023	EUR 2 199	amazon.com
16.		Sony A7 IV	131 mm	96 mm	80 mm	659 g	580	Y	Oct 2021	EUR 2 799	amazon.com
17.		Sony A6400	120 mm	67 mm	50 mm	403 g	410	Y	Jan 2019	EUR 1 049	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The X-H2S was launched at a markedly lower price (by 88 percent) than the S1, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm X-H2S features an APS-C sensor and the Leica S1 a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the S1 is 252 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 0.85. The sensor in the X-H2S has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the S1 offers a 1:1 aspect.

With 26.4MP, the S1 offers a higher resolution than the X-H2S (26MP), but the S1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 7.01μm versus 3.76μm for the X-H2S) due to its larger sensor. However, the X-H2S is a much more recent model (by 25 years and 9 months) than the S1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The X-H2S has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Fujifilm X-H2S has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica S1 Pro are ISO 50 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the X-H2S is build around a Stacked BSI-CMOS sensor, while the S1 uses a CCD imager. The X-H2S uses Fujifilm's X-Trans layout of photosites, while the S1 employs the more common Bayer array.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm X-H2S	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	6.2k/30p	24.3	13.9	2224	86
2.		Leica S1	Medium Format	26.4	5140	5140	none	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon R6 Mark II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4k/60p	25.4	14.6	3154	96
4.		Fujifilm X-H1	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.0	13.3	1806	82
5.		Fujifilm X-H2	APS-C	39.8	7728	5152	8k/30p	24.3	13.9	2249	86
6.		Fujifilm X-S20	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	24.3	14.0	2315	86
7.		Fujifilm X-T4	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	24.1	13.6	1995	84
8.		Fujifilm X-T5	APS-C	39.8	7728	5152	6.2k/30p	24.3	13.9	2264	86
9.		Leica CL	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	24.0	13.3	1788	82
10.		Leica Q Typ 116	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.7	2221	85
11.		Leica S2	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	23.9	12.5	2224	82
12.		Leica TL2	APS-C	24.1	6014	4014	4K/30p	23.9	13.3	1753	82
13.		OM System OM-1	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.4	13.4	1553	77
14.		Panasonic GH6	Four Thirds	25.0	5776	4336	5.7K/60p	23.4	13.4	1555	77
15.		Panasonic S5 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	6K/30p	25.4	14.6	3158	96
16.		Sony A7 IV	Full Frame	32.7	7008	4672	4K/60p	25.4	14.7	3379	97
17.		Sony A6400	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.0	13.6	1431	83
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The X-H2S indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the S1 does not. The highest resolution format that the X-H2S can use is 6.2k/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the X-H2S has an electronic viewfinder (5760k dots), while the S1 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Fujifilm X-H2S and Leica S1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm X-H2S	5760	Y	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	n	Y
2.		Leica S1	optical	n	none / none	none	n	..	0.01/s	n	n
3.		Canon R6 Mark II	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
4.		Fujifilm X-H1	3690	Y	3.0 / 1040	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	14.0/s	n	Y
5.		Fujifilm X-H2	5760	Y	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	n	Y
6.		Fujifilm X-S20	2360	n	3.0 / 1840	swivel	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Fujifilm X-T4	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	n	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-T5	3690	n	3.0 / 1840	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	n	Y
9.		Leica CL	2360	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
10.		Leica Q Typ 116	3680	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	n	Y
11.		Leica S2	optical	Y	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5/s	n	n
12.		Leica TL2	optional	n	3.7 / 1230	fixed	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	n	n
13.		OM System OM-1	5760	n	3.0 / 1640	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
14.		Panasonic GH6	3680	n	3.0 / 1840	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	14.0/s	n	Y
15.		Panasonic S5 II	3680	n	3.0 / 1840	swivel	Y	1/8000s	9.0/s	n	Y
16.		Sony A7 IV	3686	n	3.0 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
17.		Sony A6400	2359	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the X-H2S, but is missing on the S1 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the X-H2S is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm X-H2S has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The X-H2S writes its imaging data to CFexpress (type B) or SDXC cards, while the S1 uses external storage.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm X-H2S and Leica S1 Pro and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm X-H2S	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Leica S1	-	- / -	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3.		Canon R6 Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
4.		Fujifilm X-H1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
5.		Fujifilm X-H2	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
6.		Fujifilm X-S20	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
7.		Fujifilm X-T4	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-T5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
9.		Leica CL	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
10.		Leica Q Typ 116	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Leica S2	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Leica TL2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
13.		OM System OM-1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Panasonic GH6	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
15.		Panasonic S5 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
16.		Sony A7 IV	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
17.		Sony A6400	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the X-H2S has a hotshoe, while the S1 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Fujifilm X-H2S (unlike the S1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The X-H2S is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Fujifilm. In contrast, the S1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the S1 was succeeded by the Leica S2. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Leica websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Leica S1? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Fujifilm X-H2S:

• Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 6.2k/30p movies.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Rear screen: Has a backside LCD (3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (15 vs 0.01 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (136x93mm vs 339x214mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 1840g or 74 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (88 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 25 years and 9 months of technical progress since the S1 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Leica S1 Pro:

• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in August 1996).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the X-H2S is the clear winner of the match-up (22 : 3 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Leica S1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the X-H2S or the S1 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-H2S	5/5	+	5/5	90/100	5/5	5/5	May 2022	EUR 2 749	amazon.com
2.		Leica S1	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 1996	EUR 21 499	ebay.com
3.		Canon R6 Mark II	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Nov 2022	EUR 2 899	amazon.com
4.		Fujifilm X-H1	..	+	5/5	86/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	EUR 1 899	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-H2	5/5	+ +	5/5	89/100	5/5	5/5	Sep 2022	EUR 2 249	amazon.com
6.		Fujifilm X-S20	5/5	+ +	5/5	86/100	..	4.5/5	May 2023	EUR 1 399	amazon.com
7.		Fujifilm X-T4	5/5	+ +	5/5	88/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2020	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
8.		Fujifilm X-T5	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	90/100	4.5/5	..	Nov 2022	EUR 1 999	amazon.com
9.		Leica CL	..	..	4.2/5	..	..	4/5	Nov 2017	EUR 2 490	ebay.com
10.		Leica Q Typ 116	5/5	..	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	EUR 3 999	ebay.com
11.		Leica S2	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2008	EUR 18 599	ebay.com
12.		Leica TL2	3.5/5	..	3/5	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2017	EUR 1 949	ebay.com
13.		OM System OM-1	5/5	..	..	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2022	EUR 2 199	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GH6	5/5	+ +	5/5	87/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2022	EUR 2 799	amazon.com
15.		Panasonic S5 II	4.5/5	+ +	5/5	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2023	EUR 2 199	amazon.com
16.		Sony A7 IV	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2021	EUR 2 799	amazon.com
17.		Sony A6400	4/5	+	4/5	85/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jan 2019	EUR 1 049	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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