Climb Every Mountain

With FUJIFILM X-H2S and XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR, you can push your photography further and achieve more, says Mio Monasch

Can a camera change your photography? Can it inspire you further? Well, a model like FUJIFILM X-H2S has all the features needed for a path to advancement – but alone it’s not enough. The will and creativity always come from the photographer. But together, different journeys can be enjoyed, with new methods of storytelling discovered.

“X-H2S is really exceptional,” Mio Monasch says. “It’s going to inspire a lot of people to make better pictures and photograph new subjects. It combines superb focusing speed and accuracy, excellent stabilization, amazing stills, and video quality… and for a ‘survivalist photographer’ like me, that can only be a good thing.” 

A survivalist photographer? “Yeah, I joke to people that’s what I am, because I work across so many genres,” he laughs. “But although it’s what I’m best known for, I’m not only a landscape and nature photographer. I do weddings, real estate, commercial work… I’m all over the place, and really like it that way. It keeps me sharp, reminding me that there’s always more out there to enjoy. A camera like X-H2S is perfect for that because it can tackle anything.”

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Recently testing X-H2S with XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR across multiple locations in California – from Santa Monica to the Sierra Nevada mountains – he found the powerful pairing not only improved results, but also expanded upon what he could offer creatively.

A standout X-H2S feature is image quality, thanks to the new 26.1 MP X-Trans 5 CMOS stacked BSI sensor and X Processor 5. “When testing, we didn’t have the chance to process RAW files as it was an early build, but I was really happy with the JPEGs. Now I’ve gotten to see the RAWs, they’ve blown me away,” Mio says. “It’s not a big jump in resolution from the previous generation, but the increase in quality is really evident – and the sharpness and detail are next level.”

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As a photographer who works long days, ergonomics is really important to Mio – but X-H2S delivers. “I’ve been using GFX System bodies a lot recently, and X-H2S has that same comfortable feel, with a big, natural handgrip,” he says. “I also like the top-plate LCD when viewing settings, and streamlined command dial which lets you switch straight into custom settings if you need to react fast, say for high-speed photography.”

Speaking of reaction time, one of the situations that pushed Mio’s already extensive skill set came at Santa Monica Beach. Setting up for a sunset image, he was mobbed by uninvited guests. “I was mounting the lens on to a tripod and this flock of seagulls arrived, so I just slewed the ball head around and hit the focus button,” he explains. “It was insane how quickly X-H2S picked up the birds as they were flying in such low light. It’s totally game-changing – and the kind of feature that made me want to dedicate more time to wildlife.

“I wouldn’t call myself call myself a wildlife photographer by any means, but if it’s part of the environment I’m documenting, or the story I’m telling, it’s definitely something I want to get right,” he explains. “This combination of camera and lens made it easier than ever before, opening up new avenues for me.”

Reaction speed was also pivotal for Mio’s photos at Trona Pinnacles, a few hours south of the Sierras. But X-H2S’s in-body image stabilization, as well as the optical image stabilization of XF150-600mmF5.6-8, came to the fore. “We got to the Pinnacles just as the sunset was hitting its peak, so the only option was to photograph handheld,” he explains. “It’s a really beautiful, otherworldly location, and the sort of place where you’d normally take your time, setting up the lens on a tripod. But we didn’t have that luxury because the light was happening there and then. The amazing thing is that you can rely on that stabilization to get an image like this sharp.

“It’s actually not unusual for me to work that way, as I’d rather make the photo than lose valuable seconds. But I often feel judged by these purists, setting up long lenses on huge tripods,” he laughs. “The thing is, when the opportunity is there, you have to react – and that’s what this technology lets you do. To get that level of sharpness at 600mm is incredible. Again, it could change people’s minds about what’s possible and what kind of pictures they can make.”

Mio is equally excited by the sheer level of possibilities provided by XF150-600mmF5.6-8. “Whether you’re framing wildlife, sport, or details in the landscape, the magnification and sharpness is stunning,” he says. “Even at 150mm, it makes things feel very close and the level of detail is intense. When I’m photographing places like the desert and mountains, that’s so important. I want those textures right there in the mix.”

“It’s actually not unusual for me to work that way, as I’d rather make the photo than lose valuable seconds. But I often feel judged by these purists, setting up long lenses on huge tripods,” he laughs. “The thing is, when the opportunity is there, you have to react – and that’s what this technology lets you do. To get that level of sharpness at 600mm is incredible. Again, it could change people’s minds about what’s possible and what kind of pictures they can make.”

Mio is equally excited by the sheer level of possibilities provided by XF150-600mmF5.6-8. “Whether you’re framing wildlife, sport, or details in the landscape, the magnification and sharpness is stunning,” he says. “Even at 150mm, it makes things feel very close and the level of detail is intense. When I’m photographing places like the desert and mountains, that’s so important. I want those textures right there in the mix.”

As a seasoned hiker, meticulously conscious of weight, did XF150-600mmF5.6-8 seem like a burden? It seems not. “I thought it was going to be way bigger and heavier,” Mio explains. “That’s not to say it’s a small lens, but it’s only negligibly bigger than XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 – and at 3.5lb, I wouldn’t be worried about taking it on a single day or overnight trip. In fact, this might be one of my favorite lenses that Fujifilm has put out so far. It’s incredible.”

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Then, of course, there’s video. As a professionally specified movie camera, with up to 6.1K 29.97p and internal ProRes 10-bit footage, X-H2S has tremendous appeal and potential for any filmmaker. And that includes stills photographers looking to get into moving pictures. Mio is one of them. “With requests to create content for social media higher than they’ve ever been, and commercial clients asking for stills and video in the same package, my video focus will increase significantly in the next year or two,” he says. “It’s a really important skill to offer, and having such a capable camera will inspire and enable that.

“Overall, with its speed, AF, video, and IBIS, any scenario with high levels of motion is where X-H2S is going to flex,” Mio concludes. “In stills, that could mean live performances, sports, wildlife… in video, it’s anything. The camera is just exceptional. Even if you’re considering it for stills or video alone, you’re also getting this insane body that does all the other things. And anything that means not carrying multiple sets of gear to clients is a bonus. It really is the ultimate crossover camera.”