Fujifilm X-S20 review: the new hybrid camera to beat

With 6.2K open-gate video and impressive battery life, Fujifilm has just thrown down the gauntlet of what a hybrid camera should be

5 Star Rating
Fujifilm X-S20 sitting on a grey carpet
(Image: © Gareth Bevan/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Fujifilm X-S20 is the perfect camera for most people, with its very straightforward controls, excellent fully automatic modes, and its small and compact size. If you want to get more serious, the X-S20 is a deceptively powerful video machine capable of 6.2K open-gate recording with subject recognition tracking. Content creators and vloggers will find a lot to love. The price is a little higher than the previous version, which might put some people off, although, for the cost, you are getting a considerably capable camera that is a serious warning shot to all other manufacturers that Fujifilm means business and that this is the hybrid camera to beat.

Pros

  • +

    Small and compact size

  • +

    6K30P open-gate video in 4:2:2 10-bit

  • +

    Subject recognition and tracking autofocus

  • +

    Excellent battery life

  • +

    Vari-angle screen for vlogging

Cons

  • -

    Price increase

  • -

    So-so viewfinder

  • -

    Vlog modes aren't well explained

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Fujifilm’s X-S series of cameras are positioned as a versatile and user-friendly camera, aimed at enthusiast photographers, as well as content creators and vloggers who want a powerful camera that is also simple to pick up and use.

The Fujifilm X-S10 was released in November 2020 and offered a lot of cutting-edge tech from Fujifilm’s flagship APS-C cameras, which at the time was the X-T4. The X-S20 shares the same ethos, taking the processor and battery from Fujifilm’s latest flagship X-Series cameras, the Fujifilm X-T5 and Fujifilm X-H2

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Gareth Bevan
Reviews Editor

Gareth is a photographer based in London, working as a freelance photographer and videographer for the past several years, having the privilege to shoot for some household names. With work focusing on fashion, portrait and lifestyle content creation, he has developed a range of skills covering everything from editorial shoots to social media videos. Outside of work, he has a personal passion for travel and nature photography, with a devotion to sustainability and environmental causes.