When the Fujifilm X-H1 launched in 2018, it was heralded as Fujifilm’s flagship X Series camera. But, that was five years ago and, since that launch, the X-H1 lost flagship status as cameras like the X-T4 and X-Pro3 arrived with better specs. The years that have passed without an upgrade to the X-H1 — outside of firmware — have Fujifilm fans wondering if an upgraded X-H1 is even in the cards. But, as Fujifilm prepares to celebrate ten years of the X mount series in 2022, the rumors have started up again, with hopes that Fujfilm celebrates double digits with a new flagship.

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As a new Fujifilm convert myself, I’m itching to see what the company launches during their X Summit in May. During last year’s X Summit, Fujifilm said a new flagship would be coming in 2022 with a stacked, backlit X-Trans sensor. But, they didn’t say if that new flagship would be an X-H2. Earlier this week, a teaser video announced the fifth generation of the X series coming during the Summit and a Tweet from Fujifilm Africa suggests that evolution includes an X-H2. Whether or not the fifth-generation includes an X-H2, there are a few things I’d love to see in the next reiteration of the X Series. Fujifilm, if you’re listening, could you grant this Fujifilm girl a few wishes?

Re-claim flagship status

Five years is too long for a flagship to go without an update. The Fujifilm X-H1 no longer has the best specifications in the series. If Fujifilm plans to launch a new flagship, it’s going to have to surpass the newer specs inside the X-T4, and to some extent the X-Pro3. There are five key areas Fujifilm will have to address if the X-H2 is going to warrant a higher price tag than the X-T4: sensor, speed, stabilization, video, and battery life.

A Stacked Sensor

The X-T4 and X-Pro3 have the fourth generation of the X-Trans sensor, a 26.1-megapixel option. The X-H1 houses the third generation, which is 24.3 megapixels. I don’t think a huge jump in megapixels is necessary — with the APS-C sensor, higher resolutions come at the expense of increased noise. But, I expect a boost here, and Fujifilm has already teased that there will be a flagship with a stacked sensor design. That means it’s not going to be the same sensor that’s in the X-T4.

A concept first launched by Sony, a stacked sensor allows faster readout speeds. That allows for faster burst speeds with a higher resolution. A faster reading on the sensor can also allow for a faster autofocus system.

A stacked sensor isn’t unique, but I’m itching to see a stacked sensor with X-Trans color. The number one reason I switched to Fujifilm last year is color. I’ve already saved hours of editing because I rarely have to touch the color.

Faster burst speeds

With that stacked sensor is going to come a faster burst speed. Fujifilm isn’t typically the first brand that comes to mind for sports and action (as much as I love the colors). But, a flagship would at least need to catch up to the 30 fps electronic and 15 fps mechanical on the X-T4. I wouldn’t be surprised if a stacked sensor went well beyond that.

More Stabilization

The X-H1 has 5.5 stops of stabilization; the X-T4 has up to 6.5 stops. I expect a flagship to at least catch up to that 6.5 stops. More than that is pretty tricky, but it would be pretty incredible if Fuji jumped up to Olympus’ and Canon’s level, which is up to 7.5, eight stops of stabilization when combined with stabilized lenses.

Enhanced video

The X-T4 also outpaces the X-H1 in video. I expect the new flagship to at least catch up with the uncropped 60 fps 4K. But, if Fujifilm wants to compete with flagships from other brands in video, they’re going to have to step up to 8K.

A bigger battery

The X-T4 has a bigger battery than the X-H1, which is a bit ironic since the X-H1 has a larger grip. The X-H1 was Fujifilm’s first ...