Photographers who have adopted the Fujifilm mirrorless camera system and are serious about autofocus performance are likely owners of the X-T1, which has enjoyed top-dog status in the company's lineup since its announcement in early 2014. But the 16-megapixel camera is looking a little long in the tooth these days, especially since the release of an X body, the X-Pro2, with a 24-megapixel sensor, earlier this year.

The X-T2 utilizes that image sensor—the 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III design, if you want to get specific. It's an APS-C size chip with Fuji's signature X-Trans color filter array. It features a more complex design than the Bayer sensors used in the vast majority of image sensors, which Fuji promises delivers crisper images with more film-like grain.

And while the X-Pro2 uses the same sensor and its video tops out at 1080p, the X-T2 has the imaging-processing power and a design that keeps internals cool enough to record video at 4K resolution. In the past, video has been a weak point of X-Trans sensors, and we're eager to see if the new design and increased resolution change that story.

With a new sensor comes a new focus system. A total of 325 focus points cover the sensor, and the central 40 percent of the imaging area utilizes phase detection focus. In addition to enjoying a speed advantage, the phase detect system supports predictive tracking, which will better help you lock onto moving targets. This makes the X-T2 a strong choice for shooting sports and wildlife, especially when you consider its 8fps burst rate, which can be increased to 11fps by adding the optional Vertical Power Booster Grip.

The body itself is sturdy. A magnesium alloy chassis withstands the rigors of serious photography, and a weather-sealed design allows you to shoot in all types of weather, including temperatures as low as 14 degrees F.

The optional grip houses two batteries, tripling the expected battery life to about 1,000 shots. It includes vertical shooting controls, making the X-T2 more comfortable to use in portrait orientation, and offers the same level of weather protection as the camera body. Adding the grip allows you to enable Boost Mode, which uses all three batteries simultaneously to increase the maximum shooting rate to 11fps, the maximum 4K video recording time from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, and also cuts shutter release lag and the blackout duration between shots.

The X-T2 retains the same large, crisp EVF found in the X-T1. It's an OLED design with a 2.36 million dot resolution and a 0.48-inch diagonal size—as big as a viewfinder with a 0.77x magnification on a full-frame SLR. It offers a 60fps refresh rate, but improves to 100fps when used along with the Vertical Power Booster Grip. The rear LCD, a tilting 1,040k-dot panel, is also carried over from the X-T1.

It also includes the features that Fujifilm shooters have come to expect. These include in-camera Wi-Fi, numerous film emulation modes, digital split image and focus peaking to aid manual focus, and in-camera Raw processing.

The Vertical Power Booster Grip is going to sell for $329.99. Additionally, Fujifilm will release a new flash for the X system, the EF-X500, in September. It has a 164' guide number, wide-angle coverage for a 20mm lens, a bounce-tilt head, and a LED video light. It's priced at $449.99.

The X-T2 is also set for a September release. It's priced at $1,599.95 as a body only or at $1,899.95 when bought with the 18-55mm zoom lens.