Why the Fujifilm GFX100 II Was the Only Camera Trusted for King Charles’ Portrait

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I have this little habit: whenever I’m tidying up the chaos my two kids leave behind in the apartment, I put on a podcast.

Today, I came across one that I found particularly fascinating and wanted to share with you.

In the Double Exposure Podcast, Hugo Burnand talks about creating his portrait of King Charles—covering everything from location scouting and preparations, to the actual shoot, the lighting setup, his interactions with the king, the post-processing, and more.

Interestingly, Hugo drew inspiration from a painting of Prince Philip by Ralph Heymans. The painting depicted the Prince in the very same corridor where Hugo would later photograph King Charles.

The catch? That corridor is notoriously dark, making it a real challenge for Hugo and his team.

For this challenge, he chose just one camera: the Fujifilm GFX100 II—the camera he always turns to when he needs to capture a truly important image.

You can watch the video to see the clever techniques and setups his team used to overcome the challenges. The result is a portrait with a striking, almost painterly quality.

Of course Huge credits his team for the amazing results, but at some point he says:

full praise to my team […] because I think it looks like natural daylight thourghout and it also has a painterly feel to the photography.

While I give my team an enormous praise… actually the camera was really important, the medium format Fujifilm GFX 100 II.

Now, I warmly invite you to listen to the full podcast. But since I know many of you are particularly interested in what Hugo had to say about the Fujifilm GFX100 II in this context, I’ve extracted the key points below:

  • painterly feel in the image
  • fantastic dynamic range
  • great tonal gradation
  • if he’d have taken the image on a phone, it would be quite contrasty and harsher
  • it’s not about reproducing the image in big prints that he needs GFX, because even when reproduced small it has a greater quality intensity
  • the image was shot at ISO 3200
  • in a regular Canon he might risk shooting at ISO 800, and then he starts losing comfort
  • the Fujifilm GFX is amazing in low light
  • you can see the details of the king’s eyelashes in the image, even at ISO 3200

(Quick pause: some “smart” commenters will argue he used the wrong ISO and should have gone lower with flashes. I strongly suggest they actually watch the video before making that judgment)

  • the image looked like a painting by someone like Velázquez
    (personal note: I never thought I’d stand mesmerized in front of a painting for 15 minutes, but it happened to me in Madrid with Las Meninas of Velazquez… what a masterpiece)
  • And when Hugo saw the finished portrait of King Charles, he admitted that, for the first time, he felt intensely proud of his own work

(Another pause for the quick critics: some might say there is too much space above the king’s head. That’s intentional. There’s actually a rule in royal portraiture: you must leave enough room above the head to fit a crown.)

Editing?

  • no photoshop
  • Hugo explained that his adjustments were no different than what could have been done in the darkroom on a wet print

Finally, if you’d like to see this portrait (and others), Hugo has set up a dedicated website: crownportraits.co.uk.

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Skip the Wait: Fujifilm X-E5 with XF23mmF2.8 (+ X100VI) Popping Up Used in Excellent Conditions

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While the Fujifilm X-E5 body only got a super-smooth shipping, waiting times for the X-E5 with XF23mmF2.8 kit lens can be quite a bit longer.

Well, if you want the kit now, you might want to check out the X-E5 used departement at BHphoto, where you can find a few kit units available.

And there are also some X100VI and GFX100RF units available used.

Of course there are many more cameras in the used department at BHphoto.

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Fujifilm X-E5 Black Body In Stock and X-E5 Silver Kit (XF23/2.8) Delivery Imminent

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The Fujifilm X-E5 black body is now back in stock at BHphoto here. The silver X-E5 body had a smoother shipping and was so far easier to find in stock.

The true struggles are with the X-E5 and XF23mmF2.8 kit. That one is mostly out of stock.

However, Adorama expects to receive the X-E5 silver with XF23mmF2.8 in the next few days (9/21). So order now to reserve your unit. If you want the black X-E5/23mmF2.8 kit version, then Adorama does not expect to have stock until sometimes in November.

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Fujifilm’s Secret Lens Roadmap EXPOSED — Are These Really the Next 7 X-Mount Lenses?

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The Hidden Roadmap?

I honestly can’t even remember the last time Fujifilm officially updated its Fujinon X-mount roadmap. If I’m not mistaken, the most recent one dates all the way back to 2021.

Since then, years have passed and Fujifilm has consistently refused to provide any updates.

That’s frustrating.

But even without roadmap, Fujifilm did hint on possible future lenses several times in the past, for example:

So is the 2024 lists real and rocksolid roadmaps as some call it?

Well, let’s fact check it.

The 2019 “Roadmap”

Some of the lenses shared in 2019 came to life, but many others not.

And we got other lenses instead never listed on the 2019 list.

So no, the 2019 list was not a roadmap.

The 2024 “Roadmap”

The list of 2024 is in part more vague (no precise indication of focal length and aperture), but on the other hand gives us other possible specs, like size and weight.

From that list, as of today two of those lenses have already been released, with a third one just around the corner.

So while it might seem that Fujifilm is working through that 2024 list by one, there are a few important disclaimer to make.

  • The 2024 list does not mention any MKII lenses

This is unrealistic.

I’m sure Fujifilm is quietly developing long-awaited MKII versions—perhaps even of some iconic lenses—but they’re wise enough not to list them publicly as “under study.” After all, even hinting at a successor too early could hurt sales of the current models.

  • Time Passes, Plans Change

The longer time passes, the greater the chance this list will change.

Remember, Fujifilm typically releases about two to three X-mount lenses every two years.

The 2024 list came out at the start of the year, and it took Fujifilm two full years to deliver just three of the lenses from it.

With seven still remaining, and at the current pace, Fujifilm wouldn’t complete the list until around mid-2028.

However, since it generally takes about two years to develop a lens from scratch, a lens green-lit today could realistically hit the market by 2027—still ahead of that 2028 timeline to work through the remaining releases.

And the further away a lens is, the more it is likely that Fujifilm will reshuffle priorities, meaning the “under study” list could change before those distant releases ever materialize.

  • Even Officially Announced Lenses Might Never Come

And let’s not forget: there have been several occasions where Fujifilm officially placed a lens on the roadmap, only to never deliver it.

Think of the XF120mm Macro, the XF33mmF1.0, or the XF56mmF1.4—lenses that were publicly promised but ultimately abandoned as Fujifilm shifted priorities and adjusted its plans.

So if even roadmap lenses can disappear, it’s even more likely that those merely listed as “under study” may never see the light of day.

The Truth

As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Given that three out of the ten lenses on the 2024 list have already been released (or are about to be), it’s fair to assume that at least a few more will eventually make it to market over the coming months and years.

But I’d be surprised if Fujifilm would stick with that list until 2028 without making any changes.

I think it is likely that by 2028 we will see also MKII lenses – maybe of this lens here (hope, not rumor) – and some never listed on any “under study” list, maybe even one that made it on the top of our own mega-survey.

So if you ever hear someone claim that the 2024 list is Fujifilm’s definitive X-mount roadmap, you now know the context—and why that simply isn’t the case.

Some of the lenses on that list will never come, other never on that list will suddenly appear and MKII lenses are always a high possibility.

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