Fujifilm Manager: “X-T2 (and X100F) Worldwide Sales Are Remarkable. The Canon and Nikon Stranglehold is Starting to Relax a Bit” (miXed zone)

The Interview

In a quick interivew, well-known FujifilmUK manager (as well as fellow GFX facebook group member) Theo Georghiades, says that:

  • The Fujifilm X-T2 feedback and sales are remarkable, worldwide. It’s the top 5, sometimes top 3 interchangeable camera in the country. “The Canon and Nikon stranglehold is starting to relax a bit.”
  • Recently, especially the Fujifilm X100F has such a high request, that Fujifilm can’t fulfill pre-orders. Fujifilm is aware that customers are upset, but they do their absolute best.
  • The Lens quality and variety are the biggest aspect of Fujifilm’s success
  • The Fujifilm GFX Feedback is really amazing. Really positive vibe about the camera.
  • The manager also sounds very confident about the GFX image quality, as he says he likes that people put Fujifilm products up against the big contenders and to open people’s eyes to what else is out there.

Check out the interview at Hireacamera.com youtube here.

Btw, the Fujifilm GFX facebook group is well represented by Fujifilm Managers, employees and X-photographers, as well as 10,000 more fellow Fuji G shooters and fans. Feel free to join us there.

And to get only GFX tailored news, follow our GFX facebook page.

Fujifilm GFX
USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS

  • New Orleans with the Fujifilm GFX-50S Camera at mendelsonfineartphotography
  • Fuji GFX 50s vs Sony A7r II in German at enjoyyourcamera (the reviewer somehow sounds much more excited about the GFX image quality and says it has more 3D pop than the Sony)
  • GFX 50S: Surpassing All Expectations by Kara Mercer at fujifilm-x
  • The Photography Show 2017 (general coverage with short remarks also about Fujifilm and the GFX and Hasselblad X1D) at electriclemonade

Fujifilm X-T20
USA BHphotoAdorama, AmazonUS

Fujifilm XF50mm
USA BHphotoAdorama, AmazonUS

  • Close-up Examples From The Fuji XF 50mm f2 R WR Lens at findingrange
  • Fuji XF 50mm F2 IR & UV Hotspot Test at kiwiinkyushu

DPReview Recommends 3 Full Frame Cameras Combined over 1 Fujifilm GFX :-) :: Fuji Guys GFX Unboxing :: GFX vs. X1D vs. X-T2

Fuji Guys GFX unboxing at Fuji Guys youtube

Do Not Buy the Fujifilm GFX…

DPReview published a controversial article about the GFX, where they basically end up saying that the GFX is not worth the money extra compared to FF cameras. In short:

  • Low Light noise performance: Current Full Frame systems offer faster lenses than the GFX, so you’ll get less low light noise with FF. Moreover the FF sensor technology like Sony’s back-illumited sensor allows to catch up with MF since “sensor is better able to use the light projected onto it
  • Base ISO Dynamic Range: The Nikon has the ISO 64 mode. “Each pixel can hold more total charge before clipping, relative to equally-sized pixels on any other sensor in a consumer camera. That means it can tolerate a longer exposure at ISO 64, longer enough (at least 2/3 EV, or 60% more light) to capture as much total light as the 68% larger sensor in the GFX 50S exposed at its base ISO (100). […] noise performance at ISO 64 rivals many current medium format cameras their base ISOs
  • Shallow Depth-of-Field: The GFX lenses are not as fast as the fastest FF lenses, so they have less shallow DOF
  • Resolution: Resolution-wise, they simply can’t imagine anything better than the Canon 5DS R paired with truly stellar lenses. However, they also add that “larger sensors will always tend to out-resolve smaller sensors with equivalent glass. And so this is the area where we most expect to see an advantage to the Fujifilm system, especially over time as we approach 100MP, and beyond. It’s probably easier for a F1.8 prime paired with the GFX 50S to out-resolve a F1.4 prime on a 5DS R when both systems are shot wide open, but whether that will be the case (or if Fujifilm will even make a F1.8 or brighter prime for the system) remains to be seen. I certainly don’t think it would be a cheap combination.”

… You Just Need 3 Top Full Frame Cameras to Perform like 1 Fujifilm GFX :-)

Ok, this paragraph has quite a provocative title, but it’s actually inspired by the words of DPReview itself (more below)

I’ve seen many comparisons called “unfair” (and I like unfair comparisons). But I’ve never seen this: put together the strengths of 3 different high-end Full Frame cameras (Sony A7rII, Canon 5DSr, Nikon D810) and then compare it all with one single camera, the Fujifilm GFX.

  • The GFX has a terrific resolution? Don’t worry, the Canon 5DSr comes close to it (really?).
  • The GFX has a terrific base ISO dynamic range? Don’t worry, the Nikon D810 comes close to it (got to check this out soon).
  • The GFX has a terrific noise performance? Don’t worry, the Sony A7rII comes close to it (hm, my ISO invariance pixel peeping says differently).

The problem is… what if you want it all in one? I’ll quote DRPreview: “if you want both the base ISO dynamic range of the D810, and the low light noise performance of an A7R II, then the GFX might be your ticket.”

And I allow myself to add, that if you want the high-resolution of the GFX, then neither the D810 nor the A7rII are for you. You have to take the Canon 5DSr… but then you lose the dynamic range and noise performance.

So, seen from another perspective, we could say you need all these 3 Full Frame cameras to perform almost like 1 Fujifilm GFX (but I doubt that, since the pixel peeping I did, shows that with a 6 stop push, the GFX spanks them all).

There would be so much more to discuss (and in part debunk) on that article, such as the lack of fast lenses. As our GFX group demonstrates day by day, you can adapt ultra fast lenses on the GFX. And Fujifilm has the 110/2 in the pipeline for this spring. But I have to make a break now after a long day… my guitar is waiting :)

Anyway, I think you guys can make up your own mind on this and read the article “Thinking about buying a Fujifilm GFX 50S? Read this firsthere at dpreview.

GFX has Huge Cons and DPReview is Right!

Don’t get me wrong, the GFX has it Cons, just like any other camera. The AF-speed is not really snappy, it has no 4K, it does not have the super fast EVF refresh rate of the latest X-series cameras, it’s expensive and more.

It will shine in some areas, but create frustrations in others (good luck shooting some serious sports photography with it).

But if there is one thing you do not have to worry about the GFX, then it’s its image quality. As proven by DPReview today, it delivers an IQ, that you need 3 different Full Frame cameras with different strenghts to almost match it :).

And yet, DPReview is right. 95% of us don’t need the GFX. We can be more than happy with any modern APS-C or FF camera. But the GFX was made for the niche, for the 5%, for the people, who need (or want) the ultimate image quality and don’t want to spend a fortune for a Phase One.

Well, for those people the waiting is over. The Fujifilm GFX will give you the extra boost in your images you were looking for :)

Fujifilm GFX Vs. Hasselblad X1D Vs. Fujifilm X-T2

  • Round 1: GFX Vs. X-T2 at billfortney: “The GFX has a ton of resolution and can be blown up to outer space and still have enormous detail, and the X-T2 holds it’s own until we start cropping or making very, very large prints on the order of feet by feet. Can you see the difference with your nose against the print, yes you can, but standing back at a reasonable distance I suspect it would be harder, though the GFX would still have the edge!”
  • GFx Vs X1D / 3 people used both cameras in German at fineartprinter (translation)
  • Thoughts after using the Fujifilm GFX at the Spanish site dslrmagazine (tranlsation)

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUKParkCamerasUKPCHstore AUS: CameraPro

 

DPReview Fujifilm X-T20 Review: Silver Award

Fujifilm X-T20 Review

DPReview just published their X-T20 Review. At the end it gets the silver award with an overall score of 82%. They consider a good camera for photographers seeking a stylish camera with direct controls, excellent image quality and a great selection of lenses and not so good for action photographers and those requiring ultra-high-quality 4K video.

Here are the Pros and Cons:

Pros Cons
  • Excellent JPEG quality, especially color
  • Good high ISO noise performance
  • Build quality is solid for camera in this price range
  • Dynamic range is very good, though not class-leading
  • Numerous direct controls
  • Responsive AF system with up to 325 selectable points
  • High resolution EVF
  • Great Film Simulation modes
  • 8 fps burst shooting w/continuous AF
  • UHD 4K/30p video capture
  • Highly customizable
  • Exposure compensation available when using Auto ISO with manual exposure
  • External mic input
  • Camera can be charged over USB connection; external charger included
  • Small phase detection area compared to peers
  • Hunting can be an issue with continuous autofocus in low light
  • AF tracking performance is variable
  • No histogram, face detection or zebra warnings in movie mode
  • Auto mode switch can be flipped too easily, leading to loss of custom settings and Raw
  • Joystick for positioning AF point would’ve been nice
  • Fn button difficult to reach, even harder to press
  • Can’t access memory card slot while camera is on a tripod

You can check out the Full review at DPReview.

Fujifilm X100F: USA BHphotoAdorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

X100F Lensmate Thumbrest + Half Case * GFX Sensitvity Stops at ISO 1,600 + Reviews * 50/2 Image Review * Fuji Guys X-T20 Top Features (miXed zone)

X20 Award Nominated Image

Award nomination with Fuji X20: Dario Ayala was just nominated for a Canadian National Newspaper Award, the highest recognition for Canadian journalists and photojournalists, for an image that he made last summer using the Fuji X20 whose line, sadly, has been discontinued. The X system gets a lot of love, but this series was a bit overlooked during its existence. See the image on instagram here and link to the nomination here.

Fujifilm GFX
USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS

Fujifilm GFX facebook member C. shared the image above on the group. It shows a heavily overexposed image and what seems to be an insane highlight recovery capbility of the Fujifilm GFX 50s. This image was a great opportunity to clarify what happens inside the GFX:

X-guru Rico (also GFX facebook member), looking at the image above, explained here:

Sensor analysis shows us that the GFX stops writing gain into the RAW file beyond ISO 1600. So this ISO 6400 shot is actually a ISO 1600 shot that is 2 stops underexposed. So 2 stops of the “amazing highlight recovery” are fake. ;) Lightroom simply applied a virtual 2 stop gain on import, which is of course fully reversable. Basically shooting at ISO 6400 is like shooting with DR400% always on.

Nothing really new here, since all Fujifilm cameras with X-Trans I, X-Trans II and also the X-A1/2 and M1 worked exactly the same way. X-Trans III are different, they bake the gain into each RAW (except for ISO 51200, which is actually ISO 25600 with a 1 stop import gain).

To perform a proper test of sensor highlight recover potential, you have to expose a series of shots at base ISO 100, then try to recover and normalize each of them and see where you put your personal limit of acceptable quality.

it was always nice to have additional DR at high ISO with most EXR I and EXR II cameras. This feature is now back with the GFX, but sadly, Adobe LR/ACR fails to apply correct import amplification in most cases. Basically, everything except for ISO 100, 125, 160 and 200 is somewhat off, often by a larger margin than is acceptable. There’s also a white balance issue at higher ISO settings which affects pretty much all external RAW converters (RAWs from the in-camera converter are okay). Of course, I have documented all of this and sent it to Fujifilm, so maybe Adobe will improve GFX support in a few weeks/months with their next Lightroom update.”

Yesterday, GFX member Wei already pointed out over at the group here after the technical sensor measurements tests by Photons to Photos, that “you can’t push the sensitivity up by adopting an ISO higher than 1600. Your sensitivity stops there

More GFX Links worth to be checked out

  • 20 Days with GFX 50s at huseyintaskin: “Once you enlarge the photo from the computer and look it up, it creates a quality threshold that will never come out of your mind. Whatever you do, your mind is staying in that quality. […] DR is an advantage for me, I can make cinematic tones more comfortable. Each transition is very soft in these colors that you give me in these intermediate tones. It gives a rich transition result.”
  • Fuji GFX portrait session review at mikekobal: “Impressive sensor performance at low and high ISO settings. Fuji’s color science shines once again, jpegs out of the camera are beautiful, lots of latitude for easy tweaks, better then raw files on certain cameras!”
  • Join our super-active and super-helpful Fujifilm GFX community
  • Don’t miss a single GFX tidbit and follow our public GFX Facebook page

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Fujifilm Already Plans GFX Firmware Update based on User Feedback & more GFX Feedback

Interview with well known Fuji manager Warwick Williams. Here some excerpts:

  • Fujifilm tradition to listen to user feedback continues, and they are developing a new GFX firmware based on cutomers feedback
  • Metabones adapters for GFX are possible in future
  • More OIS lenses will come in 2018, but obviously Warwick can’t talk about it

Feel free to tell us in the comments, which improvements you would like to see in the GFX

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS

More GFX Reviews

  • Flexing the FujiFilm GFX 50S: From the street to the moon! at mpex-experience: “If you are a DSLR user thinking about upgrading your 1DX, 5DS or similar with a system that has truly excellent image quality, amazing glass (and adapters to use lenses from Hassy to Canon and everything in between), great ergonomics (that tilting EVF!), and Fujifilm’s hallmark look and latitude in image processing, you should give it a try too.
  • Fuji GFX 50S: the photographer’s experience at camerajabber
  • Fujifilm Indonesia new dedicated GFX website fujifilmgfx.id
  • The Fujifilm GFX has landed! at travelshooteditrepeat

Best GFX online sources