Fujifilm GFX: “Remarkably Clean Images at ISO 12,800 […] Manual Focus too Much Spinning on Lens” + Shutter Sound/AF Video

Dale Sood & Gary Goldberg from Vistek had 24 hours with the Fujifilm GFX. Not much time, but they tested it as long as they could, even deep in the night out in the streets at -10 degrees. It appears to me that they are trying to give their honest feedback, showing samples and crops, and also pointing out some Cons.

Here are some excerpts… and please pardon me, but the GFX is such a new and exciting piece of gear to the photography industry, that I will cover it properly here on FR.

You can be sure: good or bad feedback, I will share it all.

  • AF in studio: AF was perfect for Gary when shooting with the model. He focusses on the model’s eye, and the camera did a great job with nailing it.
  • AF in Low Light Night Street: Dale used it in low light on the street, and his experience was, as expected, different. In low light it struggled certainly more, but he says it’s always harder for every camera to focus in low light. (NOTE: remember it’s an early beta firmware)
  • Focus peaking: Dale switched to Focus Peaking. But he complains that there is a lot of spinning on the lens to get the focus. (NOTE: also here consider it’s an early beta firmware)
  • Sharpness: Just watch the video, guys :)
  • ISO Performance (min 6:42): The reviewer has experience with other leading Medium Format brands, and he says he rarely pushed ISO over 3,200, because he wasn’t happy with the results. He assumed it would be the same with GFX. He shot on the street at night, and had to push at ISO at 3,200 and for one shot even at 12,800. On the back of the camera 12,800 looked great. But he thought “there is no way this going to look good on the computer“. So he brought the file into the computer and said “I should have shot at ISO 12,800 more often. How clean it is at 12,800 is remarkable” :) . At 6400 the images are very usable right out of the box, without having to apply any grain reduction in post.
  • Battery Live: at -10 degrees, he shot the entire night, without even draining one battery.
  • Conclusions: It can keep up to the hype. It’s going to be a game changer

Full Hands-on review at Vistek Youtube

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto – Win $3,000 by pre-ordering at BH via FR*, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro
*Pre-order the GFX at BHphoto using the FujiRumors B&H link to enter the contest. Price: $3,000. Sweepstake Overview & Rules can be found here. Full Terms & Conditions here.

Fujifilm GFX Vs. Canon 5DS R Vs. Sony A7rII: “Incomparable. GFX IQ Far Better Than My Canon. Dynamic Range Surpasses My Sony”

Fujifilm GFX Nr1 Seller at BHphoto!

Fujifilm GFX First Looks

As many of you guys, I’m also waiting for GFX reviews. Right now it’s still quite early, but we already have a bunch of first impression shared here in the live blogging. And new ones are coming in. So here are two more:

Adrian C Murray owns a 5oMP Full Frame Canon 5DS R and also the Sony A7RII. He had quite some time to make deeper tests on the GFX and published his First Impression here. Some excerpts:

  • Fuji GFX Vs. Sony A7RII Vs. Canon 5DS R: While the digital resolutions of both these cameras [GFX and 5DS R] are similar I did notice that the actual image quality was far better on the 50S. So much so that I’d pretty much say the two cameras are basically incomparable […] The 50s offers far more dynamic range than I’ve had on any of my Canon cameras and also surpasses my Sony A7Rii
  • AF SPEED: I was happily surprised with the autofocus […] I was able to obtain focus on some of the most difficult subjects in the world, children. Not just any children, but hyperactive toddlers. While I probably wouldn’t do any sport shooting with this camera, it’s autofocus is still very capable in the right hands.

Stuff.tv that has spend a few hours with the GFX. Here are some excerpts of their first impression:

  • Full-frame photographers watch out – there’s a new high-end champion to get jealous over
  • IQ: With the right lighting and camera settings, you’ll get billboard-quality shots right off your memory card – especially as the GFX shoots in 14-bit RAW, which is perfect for capturing wide dynamic range.
  • AF SPEED: Motion wasn’t a problem, tracking two dancers as they moved across the frame and delivering crisp shots every time […]. It really is amazingly fast. […] I’ll need to see how it deals with faster action
  • Tethering: The GFX 50S will do tethered shooting with Adobe Lightroom, too – as long as you buy the optional Pro plugin.
  • Initial Verdict: It’s smaller than full frame DSLRs from the likes of Nikon and Canon, but packs in a larger sensor, and is arguably easier to use. Fuji’s fantastic control layout is easy enough for newcomers to learn, and instantly recognisable for anyone stepping up from an X-series camera. […] The GFX 50S might be the camera that pushes medium format into the mainstream

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto – Win $3,000 by pre-ordering at BH via FR*, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro
*Pre-order the GFX at BHphoto using the FujiRumors B&H link to enter the contest. Price: $3,000. Sweepstake Overview & Rules can be found here. Full Terms & Conditions here.

Fujifilm GFX Hands On Impressions :: “A Compact Workhorse, That Will Find A Place in My Bag… and In My Heart”

Fujifilm GFX Hands On Review

Fujifilm GFX facebook member Florian shared his Fujifilm GFX Hands On Review at the Fujiiflm GFX Facebook group here. It’s in German, but you can use the Facebook translation tool to get the English version. He also shares 3 images of the GFX.

I’ll highlight in short some of his findings:

  • BODY: Boxy, very pleasing handling, great ergonomics. Not too big. He loves the joystick. Great build quality, but if you look at the size of body, the camera feels almost too light. It’s like something is missing in the inside, since it’s so light.
  • MENU: It’s still in Beta, so it didn’t run flawlessly
  • EVF: Still in Beta Firmware, but already much better than on the Hasselblad X1D. Information was displayed in white, which he considered not ideal
  • AUTOFOCUS: (Consider it’s an early Beta-Firmware) Absolutely OK. Felt so fast like the AF on the Sony A7, or a bit slower. Definitely faster than the Hasselblad X1D. There was not much light, when he tested the camera, so he expects it to work faster in good light.
  • DISPLAY: On the GFX he handled, there was no touch screen (ADMIN NOTE: or maybe it was not working due to the preliminary Beta-FW? At photokina Fujifilm indicated that it will have a touch.)
  • LENSES: The 63mm is compact. It contributed to the overall lightness of the camera. The zoom lens was quite big.
  • IMAGE QUALITY: No comment. The test condition at the photography fair were not good (bad light) and the Firmware was still a Beta.
  • PRICE: Body: €6,999. 63mm: €1,500 (ADMIN NOTE: This confirms this rumor)
  • CONCLUSION: Awesome. It arouse emotions. Overall very good first impression. A compact workhorse he could use for portrait work, that will find a place in Florian’s bag and heart :) .

For any other questions, just join 4,500+ members at the Fujifilm GFX facebook, and drop your questions in the comments of Florian’s facebook post.

7 New ” Fujifilm GFX Challenges” Teaser Videos

Fujifilm just added 7 videos to their Fujifilm GFX Challenges series (see the first series here).

  • Ivan Joshua Loh (commercial work – studio): Surprisingly small. Autofocus very fast. Focus well also in low light. Shows super-details in images (video includes crops & pixel peeping). Perfect for commercial work. Uses Profoto – Video here.
  • Gary Heery (Macro – Studio): The IQ is brilliant! Can easily become his full-time camera. Video here
  • Per-Anders Jörgensen (Food Photography – Outdoor People Portrait): He likes its versatility and lightweight. Bigger sensor, better bokeh. Video here
  • Romeo Balancourt (Potraits – Architecture): What strikes him, is that the GFX is razor-sharp in the focus area, but the transition is smooth, with a very nice bokeh, very subtle. Uses ACROS. Compact, easy to bring around for his personal work. 120mm amazingly sharp. On his FF DSLR he always has to add sharpness before he sends the images to his client… but with the GFX he does not need to add sharpness at all. Makes pig prints with absolutely no problems. – Video here
  • Luciano Romano (Art Portraits – Architecture): Very intuitive to use. Light and silent. Great colors. Video here
  • Minoru Kobayashi (Photographing Cars): The output created by the GFX is not like the rest. Rich tonality like none other. Natural and silky gradation. – Video here
  • Victor Liu (Landscape): A hardcore weather sealing test under snow in freezing temperatures. No words, “just” images. Video here

“The Panasonic GH5 is A Workhorse… But Fuji’s X-T2 is Far More Attractive and Fun to Use!” (Reviewed.com)

Reviewed.com tested the brand new Panasonic GH5 (BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama). It’s a hell of a camera, but here is what they think compared to the Fujifilm X-T2 and X-Pro2:

“$2K pricing […] For that kind of money, you’re easily looking at a full-frame Sony A7, an awesome Fujifilm X-Pro2 perhaps, or maybe even a really great full-frame DSLR like the Nikon D750.

Function over form means it’s not amazingly designed
There’s no doubt that this is a workman-like camera. If you were hoping for something cooler-looking, then you’re going to want to look elsewhere. For instance, Olympus offers its jewel-like PEN-F for a lot less, and for my money, the Fujifilm X-T2 is far more attractive and fun to use. Since most cameras are really great these days, style is something to consider.

If you don’t love the way your camera handles or looks when you’re shooting with it, then what’s the point?”

Review at cameras.reviewed

This is one of the recurring themes, when people test and use Fujiiflm X-gear… these X-cameras are simply a joy to use and they look great. So feel free to tell us in the comments, how important are for you look and handling when you purchase a new camera.

Graphite Silver Fujifilm X-T2: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama /

Graphite Fujifilm X-Pro2 + XF23mmF2: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama