Zack Arias GFX or X-Pro2 Dilemma ** XF50 Vs 56 Comparison ** GFX Video Panning ** X100F / X-T20 & More

Fujifilm GFX

ZACK ARIAS DILEMMA

Zack Arias is caught in a dilemma… should he sell all Fuji X gear to get the Fujifilm GFX and X100F?

“Currently I have two systems: The Phase One XF100 and my Fuji cameras. […] My only backup solution to my Phase is my Xpro2. It can get the job done but when you are hired to shoot medium format it would be nice to have a medium format as a backup if needed. There are times I’d like a smaller medium format kit and I think the Fujifilm GFX and the Fujinon GF32-64 will be a perfect solution for that.

I could sell ALL my Fuji gear and buy the GFX and the new X100F. I have thoughtfully considered that and it is still an option on the table.

Simplify Zack. Simplify. Zen. Flow like water. All that shit.

Full Phase kit. GFX for back up. X100F with wide and tele adapters? Rent other stuff as needed? That sounds good too. That Xpro2 though. I do love that camera so much. I’ve shot a lot of stuff with it. […] Xpro2. X100. Three lenses. Three flashes. One bag. Stuff that keeps me awake. Trying to find the signal in all of this noise. […] What do y’all think of all this bulls**t?

You can read the full article “2017 Goal :: Simplify My Gear” at dedpxl here.

Fujifilm GFX: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

MORE ABOUT THE GFX

GFX High ISO test at cameralabs

  • Fujifilm GFX 50S review – overview of features and quality at cameralabs youtube (in short: absolutely fantastic details! Lots of details also in high ISO. Easy to use handheld)
  • Non Stop Fujifilm GFX Discussions, Videos, Images and more at the 5,100+ members strong GFX Facebook Group here
  • Fujifilm GFX 50S FullHD Video (Panning) at ePHOTOzine youtube
  • Thomas Heaton says the only mirrorless camera he wants is a Fuji GFX 50S at Thomas Heaton Youtube (min 27:49)
  • Fujifilm GFX50s Launch at Althorp House ~ 21 Pictures at prophotonut
  • GFX challenges with Knut Koivisto at Fujifilm Global Youtube
  • GFX First impressions at fotopraxis in German here (translation)
  • Fujifilm GFX launch: Hands-on with the GFX, X-T20, and X100F, plus more questions answered! at imaging-resource
  • Fujifilm GFX 50s test photos at letsgodigital
  • Japanese site dc.watch shares GFX and accessories product images here (translation)
  • Fujifilm GFX50 upgrade rant the best Low Cost Medium Format mirrorless camera i want so bad at The Movingicon Youtube
  • Support for compressed Fujifilm GFX 50s raw files figured out for fastrawviewer and rawdigger

Fujinon XF50mmF2 WR

50 Vs. 56 Vs. 60

Some people asked for XF50mm Vs XF56mm comparisons in the comments. Well, I’ve found one at ivanjoshualoh here.

If you want the super-shallow DOF, then the 56 is the way to go. However, at F2, the 9 aperture blades of the XF50mmF2 (and 60) give overall nicer round balls
effects of the fairy lights. Used outdoor, though, with foliage in the background, the XF56mmF1.2 APD wins due to a creamier bokeh.

Compact, affordable, weather sealed, fast focus and a smooth bokeh make the XF50mmF2 WR probably the overall winner to me.

More at ivanjoshualoh here

Fujinon XF50mmF2 WR: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm X100F

Fujifilm X100F: USA: BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-T20: USA BHphoto, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

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, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

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

 

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, Adorama, AmazonUS EU: AmazonDE, AmazonUK, WexUK, ParkCamerasUK, PCHstore AUS: CameraPro

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