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 first” here 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 :)
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!”
We X-shooters are not really used to these kind of tests, mainly for 2 reasons:
DxOmark never tested X-Trans sensors
We don’t care
But news is news, so I’m going to share it here on FujiRumors, and then all of you can make up your own mind.
Short intro: the first time I’ve heard about the website “photonstophotos” was via our wonderful GFX facebook group on March 11 here. This website makes independent sensor tests (just like DxO).
Well, they just included the Fujifilm GFX 50s in their test charts… and at least from a first glance I gave, I’d say the Fujifilm GFX 50s pretty much kicks a$$. This would be no surprise, since Fujifilm GFX owners swear that the dynamic range of this camera is incredible (“if feels like cheating“), as recently posted here and here.
I will be honest to you: right now, while writing this post, I don’t really have the time or the condition to evaluate all the test results (I was out the whole day shooting with my X-T1 + 23/1.4, and I’m closing my wonderful day with a bit too much red wine ;) ). But here is the link to Photons to Photos, and you can make all your comparisons and share your findings in the comments.
With that said, when I’ve heard of this website via GFX facebook group back in March, I did compare the X-T2, X-Pro2, X-T20 and X100F. All these cameras gave different sensor performance results (despite being all X-TransIII cameras). The X-T2 gave better results over the X-Pro2, I guess probably because of the better heat dissipation of the X-T2 body.
I promise that tomorrow I will take a closer look at the chart. If I find something worth to be highlighted, I’ll share it here on FR. But now, pardon me, I have to finish my wine ;)
by Allan Higa – website. This article has been posted orignally at allanhiga.com and shared at petapixel. Allan Higa is also a very active member of our Fujifilm GFX facebook community, and many of the images you can see in this article have also been shared at the group. He also wrote an interesting guest post for Fujirumors called “How I Capture Genuine Moments With Complete Strangers“. This article is shared here on FujiRumors with permission of the original author, Allan Higa (thanks :) )
Fujifilm GFX Review
Quick history lesson. The original Lamborghini motor vehicle wasn’t the supercar you know today. They were tractors. Yes, tractors. Full fledged farm going vehicular tools. Ferruccio Lamborghini always loved cars and owned Ferraris, but hated the quality of them. Frustrated, he approached Enzo Ferrari and gave him a piece of his mind and told him how to improve his cars. Enzo’s response went something like, “Leave the car making to me, you stick to making tractors.” Batman now drives a Lamborghini Aventador.
Fast forward and cross universes to cameras. The giants such as Hasselblad and Phase One have been untouchable and left alone to rule the medium format world for sometime. Sure, there’s Pentax and Leica, but it’s more like buying a Mazda Miata or a 4-door Porsche, it’s not what you think of when sports car or medium format camera comes to mind. But here we are with Fujifilm, originally a film company, pulling a move like Ferruccio Lamborghini; they’re opening the doors to somewhere that’s otherwise been locked for what feels like all of eternity.
Phase One makes amazing medium formats that few ever touch but all hope and dream of. Hasselblad is quite similar but have introduced something that seemed ground breaking, a mirrorless medium format in the Hasselblad X1D. Now, just like Ferruccio answered to Enzo Ferrari, Fujifilm has brought out the Fujifilm GFX. Will this be a classic like the Lamborghini Diablo? Or is this a Mazda Miata in disguise? Well, I’ve got the keys and this is what I’ve learned.
First off, like anyone else with a new toy in their hands I played with the lifeless camera as the completely dead batteries charged painfully slow. Here are the first impressions.
Robert F.: shared here – First long exposure shot (40 sec.) at lake starnberg / bavaria. Love the dynamic range :-).
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HOLY MOLY!!! I just realized that I didn’t post a dedicated GFX article in the last 7 blog posts… so high time for a dedicated GFX roundup. :)
As usual, all of it comes from our 9,600+ strong Fujifilm GFX facebook group. It’s simply a great resource for all things GFX. And what I post here is just a small fraction of what has been shared in the group the last few days. So in today’s roundup we will see:
A series of perfect long exposure shots
Some more images
Dynamic Range Tests
Sharpness Demonstration
Having Fun with Third Party Lenses
I’d like to add a few words to the last point, the fun with third party lenses.
There are really a lot of photographers at our GFX group, who enjoy to combine all kind of lenses on their GFX. To me, this is without a doubt one of the most fun aspects of this camera. The GFX really breaths new life into old glass, which btw, I hear has in some cases doubled its price on ebay, since the GFX launch.
So, focussing on sharpness and dynamic range is all well and good. But what I perceive in the group, is that the Fujifilm GFX has also a huge fun-factor, that results especially from his flexibility and adaptability to all kind of glass (also FF lenses, as you will see below).
This huge third-party lenses fun-factor would be basically non-existant, if Fujifilm would have opted for a “focal plane shutter-less” camera, since the camera would then work only with leaf shutter lenses.
And a final note about the endless leaf shutter Vs. focal plane shutter discussion: as photographlife pointed out in a review I’ve shared here:
“Considering that leaf shutter lenses cannot have very large apertures (and as of now, all three Hasselblad lenses are limited to f/3.2-f/3.5 maximum aperture), I struggle to find the real appeal of the leaf shutter lenses aside from the flash sync speed. If you are after beautiful bokeh, the focal plane shutter is the way to go.“
Announcing GFX 50S Rentals at Australian Retailers at fujifilm-blog
RNI Films All Films Gets New Support for the Fujifilm GFX 50S and More Cameras (via RNI facebook via thephoblographer):
Good news! RNI All Films 4.0.4 for Lightroom and Photoshop ACR is finally up for grabs here:
What’s new in this version:
• You asked us to turn the film grain off by default. So we have turned it off. You can easily turn it back on by using RNI Toolkit for Lightroom and setting the desired level of film grain (ISO 100 – ISO 1600).
• The Fuji Pro 400H base preset has been updated for better tonal accuracy.
Also added support and customised profiles for the following new cameras: • Fujifilm GFX 50S • Fujifilm X A3 • Fujifilm X A10 • Fujifilm X T20 • Fujifilm X100F
RNI All Films 4.0.4 comes as a free update to all the existing RNI All Films 4 – Pro and Lite customers.
It’s inevitable: the Fujifilm GFX is on the market since 2 or 3 weeks, and the web is in a GFX-frenzy…. FujiRumors included. Believe me, all this will slow down soon, because something else is always just around the corner.
But now, right now, the big thing is the Fujifilm GFX. And there are massive reports about it.
In todays roundup, we are going to see:
a comparison Fujifilm GFX Vs. Hasselblad X1D (via photographlife) – SPOILER: GFX wins
Fujifilm Vs. Canon 5DSR at DIYphotography – SPOILER: GFX wins
Comparing the Fujifilm GFX Vs. Sony A7rII Dynamic range – SPOILER: the GFX wins
a guest post focussing on the dynamic range of the GFX by Paul
Markus Rack: New portfolio work with the GFX & the GF 120mm f/4 Macro. Thanks to Natalia Soboleva for the make-up and to Elisa for being a flawless model. For the Geeks out there: You might fall in love with this camera for its high resolution but you will stay for its tonality. markusrack.com – shared here
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Palle Schultz: The GFX handles highlights like nothing else. – share here
Hüseyin T. – 63mm – shared here at the GFX Group. The group is private, so to see it larger on your screen, you have to join the group. Or download the image from FujiRumors (182kb) and then watch it full screen. Looks great even if it’s compressed :)
Fujifilm GFX Roundup
These are all images shared in our GFX facebook group. I will not add any comment, besides the one of the photographer, who took the image.
Patrick La Roque tries to resits the GFX GAS. More at laroquephoto
Lee Varis took his GFX at the Carnival in Venice. See the images and read his impressions at varis
Lensrentals has now listed the Fujifilm GFX at their website. It’s expected to be available May 18 only. The price is of $353 for 7 days. You can pre-order it here.
Piet Van den Eynde: No Flash, No Problem. 5 stop recovery with Lightroom. Results at morethanwords here
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Haryanto: Gfx on [shoplink 55148 ebay]Linhof Mastertechnika 2000[/shoplink] – shared here. Fujifilm GFX with View Camera Adapter G
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Mike L.: Successful HSS setup with GFX at 1/4000 shutter speed (note the figures at the top left).
SMDV BRiHT-360 flash
SMDV FlashWave-5 TX trigger Cactus V6 II transceivers x 2
The Fujifilm GFX facebook group has just reached the 9,000 members, and as you can imagine, the buzz over there is an incredible joy to follow.
And of course the feedback about the GFX is massive. It’s a closed group, so only members can see the content. But I can share a a few tidbits here on FujiRumors for you.
Let’s start with Marven, who shared his experience at the group here (visible only to members, but full story and images below) after shooting with the Fujifilm GFX + 32-64 handheld with the wrong settings (medium size JPEG only):
“My first impressions of the Fujifilm GFX 50S? Holly sh*t!!!
Even if you are used to looking at detailed images from a high-end DSLR like my Canon 5DSR (which is an excellent camera in it’s own right), the GFX images will blow you away! It has enough detail and resolution for even the most discerning pixel peepers.
I wasn’t going to upload any of these images because I hadn’t really set-up the camera yet and in fact discovered later that ALL of the settings were not to my liking straight out of the case. On my way home with the camera I passed by this gorgeous field of flowers and just hopped out and started taking pictures without thinking much about the camera’s default factory settings. In this case, the files were medium rez JPEGs in the sRGB colorspace. If I had checked my settings properly, I probably would have opted to shoot RAW or at the very least SuperFine (Fujifilm’s highest resolution for JPEG images) in AdobeRGB colorspace. I might have even chosen the Velvia Film Simulation for these high contrast, vivid shots.
Which is why these images impress me so much; the camera wasn’t even set up to deliver it’s best performance and yet when I cropped in on the Bee in the frame, the details simply blew me away. You can clearly see the pollen accumulated on his underbelly as well as the fine detail in his wings. And one must keep in mind that it wasn’t like he was a willing subject, he was buzzing around from flower to flower with me chasing him trying to snap a shot.
Which brings me to my final point. THE IS A MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA FOR CRIS SAKE! Yet is feels so light and so nimble that I actually felt compelled to spontaneously jump out and shoot with it as though it were a point-and-shoot. Anyone who has shot MF knows the size and weight restrictions that accompany something like a Phase One XF system. It’s simply a massive camera with massive lenses and there is just no way I would want to lung it around for anything other than the most critical jobs. But the GFX is so lightweight, it makes shooting with a MF camera (dare I say) fun!!! I can tell I’m really going to love shooting with this camera.”
GFX member Sung owns both, the Fujifilm GFX and the Sony A7rII, and he decided to compare both cameras’ shadow recovery capability. As usual, you can read it at the group here if you are a member and eventually interact with Sung.
“Dynamic range comparison between GFX 50s and A7rII. GF 63mm at f2.8 on GFX and ZY Optics 50mm at f2.0 on a7rii. Each combination shot at ISO 100 with shutter speed adjusted to be 5 full stops below auto exposure level. Each imported straight into Lightroom at base setting with no sharpening or noise reduction. Exposure pushed 5 stops and shadows slider maxed out at 100. The GFX 50s looks to me about half a stop ahead of the a7rii. Color fidelity is also better on the GFX 50s. First 100% crops, then 4×3 jpegs are attached.”
Fujifilm GFX 100% crop of a 5 stops underexposed image and then +5 on exposure slider and +100% on shadow slider
Sony A7rII 100% crop of a 5 stops underexposed image and then +5 on exposure slider and +100% on shadow slider
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Another Dynamic Range test shared by GFX facebook member Hải S. here
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and for Bokeh lovers, shared by Gary here: Couple for the ‘Bokeh’ fans. Fuji GFX, 63mm, Hong Kong. All shot candidly in Central early evening today.
