ISO 80 and Dynamic Range

We have just covered the talk about the the new sensor of the Fujifilm GFX100II and the up to twice readout speed.

• Fujifilm GFX100 II Engineers and The Truth About the “New” Sensor and “Up to Twice” Readout Speed

At the end of that article, when I listed the reasons why to get the GFX100II instead of the GFX100S, I wrote the GFX100II has 30% (or 1/3rd of a stop) better dynamic range.

And since I noticed this is another thing that some people struggled with, I decided to elaborate now more in depth.

After testing the dynamic range, Jim Kasson (linked below) agreed that yes, dynamic range is increased, but not by 30%. Jim says:

At ISO 80 those folks at Fujifilm have dropped all the data below the nominal black point, slicing off the left half of the histogram, and cutting the measured read noise in half of what it would normally be. […] You’ll still get slightly improved FWC — but I don’t measure the claimed 30% improvement — and decently low read noise. So it’s an improvement, but not a huge one.

Now, whatever Fujifilm does in terms of software, that has been measured by Jim and I won’t argue that. And it is true that this does make ISO80 dynamic range look crazy good.

But what Fujifilm at the end of the day said, is that there is a 30% dynamic range increase.

What does this mean?

Well, 30% expressed in stops means about 1/3rd of a stop improvement. As a reference, 1 stop increase means doubling the amount of light you let in on the sensor.

So the misunderstand is simple: if the GFX100S has let’s say 14 stops DR, it does not mean that Fujifilm claimed the GFX100II has 18 stops dynamic range (+30%), but 14,3 stops of DR (+1/3). And moreoever, in the X summit the 30% increase is mentioned in the video section of the summit, and Fujifilm has not been clear if it applies also to stills.

What I can say, is that 1/3 DR increase for stills what a Fujifilm rep told me personally during a Fujifilm event. He told me Fujifilm Italy made its own measurements once they got the camera from Japan, and at base ISO they noticed a 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop DR increase.

Now, why did Fujifilm say 30% instead of 1/3rd of a stop, even though they mean the same?

Well, I guess it just sounds better saying 30% rather than 1/3rd of a stop, but of course it can create confusion.

So yes, at base ISO the new Fujifilm GFX100II will give you the better dynamic range over the GFX100S. Also Jim confirms this. But not by a very large margin. Fujifilm says it is 1/3rd of a stop for video, and Fujifilm Italy told me they measured that too for stills.

• Fujifilm GFX100 II – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 30mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 110mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama

Jim Kasson Articles:

The first stores in Japan have started to mark the Fujifilm GFX50S II as no longer in production, as reported by the Japanese website asobinet.

No longer in production does not mean you won’t find samples anymore around tomorrow. It is more likely that there will be still stable stock for quite some months ahead.

And yet, this news induces me to share some thoughts about the GFX50SII and the GFX system overall.

The GFX50SII was launched back in September 2021.

During these two years, it was often sold with a $800 discount (as right now), showing that the GFX50SII struggled to sell nearly as well as Fujifilm hoped.

The main drawback: the GFX50SII used the old non BSI sensor of the original GFX50S (and the even older Pentax 645Z)  in times when Fujifilm already offered the GFX100 and GFX100S with modern BSI sensor and 100MP. I guess most people decided to go for the more modern and higher resolution models.

In my opinion, the GFX50SII could have sold much better if only Fujifilm would have kept the retro dials layout of the original GFX50S. It would have differentiated it much more from the rest of the lineup.

And overall, the lack of a proper retro styled cameras in the GFX lineup is one of the big mysteries of our time. It’s Fujifilm’s biggest error and an enormous missed opportunity. Especially in times where there is no significant development on the sensor area, the one thing that can really boost sales for a new camera is offering a different shooting experience, which in the GFX world would mean to offer something different than the usual PSAM layout.

Make no mistake: my Fujifilm GFX100S (now available with record savings) is giving me great joy and it is extremely easy to operate. That’s not the issue. But if Fujifilm would make the camera with exactly the same GFX100S specs but with an X-T layout, I would sell it and go for the Fujifilm GFX100T (imaginary name).

I hope somebody at the higher ranks of the Fujifilm Japan HQ is reading these lines (and they do, they even use FujiRumors surveys for internal meetings).

I know, Fujifilm, you consider PSAM the “safe” approach, as it is more mainstream. But unless you drop a 150MP GFX or a 100MP stacked sensor GFX, you will keep struggling to sell GFX cameras (or be forced to give them huge rebates).

If you decide to stick with the current 100MP BSI sensor (no matter how much you optimise its circuits, AD converters, microlenses, etc), then the best thing to do to create a camera that sells like hot cakes is to offer a different photographic experience. And that camera is called Fujifilm GFX100T or alternatively also the GFX100R.

Trust me on this Fujifilm. Do it, and we will throw our money at you… and my money will be the first to fly to your bank account.

• Fujifilm GFX100S – save $800
  BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Moment / Focuscamera
• GFX 50S II body or w/GF35-70 – save $800
  BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Moment
• GF 32-64mmF4 – save $450
  BHphoto / Adorama / AmazonUS
• GF 45-100mmF4 – save $450
  BHphoto, AmazonUS, Adorama
• GF 100-200mmF5.6 – save $400 
  BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama
• GF 80mmF1.7 – save $450 
  BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / Moment
• GF 110mm F2 – save $550
  BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama

Newest Fujifilm Gear

• Fujifilm GFX100 II – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 30mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 110mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama

• Fujifilm GFX100 II – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama

Fujifilm has shared their Fujifilm GFX100 II centric X Lab episodes.

All Japanese. Google struggles to translate. It’s a pain…

A pain you don’t have to go through. It’s enough if I went through it and summed it up for you.

X Lab Episode 40

• after using the GFX100S (small and lightweight compared to the original GFX100), the developers knew they wanted also the new flagship GFX100II to be smaller and lighter
• usually flagship cameras have an integrated battery grip. Fujifilm wanted to make sure that it does not “lose its dignity” as flagship camera even if it has no integrated battery grip
• the original GFX100 being bigger also gave more design freedom
• Fujfiilm designed the optional grip in a way that, when attached, it sticks very rigidly to the body (it has a little hook on the border of the grip that snaps into the camera body for solid integration)
• main target are professionals
• when designing, 3 Fujifilm designer held a design competition to develop and 3D print several concepts
• they also interviewed photographers to ask about the various concepts
• 11 degree tilted top plate
• Bishamon-Tex texture with tradition Japanese pattern inspired by Bishamon tortoise shell
• people in the factory initially had problems to apply the new Bishamon texture to the camera
• coating that does not scratch
• larger top screen that displays differently if you are in video or stills. Especially the video display has been significantly revised

X Lab Episode 41

• 9.44mDot and 1.0x magnification EVF
• designed in a way that even if you move the eye away from viewfinder, the image will not get distorted. That’s not mentioned in the specs, but is something engineers have put lots of effort into creating
• if for users the EVF is too big, you can make the EVF image smaller in the settings. Might be useful for example for people who wear glasses
• initially they designed the GFX100II with fixed EVF to keep it more compact, but they listened to people and realized it was quite loved by photographers to have the tilt EVF option
• full size HDMI and Ethernet port
• Ethernet port has quite an impact on the internal design of the GFX100II. It would be complicated to implement it on the X-H cameras.
• The IBIS Unit had to be redesigned in order to fit in the Ethernet port
• they struggled until the end to decide where to put the headphone jack, at the end due to space constraints they decided to put it on the grip side
• grip is designed slightly more inwards towards the top
• they needed to redesign the tilt mechanism of the screen to make it compatible with the cooling fan
• created as a piece of equipment to be used by professionals
• refinements on the buttons, the mode dial etc.
• better placement of the MCS focus switch (easier to reach and operate with thumb and also with gloves)

X Lab Episode 42

• First Fujifilm GFX50S was a mid-range machine and it took long to arrive to that shape (admin note: remember the protruding back)
• they decided for medium format sensor (admin note: the true story on how they decided to go medium format instead of full frame can be read here)
• medium format cameras up until then were very expensive and for business use
• Fujifilm wanted to create a camera that can be used also by the general public
• biggest factor was size and weight of GFX50S
• Fujifilm wanted to make it as small as a full frame DSLR
• the most important thing about designing the GFX50S was how to make it easy to hold in the hands, so they spent a lot of time talking about the grip
• they argued also on how wide it should be to assure enough space between grip and a large lens, so that you can still handle it nicely without a large lens getting in the ways of your fingers
• so they cut the side of the GFX50S and inserted several thin plates to make it larger and saw how much wider it had to be (see image here)
• GFX100 there were a lot of challenges to overcome
• First GFX with IBIS (and X-H1 was first X series with IBIS)
• integrated battery grip allowed to put batteries on the bottom
• once the GFX100 was done, Fujifilm thought they needed a way to make it smaller, and to make the shutter mechanism smaller (admin note: that takes a lot of space in the camera)
• they created the GFX100S
• smaller motors (see GFX100S shutter vs GFX50R shutter in this image)
• smaller shutter allowed it to keep IBIS, a smaller IBIS unit
• they also used a smaller and yet powerful battery, the NP-W235
• smaller shutter, smaller IBIS and smaller battery made the GFX100S possible
• GFX100II is undoubtedly a flagship model
• optional battery grip allows for 3 batteries total
• Fujifilm wanted to offer a great photographic experience
• 3 function buttons placed conveniently behind the shutter release button
• top LCD has evolved to match the needs of photographers: larger, more pixels, changed shape to match the UI and just overall improved ease of use

X Lab Episode 43

• they talk about the design of the grip again across various GFX models
• they talk about the amazing resolution starting from the original GFX50S
• initially models didn’t like it, because too much resolution, but then Fujifilm added the Skin Smooth Effect

Get Yours

• Fujifilm GFX100 II – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 30mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama
• GF 110mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift – New
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama

Original Videos