Fujifilm has released firmware updates for lots of Fujifilm X and GFX series cameras. A highlight is definitely the Blackmagic RAW support for Fujifilm GFX100 and Fujifilm GFX100S.
2021 was a definitely a GFX year, mainly thanks to the launch of the Fujifilm GFX100S and the Fujifilm GFX50SII. So let’s give this wonderful system a dedicated and major roundup.
newsshooter – Large format cinematography in a small package: Tokina Vista lenses on Fujifilm GFX100
blog.kasson – Copying watercolors with the GFX 100
TT Artisan 11mm Fisheye on the GFX100s
by FR-reader Neil
I have attached some images taken with the TT Artisan 11mm Fisheye on the GFX100s so that people can see what to expect. Images are reduced to 2048 pixels on the long side for ease of email. (full size can be sent by WeTransfer if required.)
Image 1. Straight Out Of Camera converted to jpeg – No Editing. You can see the dark corners and blue fringing in the top corners.
Image 2. Edited in Capture One Pro 21. Lens Correction >Distortion set to Maximum sorts out the corners but keeps the Barrel Distortion look.
Image 3. Affinity Photo – Lens Distortion (Go Pro Hero 3-Black) applied and it gives a good rectilinear fisheye look. (Thanks YouTuber for the Go Pro settings for this lens body combination.)
The rest of the Blacksmith in action shots using the 30mm and 45-100 are better looking images, these are to show the different stages of editing you can get with the TT Fisheye. It is a cheap, well built lens that is up there with the top brand names for image quality (but all Manual – no electronics.)
And this happened, despite talented “internet reviewers” showing us with their stunningly artistic test shots that only full frame can produce professional results.
And honestly, I totally agree for example with Sir. Jared, who delivered this very in depth and elaborated answer to a guy, who wanted to switch to Fujifilm: “Fuji, LOL?”
I mean, how can you argue with that?
And yet, despite all the effort reviewers put into telling us that only full frame can deliver professional results, it keeps happening!!!
It keeps happening that Fujifilm X shooters out there win prestigious photography awards.
In fact, the The Royal Observatory Greenwich assigned the Astronomy Photo Award2021 to Shuchang Dong, who took this wonderful image with his Fujifilm X-T4 in Tibet during a total solar eclipse in mid-2020. Here is what the Royal Greenwich Observatory had to say about the image:
This image demonstrates both the beauty and simplicity of an eclipse, but also the science behind this astronomical event. Our sun can still be seen as a ring circling the Moon as it passes in front of the Sun, and mountains on the lunar surface can be seen hiding some of this light on the lower righthand portion of the image. This is a stunning achievement!”
For a moment I had a doubt, that maybe it’s more important to spend time to go out and take pictures, trying to be in the right moment at the right spot. But no, definitely not. All that matters is the gear you use ;).
Anyway, if are like Shuchang, if you also do astrophotography with your Fujifilm gear, then check out our astrophotography facebook group.
P.S.: X-Trans cameras are fantastic for Astrophotography ;)
In this case, Fujifilm has not pre-announced anything, which is a clear indication that it will be a minor firmware update. So don’t get too hyped about it.
You can see the video above and read the summary below.
In short: There is no competition. It makes no sense to even try to compare anything APS-C related to Fujifilm right now. It is hands down the best APS-C choice and dominates in basically every area, except one: autofocus.
To be clear, it focuses great, all cameras in this shootout do. But where it is not on par with Sony and Canon so far, it’s autofocus tracking.
Handling
Fujifilm X-T4: good grip and nice dial execution. You can still use it like a DSLR via front and back dial. Lots of versatility
Nikon Z50
Canon M6 II
Sony A6600
Displays
Fujifilm X-T4: best display. Touch screen with full articulation. Nice EVF
Nikon Z50
Canon M6 II
Sony A6600
Autofocus
All cameras have very good autofocus.
Sony A6600
Canon M6 II
Fujifilm X-T4: very much improved AF, especially face and eye AF. Performs very well. The tracking is not as sticky, though
Nikon Z50
Image Quality
Fujifilm X-T4: love 26MP sensor. Good low light performance and dynamic range. Fast readout with minimal rolling shutter which makes electronic shutter more useful. Great JPEG’s and film simulations. X-Trans does not play very nice with Adobe software. But DPRTV uses Capture One, and that works great
Canon M6 II
Sony A6600
Nikon Z50
Battery Life
Sony A6600
Fujifilm X-T4: NP-W235 battery. USB-C charging
Nikon Z50
Canon M6 II
Video
Fujifilm X-T4: killer video camera. Internal 10bit recording. 4K60p. IBIS. Fully articulating screen. ETERNA profile. USB-C dongle for headphones. by far the best camera
Sony A6600
Nikon Z50
Canon M6 II
Final Rankings
Fujifilm X-T4: most expensive of the bunch. Higher specs than the other cameras. Fujifilm has invested strongly in APS-C. Complete lineup. Lots of lenses. Professional body. Nice styling. Nice to use and to own.
FR-reader Moritz made me notice on Twitter here, that a couple of weeks ago MacOS Big Sur added uncompressed RAW support for additional Fujifilm cameras.
This means you can now edit RAW files from Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10 and more in all major image editing apps on iPad as well as apps on macOS that use the RAW engine provided by iOS (Apple Core Image RAW), such as Affinity Photo or one of my favorites, RAW Power.