Medium Format :: Leaf Shutter or Focal Plane Shutter? – POLL *** And What Will Change with the Global Shutter

ok, before I sell a kidney, let’s try it this way…

Focal Plane Shutter Vs. Leaf Shutter

The last 10 days where really busy “Fujifilm GFX” days here on FujiRumors. And all the specs we have heard are nice and good, but the biggest talk is definitely about the focal plane shutter (compared to the Hasselblad X1D leaf shutter).

But first, let’s just quickly wrap up the PROs and CONs of leaf and focal plane shutters:

Focal Plane Shutter:
+ faster shutter speeds wide open
+ adapting third-party lenses (GFX works with leaf shutter lenses and regular lenses)
+ cheaper, smaller & less complex lens design
– bigger camera body
– limited sync speed for flash work

Leaf Shutter:
+ smaller camera body
+ higher sync speeds
+ more quite then focal plane shutter
– lenses are bigger and more expensive due to the build in leaf shutter mechanism in every lens
– adapting third-party lenses (X1D works only with leaf shutter lenses)
– slower shutter speeds wide open

Everyone of you has obviously his/her priorities, so depending on what your needs are, you might prefer a leaf shutter or a focal plane shutter. Just drop your vote in this Poll and let us know.

*Fujifilm Reads You!
See the original FujiRumors Poll, that Fujfiilm used in an official presentation to the Press

I prefer a Medium Format Mirrorless Camera with...

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_ _ _

Global Shutter

Ok… did you vote the Poll? Well done!

Now, this is a rumor site, and it’s in my nature to always look ahead at what the future could bring us. And today I’d like to talk more clearly about something, that I’ve already hinted in this Hasselblad Vs. Fujifilm article…. the global shutter. [The Global Shutter keeps the virtues of the electronic shutter – no shutter sound and ultra fast shutter speed – and at the same avoids motion blur – no rolling shutter effect – ].

The Global Shutter is no science ficition thing. Sony already uses it since 2015 for their security camera business and also Panasonic has announced its development in an official press release of March 2016.

The question is not “if” it will come also for professional high-end cameras, but “when”. And if we can trust this rumor, then we could see it become real in 2018/2019.

Once companies will start implementing the global shutter in their cameras, then Fujifilm will be able to get rid of the mechanical shutter, and build an even smaller and more compact Medium Format camera… Hasselblad X1D small. With one more advantage: the lens design can remain the same of the current GF Lenses: no leaf shutter, less complex, smaller… and cheaper.

And if the global shutter works well also for flash work (and it should), then also the leaf shutter should become obsolete.

If all this becomes true in the next few years (and my crystall ball says this is very likely), then we will look back and maybe also those, who consider the lack of leaf shutter an error, will change opinion on that… and just be happy they got great Fujinon GF glass for a cheaper price (and more compact) then it would be with leaf shutter.

And for the immediate future, Fujifilm will offer to those, who absolutely need leaf shutter for their flash work, an adapter for Hasselblad HC leaf shutter lenses (with autofocus support)…. so the best of both worlds: leaf shutter or focal plane shutter… you use what you need.

The Giants’ Battle: Fujifilm GFX Vs. Hasselblad X1D – Where the X1D beats the GFX and Vice Versa (Size Comparison Included)

fujifilm-gfx-vs-hasselblad-x1d fujifilm-gfx-vs-hasselblad-x1d-2

A FR-reader send me these two Fujifilm GFX Vs. Hasselblad X1D Size Comparisons. Feel free to make some more of these ;)

Fujifilm GFX Vs. Hasselblad X1D

Commenting a video of Matt Granger, my buddy at mirrorlessrumors listed a few points, where he thinks the Hasselblad X1C 50c beats the Fujifilm GFX 50S

  1. It’s available now while the GFX will be available in no less than six months
  2. The X1D-50c is a bit more compact than the Fuji
  3. The Hasselblad lenses do have leaf shutter
  4. The Hasselblad  goes up to 25,600 ISO (1 stop more than the Fuji)
  5. That’s personal: Without having used the respective menus it looks like the Hasselblad menu is…nicer
    …. and let me add…
  6. Not limited to 125x Synch Speed thanks to leaf shutter.

It’s quite early for any real comparison, since just a bunch of people could actually hold the GFX for a few minutes only. But there are a few things we can clearly list as advantages for the Fujifilm GFX, or where it can keep up with the X1D. Some of the points have been shared in this X1D Vs GFX post on the Fujifilm GFX facebook group.

Of course we appreciate any addition or corrections.

  1. The Fujifilm GFX will be cheaper (body+lens+viewfinder “way under” $10,000 – that’s Fuji’s word) – that’s quite a bit cheaper than the Hasselblad X1D
  2. The Fujifilm GFX has a higher resolution viewfinder  (2.36M-dot Vs. 3.69 M-dot) and maybe also a bigger one. For sure the one of the GFX is massive (0.85x magnification compared to 0.77x of X-T2), but I couldn’t find any data regarding the Hasselblad magnification at their official Specs page here.
  3. The GFX viewfinder can be articulted thanks to an adapter.
  4. The GFX has a 3 way tilting screen (Hasselblad fixed screen)
  5. The GFX shoots Full-HD at 30fps (the Hasselblad at 25 fps)
  6. The GFX has an electronic shutter (Hasselblad currently not. We don’t know if they will provide it with a future firmware. Hasselblad didn’t make any statements about this)
  7. Controls: The GFX has Shutter, ISO and Aperture dials… and a little Top LCD panel
  8. The new G mount has twelve electronic lens contacts, which will be very useful when it comes to adapting third-party lenses
  9. There will be several adapters that will allow you to connect also leaf shutter lenses for flash work, including a Hasselblad HC adapter with leaf shutter, electronic aperture and AF-support.
  10. Having a focal plane shutter, allows you to use also third party lenses that have no leaf shutter
  11. The focal plane shutter allows Fuji to produce more affordable lenses with less complexity. And always keep in mind…  Global Shutter is the future anyway… ;)
  12. The max. shutter speed of the X1D is 1/2000 only (1/4000 for the Fuji GFX)
  13. Hasselblad is still trying to survive as a company, whereas Fujifilm on the other hand is healthier… so more guarantee that the system will survive in the long-term.
  14. The battery slides into the body from the left side rather than into the grip (like on the X1D)…which is the reason for the thickness…and more useful when the battery grip is attached or when it’s on a tripod
  15. Fujifilm Film Simulations ;)

We can’t coment on speed now, since the GFX is still an early prototype, nor on other things that strongly depend on your personal taste (like the look or the menu layout). And we also don’t know about things like overheating etc. So to me what remains are 2 advantages for the X1D

  1. size & weight (725g Vs. 800g – that’s at least what Kai said in his GFX first look)
  2. leaf shutter lenses for flash work

However consider this:

  1. Regarding the size & weight, the compactness has its price: no tilting screen, probably smaller EVF, no top LCD panel, no shutter/Iso dial, no focal plane shutter…
  2. Regarding leaf shutter, as said above, Fujifilm will release a Hasselblad HC adapter with leaf shutter, electronic aperture and AF-support – Rico’s word. So advantage number 2 is just temporary and will be solved in future.

Overall, my very personal impression is that the Fujifilm GFX looks more like a flexible workhorse compared to the Hasselblad, whereas the X1D is definitely a modern and stylish alternative.

Both cameras are innovative products, both companies took a nice risk… and I wish both success in their Medium Format adventure.

Fuji GFX Vs. Sony A7r (Size) ** Hasselblad X1D Vs. Fuji GFX (Thoughts) ** Instax Square Special Site + Instax Mini Special Edition

WexUK – General Introduction to the Fujifilm GFX, showing it next to the Sony A7r (min 0:50 to 1:00)  on youtube

Just a quick and dirty roundup before I go to my school:

  • Fujifilm GFX hands on at the Spanish site dslrmagazine (translation)
  • Hasselblad sold more X1D cameras in 10 days, than they expected to sell in a year… and what the said about the Fujifilm GFX at mirrorlessrumors
  • (Not Real Life Comparison) Comparing The Fujifilm GFX 50S To The Hasselblad X1D – At First Glance at slrlounge
  • Instax Square Special Site here
  • Instax Mini MICHAEL KORS Limited Edition – via photoxels

And for Fujifilm X-T2 hunters… here is an overview, where you can find it in USA right now.

Fujifilm X-T2: USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / CANADA: AmazonCA / EUROPE: AmazonDE / Calumentphoto DE / AmazonUK / AmazonITA / AmazonFR / AmazonESP / PCHstore / WexUK / AUSTRALIA: CameraPro

cheers
Fuji X Forum, Facebook, RSS-feed and Twitter

sony-fui

zzz

Fujifilm GFX: dpreview Interviews Fuji Manager Toshihisa Iida: “We Pursue Ultimate Image Quality!”

dpreview just published its interview with the probably the most known Fujifilm Manager when it comes to the X-series, Toshihisa Iida (which I had the pleasure to cross during my stay at Photokina. He actually looked at me quite firmly – he must have thought, who’s that guy, who looks so ugly, like he didn’t sleep for an entire week).

It’s an interesting talk. I will summarize it in short here for those, who don’t have time now for a 6:40 minutes long video, because you’re reading this on a crowded subway on your phone or you are at work… or any other reason.

  • we will continue to focus on APS-C format
  • it was a good timing to go bigger
  • the gap between APS-C and Full Frame is too narrow
  • APS-C can cover majority of photography
  • We are still missing the very top resolution in still image quality. Full Frame for us is a very little point, so we decided to go even bigger to pursue ultimate image quality
  • our sensor is 44×33, that’s 70% lager than Full Frame.
  • if you have a mirror, the flange distance is normally of 70mm. The GFX has a flange distance of 26.7mm.
  • the construcion of the new G-mount, allows us to make smaller lenses, because the rear lens can approach to the sensor even closer so that minimum back focus required would be 16.7mm. So the whole lens is made small.
  • The biggest challange is the sensor size. The sensor has to capture the light as straigt as possible. In order to do that, we optimized the microlens on the surface of the sensor
  • X-Trans works perfect for APS-C. Not having the X-Trans sensor, will reduce the complexity of signal processing, so RAW file conversion and workflow will get much easier, so we decided, for this moment, we go with Bayer.
  • Adapters for other MF lenses? Not now. But in the future, yes, that’s totally feasible
  • Number 1 priority are stills. But this camera will do Full-HD, but not 4K.
  • I hope lot of photographers will be interested. Clear audience are landscape photographers, fashion portrait photographers or commercial photographers
  • Release body + three lenses early next year

DigitalRev Fujifilm GFX First Look: “It’s just Phenomenal” + Why it Needs No X-Trans… and A Lot More!

DigitalRev Fujifilm GFX First Look: “It’s just Phenomenal” + Why it Needs No X-Trans… and A Lot More!

Fujifilm GFX50S Hands-on First Impressions at digitalrev youtube

  • AF Speed is decent, but not extraodrinaly fast
  • Shutter sound is quite
  • We can’t take images out of the camera, but I can just tell you from looking through the viewfinder… it’s awesome!
  • well balanced and easier than some high end DSLR’s
  • Full Frame Video is dead ;)

Ok, before I share the next bunch of GFX tidbits, I really recommend you to check back this article by Rico Pfirstinger. Once you’ve read it, I will promise you will know everything that is possible to know about the Fujifilm GFX… and also about its future development. It’s a 360° overview, with really nothing left behind. You’ll basically know everything after reading it.

Feel free to join also out Fujifilm GFX facebook group

Fujifilm GFX Roundup

The Japanese site dc.watch (translation) shared its hands-on article with a lot of images, for example:

  • GFX is equipped to support leaf shutter lenses. Fuji has no current plans to release leaf shutter lenses or adapters, but will release the specs to support other manufacturers to do so.
  • image of the little LCD on the Top (that never turns off) here
  • image of the accessory and battery door here
  • the battery here
  • Dual SD-card slot here
  • the detachable EVF here
  • body without EVF here

Adorama had a short interview with Fuji Guy Billy here:

  • It’s called GFX. G (our MF heritage) F (heritage in film and film simulations) X (X-DNA – dials, design etc.)
  • Traditionally, X-series cameras use X-Trans sensors without low-pass filter. So you can achieve very sharp images reducing moiree. But the big GFX 50MP Medium Format Bayer sensor allows Fuji do get rid of the low-pass filter without having moiree.
  • It is a customized sensor by Fujifilm

Newsshooter had a talk with Theo, from Fujifilm UK. Amongst the others, he says here:

  • We went Medium Format, because with Full Frame we would have cannibalized our APS-C line
  • We think the GFX will appeal more to Full Frame DSLR user rather than just traditional Medium Format users
  • It will have video, but no quality announcement so far (but Rico has the answer)

Hands on Video of Digital Photo Pro youtube