Fujifilm’s $10Okay GFX100 is probably the most versatile medium-format digital camera ever – CNET

The GFX100 is considerably bigger than the GFX 50S.

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Fujifilm follows up its 50-megapixel mirrorless medium-format GFX 50S and 50R fashions with the 102MP GFX100, each the least- and most-Fujifilm-like digital camera the corporate’s delivered in fairly some time. It is pure Fujifilm in the best way it issues: very X-T3-like autofocus with fast-for-its-class steady capturing, 4K video seize, plus the fascinating five-axis sensor-shift picture stabilization functionality that it briefly debuted in final 12 months’s X-H1 however did not seem in subsequent cameras. 

Oh, and the digital camera is the primary to include a medium-format BSI (bottom illuminated) sensor, the structure now utilized by lots of the cameras delivery immediately which permits higher low gentle sensitivity and the efficiency essential to shoot 4K video or focus monitoring whereas steady capturing.

Its $10,000 price ticket — equal to about £7,896 and AU$14,550 — appears roughly what you’d anticipate given Fujifilm’s different fashions. Whether or not or not it is value it will depend on a number of unknowns, together with the sensor’s dynamic vary, picture high quality and common efficiency. The digital camera is slated to ship by the tip of June.

Similar to stepping up from a mainstream digital camera with an APS-C-size sensor to a bigger full-frame mannequin, upping from full-frame to medium format offers advantages like shallower depth-of-field for a given lens aperture and (normally) broader dynamic vary due to the bigger sensor, despite the fact that they cram extra pixels into the sensor.

Shot with a preproduction model of the GFX100 (and scaled down so much). As a result of the uncooked software program was not but prepared, we solely had entry to JPEGs, so cannot actually make any determinations in regards to the sensor or picture high quality, 

Lori Grunin/CNET

Within the brief time I bought to make use of it, the autofocus appeared fairly snappy. Nevertheless it’s unattainable to attract any conclusions from the handful of JPEG photographs I shot besides that they are massive and sharp with fairly colours — all fully unsurpising.

Highlights embrace:

As much as DCI 4K/30p video (it makes use of the complete width of the sensor), with four:2:zero Eight-bit inner or four:2:2 10-bit exterior with most video capabilities identical because the X-T3.5fps steady capturing with focus monitoring at full decision and 14-bit colour (commonplace is 16 bits) utilizing Fujifilm’s X-Processor four, the identical quad-core processor that is within the X-T3. Whereas 5fps could not sound like a lot, it is virtually zippy in comparison with different medium-format fashions.On-sensor phase-detection autofocus (about three.Eight million PD sensors) overlaying nearly 100% of the body plus the 425-point distinction autofocus because the GFX 50S. Focus sensitivity as little as -2 EV.Native sensitivity of ISO 100 – ISO 12800, with growth right down to ISO 50 and as much as ISO 102400, much like the GFX 50SThe identical three.7MP OLED viewfinder because the GFX 50SDust and climate resistanceDual UHS-II SD card slots, mic and headphone jacks and a USB-C connection

The GFX100 veers from Fujifilm custom with its design — in a great way. It sports activities no retro digital camera dials and has built-in vertical grip that holds two batteries. 

Bodily dials are extra a curse than a blessing for capturing video, on the very least since you need totally different presets or defaults for stills and video and the bodily dials override these. And mirrorless cameras’ battery life is dangerous sufficient usually, with the sensor stabilizer draining them much more, that you just need to carry multiples; the GFX100’s rated life is 800 photographs for a pair. 

In actual fact, the physique design bears little resemblance to the sooner GFX fashions. All informed, the GFX100 is roughly the scale and weight of the full-frame Nikon D5, although you’ll be able to take away the viewfinder for those who select. Not solely is the sensor massive in comparison with a full-frame — it is 43.Eight x 32.Eight mm in comparison with 36 x 24mm — but it surely’s floating within the stabilization mechanism, so the entire unit takes up fairly a little bit of house.

However Fujifilm could not let go of its shutter pace and ISO dials solely. The highest show cycles via a number of readouts, certainly one of which presents you with digital variations of the 2 dials. I discovered them somewhat glitchy to make use of — when rotating I would find yourself on the mistaken settings due to the best way the show up to date, although they have been preproduction models so that will change. However in addition they appeared pointless.

A drive mode button and mode change sits on the left shoulder, whereas the again controls are fairly typical Fujifilm. It incorporates the multi-angle tilting contact show because the X-T3; whereas it is good to have the potential, I’ve all the time discovered the implementation somewhat cumbersome to make use of rapidly and exactly. 

It additionally has the duplicate setting show you’d discover on a professional mannequin just like the D5 or the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, and each the horizontal and vertical grips are comfy sufficient to deal with the load of the physique and the lens, very like the GFX 50 collection. The off-center viewfinder means it feels totally different capturing horizontally than it does vertically, which can trouble some individuals.

The GFX fashions have all the time felt like probably the most mainstream of the medium-format cameras — even the “informal” Hasselblad X1D felt prefer it belonged within the studio greater than the road — and the capabilities added within the GFX100 make it appear to be an ideal step up from a full-frame mannequin — dSLR or mirrorless — for occasion images.  I hope Fujifilm decides to deliver the pace and flexibility right down to a decrease decision like 50MP, and due to this fact a lower cost.

$5,499

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