FUJIFILM GFX100 II » Michael Clark Pictures

Disclaimer: Whereas I’m not considered one of Fujifilm’s X-Photographers, I used to be paid to work with the FUJIFILM GFX 100 II on an task in the summertime of 2023 as a part of the launch for this digicam. I would like my readers to pay attention to this up entrance. With that in thoughts, additionally know that the unique GFX 100 and GFX 100S have been my foremost cameras since 2019 and the GFX 100 II will likely be a really welcome addition. As such, I’m actually biased. I’m all the time on the lookout for one of the best picture high quality and one of the best digicam for my wants. For those who want or need this caliber of digicam, I extremely counsel making an attempt it out to see if it is going to be just right for you and your wants.

Having labored with the the FUJIFILM GFX100 II on task for the launch of this digicam, I assumed I’d share my ideas on the digicam although I used to be clearly working with a prototype pre-production digicam. The digicam I labored with was handmade in Japan, expressly for the needs of making photos to advertise the manufacturing digicam that was formally introduced yesterday. 

As soon as the digicam is offered as a full manufacturing digicam—and I’ve had a while to work with the complete manufacturing digicam—I’ll come again and replace this preview making it a full evaluation. As that is my third time within the final 5 years working with pre-production GFX cameras for the launch (GFX 100, GFX 100S and now the GFX 100 II) I’ve fairly a little bit of confidence that the manufacturing cameras will carry out considerably higher than the digicam I labored with to create the whitewater kayaking photos for this launch. Let’s get to the specifics. 

Ergonomics

For my part, the brand new GFX 100 II is a stunningly lovely digicam. It has lovely traces and the structure of the buttons and dials is nearly excellent. I can’t discover any fault with the ergonomics or the structure of the digicam. It feels just like the GFX 100 II physique was milled out of a stable piece of steel and might survive nearly any abuse. It’s amazingly stable feeling. I’d say that the GFX 100 II has one of the best ergonomics of any GFX digicam made to this point—and I say that after rigorously contemplating all the opposite earlier cameras.

The digicam physique weighs in at 1,050 grams (2.31 kilos) and looks like probably the most sturdy GFX digicam they’ve ever made. The highest plate is angled again making it very aesthetic and straightforward to learn from the highest. The rubber on the digicam physique has a brand new and distinctive texture that feels safe and good within the fingers. The bigger display screen on the highest proper reveals every part it’s essential to know at a look and likewise has icons that signify what the three customized operate buttons are simply behind the shutter launch. 

When it comes to the dealing with, it has an exquisite grip—my favourite to date amongst all of the GFX cameras. The buttons are superbly made and really feel fairly a bit increased class than these on earlier GFX cameras. I additionally love that the digicam strap attachment is flush with the digicam so nothing stands proud and your strap simply goes proper by way of the slots. It was defined to me that this can be a huge deal since area is at a premium contained in the digicam physique. The battery door and card slot door are similar to the GFX 100S although the GFX 100 II makes use of each the CFExpress Kind B and SD reminiscence playing cards. I would favor if it had two CFExpress Kind B reminiscence card slots however I completely perceive why Fujifilm went this route. 

The viewfinder, as with the earlier GFX 100, is detachable. I’ve to say the brand new viewfinder appears to be like very svelte and trendy. It matches the digicam physique rather well and appears so effectively fitted that you simply overlook it will possibly truly come off the digicam physique. Nicely finished Fujifilm. The digicam physique has a full HD port and a USB-C charging port as effectively. It additionally has a microphone, distant jack and an ethernet port on the left aspect of the digicam physique. I’m guessing you’ll be able to join headphones to the USB-C port with an adapter or through the battery grip. 

I didn’t get the grip after I labored with the digicam however I’ve seen it on the launch occasion and it appears to be like very effectively thought out and the ergonomics felt nice to me. I’m glad to see that Fujifilm left the grip as an optionally available accent and didn’t construct it in. This isn’t an excellent light-weight digicam however I recognize the power to take the physique with out the additional grip for after I need to go a bit lighter (and particularly when I’ve to hike with the digicam). 

Autofocus

Let’s dive into the subject I’m positive everybody needs to learn about. The autofocus on the earlier GFX 100 and GFX 100s was one of the best ever seen in any medium format cameras to this point. I can fortunately report that the autofocus within the new GFX 100 II is way superior past these earlier variations. I can say that in my brief time with the digicam, it’s the solely medium format digicam I’ve ever seen that may reliably and precisely observe a transferring topic with the autofocus. That’s not to say that it’s on par with the smaller FUJIFILM XH2s or the Nikon Z9, Canon R3 or R5, or the Sony A1. These are in a unique league. However, it appeared fairly succesful monitoring the kayakers which is not any small feat. On this task with the pre-production digicam I had a grand whole of a dozen or so out-of-focus photos out of greater than 3,200 shot over the 4 days. That’s fairly unbelievable. 

It isn’t simply that the monitoring autofocus capabilities are vastly improved, the topic detection capabilities of this digicam are very good and are additionally massively improved. Even with the kayakers comparatively small within the body as proven under, I switched into the face detection mode after that they had run the waterfall, and it picked up their heads immediately and tracked them all around the body as I recomposed and fired away at 8 fps. There was plenty of transferring water within the background—a wall of whitewater—and the topic detection stayed proper on their heads the entire time with no hesitation. I used to be very, very impressed. And there have been zero out of focus photographs out of the hundred or extra frames I shot of them paddling to shore. 

When it comes to the autofocus when creating portraits, usually on the GFX 100 and 100s, I’d use the attention detection however all the time keep in AF-S mode. I discovered that to be the higher alternative with a better hit charge for static portraits. With the GFX 100 II I selected to try it out and see the way it did in AF-C mode at f/1.7 on the GF 80mm F/1.7 lens. There have been undoubtedly a number of photographs the place it caught the eyelash and never the attention, however that topic did have a pronounced eyebrow and deep-set eyes. All in all, it did means higher than the older GFX cameras and only a few photos weren’t 100% tack sharp on the eyes. I must do extra testing however even on this brief time with the digicam it’s markedly improved. 

Even the “auto” autofocus mode—the place the digicam selects the topic—appears fairly improved. I by no means actually used this with the unique 100 or the 100S however gave it a attempt on the GFX 100 II and was fairly impressed. Given how effectively it labored I would use this a bit extra typically, particularly for much off topics in the same aircraft of focus as have been the kayakers once they descended the waterfall. One other cool new autofocus function is you’ll be able to create your individual personalized autofocus Zones. Any dimension autofocus zone you need will be created and tailor-made to your topic. There are such a lot of choices already on Fujifilm’s cameras (by way of AF modes) that I didn’t do this out however I assumed I’d point out it right here. 

The reality is, I gave it a fairly intense spherical of autofocus exams on this launch task however I’ve to do extra testing and have extra time with the complete manufacturing digicam to actually make an evaluation of the autofocus capabilities on the subject of monitoring transferring topics. However, my preliminary impressions are that it’s massively improved from all earlier GFX cameras and light-years past some other medium format cameras available on the market. Hasselblad and Section One’s autofocus capabilities are within the stone age compared. 

All of this autofocus goodness additionally works within the video modes as effectively. I didn’t check that out however I’m positive there will likely be others who’ve finished so if not already, comparatively quickly. I do know within the video world that utilizing autofocus when capturing movement footage will not be the norm, however as cameras get higher and higher it is going to develop into the norm quickly. 

The fact is that every part is quicker with this digicam, and the autofocus is simply a part of that large overhaul of the unique GFX 100. It is vitally obvious that Fujifilm has discovered rather a lot with the X-H2s and the X-H2 by way of easy methods to dial within the autofocus algorithm and naturally maximizing the brand new processing chips. That has been carried over into the GFX 100 II. I’d say that is the primary medium format motion digicam. And with eight frames-per-second, I can {photograph} much more motion with this digicam than I’ve been capable of with the earlier era GFX cameras. 

Body Price and Buffer

One of many huge headlines for this digicam is that it will possibly fireplace at 8 frames per second (fps) in mechanical shutter mode and as much as 8.8 fps in digital mode (albeit in a cropped configuration). For me, an motion digicam has to have no less than 8 fps. That has been the minimal customary in my thoughts for years. I’ve labored with much less, however 8 fps appears to be the edge for a critical motion digicam. Therefore, I used to be very glad to see this spec within the pre-production data a number of months earlier than the task. I additionally gave enter a number of years upfront that no less than 8 fps can be actually thrilling, however I don’t know if that was actually relayed to the engineers. I’m positive that they had plenty of enter from many various photographers on that side of the digicam up to now.

The truth that we will have a 102 MP digicam firing away at 8 frames per second in uncooked is fairly darn thrilling—and completely thoughts blowing. I’ve to say I’m extra impressed with this than a 50 MP digicam taking pictures at 20 fps in uncooked. I do know the brand new CFExpress reminiscence playing cards are an enormous a part of this however they aren’t the entire story. The readout velocity of the sensor has been massively improved to permit this, the shutter has been strengthened so it doesn’t blow up, and the digicam’s processor is far quicker to assist switch all that date effectively to the reminiscence card. Your complete knowledge relay chain has been souped up much better than I might have ev­er hoped for. Proven under is a sequence of photos captured at 8 fps.

Once I first acquired the GFX 100 II, the primary check I ran was a buffer check as that will be vital to this task and photographing high-end, fast-paced motion. I put in my Sony G Collection CFExpress Kind B card (their fasted card) and mashed down on the shutter launch. I absolutely anticipated to get perhaps 25 to 35 photographs earlier than hitting the buffer, however I used to be blow away after I acquired over 100 frames earlier than it slowed down—after which it solely slowed down to five or 6 fps. As this was a pre-production digicam I’ve since discovered on the launch that the buffer for the manufacturing digicam permits for over 300 photos (taking pictures in RAW Lossless Compressed) at eight frames per second which is completely astounding. In RAW compressed you’ll be able to stand up to 325 photos at 8 fps earlier than the buffer kicks in and slows the digicam right down to a barely slower body charge–and bear in mind these are all 102 MP 14-bit picture recordsdata. In Jpeg mode at 8 fps you will get over 1,000 frames earlier than hitting the buffer. And at 5 fps in Lossless Compressed Uncooked or Jpeg there basically isn’t a buffer as it’s limitless. 

The buffer together with the body charge means this digicam is a critical motion rig. In fact, this additionally means you may be producing an unbelievable quantity of information and must have very quick onerous drives to effectively obtain and again up the recordsdata. Working with this digicam at 8 fps will not be in contrast to working with a RED Digital Cinema digicam by way of knowledge. All these megapixels add up quick. 

Heck, even my decently quick M1 Apple Macbook Professional took a bit longer than typical to render previews for the GFX 100 II photos as a result of there have been so a lot of them—and maybe as a result of I used to be working with a beta-version of Seize One that might truly open the uncooked recordsdata. We’ll see the way it goes when the manufacturing digicam will get right here however this mixture of velocity and backbone will tax even one of the best computer systems so patrons remember. It isn’t that the recordsdata are any bigger than the older GFX 102 MP photos however simply which you could seize so many photos so shortly which may overwhelm a pc when importing and sluggish the workflow down a bit. The brand new M2 Macs are wanting like a fairly stable for those who want an improve.

Picture High quality

The GFX 100 II has a brand new and improved sensor, however it’s nonetheless the identical 102 MP decision because the older GFX 100 and GFX 100S. A couple of years in the past among the engineers and high execs at Fujifilm requested me (and I’m positive many different photographers) what I’d need in a brand new, up to date GFX 100. Would you like extra megapixels? Or would you like a quicker body charge and the identical decision? In addition they requested about different issues that wanted to be improved—and I responded that I’d personally favor a quicker digicam with the identical decision and improved autofocus. Nicely, we acquired that quicker digicam with improved autofocus, however they didn’t cease there. 

With the brand new GFX 100 II sensor Fujifilm has elevated the dynamic vary in 16-bit mode by 30%. That may be a fairly large share. I examined that out with the portraits the place the topic was standing within the shade and the intense, absolutely lit waterfall was within the background. Whereas it was onerous to evaluate how a lot of an enchancment there truly is by way of the sensors dynamic vary, I can say that the it dealt with that scenario with ease. 

The GFX 100 II additionally has a decrease base ISO—ISO 80. I check this out and shot most of the portraits at this decrease ISO. I haven’t finished sufficient testing to understand how a lot of an enchancment that is from the bottom ISO 100 within the older cameras—the brand new digicam could have barely much less shot noise I’m guessing. But additionally, this lets you drop right down to ISO 40 within the low mode, which could be very helpful for creating movement blur photos and utilizing strobes outdoor.

I’ve additionally been informed that Fujifilm improved the standard of the 16-bit recordsdata extra than simply the dynamic vary. They be aware that the brand new sensor can reproduce robust tones higher than older GFX cameras. I’m guessing these robust tones are neon colours, that are an issue for all digital cameras, and maybe different extra delicate tones that I’m not absolutely conscious of. I didn’t check this out however thought I’d point out it right here so readers are conscious of all of the work Fujifilm has finished to improve the sensor. Additionally, they’ve tweaked the micro lenses to extend sharpness within the corners as effectively.

In any other case, so far as I can inform, the picture high quality remains to be phenomenal—because it has been with the opposite 102 MP GFX sensors. The brand new and improved In-Physique Picture Stabilization (IBIS), which stabilizes the digicam sensor, additionally helps to get sharp photos at even decrease shutter speeds than I used to be capable of work with on the older fashions. There’s now as much as 8 stops of IBIS relying on which lens you utilize. We’ll focus on the IBIS extra under. However suffice it to say that the GFX 100 II will not be solely probably the most superior medium format digicam available on the market however probably the most usable by way of efficiency and picture high quality. Certain, there are bigger, increased decision picture sensors in a number of different cameras (that value greater than even a luxurious automotive) however these cameras just about must be on a tripod and have such poor autofocus as to be unusable for something however nonetheless life, panorama pictures and studio portraits. 

Every so often, when I’m educating a pictures workshop and I’m tethered to a pc making a studio portrait, I warn everybody, “Remember, when you see this picture high quality you can’t unsee it.” Most photographers don’t have any clue how unbelievable the photographs are popping out of the GFX cameras. They’re undoubtedly a critical step up from 35mm “full body” cameras—and that’s the total cause I began utilizing them. 

Viewfinder

Along with all the opposite upgrades, that Fujifilm left no stone unturned with the GFX 100 II and that additionally extends to the digital viewfinder. The brand new 9.44 million dot digital viewfinder (EVF) is completely attractive. I’ve by no means seen a viewfinder that’s this huge and appears so crisp in some other digicam. Granted I’ve not appeared by way of each EVF on the market, however I’ve appeared by way of a number of different 9.44 MP EVFs they usually didn’t look this good.

I by no means discovered it to lag behind the transferring topic and there are additionally modes to place it into 120 Hz (fps) and moreover 240 Hz (fps) if wanted. As well as, there’s additionally a 5 fps Blackout Free burst taking pictures mode when utilizing the digital shutter in case you want the final word viewfinder expertise to seize the motion. When capturing photos at 8 fps I didn’t see a noticeable drop within the EVFs decision. Although at 8 fps it is likely to be onerous to actually see for the reason that digicam is firing so shortly. 

What I did discover is that when zooming into 100% on the photographs in playback mode the element was ridiculous. Reviewing photos within the EVF, it felt like you can simply hold zooming in farther and farther with out limits. Suffice it to say that the EVF is spectacular. Equally, the rear LCD display screen is attractive as effectively. This is likely to be the primary EVF I’ve seen that approaches the “actual world” high quality of wanting by way of an optical viewfinder.

Video

Along with all of the advances relating to nonetheless pictures, Fujifilm has gone to nice lengths to enhance the video within the GFX 100 II as effectively. I didn’t get to check any of these options out when working with the GFX 100 II however I assumed I’d point out them right here. My task for the launch was purely a stills pictures challenge. There have been different cinematographers who have been assigned video initiatives. 

The GFX 100 II can seize video at as much as 4K 60p with no crop, and as much as 8K 30p with a 1.44x crop. Moreover, you’ll be able to go as much as 120p in full HD as effectively. Therefore, the digicam has fairly a number of extra body charge and backbone choices than the older GFX cameras. Different new options are prolonged dynamic vary, as much as 14+ stops, when utilizing F-Log2, ProRes and Blackmagic Uncooked recording through the HDMI, SSD recording straight to an exterior onerous drive through the USB-C port, and it now can settle for the Fujifilm cooling fan that works with the X-H2 and X-H2s as effectively. 

Maybe much more vital is that the Fujifilm engineers have actually targeting the sensor scan speeds so that there’s a lot much less rolling shutter impact. The learn out velocity of the sensor is an extremely spectacular (for a medium format sensor) at solely 15 milliseconds. By comparability, the Fujifilm X-H2s, with a a lot smaller sensor, has a sensor scan velocity of 11.4 milliseconds and the Panasonic GH6 has a sensor scan time of 17.8 milliseconds. On the complete body aspect of issues the Nikon Z9, which at present has the quickest sensor readout of any digicam available on the market, has a sensor scan velocity of three.7 milliseconds. The GFX 100 II has a sensor scan velocity similar to the Canon R5, which is sort of spectacular given it’s 1.7 instances bigger than a 35mm sensor. Whereas the GFX 100 II sensor scan velocity isn’t the quickest ever, it’s extremely quick for a medium format sensor. 

Lastly, maybe one of the best new video function is which you could view the waveforms within the EVF or on the again LCD. I do know for many cinematographers that’s vital. They’ve additionally added a Focus Map operate as effectively. I’m not positive precisely how that works or what it appears to be like like for the reason that digicam already has focus peaking inbuilt for handbook focus. And naturally, in case you have cell service or web entry the GFX 100 II may also push video (and stills) straight to the cloud through Body.io. 

Wrapping Up

In case you have made it this far, then you’ll be able to in all probability guess that my evaluation of the brand new GFX 100 II is sort of favorable—and that could be a little bit of an understatement. Truthfully, the GFX 100 II actually spoiled me within the few weeks I labored with the digicam. It’s an extremely improved digicam in comparison with any of the opposite GFX cameras. That is probably the most thrilling digicam I’ve seen in a very long time. Fujifilm actually perfected the GFX system with this digicam and in my thoughts–and for my use case–that is one of the best digicam Fujifilm has ever launched.

The brand new GFX 100 II can be the digicam I’ve been on the lookout for (within the medium format area) for a protracted, lengthy, very long time—since I began utilizing medium format cameras over 20 years in the past. I’ve a sense that my older GFX cameras will likely be relegated to the backup class for probably the most half as soon as I get my fingers on the brand new digicam. I can’t wait to get the brand new GFX 100 II.

For my present work, I’ve all kinds of cameras that I take advantage of relying on the task together with every part from GoPros as much as the GFX cameras. I typically take each full body (35mm) and medium format cameras on the identical task and use them each the place acceptable. What Fujifilm have created with the GFX 100 II is a medium format digicam that may actually maintain its personal in a big selection of genres in comparison with plenty of the complete body contenders. Certain, it doesn’t seize photos at 20- or 30-fps. For most individuals that gained’t matter. With my quick full body cameras I’m typically making an attempt to dial them again from 20 fps right down to a extra affordable 10 fps and even decrease. Therefore, I can dwell with 8 fps whilst an motion photographer in lots of conditions. With the quick autofocus and monitoring capabilities of the GFX 100 II, and the brand new quicker lenses Fujifilm have launched (the 55mm f/1.7, 80mm f/1.7 and the 110mm f/2) additionally they have all kinds of lenses for low gentle conditions—increasing when and the place the GFX cameras can be utilized even additional. The GF 80mm f/1.7 has shortly develop into considered one of my favourite lenses within the GFX system. It hits a candy spot by way of focal size and most aperture—and it’s depraved sharp as effectively. The brand new GF 55mm f/1.7 appears to be like like one other stellar lens.

For years now I’ve, I’ve been speaking to fairly a number of of us at Fujifilm a few the chances of an extended telephoto than the present 250mm lens. One thing like a GF 500mm f/5.6 that might additionally work with the 1.4x teleconverter they already make can be actually helpful. So after I came upon that it was on the brand new lens highway map (as proven above) I nearly fell out of my chair on the launch. This new lens is nearly as thrilling as the brand new digicam and I can’t wait to work with this lens. I’ve been informed that it’ll not be that a lot bigger than the GF250mm lens which is sort of one thing. With the GFX 100 II and this forthcoming lens they now have a bonified motion and wildlife digicam so including an extended telephoto makes plenty of sense to attract these photographers into the system. I’d like to see Fujifilm proceed increasing the lens choice sooner or later, as they little doubt will. One other quick and even wider prime can be considered one of my high requests—one thing like a 30mm f/1.7.

Going ahead, the GFX 100 II will definitely be my foremost digicam—and I’ll probably be capable to use it for the overwhelming majority of my motion and journey pictures task work. The one cause at this level to make use of my smaller format cameras will both be if I would like a particular lens not accessible within the GFX lineup or if I would like loopy quick body charges for when one thing will solely be occurring as soon as. Kudos to Fujifilm for developing with a stellar new digicam. The GFX 100 II goes to make some critical waves within the digicam business—and I can’t wait to {photograph} browsing with this near-perfect digicam. 

For extra data pleas go to Fujifilm-x.com. My honest due to Fujifilm for permitting me to be a small a part of the launch of this digicam and for brining me to Stockholm to be there once they introduced it to the world.