Photography News Issue 37

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

News

Fuji goes large Fujifilm has a rich heritage in medium-format photography and at this year’s Photokina it has announced the development of the GFX medium-format camera that will be available from 2017

Words by Will Cheung

Five years after its last system introduction, the successful X-series, we have another totally new camera system from Fujifilm and this time it is medium-format. At Photokina, Fujifilm made a development announcement and its intention to launch the GFX system early in 2017. No exact date has yet been set for the launch but the aim is to have the camera and six lenses on sale by the end of 2017. Customer demand, and the recognition that APS-C and 35mm formats have their limitations, are the motivations behind the new system. Plus, Fujifilm, as a leading photography brand, saw that this was a fresh challenge for the company not to be turned down. The Fujifilm GFX is a compact, mirrorless medium-format system based around a 43.8x32.9mm sensor – 1.7x bigger than 35mm or full- frame. The first model, the GFX 50S, has a 51.4-megapixel chip and the sensor is optical low-pass filter free. The body design has a familiar look to the company’s X-series with the top-plate’s lockable shutter and ISO speed dials being good examples of this. The rear monitor is adjustable, with a functionality similar to the X-T2’s, including the ability to swing out for comfortable low-level or upright format shooting. To keep size and weight down an EVF that sits in the hotshoe is removable so you can use the monitor on its own, plug in an external monitor or buy the optional tilt monitor that can be set for waist- level or low viewpoint shooting. The body is weather and dust resistant, and the shutter is designed to be quiet with minimal 'shutter shock' vibration and therefore optimal sharpness. There is the option to shoot at different aspect ratios and with the sensor’s high resolution file

First look We got plenty of

time to look over the newly annouced GFX 50S and its lenses at Photokina. Like Fujifilm's X-series it features all the manual inputs you're likely to need in an elegantly designed, sturdy package.

Will Cheung on the Fuji GFX 50S

I've attended many press conferences, but I can’t think of many (if any) where there was much so much delight greeting a new camera as its core features were unveiled and demonstrated. Not this time. And yes, I was clapping, too. Personally, the prospect of a mirrorless medium-format camera has huge appeal and Fujifilm has done what looks to be an amazing job on the GFX 50S. Of course, things could change by the time this camera comes out and we don’t know what its true potential is right now, but it’s incredibly promising. I got time for a proper feel of the camera, equipped with the 63mm and standard zoom lenses. I have to say it all felt excellent. Yes, the body is quite deep, but the contoured handgrip was a perfect fit for my average-sized paws. The body with the standard zoom didn’t feel much heavier than a full- frame DSLR with an f/2.8 standard zoom, and I think I could carry and use the combination for extended periods with no problem. Handling was very good and the buttons and controls had a robustness which inspired confidence. Of course, image quality is key, and untested, but if it matches the handling, and the GFX 50S's price is competitive, then medium-format photography the Fujifilm way is a very real possibility. As you can tell, I'm pretty excited!

sizes are still big. The standard 4:3 aspect ratio gives 51.4 megapixels while setting 1:1 or 16:9 still gives 38 megapixels. A lens roadmap was also announced, the plan being to have six lenses available by the end of 2017 covering a range from 18mm to 95mm in 35mm format terms. Two lenses will be launched with the camera, the GF63mm f/2.8 R WR and the GF32-64mm f/4 R LM WR. The 63mm is a 50mm equivalent, while the zoom is a 25- 51mm equivalent in 35mm terms. Future lenses include a macro, fast telephoto and two wide-angles, one zoom and one fixed focal length. GF lenses do not have a built- in shutter and optically they have been designed to perform well with future sensors of 100 megapixels. Pre-production samples were available at the launch to handle but not to shoot with. The GFX 50S body feels solid and with positive controls while the contoured hand- grip is excellent allowing a secure and comfortable hold. Weight-wise the 50S is similar to something like the Canon EOS 5D Mk IV at around 800g and with the GF32-63mm f/4 made for a portable medium- format package. The removable EVF concept works well and the optional

tilt monitor is a very neat piece of design that will appeal to many photographers. At this early development announcement stage, more detailed specification of the GFX 50S was not available but the headline features are certainly impressive. The price could be too – it is going to be ‘well under US$10,000’ for the camera body and 63mm standard lens. How that translates to theUK come launch time in 2017 we will have to wait and see, but for those thinking of moving up to medium-format, the GFX system could be a compelling option.

Sensor The GFX 50S will have a 51.4-megapixel medium format sensor measuring 43.8x32.9mm – 1.7x larger than a full-frame DSLR's.

fujifilm.eu