Big test Fujifilm GFX100 II PRICE: £6999 FUJIFILM-X.COM
A new flagship for Fujifilm’s medium format system, the GFX100 II is a real tour de force on paper. How does it fare in reality? Roger Payne finds out
of superior results to full-frame, but lacking speed and flexibility. With the GFX100 II, however, that could all be set to change. Barely larger or weightier than a pro-spec full-frame model, it is – on paper at least – a bona fide challenger, blending performance, functionality and handling with jaw-dropping image quality. Granted, it’s still more pricey than a Sony A1, Canon EOS R3 or Nikon Z 9, but it’s an impressive £3000 less than its predecessor. In reality, what’s different about the GFX100 II is obvious without even looking at the spec sheet. Pick the camera up and you’ll notice some immediate improvements both over previous and existing models in the GFX range. The body is covered in what Fujifilm calls Bishamon- Tex leather featuring a traditional Japanese-inspired texture to improve grip. It certainly feels secure in the hand; the moulded grip and thumb rest help in this respect as well. Then there’s the top-plate, which is now angled backwards by 11° to improve visibility. Fujifilm has eschewed the dial-based top-plate design that makes so many of its X Series models appealing. However, the sizeable (and customisable) LCD that replaces all but one of them does stay on even when the camera is off. This maintains the design principle of being able to check settings at all times. Button and dial fans will be
WORDS & IMAGES BY
ROGER PAYNE
WHEN I WAS younger, I always hankered after a medium format camera. I loved my 35mm film SLR, but the lure of higher-quality images from Bronica, Mamiya, Hasselblad and the like was undeniable; to own one felt like a rite of passage. Getting the image quality uplift, however, was never viewed as a binary choice to replace my SLR outfit. It was seen as an addition to be used in certain contexts. To me, only professionals used medium format exclusively. Fujifilm’s GFX System sought to challenge that mindset from its inception with the GFX50S. When it was announced in 2016, the full-frame market was firmly in the company’s sights as it blended features and functionality from the X Series line-up with impressive image quality to offer a plausible alternative. In reality, though, the GFX50S and all later models never established themselves as full-frame alternatives. I’ve always considered them an additional purchase, capable
DETAIL
DEVILISHLY GOOD DETAIL The resolution from the 102-megapixel sensor has to be seen to be believed. Not only does it give you the scope to create enormous prints, it also provides plenty of flexibility for extensive cropping and reframing, without compromising output options. The same applies to video output options as well, making this a highly versatile machine
30 Photography News | Issue 113
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