Fujifilm GFX100 II
The new Fujifilm GFX100 II
***NOTE: This is based upon a Pre Production GFX100 II
Every once in a while, there’s a camera that truly sends waves through the photographic industry. Something that transcends the technical specifications and pixel peeping that we all do as photographers. The new Fuji GFX100 II is that camera.
Earlier this year, a tiny unassuming cardboard box showed up at my door, it’s what was inside that stopped me in my tracks. The moment I pulled out the camera I knew that Fuji had done something special, just the feeling alone of picking up the camera immediately wanted me to start photographing. It’s what came next that truly blew me away.
#Vanlife with Fujifilm GFX100 II { ISO800 1/200s @ f/4.5 }
Working in the automotive and outdoor industries I headed to trails to test this camera out in one of the most demanding situations I could think of, mountain biking the late afternoon in a forest. It’s a place that is usually dark, dusty, and dappled light everywhere. It can be a nightmare for balancing exposures and auto focusing, especially when riders are flying by you.
The Specs
Ai Subject Recognition AF System
8fps
102MP BSI CMOS 44x33 Medium Format Sensor
9.44M Dot OLED EVF
In Body Image Stabilization up to 8 Stops (8EV)
Direct record to SSD
Camera to cloud support
Waveform and Vectorscope Display for Video
Expected price $7499.95 at Glazers Camera
Using the new Ai derived focusing, I set the mode to recognize Motorcycles (I thought this would be close to a mountain bike) and let my friend rip down the trail. As soon as the bike appeared the top corner of the frame the GFX100 II locked on and kept the focus tack sharp in almost every photo. Something that Medium Format has never been able to do.
GFX100 II / GF 23mm { ISO3200 1/800s @f4 }
Throughout the evening we went through several different riding scenarios, sometimes lower light and sometimes high contrast scenes. The GFX100 II didn’t miss a beat and kept shooting, at 8 FPS giving me more than enough options when editing down the shoot.
At the end of the day we worked on a little automotive lifestyle shoot, testing its subject tracking (which it nailed flawlessly) as our talent walked by again and again until we found just the right stride. It was also a chance to shoot the GFX in a landscape environment showing off its incredible color and dynamic range.
GFX100 II / GF 110mm { ISO800 1/480s @f2 }
We ended the day with a mini portrait session in the fading light. Again, the camera immediately finding and tracking the eye while shooting hand held in low light and still having tack sharp photos thanks to both the AF and the 8 Stops of image stabilization.
While the GFX100 II is getting a lot of amazing press and reviews about its video capabilities, and rightfully so, it’s the well roundedness as a camera that stuns me. Here’s a 100mp Medium Format system that I can take out in demanding situations and reliably come back with stunning results for my clients.
It used to be that I had two systems for work, a fast full frame solution and a slower medium format system for larger campaigns. That’s all changed thanks to GFX100 II, I can’t wait to start shooting this camera for all my assignments, from high paced outdoor sports to slower automotive campaigns.
Who Should Buy This Camera?
Any photographer who’s number one priority is delivering the high quality images possible. The GFX100 II is well suited for all types of genres from Advertising to Adventure and Landscape Photographers alike.
Other Cameras to Consider
Normally there’s always another brand / model to consider, however Fujifilm has really put itself in a class of its own with the new GFX100 II. No other medium format system exists that can both perform AND give the image quality this camera can.
