Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to work on a project showcasing the XF500mm f/5.6, collaborating with Fujifilm to photograph wing foilers in Hood River, Oregon. We chose this sport for its newness and technical complexity—it’s fast, dynamic, and fits perfectly within the tight frame of a 500mm f/5.6 lens.

It wasn’t long ago that medium format cameras were tools meant for slow, precise processes usually found in studio or landscape photography. Occasionally, you’d see them on location in a controlled set for lifestyle work. That was until the release of Fujifilm’s original GFX100, a camera that started to change what medium format meant in the world of photography.

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.