Excellent efficiency at a diminished value

Fujifilm’s original GFX100S was a preferred various to the GFX100, because it provided the identical image high quality in a slimmer physique at a a lot lower cost. It did have some flaws, although, most notably its autofocus that didn’t at all times sustain with the topic. In an analogous vein, the corporate just lately launched the $5,000 GFX100S II as a smaller and cheaper various to the $7,500 flagship GFX100 II. It appears a lot the identical as earlier than, however has an up to date sensor, processor, autofocus and extra.

Each cameras are clearly aimed toward professionals, however is the GFX100 II value the additional $2,500, or is the S mannequin positive for many?

Fujifilm

Fujifilm’s GFX100S II is an enormous enchancment over the unique and gives the identical image high quality because the GFX100 II for $2,500 much less.

Execs

• Excellent picture high quality
• Improved autofocus
• Good dealing with
• Respectable battery life

Cons

• Weak video capabilities
• High quality diminished for burst taking pictures

$4,999 at Adorama

Physique

At 1.9 kilos, the GFX100S II weighs an oz. lower than its predecessor and its physique’s design and controls are practically the identical. As earlier than, it comes with a mode dial and focus selector change, twin management dials, drive choose buttons and a fast menu. On prime is a small, always-on show that reveals settings, simulated mode dials and a histogram. That manner, you’ll be able to see all of your key settings when taking pictures at hip stage.

It feels much more like a mirrorless than a traditional medium format digital camera. It handles effectively, however after spending time with each fashions, I favor the GFX100 II’s bigger physique and additional controls, though it is 5 ounces heavier.

The rear 3.2-inch, 2.36-million-dot-display is unchanged, tilting up, down and to the fitting, nevertheless it would not flip out. Nevertheless, Fujifilm boosted the viewfinder’s decision to five.76 million dots, so it’s noticeably sharper than the final mannequin’s 3.69-million-dot EVF.

The GFX100S II contains twin SD UHS-II card slots however lacks a high-speed CFexpress port just like the GFX100 II. Although it makes use of the identical battery as earlier than, it will probably now shoot 540 images on a cost, up from 530. Different options embrace USB-C, mic and headphone ports, together with a micro HDMI connection. A brand new characteristic is USB-SSD connectivity that permits for sooner burst taking pictures and ProRes video seize.

Efficiency

The GFX100S II does shoot sooner than its predecessor at as much as 7 fps in comparison with 5 fps in mechanical shutter mode. And not using a quick CFexpress card, although, you’ll be able to solely seize about 30 compressed RAW frames earlier than the buffer fills. There’s additionally a slight picture high quality penalty because the digital camera downshifts from 16- to 14-bit RAW photographs when taking pictures bursts. Luckily, many of the frames are more likely to be sharp due to some huge autofocus enhancements. Even with the sooner burst speeds, I seen a big enhance within the share of sharp images when taking pictures fast transferring topics.

The AF enhancements don’t finish there. AI face and eye monitoring is smarter and extra correct, that means your topic’s eye and never their eyelash is extra more likely to be in focus — one thing that’s important with 100 megapixels of decision. Fujifilm additionally launched new topic monitoring modes for animals, birds, cars, bikes, bicycles, airplanes and trains.

In-body stabilization additionally will get an improve, with eight stops in shake discount in comparison with six earlier than. That lets you seize dimly lit scenes or blur motion at shutter speeds as little as a half second, with out the necessity for a tripod. As with the earlier mannequin, rolling shutter distortion is an actual drawback with this digital camera in digital mode, so neither you nor your topic can transfer a lot when utilizing it. In any other case, you’ll get some nasty skewing that may destroy your picture.

Picture high quality

For professional photographers who can afford it, the GFX100S II gives unmatched picture high quality. The 100-megapixel sensor delivers pin-sharp images and 16-bit RAW pixel depth that delivers 14 stops of dynamic vary, beating most different mirrorless cameras. Meaning you’ll be able to shoot in very darkish, brilliant or contrasty circumstances and retain element in all components of the picture.

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Fujifilm GFX100S II overview pattern photographs

Fujifilm GFX100S II overview: Excellent efficiency at a diminished value

Fujifilm’s colour science is right for portrait work, with correct and pleasing pores and skin tones. The extent of element means prints may be blown as much as very massive sizes, practically 40 x 30 inches at 300 pixels per inch (PPI). The decision and precision colour rendering additionally makes it ideally suited for panorama pictures, artwork archival work and extra.

The excellent RAW high quality lets photographers carry out detailed post-production work with out hurting picture high quality, even on pictures not uncovered appropriately. In low-light, you’ll begin to see a good quantity of noise above ISO 8000 or so. Nevertheless, a number of that grain disappears if you shrink these 100-megapixel photographs all the way down to a extra cheap dimension.

On the identical time, JPEG photographs are excellent straight out of the digital camera. Like different Fuji fashions, the GFX100S II comes with an array of movie simulations, from the brand new Reala Ace to Velvia, Acros and others. Most professional photographers wish to tweak their photographs, however many might shoot each RAW and JPEG with movie simulations to allow them to present their shoppers one thing instantly and make detailed changes in a while.

Video

Not like the dearer GFX100 II, video is a weak level with this digital camera. Decision is proscribed to 4K 10-bit, and whereas there’s no cropping, there’s appreciable pixel binning that reduces sharpness. You possibly can seize 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes video at as much as 30fps, although that entails hooking up an SSD drive. There aren’t actually any slo-mo modes, as each 4K and 1080p recording are restricted to 60fps.

Whereas video lacks the sharpness seen on different mirrorless cameras just like the Sony A1, colour rendering is superb. It’s also possible to enhance dynamic vary by taking pictures in Fujifilm’s FLog or FLog2 modes and making use of a LUT in a while in publish.

Rolling shutter in video mode is diminished in comparison with images due to the pixel binning, however you continue to have to be cautious to not transfer the digital camera an excessive amount of to keep away from extreme wobble and skewing. The in-body stabilization is barely efficient for handheld taking pictures with out a lot motion. In the event you attempt to stroll whereas vlogging, you’ll see some extreme jolts. All advised, I’d say the Fujifilm GFX100S II is usually a photograph digital camera, with video obtainable for emergency use solely.

Wrap-up

The $5,000 Fujifilm GFX100S II provides professionals excellent image high quality at a considerably diminished value over the $7,500 flagship GFX100 II. It even goes past what patrons may anticipate by providing pretty fast burst taking pictures with autofocus that’s way more dependable than on the unique GFX100S. Video isn’t a robust level, however that received’t be necessary for its goal market.

The GFX100S II can also be the most affordable digital camera within the mainstream medium format house, with its major competitors being both the GFX100 II or Hasselblad’s $8,200 X2D100C. I’d extremely advocate it for portraits and different sorts of taking pictures the place element is vital. Nevertheless, burst speeds and autofocus nonetheless aren’t fairly adequate in fast-paced situations.

Those that want extra velocity and reliability for issues like weddings or reside occasions can be higher off with high-resolution full-frame fashions just like the $3,700 Nikon Z8, $6,500 Sony A1 or Canon’s new $4,300 EOS R5 II.