Fujifilm’s unique GFX100S was a preferred various to the GFX100, because it supplied the identical image high quality in a slimmer physique at a a lot cheaper price. It did have some flaws, although, most notably its autofocus that didn’t at all times sustain with the topic. In the same vein, the corporate 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 execs, however is the GFX100 II value the additional $2,500, or is the S mannequin advantageous for many?
Fujifilm
Fujifilm’s GFX100S II is an enormous enchancment over the unique and affords the identical image high quality because the GFX100 II for $2,500 much less.
- Excellent picture high quality
- Improved autofocus
- Good dealing with
- Respectable battery life
- Weak video capabilities
- High quality diminished for burst capturing
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 exhibits settings, simulated mode dials and a histogram. That method, you may see all of your key settings when capturing at hip stage.
It feels much more like a mirrorless than a traditional medium format digicam. It handles effectively, however after spending time with each fashions, I desire the GFX100 II’s bigger physique and additional controls, although it is 5 ounces heavier.
The rear 3.2-inch, 2.36-million-dot-display is unchanged, tilting up, down and to the suitable, 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 consists of 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 might probably now shoot 540 pictures 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 capturing 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. With no quick CFexpress card, although, you may solely seize about 30 compressed RAW frames earlier than the buffer fills. There’s additionally a slight picture high quality penalty because the digicam downshifts from 16- to 14-bit RAW photographs when capturing bursts. Thankfully, 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 increase within the proportion of sharp pictures when capturing fast transferring topics.
The AF enhancements don’t finish there. AI face and eye monitoring is smarter and extra correct, which means your topic’s eye and never their eyelash is extra more likely to be in focus — one thing that’s vital with 100 megapixels of decision. Fujifilm additionally launched new topic monitoring modes for animals, birds, vehicles, 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 permits you to 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 digicam 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 can wreck your photograph.
Picture high quality
For professional photographers who can afford it, the GFX100S II affords unmatched picture high quality. The 100-megapixel sensor delivers pin-sharp pictures and 16-bit RAW pixel depth that delivers 14 stops of dynamic vary, beating most different mirrorless cameras. Meaning you may shoot in very darkish, shiny or contrasty circumstances and retain element in all elements of the photograph.
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Fujifilm’s colour science is right for portrait work, with correct and pleasing pores and skin tones. The extent of element means prints could be blown as much as very giant sizes, practically 40 x 30 inches at 300 pixels per inch (PPI). The decision and precision colour rendering additionally makes it superb 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 photographs not uncovered accurately. In low-light, you’ll begin to see a good quantity of noise above ISO 8000 or so. Nevertheless, plenty of that grain disappears while you shrink these 100-megapixel photographs all the way down to a extra affordable measurement.
On the similar time, JPEG photographs are excellent straight out of the digicam. 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 afterward.
Video
Not like the dearer GFX100 II, video is a weak level with this digicam. Decision is restricted 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 great. It’s also possible to enhance dynamic vary by capturing in Fujifilm’s FLog or FLog2 modes and making use of a LUT afterward in put up.
Rolling shutter in video mode is diminished in comparison with pictures due to the pixel binning, however you continue to have to be cautious to not transfer the digicam an excessive amount of to keep away from extreme wobble and skewing. The in-body stabilization is just efficient for handheld capturing with out a lot motion. For those who attempt to stroll whereas vlogging, you’ll see some extreme jolts. All informed, I’d say the Fujifilm GFX100S II is usually a photograph digicam, with video accessible for emergency use solely.
Wrap-up
The $5,000 Fujifilm GFX100S II offers professionals excellent image high quality at a considerably diminished worth over the $7,500 flagship GFX100 II. It even goes past what consumers would possibly count on by providing pretty fast burst capturing with autofocus that’s way more dependable than on the unique GFX100S. Video isn’t a robust level, however that received’t be essential for its goal market.
The GFX100S II can be the most affordable digicam 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 capturing 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 dwell occasions could 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.
