Excellent efficiency at a lowered worth

Fujifilm’s original GFX100S was a preferred various to the GFX100, because it supplied 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 the same vein, the corporate not too long ago launched the $5,000 GFX100S II as a smaller and cheaper various to the $7,500 flagship GFX100 II. It seems 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 price the additional $2,500, or is the S mannequin fantastic for many?

Fujifilm

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

Execs

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

Cons

• Weak video capabilities
• High quality lowered 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 swap, twin management dials, drive choose buttons and a fast menu. On high is a small, always-on show that exhibits settings, simulated mode dials and a histogram. That means, you possibly can see all of your key settings when taking pictures at hip degree.

It feels much more like a mirrorless than a traditional medium format digital camera. It handles properly, 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, but it surely would not flip out. Nonetheless, 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 could now shoot 540 photographs on a cost, up from 530. Different options embody USB-C, mic and headphone ports, together with a micro HDMI connection. A brand new function is USB-SSD connectivity that enables for quicker burst taking pictures and ProRes video seize.

Efficiency

The GFX100S II does shoot quicker 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 possibly can 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 pictures when taking pictures bursts. Fortuitously, many of the frames are more likely to be sharp due to some huge autofocus enhancements. Even with the quicker burst speeds, I observed a big increase within the proportion of sharp photographs when taking pictures 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 important 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 downside 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 can break your picture.

Picture high quality

For professional photographers who can afford it, the GFX100S II presents unmatched picture high quality. The 100-megapixel sensor delivers pin-sharp photographs and 16-bit RAW pixel depth that delivers 14 stops of dynamic vary, beating most different mirrorless cameras. Which means you possibly can shoot in very darkish, brilliant or contrasty situations and retain element in all components of the picture.

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Fujifilm GFX100S II evaluate pattern pictures

Fujifilm GFX100S II evaluate: Excellent efficiency at a lowered worth

Fujifilm’s shade 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 shade rendering additionally makes it supreme for panorama images, 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 accurately. In low-light, you’ll begin to see a good quantity of noise above ISO 8000 or so. Nonetheless, a number of that grain disappears once you shrink these 100-megapixel pictures all the way down to a extra cheap dimension.

On the identical time, JPEG pictures 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 pictures, 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 costlier GFX100 II, video is a weak level with this digital camera. Decision is restricted to 4K 10-bit, and whereas there’s no cropping, there’s appreciable pixel binning that reduces sharpness. You may 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, shade rendering is superb. You may as well enhance dynamic vary by taking pictures in Fujifilm’s FLog or FLog2 modes and making use of a LUT in a while in put up.

Rolling shutter in video mode is lowered in comparison with photographs due to the pixel binning, however you continue to should 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 just efficient for handheld taking pictures with out a lot motion. Should you attempt to stroll whereas vlogging, you’ll see some extreme jolts. All informed, I’d say the Fujifilm GFX100S II is generally a photograph digital camera, with video out there for emergency use solely.

Wrap-up

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

The GFX100S II can also be the most cost effective digital camera within the mainstream medium format house, with its main 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. Nonetheless, burst speeds and autofocus nonetheless aren’t fairly ok in fast-paced situations.

Those that want extra pace and reliability for issues like weddings or stay 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.