Fujifilm’s authentic GFX100S was a preferred different to the GFX100, because it provided 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 all the time sustain with the topic. In an identical vein, the corporate not too long ago launched the $5,000 GFX100S II as a smaller and cheaper different 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 tremendous for many?
Fujifilm
Fujifilm’s GFX100S II is a giant enchancment over the unique and provides 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 decreased 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 exhibits settings, simulated mode dials and a histogram. That method, you may 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 appropriate, however it 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 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 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 function 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. 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 digital camera downshifts from 16- to 14-bit RAW photos when taking pictures bursts. Thankfully, a lot of the frames are prone to be sharp due to some huge autofocus enhancements. Even with the sooner burst speeds, I observed a big enhance within the proportion of sharp pictures 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 prone to be in focus — one thing that’s crucial 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 means that you can 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 spoil your picture.
Picture high quality
For professional photographers who can afford it, the GFX100S II provides 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. Which means you may shoot in very darkish, vivid or contrasty situations and retain element in all elements of the picture.
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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 might 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 best 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 whenever you shrink these 100-megapixel photos right down to a extra affordable dimension.
On the identical time, JPEG photos 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 prefer to tweak their photos, however many might shoot each RAW and JPEG with movie simulations to allow them to present their shoppers one thing immediately and make detailed changes in a while.
Video
In contrast to the dearer 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’ll be able to 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. 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 submit.
Rolling shutter in video mode is decreased in comparison with pictures 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 simply 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 accessible for emergency use solely.
Wrap-up
The $5,000 Fujifilm GFX100S II offers professionals excellent image high quality at a considerably decreased worth 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 far 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 be the most cost effective 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 kinds of taking pictures the place element is essential. Nonetheless, burst speeds and autofocus nonetheless aren’t fairly ok in fast-paced eventualities.
Those that want extra pace 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.