GFX 50MP- Blog on the VERGE regarding Fujifilm Medium format pros/cons

Just read and interesting hands on experience of a photog.

Extremely valid points where Fuji should seriously consider FF sensor IMO. MF is very niche as far as application is concerned. I'd be all over that if they adopted a different alternative in the FF market !!

Just spoke to my friend that has been a Nikon user and his recent adoption of a Fujifilm Xt3 (3 weeks of ownership). He wanted a mature mirrorless system for his kids orchestra video documentation. He discussed how he loves everything about it but misses the cleaner files at high iso. The summary of our conversation both agreed that it'd be mind blowing for Fuji to have FF for a universal application beast camera system.

This is one of the first blogs I've read on a more negative note of medium format for a person wanting more wide variety of applications.

https://www.theverge.c​om …view-specs-price-features

AlanU wrote in post #18797028
Just spoke to my friend that has been a Nikon user and his recent adoption of a Fujifilm Xt3 (3 weeks of ownership). He wanted a mature mirrorless system for his kids orchestra video documentation.

This right here explains why they don't need a FF camera...

I remember when Toshiya told me Fuji would be making a medium format camera and are aiming to get to market for under $10K Only the lumpy (but great) Pentax was available below that price. Fuji making a medium format camera (again) & they make the H lenses for Hassy, I thought, that's going to be good. The same sensor as in the $15,000 Hasselblad H6D 50c with Fuji design and handling. Good, Good.

Low and behold they brought it in under 6k, that's cheaper than a professional Full Frame camera like the Nikon D5. Could not wait to get me hands on one 7 it did not disappoint in terms of a medium format camera and it's use. I'm use to 30 second start up times, one AF point, no real continuous FPS or video. High weight and madding expensive to boot. This little medium format camera was available for the same price as a full frame camera & the lenses not that much more expensive.
Why would you not want in?

Then the much more affordable 50r comes along.

Fuji are not going to make a 135mm sensor camera any time soon, and why should they really when their existing ASP-c body are so good. BTW your 'friend' should understand that even with more noise in the file having a h.265 encoded 4K 60fps 10bit 4:2:2 400mb/s files will blow your full frame's 8 bit 100mb/s file away in post. There is just so much more detail to play with you can crush away to your hearts content and be good about it.

That article was clearly written by someone who has little to no experience with medium format digital cameras, just his list of cons will tell you that. I love his take on the XF100mp & sure he'd just complain out the same things being worst
"When you combine the depth of field limitations of medium format with the 50R’s slow autofocus, the result is going to be a lot of missed shots. My best attempts at overcoming the 50R’s limitations included setting the autofocus to continuous and the burst rate to its three frames per second maximum and then throwing out 80 percent of the shots I took"

OR I took out that spark plug with a plumbers wrench....
Medium format has a place in the bag just like a smaller system, but really unless you enjoy the shooting in bad light thing you really don't need a full frame camera to get the best results anymore. And you gan get 'better' results and much better IQ for less then a full frame camera now.

Also interestingly I've never read this kind of 'need a full frame camera' thing about the two different sizes of MF camera sensors widely used, like in the H6D 50c & 100c but you know I guess people who use those kind of cameras probably know better

It goes on:

"That makes the 50R a bit disappointing if you were hoping to use it as a medium format camera on the go. It still performs its best in slow, deliberate environments, such as in a studio or on a landscape photographer’s tripod. Despite it ­looking­ like an incredible street camera, the reality is it’s not much different from every other medium format camera currently available. But hey, at least it’s less expensive."

Most street shooters I know don't really on autofocus speed much, but they do like a discrete camera I think that's a commonality for the most part.

Kevin: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=nAVdYUDQcR8
Keizo: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=G8cHvNcrmN4
J.Jimenez: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=TD9BEC-tGTY


Not a medium format on the go camera, OK then if you say so

Different perspective on ones needs.

Not often you read about a Fuji photogs views about the actual differences in change of settings and behaviour of gear vs apsc/ FF. No exaggeration of how amazing the hardware is vs the other format IQ.

I personally have no need in an A7R3 or Canon 5dSR for higher resolution. Nice to have but no need to have. Seems for Fuji shooters the GFX is the next step up but not on par as a universal application tool like the XT3 new flagship.

If the Fuji GFX performed identical to the XT3 I will buy it as an amazing universal application tool. Fuji colours are very pleasing.

Two Hot Shoes wrote in post #18797210
It goes on:

"That makes the 50R a bit disappointing if you were hoping to use it as a medium format camera on the go. It still performs its best in slow, deliberate environments, such as in a studio or on a landscape photographer’s tripod. Despite it ­looking­ like an incredible street camera, the reality is it’s not much different from every other medium format camera currently available. But hey, at least it’s less expensive."

Most street shooters I know don't really on autofocus speed much, but they do like a discrete camera I think that's a commonality for the most part.

Kevin: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=nAVdYUDQcR8
Keizo: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=G8cHvNcrmN4
J.Jimenez: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=TD9BEC-tGTY


Not a medium format on the go camera, OK then if you say so

Kim there is a draw to the GFX 50S due to ergonomics. Common discussions of the rangefinder version of the medium format is like holding a 2 x 4. Probably traditional camera owners saying this. I would get the first version "s" body style due to grip. All about preference. Each to there own.

I’ll have to settle for a more general application tool so this is why I wish Fuji would reconsider FF. Kim as you mentioned about "bad lighting" I've seen plenty of photogs using gear not best suited for low light and the composition rocks but the hardware shows deficiencies. In many cases you know you cannot control the lighting in some venues. Sometimes flash is not the ideal means of throwing light and you must shoot with the available light on hand.

GFX is not an ideal tool for fast action or AF speed. Fuji never considered it to be such a tool. It's too niche for my uses unfortunately. Maybe miracles can happen the Fuji really ramps up the body performance of the newer mk2 versions of the GFX. That would be more appealing than stuffing a 100MP sensor.

What's interesting is that I know a good handful of local Fuji shooters having a wish list. All would welcome similar FF performance in high iso settings. None of them have any interest in the GFX series. However over coffee they all agree they'd jump on board Fuji FF if it existed.

You'd have to ask why some of them want whatever full frame performance is to them. How heigh do you need the ISO to give acceptable files? How fast do you need the AF to be? Is it most of the time these shooters are just not really understanding the light, composition and camera as one?
Is really what they want a point and shoot, with Automatic flash/focus and scene choosing. I'm joking here but it's bedded in the reality of what's driving modern tech: faster auto features. Really learning how and why to use a setting on the camera would be a good point for anyone to keep at between shoots. If I can post un-edited images up here at shot at 12800ISO showing loads of detail and colour (raw) surely it says that a little crop sensor camera pulls it's weight there and anyone else can do the same, do you not agree?

This I need full frame thing, I simply have no time for it. You don't need it, you don't shoot medium format with f/2 lenses, or 135mm @ f/0.95
Pop or 3D effect has little to nothing to do with what aperture is used, it about lighting and composition. Nothing else matters, nothing. Available light that is interesting is all about, if you are shooting an event and don't like the light change it up, if you can't then get creative. IF you are shooting for a client stop the show and direct, that's what you are being paid for, if you're not then they might as well have gone and hired your uncle Bob as he probably has better & more pro looking gear than you, right? If all someone wants is a few snaps then they will be happy with that. Stop running around chasing gear thinking it will make your photography shine it won't. Only going out and learning will, learn to use whatever light is available to you, make it interesting and set the composition, CLICK. You're done.

GFX 100s with PDAF and 4K video though, mmmmmm... shame the sensor is so small. I hoped they might somehow have gotten the 54.3x40mm one to work and be cost effective, oh how I wished I'm still on the fence with the GFX, I mean I like the camera and its nice to shoot with but so is the other X cameras. I just can't make space for it in my work or my personal stuff, but still medium format in that size at that price has a lot of draw all the same.

Something that should not be forgotten is the fact that medium format lenses are NOT as fast max aperture as equivalent FOV in 135 format (FF). Let us examine 'equal FOV' situations with both 135/FF and with the Medium Format 'FF'

• 24mm short frame dimension 135, 50mmFL f/1.4 lens (2.08x short frame dimension)
  20/20 vision DOF at 10' = 4.3"
  
• 32.9mm '645 dimension (sorta)' medium format FF, 69mm f/2.8 (2.08x short frame dimension)
  20/20 vision DOF at 10' = 7.76"
  

There are loads of lenses that will cover the GFX sensor that have an aperture of f/1.4, even Canons 85mm f/1.2 covers it. But you are going to have a very thin focus depth.

Two Hot Shoes wrote in post #18797441
There are loads of lenses that will cover the GFX sensor that have an aperture of f/1.4, even Canons 85mm f/1.2 covers it. But you are going to have a very thin focus depth.

No vignette with FF glass?

Definitely feels like the reviewer has somewhat misunderstood what Medium Format is, and has always been, about. Most of the negative points made about the camera are essentially the tradeoffs to Medium Format in general - it's big, slow, and has a more limited window for shooting opportunities in which it will work ideally. I've not tried any digital medium format cameras but I can't imagine even the 'Blad overcomes these limitations of the medium.

DSLRs (or Mirrorless) are the Jack Of All Trades cameras that (increasingly) do everything (well). Medium Format suits a slower, more deliberate approach. I've been doing a lot of that type of Photography lately using my 5DII and Manual Focus, and of course, it's perfectly capable of getting the photographs and the results look great even from an eleven-year-old body. If I had enough disposable income to buy a camera for this type of work, I'd definitely be interested in a GFX-R for larger files with greater dynamic range to eventually print (I want to produce a book, and an exhibition) from, as well as the Fuji ergonomics which I love on my other camera, the X-Pro1. I haven't got that disposable income so this idea lives in my head, but for the right application, I think the GFX-R would be an excellent choice - although it certainly isn't (and nor is it intended to be) a go everywhere, do everything camera for everybody wanting MOAR MEGAPICKSELLS.

AlanU wrote in post #18797528
No vignette with FF glass?

J Rask has a shot or two with the canon 85/1.2 on a gfx. As to how much darkness is in the corners I’ll leave that up to your eyes to decide.

https://jonasraskphoto​graphy.com …-ef-to-gfx-smart-adapter/

Also there are now lenses made for the gfx and some are 85mm and f/1.2. What you have to remember is the GFX is 4:3 not 3:2 like a 135mm camera so it taller and only a bit wider making it a bit easier for a lens to still cover the sensor.

not all FF vignettes

85 Otus and Contax Zeiss 50/1.4

AlanU wrote in post #18797028
Extremely valid points where Fuji should seriously consider FF sensor IMO.

I'm sure Fuji has considered it but in the end the answer was probably why.

Sony, Canon, and Nikon all do Full frame and all do it well. What could fuji do that one of those don't already do or what could they do better?

Fuji has found a niche in the APS-C cameras. The other camera Brands treat APS-C as the second class sensor. One to get you into photography that will lead you to their FF cameras. Fuji on the other had treats APS-C as a premier camera sensor and it has worked quite well for them. Then they decided to take on another niche market in medium format. They now have 2 medium format cameras that are cheaper then any other MF camera and that are about the same as a high end FF camera.

The camera market is very competitive and pretty saturated right now. Fuji does what they do and they do it well. So like I said, I'm fuji has considered doing FF, but the answer probably why compete in a very competitive, and shrinking, market when they already have a good place where they are at.

Alan why do you want a FF fuji camera so bad? I feel like you are the only one requesting it every month or so...