So, I splashed out on the Fujifilm GFX 100S around a year ago - a medium format digital camera. And it is expensive. Not only that, it is more camera than a person of my talent level has any right to own, but here we are…
I’ve been shooting with the Fuji X Series on and off since the X-T1 was released and since then I’ve owned every X-T camera through to the X-T4 - not to mention an X-E1 and X100T in my time. My current X series kit has an X-T4, 16mm 1.4, 16-55mm 2.8 and 70-300mm.
Now, I’m not even remotely qualified to review.. anything. But theres some features of this thing that are really up my alley, and if we put its medium format 102 megapixelness aside for a sec, things like the ability to compose with 65x24 in camera is a big plus because you all know I love a pano…
Last of the light. Twizel, MacKenzie District. New Zealand. Shot with the 100-200mm
Aaaaanyway. The dynamic range of this thing is off the charts, the level of detail is insane and coming back to the 102MP side of things – it lets me print nice and big, I have 1 metre canvases printed with zero upsizing. The lack of the dials you get with the X Series and reverting to the old PASM mode dial isn’t really an issue for me because I set my X-Series cameras up with the front dial as my shutter adjustment and the rear dial for ISO – leaving aperture on the ring. A little sacrilegious to some of the Fuji purists out there I’m sure, but.. Meh. Having shot on Canon DLSRs and occasionally STILL shoot a Canon Film SLR this feels second nature to me.
One of the only slight annoyances is that the 35-70 has no aperture ring, so I’ve been forced to set the rear dial up for aperture and customize one of the buttons for ISO adjustment. Not the end of the world though. Another slight annoyance is the location of the playback button – I’m so used to it being next to the delete on the top left on the X-T4 its still taking some getting used to having it down here. The lack of a four way d-pad is missed too – I had those all set as custom functions like messing with film sims etc.
Bethells Beach. Waitakere, New Zealand. Shot with the 20-35mm
I picked this thing up with the 35-70, 30mm f/3.5 and the 100-200 5.6 with 1.4x tele converter. I snapped up the 80mm f/1.7 2nd hand and pre-ordered the 20-35mm f/4 when it was released. The 110mm is on the wishlist too, but not an immediate need at the mo. The 30mm was supposed to be my astro lens for the GFX system, but it was quickly traded away as its far too slow for Astro work.
The 35-70 is a weird but handy little lens. I had no idea it collapsed down and you had to effectively “open” it to 35mm and then you could zoom from 35 to 70mm. I suspect this will be replaced by the 45-100mm at some point. but for now its a handy wee lens.
These three prints shot with the 35-70mm. Thames Coast, New Zealand.
The 100-200mm has been really nice, the zoom ring is very smooth and the OIS combined with the IBIS in the body is great! I’ve got the 1.4x extended too so can a 140-280ish equiv - maybe 110-220mm on full frame. Not the most reach in the world, especially compared to the 100-400 I used to have on the X-Series but I’ll survive with the 70-300mm for that system if I decide I need reach. This along with the 20-35mm are my main go to lenses.
Aoraki from Peters lookout. Lake Pukaki, New Zealand. Shot with the 100-200mm & 1.4x teleconverter
The 80mm f/1.7 is gorgeous. My least used lens, but when I do use it, I love it. I should find a way to use this more in landscape photography. But it tends to be my “walk around” lens - if anything from the GFX line could be considered “walk around’ hah
SOOC Jpeg (Acros) from a Photowalk in Hamilton. 80mm f/1.7
Complaints? The camera is SLOW. The shutter lag is noticeable, and the fps is woeful at around 3.5 if I recall correctly. It is not great at wildlife or sports - the latter is not really what i’m interested in, but would be nice to have wildlife in the wheelhouse. This is one of the reasons I have retained the X-T4 and 70-300mm. Weight is another concern. I’m hoping to do a trip to Scotland around this time next year, and I’m concerned the kit will exceed carry-on weight limits. I may have to be creative in order to avoid putting this gear in checked luggage!
All that said, this is an incredible kit to have and I am very lucky to have it. I don’t foresee any upgrades to the body being required for a good period of time so hopefully I’ll get to know this thing well and squeeze the best my limited talent can out of it :)