This month's blog is very much a Part II to last month's post. To recap: I got sick of fussing over photography equipment and put all my Nikon gear up for sale. Then I bought a fixed lens camera - a Fujifilm GFX100RF. The idea is to attempt to liberate myself to focus on taking photos, and most of all, enjoy taking photos.
This is a trial phase of course, I have not jumped in with 2 feet as I still have a Nikon Z6III and ZF sitting in their boxes, albeit with no lenses because I sold all of those to fund the GFX. If I change my mind I can sell the GFX and buy new glass for my Nikon's.
The other discussion last month was regarding software for editing and managing photos. Too many times the photography experience can be soured when having to spend frustrating hours behind a computer working thing lots of images. It needs to be efficient but enjoyable and most of all, be able to produce results that are pleasing and fulfilling. That's the topic for next month.
All the images this month are from the GFX this month. They have been downscaled though so you won't see them in their full 102 megapixel glory!
Fujifilm GFX100RF
This is my mini-review of this camera. Youtube is full of reviews, mostly from all the influencers whom were given them at launch - so not in the normal world by a normal person doing normal things. I won't bang on about all the same things they did, as if this camera remotely interests you then you already know the spec sheet.
So versatile yet so limited
This is my second GFX100RF. I owned a black one briefly earlier this year but traded it in without really giving it a full chance. I knew what it was capable of but I wasn't willing to commit my all to it - and I'm certainly not wealthy enough to have this as a second or third camera. If I keep it, I would be committing to it being my only camera.
Anyhoo, here are my some of my thoughts so far, after a month of use:
Build quality - It is quite lovely indeed. My Nikons as well built as they are, simply aren't beautiful objects like this. It's the type of camera you want to take photos of, as well as with, and one you want to have displayed on your desk so you can look at those sharp clean lines and then constantly resist the urge to touch it. It really is quite nice. As a rare someone who has owned this camera in both colours, get the silver if you care about durability. The black seems to scratched and scrape off easily particularly on the lens knurling. It looked a bit tatty even after a month of use. The silver one on the other hand, looks brand new still.
Image quality - It's what you buy this for right? The lens may be a pancake and only f/4 but I am still often staggered by the sharpness sometimes, particularly in really nice light and zooming all the way in on a face. The colours and the way it renders is very natural, I find myself reducing contrast just because of the 'delicate' way the images render because it does it so well, and that is not an editing style I'm used to.
Interrupting with some X-Pan 65:24 crops, something that this camera excels at.
Autofocus - Surprisingly good. I have no idea why because I have owned a few Fujifilm crop sensor cameras with the same processor and the AF was average on those. This is decent. Not fast-action-decent , but reliably good in most circumstances. Eyes are sharp and in focus whereas my Nikon's have a tendency to front focus on the eye lash instead.
ISO - With a 'slow' lens and no stabilisation, in lower light your ISO will be pushing up there. I usually have Auto ISO on my cameras set to 1600 or 3200 so that if it hits the limit it's like a prompt to see if I can drop my shutter or open my aperture instead. With the GFX I recently just changed my limit to 12800, and I took a photo with it the other day and the world did not end! It was a nice photo too, the aquarium one below.
The Bottom Line
The line everyone uses to sum up the Fujifilm GFX100RF is 'it's not for everyone' and that is true. My one-liner would be 'So versatile yet so limited'. For me, to make this camera shine you need to be composing at 28mm and using the full sensor (or at least close to). Or X-Pan. The 65:24 aspect ratio can turn a boring cluttered 28mm scene into something interesting. Beyond those uses, ie. cropping more into the sensor is perfectly fine, they just won't give you something any other camera would.
In closing
This camera is pretty darn great. It is completely capable of being my only camera. Yes it has limitations and yes there are shots I simply won't get. But. It is a pleasure to use and when I do get a great shot with it, I have a bigger feeling of accomplishment.
Am I ready to commit to it being my only camera?
I think so. I had ordered another 40mm f/2 for my Nikon ZF and did some head-to-head testing, given they are of similar sizes and similar DoF and light gathering when the 40mm is at f2.8. I checked for things like autofocus and colours, and although I haven't posted comparisons, the GFX images mostly were much more pleasing, with more 'depth' to colours and they were less harsh if that makes any sense. I easily replicated my comment about the ZF focussing on my eyebrows whereas the GFX nails the eyes. The GFX was also sharper wide open, and Ibis makes no difference at 1/125 which I used for my testing.
The one thing I wanted with my Nikon's was more resolution, but with the GFX the only thing I would want is more reach. Reach = big lenses. I'll happily take the enormous resolution of the GFX100RF in this small package over having access to a big telephoto, but that's just me.
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