Not many consumers will get as excited about a large-format camera as most photographers will. As the name implies, the Fujifilm GFX100 II has a larger sensor and can therefore capture more information in every frame of a video or photograph.
Fujifilm’s GFX line-up of large-format cameras has a new top dog. The GFX100 II not only has a whopping 102MP sensor but also promises better shooting speed, auto-focus (AF) performance, and video quality.
The new flagship camera uses its newly developed GFX 102MP CMOS II HS high-speed image sensor consisting of 102 million pixels. The sensor is 43.8mm x 32.9mm – or about 1.7 times bigger than a 35mm full-frame sensor.
Obviously mirrorless, and therefore already more compact, the GFX100 II has Fuji’s high-speed X-Processor 5 image processing engine. This is double what the previous model, the Fujifilm GFX100S from 2021, provided in signal readout speed. This enables it to continuously shoot up to 8 frames per second, up from 5.0 fps.
How do you like your shots, moving or still?
The electronic viewfinder (EVF and thankfully not another EV acronym to confuse electric vehicle lovers) is the best yet on a Fujifilm camera and has a refresh rate of about 120fps in the camera’s boost mode. There’s also the useful 3.2in Tilt-Type touchscreen monitor at the back, which can, you guessed it, still be tilted.
Like everything else in the world right now, artificial intelligence (AI) is finding a bigger role. The GFX100 II features Fujifilm’s AI-based subject-detection AF. You’ll get face or eye autofocus (AF) but it also automatically tracks animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, aeroplanes, trains, insects, and drones.
If the large-format sensor isn’t big enough for you, you can use its Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function. This lets you shoot 16 RAW images in quick succession, which its software will combine into a 400MP image.
The Fujifilm GFX100 II goes on sale in South Africa in October 2023 for R160,000.
GFX100 II with a side of lenses
Fujifilm is also launching three new lenses in its GFX lineup. There are two new tilt-shift lenses, the Fujinon GF30mmF5.6 T/S and the Fujinon GF110mmF5.6 T/S Macro, which are ideal for architecture, landscape and commercial photography. They retail for R80,000 and R70,000 respectively.
The Fujinon GF55mmF1.7 R WR lens offers better bokeh effects and will retail for R45,000.
Stuff has long been a fan of Fujifilm cameras, so we’re looking forward to reviewing this when it lands next month.