Fujifilm’s GFX100 II flagship changes the large format photography game

Photographers looking for a step up in image quality need look no further than the latest in Fujifilm’s large format GFX range – the Fujifilm GFX100 II. This new flagship promises not only outstanding image quality thanks to its 102MP sensor, but also improved shooting speed, auto-focus (AF) performance, and video quality.

Massive sensor, but also fast

To start, the GFX100 II features the newly-developed GFX 102MP CMOS II HS high-speed image sensor. It’s important to remember that at 43.8mm x 32.9mm in size, this sensor is approximately 1.7 times larger than a regular 35mm full-frame sensor – with image quality that needs to be experienced to be believed.

Powering this beast is the high-speed X-Processor 5 image processing engine, which in combination with the sensor, doubles the signal readout speed compared to 2021’s GFX100S.

If you thought that large format cameras are slow, think again. Thanks to this improved signal readout speed, the GFX100 II is capable of continuous shooting of up to 8.0 frames per second, up from 5.0 fps on the previous GFX model. With a reinforced buffer memory, it now opens the GFX Series up to sports photographers looking for only the best image quality.

Taking this performance one step further, the GFX100 II is also the first GFX Series camera that features Fujifilm’s AI-based subject-detection AF, developed with Deep Learning technology. The use of an improved algorithm has evolved not only Face/Eye AF but now allows photographers to automatically track animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, aeroplanes, trains, insects, and drones.

Videographers take note

On the videography side, the GFX100 II supports 8K/30P video recording, plus it can also record 4K/60P 4:2:2 10-bit video internally and features F-Log2, broadening post-production flexibility. This range of video features allows videographers to explore completely new avenues due to the possibilities of the large format sensor of the GFX100 II.

The camera is further equipped with the best Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) on a Fujifilm camera yet – a high-magnification and high-definition 9.44-million-dot EVF with 1.0x magnification. It boasts a smooth refresh frame rate of approx. 120fps in Boost Mode to accurately identify a subject’s fast movements. Alternatively, the 3.2-inch Tilt-Type touchscreen monitor at the back can be used, consisting of approx. 2.36 million dots.

This while low light performance has improved thanks to the five-axis In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS), now set to an impressive eight-stops – more than any other camera in the complete Fujifilm lineup.

For those looking for even larger images, GFX users can use the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function. This controls the IBIS mechanism to shift the image sensor by 0.5 pixels at a time and shoot 16 RAW images in quick succession, with the dedicated software combining these to generate a mouth-watering 400MP image.

Price and local availability

The Fujifilm GFX100 II large format mirrorless camera, with its improved speed, AF, and video capabilities, is available from photographic shops nationwide, with a suggested retail price of R159 999 incl. VAT.