Fujifilm GFX100S (vs GFX100) First Looks: Low Light AF Almost as Fast as Canon/Sony (Really?), Joystick Issues, Quick Eye AF Demo

ThePhoBlographer got his hands on a Fujifilm GFX100S since a few days, and here is initial feedback shared in two videos:

  • super small
  • 5 fps with continuous autofocus
  • fantastic build quality and weather sealed
  • autofocus is faster than original GFX100
  • at minute 3:35 he says that in low light, the GFX100S is “pretty much almost as fast” as the Canon EOS R. It’s up there with Canon and Sony. He could not believe it, so he kept doing it over and over again, and it kept performing
  • for being pre-production (hence not final firmware), it’s already very good autofocus on the GFX100S

Honestly, considering that this is just prototype firmware and that MF is not known to be master of speed, I have a hard time to believe that kind of autofocus performance.

What we know is that there is a new and improved algorithm in the Fujifilm GFX100S, that speeds up single, tracking and eye autofocus. So I definitely expect a sensible improvement over the original GFX100. But how much it was able to come close to high end full frame or APS-C cameras, that remains to see once more reviews come in with final production firmware.

Down below we also add a quick eye autofocus demo of the Fujifilm GFX100S. It’s a Japanese first look on the GFX100S, and I will let you start the video at 17:46 to get direct access to the quick eye AF demo.

Always covering the brand new GFX100S, ZP Productions shared an initial look at the GFX100S and compares it to the original GFX100. Here is what he says:

  • coupled the smaller G mount lenses, you can hold and operate the camera one handed (such as with the GF45mm)
  • has a top LCD like the GFX100, but GFX100 has also a small LCD on the battery grip
  • he runs over some differences in terms of buttons and dial layout between GFX100S and GFX1000
  • GFX100S has only 5 FN cabable buttons, the GFX100 has 7 FN buttons
  • he prefers the joystick on the GFX100 over the one on the GFX100S. On the GFX100S you press down and sometimes nothing happens [note: consider that these are pre-production firmware]
  • the joystick itself is nicer on the GFX100S, as it is bigger. But the tactile feeling is not as good as GFX100 (less responsive). [Again: pre-production firmware used]
  • slighlty lower resolution EVF on GFX100S compared to GFX100
  • autofocus in terms of eye detection feels a bit faster than GFX100S over GFX100. More stable, more sticky
  • lighter, smaller and easier to use camera than the GFX100. But it lacks of buttons, has weired joystick and lower resolution EVF compared to GFX100. Also no vertical grip option
  • external power during video is also better on GFX100 due to 15 V DC-IN connector port to power the camera
  • GFX100S has the X-T4 battery, and it gives you more shots per battery
  • GFX100S is the way better camera for travels
  • about as big as the Canon R5
  • he owns the GFX100, so he probably won’t buy the GFX100S

As for the joystick, you can set it that it works always, or that it works only after you clicked it (or even turn it off completely). Maybe the reviewer had it set to “press first than move”, which could explain why he had to push hard, probably until he accidentally pressed so hard that he pressed in and activated it. Or it’s just because it’s a pre-production sample. Frankly, I would not worry about it at all.

Check out all videos down below.

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Videos

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DPRTV Fujiflm X-E4 First Impressions (and Get Well Soon, Chris!)

DPReview TV has released their first impression video of the brand new Fuijfilm X-E4.

Here are their thoughts:

  • very handsome looking camera with very clean lines, but not same fit and finish of X100V
  • he likes the fron dial with push function
  • has 3.5mm jack
  • headphone jack via USB-C adapter
  • with 27mm/2.8 it weights like the X100V
  • offset EVF is one of the main reasons to get this camera
  • EVF 2.36m dots… eye relief is quite poor, not good if you wear eyeglasses
  • X100V style camera with interchangeable lenses
  • for a bit more money, X-S10 is the better choice (has IBIS)

But most importantly, get well soon Chris!

Fujinon XF50mmF1.0 and XF10-24mmF4 MK II Reviews, Hope for XF18mmF2 MK II, Viltrox, TTartisans and Much More – Lens Roundup

 

Here is lens roundup, from Fujinon X lenses to native third party options.

Lots of stuff to check out if you want :).

We start with Fujinon XF lenses and then third party options to follow.

Fujinon XF50mmF1.0: Customer Reviews on AmazonUS – Customer Reviews on BHphoto

Lens Roundup

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Fujinon XF 50mmF1.0 Review by Christopher Frost: “Easily the Sharpest Lens I Have Ever Tested at Apertures Brighter than f/1.2”

Christopher Frost has published his review about the brand new Fujinon XF50mmF1.0.

I will provide written summary below for those of you guys, who are in a hurry and don’t have the time to watch the video right now.

Full Frame Equivalency

  • The dimensions of the XF50mmF1.0 are very similar to the ones of the Full Frame Sony GM 85mmF1.4
  • the advantage of the Fujifilm optic is that the max. aperture of f/1.0 will mean that an enormous light intensity is hitting your camera sensor, leaving you with much faster shutter speeds than all other lenses
  • f/1.0 is twice as bright as f/1.4 and 66% brighter than f/1.2, so it really gives you a substantial advantage.
  • The XF50mmF1.0 is a dream lens not only for bokeh, but also for shooting indoors and in darker situations. It could be an incredible lens for wedding photography or video work.

Build Quality and Autofocus

  • build quality more or less second to none. Fantastic and professional feeling
  • lens is big and heavy
  • metallic and solid feeling
  • well weather sealed
  • aperture ring a bit too easy to change away from f/1.0
  • metallic focus ring turns extremely smoothly, but the way it works with the focus motor is pretty jerky, so using it is not the smoothest experience
  • very little focus breathing
  • internal microphone picks up sound of the focus motor
  • autofocus on X-T3 with firmware 3.00 (old firmware): autofocus works OK but is a bit unsure of itself hunting around a bit
  • autofocus on X-T3 with firmware 3.00 (new firmware): huge change. Focus is reasonably quickly and confidently even at f/1.0
  • DC AF motor is noisy

Image Quality

Sharpness

  • usually such fast lenses almost never have great image quality wide open
  • f/1.0: high resolution but low contrast. A little bit of purple fringing in high contrast edges. But he is really impressed by the great amount of detail being captured at f/1.0. You can add extra contrast in post. Sharpness remains all across the frame, but the far corner see some softness. But ever other lens he has tested at f/1.0 was significantly softer than the XF50mmF1.0
  • f/1.4: a lot more contrast in the center and reduced fringing
  • f/2.0: perfect image quality in the middle a little more detail in the corner
  • f/2.8 and beyond we can see excellent image quality in the corners, although not quite as perfect as the middle of the image
  • f/11 and f/16 image quality will soften again due to diffraction
  • OVERALL: Easily the sharpest lens he has ever tested at apertures brighter than f/1.2. It captures a very impressive amount of detail at f/1.0. For more contast stop down at f/1.4. For very sharp corners stop down at f/4. But at f/1.0 the lens is already sharp, which is very exciting to see

Distortion + Close up image quality + Flare

  • at f/1.0 just a little bit of pincushion distortion and vignetting is surprisingly moderate. He was expecting much more vignetting
  • af f/1.4 corners brighten a bit
  • at f/2 corners brighten a lot more
  • at f/1.0 close up quality is a bit softer than at normal distances, but still pretty usable. Stop down to see gradual improvements
  • despite the extreme nature of the lens, Fujifilm did fairly well to control flare, with flaring reduced to just a little green point when a bright light hits directly the image

Bokeh + LoCA

  • he really likes the look of it. Smooth, clean and all around gorgeous
  • if you really want to nitpick, then you could say it has slight cat eye shaped balls in the corners with very slight green outline
  • background looks wonderful
  • Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration is a bit noticable from f/1.0 to f/2.0. More or less all gone at f/2.8

Conclusions

  • the experience of using this lens was “out of this world”
  • it’s so cool to shoot at f/1.0 with autofocus
  • not a perfect lens, but unique, very powerful, decently sharp at f/1.0 and renders images with beatiful bokeh
  • $1,500 may be expensive, but Fujifilm achievement with this lens has matched the ambitions
  • he certainly recommends this lens.

This is basically another very positive review, after the one of ePhotozine, which we will link again down below.

  • read here – ePhotozine Fujinon XF50mm f/1.0 Review: “Top Tier Performance, Impressive Chromatic Aberration Performance… Magical!”

Fujinon XF50mmF1.0 Pre-Orders