I am not that kind of guy, who breaks into a place bypassing security checks…
I broke into photokina bypassing security checks 1 day ahead of the official opening, because I could not wait to deliver you the first images side by side of the XF33mmF1.0, XF16-80mmF4 and XF16mmF2.9 and first hands on video of the Fujifilm GFX 50R.
But let’s talk about it later and start with the Fujifilm managers.
Fujifilm has recently announced a new GF lens mount roadmap. The official roadmap, though, didn’t gave any timeline about when the future GF50mmF3.5 pancake, GF100-200mmF5.6 and GF45-100mmF4 will hit the market.
Now the Japanese site dc.watch has shared a couple of media slides, including one that shows the roadmap for the various lenses. We can see:
2019 – GF100-200mmF5.6 R LM OIS WR
– GF50mmF3.5 R LM WR
2020 – GF45-100mmF4 R LM OIS WR
As we told you back in December 2017, Fujifilm plans to release 2/3 lenses for each of their systems (X and GFX) a year. This means that we might see one more lens coming n 2019 for the GFX 50S as well as 1 or 2 more lenses in 2020. Check out our big rumor timeline to see what could come.
The slides also give us some basic details about these lenses, which I have all listed at the bottom of this article.
Other media slides (also below) show some more details the Fujifilm GFX 100. So we discover that (unsurprisingly) it will feature the X Processor 4 and we can see a first crop made out an image taken with the GFX 100.
Hugh Brownstone had a half an hour chat with Fujifilm manager Justin Stailey. It’s an interesting and relaxed talk at a glass of beer, I invite you to check out here.
For those in a hurry, here are some key points from what the Manager says:
Fujifilm GFX 100
100 MP sensor
IBIS, because 100MP is sensible to vibration
4K @ 30P with full sensor readout (no crop). No pixel binning. It’s gonna be compressed in some shape or form
price under/around $10,000
100% phase detection coverage, but lenses with lots of glass are heavier to move, so it’s never going to have as fast AF as APS-C
coming first half 2019
Fujifilm Color Science
metric color is different from memory color. Velvia was designed to make things look the way your mind remembers it (memory color). It’s interpretation, it’s how your brain sees it versus what was really there
one of the long time Japanese engineers at Fujifilm responsible for Velvia film simulation development, did actually also develop Velvia film in the past
Mixed Talk
new age of mirrorless is starting, since more player are in the market. The acceptability of mirrorless has increased now. Fujifilm focuses on what they do best, APS-C for sport, action and video, and Medium Format for portrait and fashion
pixels on GFX 50R and GFX 50S are bigger than full frame. Bigger pixels capture more light
sensor, lenses, processor, color science, the whole package
he does not like that photokina will take place every year in spring, right after CP+. A 2 years circle was better and Fujifilm has organized their announcements also according to photokina
just because we announced X-T3, it does not mean that the X-T2 is worst now. Photographer makes more difference than the gear
some dealers in USA already make more than 50% revenue by selling mirrorless
I just came home from another busy day at Photokina, and I played again around with the Fujifilm GFX 50R. It’s a really fine camera, and my GAS goes strong, but $4,500 still make it out of my reach. So my money is safe (I think :) ).
For rangefinder guys like me, the Fujifilm GFX 50R is surely more fun to use than the GFX 50S, also on the streets and for daily documentation of life.
Kevin Mullins and Jonas Rask also said on their live talks at Photokina, that the Fujifilm GFX 50R is a medium format they enjoy to pick up and carry around for daily shooting, much more than a bulkier Fujifilm GFX 50S, which is definitely a wonderful tool for professional work, but not as “casual” as the Fujifilm GFX 50R.
So keep in mind that performance is just the same of Fujifilm GFX 50S. What the real difference is, is the shooting experience. So I will share a few reviews down below, but none will tell you how the Fujifilm GFX 50R feels in your hands.
One thing I liked form the Fujifilm GFX 50R and GFX 100 live stream announcement, is that Fujifilm asked what full frame means.
“Full” indicates that some kind of limit is reached. So what is the Fujifilm GFX system? Well, then Fuji calls it a “super full frame” ;)
And just for fun I will tell you this: in German we often refer to “full frame” as “Kleinbild“, which means “small frame“, because it’s smaller than… guess what?… you got it, medium format!
So what now, is full frame actually a small frame?
In order to end the confusion, I will tell you this: every system is “full frame”. Fuji’s APS-C system is conceived and designed for APS-C, and so is their MF system. M43 is build around the M43 sensor and so forth.
Whatever you hold in your hands right now, from an iPhone to Phase One, it’s “full frame”.
