Jason at TCSTV: “The IQ Difference between Fujifilm GFX and Sony A1/Canon R5 Tortured me, I couldn’t Unsee it, so I bought into GFX”

I don’t buy into the narrative that wants you to believe you can make professional work only with full frame gear.

And it’s not just a “feeling” of mine. It’s a hard core fact proven by the irrefutable reality that you can win the Pulitzer prize or the World Press Photo Award with images taken by Fujifilm APS-C cameras.

And I also don’t buy that “sensor size is everything” narrative.

Look, I’ve shot it all: from my loved Micro Four Thirds to APS-C and Medium Format, and yes, even quite some Sony Full Frame as I have easy access to that system thanks to the SonyAlphaRumors guy living not far away from my home.

So I can confidently say: every system has its Pros and Cons and every system, from M43 to MF, can be used for professional use, of course with some cameras being better suited for certain uses than others.

So if somebody tells you that you absolutely need a system with a 70% larger sensor than full frame (the GFX system) to really stand out with the quality of your images, then you better don’t trust that person.

And yet, as we said, every system has its Pros and Cons, and the advantage of the GFX system is undeniably that it offers the best image quality you can get for a more than reasonable price.

Then add to this that the Fujifilm GFX100S and GFX50SII have the size of the Canon R5, are even smaller than the Panasonic S1 cameras and cheaper than full frame cameras like the Sony A1, and you start to get a combination of advantages that might make the Fujifilm GFX perfect for your needs.

And it sounds like the combination of advantages the GFX system offers was perfect for Jason Eng, who, in a talk with Evelyn from TCSTV explains his move to the GFX system.

Here is a quick summary:

  • Jason’s assistant Aiden was looking to buy into a new system. He looked at Sony, Nikon and Canon and almost pulled the trigger on the Canon
  • Jason suggested him to try the GFX50SII which costs about the same what Aiden was about to spend for the Canon
  • Aiden put his hands on the GFX50S and it had “these magical files“
  • then they also shot the GFX100 side by side with Sony A1 and Canon R5
  • even by just comparing the images on the laptop sized screen, they noticed the detail in shadows and the way that the camera handled gradation from highlight to shadow was just… “I could not unsee it, it tortured me until I inevitably bought the system“
  • he bought the GFX100 with a classic pro body with integrated grip and fully usable autofocus
  • he often shoots vertical, so having the integrated grip is important
  • he was and still is a Sony shooter, enjoying a smaller and lighter body
  • then Fujifilm offered the GFX100S with its smaller and lighter body and it reached a larger target audience than what the GFX100 could do
  • both options, GFX100 and GFX100S, are great
  • he often shoots tethered and loves that the film simulation he uses goes right into Capture One
  • as a long time Sony user for 10 years, color was always hard. The standard was Canon
  • when Fuji released their APS-C mirrorless cameras he loved the colors, but he could not commit to a smaller sensor than FF
  • but now they have exceeded his expectations and gone larger than full frame
  • skin tones are great, reds are beautiful, rich and deep
  • he uses also legacy glass adapted to the GFX system
  • Fujifilm offering GFX cameras from $4,000 to $6,000 is a game changer for medium format
  • color and shadow tonality range, you can’t unsee it once you see it side by side

Get Yours (now that it’s finally in stock ;)):

Inside Rihanna’s Vogue Cover Shoot with Annie Leibovitz (and Fujifilm GFX100S)

Annie Leibovitz is not new to the Fujifilm X system.

But it seems that she added some gear to her Fujifilm collection.

In fact, she has been spotted using a Fujifilm GFX100S for her Rihanna Vogue cover shot.

And to be clear, this post is not meant to say “you need a GFX to create well paid work“. In fact I have seen Annie also using Sony, Phase One and other cameras. Fujifilm is just one of the options she has.

You can see the final result at the Vogue page here.

New Steelsring EF/GFX PRO Edition Launched

Steelsring is launching the Steelsring EF/GFX PRO Edition smart autofocus adapter. In addition to the multifunctional button there is also an aperture ring with A/C switch like we find it on Fujinon GF lenses.

FUJI Lens Mode Switch Simulation

FUJIFILM GF lens support mode C (Aperture priority by camera command dial) , mode A (Programming auto mode by camera) and Aperture dial mode.

For Steelsring EF/GF I/II/III adapters, with the help of short click of adapter’s MFB (multi-function button), it is able to simulate the mode switch simulation between C and A modes. initial mode simulation is mode C.

For PRO edition, with the add-on control ring in aperture body, it is possible to simulate an aperture dial too, the mode will cycle in C->A->Aperture Dial for PRO edition via short click of MFB, initial mode simulation for PRO edition is aperture dial instead of C for I/II/III adapters.

Lens mode switch simulation works always, is not relevant to adapter’s working mode as Adapter or GF lens simulation.

About MFB（multi-function button)

  • Activate firmware update mode for I/II/III and PRO adapters.
    Press and hold MFB, then connect to PC/MAC via USB cable, then release the button will enable adapter enter firmware update mode.
  • When mounted on camera body with lens combination, after camera power on normally
    1. Short click MFB once, will start lens mode switch between C and A for I/II/III adapter, or C->A->Aperture dial for PRO adapter.
    2. Press and hold MFB for 5 secs or longer, then release MFB, will trigger adapter’s mode switch between Adapter mode and GF lens simulation mode, camera body will reboot EF/GFX adapter to be effective immediately.

About Manual Focus Ring (PRO edition only, not available for I/II/III adapters)

When lens mode switch simulation is in C or A mode, aperture control is done via camera body dial, then we use the control ring to simulate a manual focus ring, it is more like power focusing of curtain EF lenses. To be effective, lens body AF/MF mode switch must be set to AF, and camera body focus mode dial set to MF. Turning control ring, it will activate camera’s MF assistant automatically.

About Automatic Focus Bracketing (PRO edition only, not available for I/II/III adapters)

When PRO adapter’s control ring can function as manual focus ring, it is able to set the begin and end positions of auto focusing bracketing depth now. So before entering Auto Focusing bracketing setting in camera body menus, please make sure adapter’s lens mode switch simulation is in C or A mode, and set Lens body AF/MF mode to AF, then turn the adapter’s control ring to set the position accordingly. Please do not turn lens body’s manual focus ring, it is useless because lens won’t report any distance change after focusing position changed, but FUJI’s algorithm need that value.

After finishing automatic focus bracketing positioning setting, control ring can be set to aperture dial simulation again.

You can read more at the Steelsring page here.

Top 10 Gear to Look Forward in 2022 and Your Top Wishes for 2022 (Anything Goes – Almost)

Coming 2022 (For Sure)

So what can we look forward to in 2022?

Well, here are the 10 things we can be sure to enjoy this year (even if some of them are “just” rumors until now).

  1. Fujifilm X-H2
  2. Fujifilm X-H2 – no joke, twice
  3. Fujinon XF150-600
  4. XF 56mm f/1.2 MKII
  5. XF 18-120mm
  6. Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF X Mount
  7. GF 20-35mm – possible aperture range shared here
  8. Sigma X mount lenses
  9. More AF X mount lenses from Tamron
  10. TTArtisan 32mmF2.8 X autofocus mount lens

Your Fujifilm Wishes for 2022

Ok, I can hear your questions:

Well, some of those questions I think Fujifilm managers quite categorically already answered in the past, such as the monochrome questions and full frame question. But hey, managers also categorically said that X mount is not compatible with IBIS, and look, at the end we got IBIS, and it is even one of the best in the industry.

I am also working on some other of those questions, and I already have first answers that I won’t share just yet as I want to have it not only twice, but multiple confirmed. I can’t go wrong when I share certain things ;).

But we will talk about all that soon enough.

What I would like from you now, is that you share your top wishes for 2022 in the comments. Anything goes, as long as it has something realistic to it. So for example, wishing for an X-E5 when we just got an X-E4 is not very realistic. Also a big and heavy Fujinon XF600mmF2 probably won’t make much sense, unless you would pay any amount for it and train a lot to be able to carry it around.

Other than that, from cameras to firmware or lenses… whatever your heart desires and wishes, feel free to share it in the comments down below.

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TTArtisan 90mm f/1.25 G Mount for Fujifilm GFX on Sale Now!

Back in August FujiRumros shared a TTArtisan roadmap that included the TTArtisan 90mm f/1.25 for the Fujifilm GFX system.

Well, TTArtisan 90mm f/1.25 for G mount has now finally been released and is on sale at AmazonUS here for $479 or directly at the TTArtisan page for $435 (plus shipping from China).

Specs, Product and Samples Images

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