Master Full FUJIFILM GFX 100S

Not so long ago it was easy to dismiss the idea of having 100MP resolution – the cameras were too big, too heavy, too restrictive and, above all else, way too expensive. Despite the attraction of having so much resolution on tap – and still with comparatively large pixels to give decent signal-to-noise ratio – it really was hard to justify the functional compromises and the huge cost. All that changed with the Fujifilm GFX 100, which could do lots of things that no other 100MP camera could do, and was priced on the right side of $20,000.

Now Fujifilm has done it again, repackaging the GFX 100’s sensor, processor and feature set in a more compact and lighter-weight body similar to that of the GFX 50S. And not only has Fujifilm trimmed off the millimetres and grams, but also the dollars, bringing in the GFX 100S at a shade under $10,000. Yep, that makes you sit up and take notice doesn’t it? A 100MP medium format camera for under ten grand and with essentially the same usability and functionality as any full-frame mirrorless model. What’s not to like?

Presently, the GFX 100S is the most affordable 100MP camera on the market – Phase One’s IQ4 100MP Trichromatic back attached to an XF body will set you back… well, let’s just say, a whole lot more, with the price difference easily buying you two or maybe even three juicy G-mount lenses. In fact, the GFX 100S is also cheaper than the 50MP Hasselblad X1D II 50C, which – if you shop around – you might snag for $10,499 body only. That's only a grand more than the Fujifilm camera. Size wise, it’s smaller than the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III or Nikon D6 pro-level DSLRs. It’s even marginally smaller than the Lumix S1 series of full-frame mirrorless cameras, and about the same size as the Leica SL2 and SL2-S. So, put simply, it’s not an overly bulky camera, unlike the GFX 100 which is a bit of a beast. Not surprisingly, there’s a big difference between these two – the 100S is 30% smaller and a whole 500g lighter – but the reductions compared to the 50S are more modest at around 20g in weight and around 5mm in height. However, there’s quite a big difference in the depth of the bodies – due to the relocation of the battery compartment – and this makes the GFX 100S look a whole lot more compact. It’s definitely closer to full-frame mirrorless cameras than anything else with 100 megapixels under the bonnet. And Fujifilm continues to cheekily refer