Nice Save FUJIFILM GFX 50S II

While it likes to call its GF mirrorless camera system “large format”, Fujifilm has always considered it as a competitor to full-frame camera bodies. Presumably using the word “large” drives home the difference in sensor size, but most photographers will also understand that medium format – which is what the ‘33x44’ sensors most definitely are – is bigger than 35mm, even if they never shot with film.

Does it matter? Probably not, because regardless of what they’re called, a medium format sensor delivers some key performance advantages, which is what is at the heart of Fujifilm’s intentions with its GF cameras.

Of course, since the original GFX 50S was launched in early 2017, a lot has happened in the full-frame mirrorless sector, particularly in terms of pro-level cameras. Competition has increased with the arrival of the Sony Alpha 1, Canon EOS R3, and Nikon Z 9. All three could technically be termed ‘sports cameras’ as the design emphasis is on speed, which is where the GF cameras certainly can’t keep up (Fujifilm currently competes here with the APS-C format X-T4).

However, when the design emphasis shifts to image quality – so-called ‘studio cameras’ – then the GFX 100S and the GFX 50S II are right in the mix, the former primarily courtesy of its resolution, the latter because of its price. And both – they share the same body – are also in the ballpark in terms of portability and handling.

In a nutshell, the GFX 50S II has the same 51.4MP, 32.9x43.8 mm CMOS sensor as the original 50S, but otherwise it shares just about everything else with the 100S. Fifty megapixels res puts the 50S II up against around eight full-frame models with resolutions in the range of 45MP to 61MP, which means pricing becomes more critical. Launched at $6,499, the 50S II is cheaper than five of the current full-frame bodies and about the same money as the Canon EOS R5, ignoring any discounting. Here then, it really can compete on sensor size – and hence, more specifically, pixel size, which is actually what’s more important. It’s also telling that, for the first time in the digital medium format world, there’s a ‘kit’ lens offering – the also new GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR zoom – which indicates Fujifilm is gearing up its attempts to seduce potential converts to mirrorless away from their full-frame DSLRs. The kit price values the GF 35-70mm at a mere $800, so this really is a bargain entry point to digital medium format photography. There are run-out deals