Fujifilm GFX 100 II review: medium format marvel
It's only been a few short years since Fujifilm began its journey to push its own vision of exactly what a medium format camera should be. After decades of medium format being large, boxy, and heavy cameras for high-end professionals, the Fujifilm GFX 50S and GFX 50R brought medium format (almost) to the masses with not only a body size that rivaled DSLRs and even some mirrorless cameras, but also at a price that significantly undercut the competition.
Fujifilm is certainly not alone in revolutionizing medium format cameras, industry stalwarts Hasselblad were the first to create a more compact medium format system with the Hasselblad X1D-50c, although Hassleblad’s system didn’t come close to touching the affordability of Fujifilm’s cameras.
2019’s GFX 100 changed the body of the GFX series to include a vertical grip, which was somewhat against the philosophy of making mirrorless medium format cameras more compact, but it was an answer to the question of how far could Fujifilm push the specs of a medium format camera with its introduction of in-body image stabilization.
The new Fujifilm GFX 100 II returns to the styling of the original GFX camera ideology, but also pushes medium format even further, but is it enough to finally woo full frame photographers over to medium format?
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: Specifications
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: Key features
The Fujifilm GFX 100 II features a new high-speed 102-megapixel CMOS sensor paired with Fujifilm's X-Processor 5. This enables the camera to shoot at 8 frames per second at full resolution, a notable achievement for a medium format camera, with a larger buffer than its predecessor of up to 325 frames in RAW.
It supports shooting in various formats, including 16-bit HQ RAW and HEIF 10-bit, offering improved dynamic range over the previous model with a new base ISO of 80. The GFX 100 II can also create 400-megapixel Pixel Shift images by combining 16 RAW shots and achieve true color images with just four frames. Fujifilm has also added a new film simulation called Fujifilm Reala Ace, bringing the total to 20 film simulations.
Autofocus has been enhanced with the X-Processor 5, with subject recognition for humans, animals, vehicles, and insects. It also offers improved human face and eye recognition, especially useful for portrait photographers. The camera also provides up to 8 stops of in-body image stabilization when used with compatible lenses.
For video, the GFX 100 II offers 4K60p 4:2:2 10-bit video internally without cropping, as well as 8K24p with a 1.42x crop or 8K30p with a 1.51x crop, and Full HD up to 120p. It supports Apple ProRes and Fujifilm's F-Log2 for up to 13+ stops of dynamic range, expandable to 14+ stops in D Range Priority mode. External recorders can enable ProRes RAW or Blackmagic RAW recording and the camera can record to external SSDs. Targeting video professionals, the GFX 100 II offers IDT support, focus mapping, vector scope, and waveform in live view. Its 'Video Format' adapts the sensor video size to the cinema lens from a range of manufacturers.
The GFX 100 II features a detachable 9.44m-dot viewer as well as a three-way tilting 3.0-in screen, and a 2.09-in screen up top. The GFX 100 II uses Fujifilm's NP-W235 battery, providing around 540 frames (20% better than the GFX 100) or 60 minutes of 4K30p recording on a single charge.
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: Build & Handling
The styling of the GFX 100 II follows that of Fujifilm’s compact medium format cameras like the GFX 100S, and does away with the built-in vertical grip from the original GFX 100. The camera is smaller and lighter than the GFX 100 as it no longer has the grip built in, although, with the optional grip accessory attached, it actually becomes the heavier and larger option out of the two.
Personally, I think the optional grip is the right move, I don’t love a vertical grip, (despite shooting mostly portraiture) and the GFX 100 II is big enough already, so having it as an optional extra, and still being able to enjoy the full force of Fujifilm’s most powerful medium format camera without the extra bulk is very welcome.
Fujifilm is one of my favorite manufacturers when it comes to the build quality and styling of its cameras, and the GFX 100 II continues in that tradition. The GFX 100 II is a slick-looking camera, but also it feels good in the hand, the new BISHAMON-TEX material on the camera is nice to hold and is a little more grippy than the traditional faux-leather finish, although not revolutionary. It does give me strong futuristic spacesuit vibes and makes the camera look much more modern. I will admit, I do prefer the look of the faux-leather, but after a while, I did stop really noticing the new material.
Coming from using smaller systems day-to-day, the GFX 100 II does feel heavy and bulky, it is certainly a camera you will notice carrying long periods, and throwing the camera into a rucksack to walk around I noticed the added weight. Although when I remind myself that this is a 102MP medium format camera, it is still much smaller than most of the best professional full frame DSLRs, and for the size and weight, the power is pretty amazing.
The GFX system is still hamstrung by having to have large GFX lenses. Unfortunately, current technology dictates that larger lenses with more elements have better image quality, and more space for powerful autofocus motors, and with a medium format image circle, there is only so small GFX lenses are ever going to get. The GFX 100 II is about what is comfortable to hold and still balance with large GFX lenses.
The layout is fairly similar to previous GFX models, but there are three new custom unmarked function buttons up top on the camera. The functions of these buttons are shown in three little corresponding symbols on the top screen, which is a really nice touch. GFX bodies are definitely large enough to accommodate more custom function buttons so these three new ones are appreciated. As is common with Fujifilm cameras, pretty much all the buttons can be re-mapped to your personal shooting preferences.
The two custom function buttons on the front of the camera body have moved slightly, being more central, however, maybe it is large hands, but I did find that my middle finger keeps knocking the top of these buttons when picking up the camera, as it was very easily pressed. I don’t have any functions on this button that drastically affected my images or setup, but this could be very irritating depending on what you use them for.
The 2.09-inch top screen remains and still functions as the fastest way to view camera settings quickly, it can also be used to display virtual dials or a live histogram. There is a lot of spare real estate on the screen in stills mode, and I wish the screen could do even more to be useful, although it is more busy in video mode.
The rear screen is good quality, Fujifilm opted for a three-way tilting screen, which for the purposes this camera will be used for is probably all it really needs, and you can sort of replicate that waist-level viewfinder experience of medium format film cameras. The viewfinder is a pleasure to use, with a clear and sharp resolution, and can also be pushed into boosted mode to make it a really smooth viewing experience, which is great for high-speed action. I unfortunately didn't have the tilting viewfinder to test.
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: Performance
I initially got to test the GFX 100 II at Fujifilm’s X Summit 2023 in Stockholm, and while the weather was unfortunately against me, the undeniable beauty of one of Europe's best-preserved old towns was a pleasure to capture on the GFX 100 II. Photos are incredibly detailed, with the resolving power of 102MP simply incredible. There is so much cropping potential in these photos. When taking photos of a crowded street I could zoom in on individual faces and the details held are incredible.
We have already seen Fujifilm's 102MP sensors at work in its previous GFX cameras and they have been mighty impressive, but with a new faster sensor combined with even higher rated in body image stabilization and the autofocusing prowess of the X-Processor 5, the camera is now a very worth rival to almost any full frame camera for almost any type of photography.
At 8 frames per second, this thing is fast for a medium format camera, obviously the GFX 100 II isn’t going to trouble any of the best cameras for sports or the best cameras for wildlife, with cameras like the Sony A1 or Canon EOS R3 reaching 30fps but at considerably smaller image sizes. Let's not forget that the GFX 100 II has a 102MP medium format sensor compared to 24MP full frame sensor in the EOS R3. Fujifilm pushing that many pixels at that speed is a hell of an achievement and drives medium format ever closer to being a viable high-speed action camera.
The GFX 100 II is most at home taking portraits though, so that was my first port of call when testing the camera. Where to start? The eye detection autofocus is near flawless, I got such a high hit rate I barely needed to discard any final shots, which is so important when the perfect can be ruined by missed focus. The autofocus had no hesitation jumping to the nearest eye as the model moved around, after a while I completely stopped even being concerned about the focus and could redirect my energy to composition and poses.
When it comes to editing medium format is a league above. Not only is the ability to crop in and still maintain so much detail huge, but the dynamic range stored in the Fujifilm uncompressed RAF files gives so much room to play with. I like to edit by flattening out my images, pushing the shadows, and squashing the highs, and this was so easy in the GFX files without losing details or encountering any murky greys when the highs or lows hit their limits.
The new Reala Ace film simulation launched with the GFX 100 II is also now going to replace Provia as my standard profile for editing. Reala Ace offers a much more neutral and balanced starting point for editing when used as a RAW editing profile. I am counting the days until this also comes to Fujifilm's X-Series cameras.
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: Sample Images
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: Lab results
For our lab data comparison, we compared the GFX 100 II to its main high-res, medium-format rival, the Hasselblad X2D 100C. We also though it would be interesting to compare these medium format cameras to two of the highest resolution full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Sony a7R V, and Leica M11, to see if the step up to medium format is still worth it.
We test resolution using Imatest charts and software, and dynamic range and signal to noise ratio with DxO Analyzer.
Resolution:
In most comparisons the Sony and Leica cameras would trounce their rivals in our resolution test, but here their ~61MP sensors are no match for the two 100MP cameras. That extra 40MP difference makes a huge difference when it comes to revealing fine detail in a scene.
Dynamic range:
All four cameras are closely matched when it comes to capturing dynamic range. The only point worth noting is that X100 II manages to maintain its peak performance right up to ISO 1600, whereas the X2D's dynamic range is already starting to drop at ISO 800.
Signal to noise ratio:
This test compares the amount of random noise generated by the camera at different ISO settings as a proportion of the actual image information (the 'signal'). Higher values are better and we expect to see the signal to ratio fall as the ISO is increased.
Remarkably given its huge megapixel count, the X100 II manages to generate slightly less image noise than the full-frame cameras on test; its extra sensor size keeping it just ahead of the pack, though the difference is negligible.
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: Final Verdict
The GFX 100 II is a revelation, I review a lot of cameras, but this is one of the few cameras I have found the hardest to give back. The GFX 100 II should be the catalyst for every full frame professional portrait, fashion, product, and landscape photographer wavering on jumping to medium format.
The camera takes stunningly detailed photos with the unique properties of a bigger medium format sensor. Fujifilm has assembled its entire arsenal for this camera, featuring a sensor that has undergone a transformative redesign to make it the fastest medium format camera sensor yet. Coupled with the X-Processor 5 it delivers new autofocus capabilities for a sensor of this size, with the ability to recognize and track faces, eyes, animals, and even vehicles very effectively.
The design has also reverted to the compact medium format cameras that kicked off the GFX range, dispensing with the vertical grip found on the GFX 100, and again resulting in a camera that is only slightly larger than some of the best full-frame cameras available.
The Fujifilm GFX 100 II is not just the medium format camera to beat, but it is one of the best cameras to beat full-stop.
Read more: Check out our top picks for the best medium format cameras and see how the GFX 100 II compares. You can also find out guides to the best Fujifilm cameras and the best GF lenses.
