The world of wildlife and sport photography is being transformed by the new Fujifilm GFX100S II and its incredible 102-megapixel sensor. But that's not all – add in a super responsive autofocus system and an 8-stop IBIS system and suddenly, new worlds of imagination are being opened everywhere. This remarkable wildlife photograph was taken by Matt Krumins with the new GFX100S II and GF500mm F5.6 R LM OIS WR lens.
More automation used to mean a lack of manual control, but the latest Fujifilm GFX100S II has made large format photography incredibly accessible for photographers of all skill levels. All you need is the desire to capture super high quality photographs with incredible detail and colour fidelity!
Most of our readers are shooting with a mirrorless or DSLR camera. Did you know that shooting with the latest GFX is exactly the same? Same type of handling. Same options for exposure control. Same range of focusing features. Yet although the camera offers a whopping 102-megapizel sensor, the new large format GFX100S II is physically small and weighs just 883 g (which is lighter than many full-frame mirrorless cameras with their smaller sensors).
So, what’s gone missing, especially since the new camera’s price has dropped nearly $4,000 to an RRP AUS $8699? The short answer is that for still photographers, nothing. In fact, there are improvements over the GFX100S including a new GFX 102MP CMOS II sensor with a standard sensitivity of ISO 80 that produces less noise and a higher dynamic range. The micro lenses on the new sensor have been tweaked to improve image quality and AF accuracy at the edges of the frame as well.
Now add in a new IBIS (in body image stabilization) unit which, with its gyro and acceleration sensors, achieves up to 8-stops stabilization, so you can comfortably shoot most subjects without needing a tripod – even though you’re capturing 102-megapixel files! In fact, it’s the addition of IBIS that is making large format photography so easy and accessible because you can hand-hold the camera for practically everything you shoot.
One of the limitations with earlier GFX cameras was their AF performance. While remarkable for a large format sensor, it wasn’t quite as good as the smaller X-Series cameras. Well, that’s all changed! The new GFX100S II uses an improved predictive algorithm for high-speed tracking and when you attach the new GF500mm F5.6 R LM OIS WR lens (also just announced), the worlds of both sport and wildlife photography have been changed forever.
The new GFX100S II still shoots 4K/30P video at 4:2:2 10-bit resolution and it can still be used to capture Apple ProRes using an external SSD card via a USB cable, everything most photographers need.
So where’s the catch for this new camera? More features, better image quality and a lower price! Maybe it’s time to consider your interest in large format photography?