Fujifilm recently held their 2020 X Summit in London, showing off some of the latest and greatest tech and future plans for the company. While some of the technology and products are things we have heard of before, Fuji also announced some impressive new features, including a jaw-dropping 400-megapixel mode for their medium format GFX100 camera.
As part of the presentation, Fujifilm gave an update on the forthcoming 50mm f/1.0 lens for X Series cameras and announced a new 400-megapixel pixel shift mode for the GFX100 medium format camera. The pixel shift mode likely works similarly to that on other cameras, namely by leveraging the camera's in-body image stabilization to shift the sensor by small amounts over multiple frames to build up an ultra-high-resolution file. Of course, the camera already comes with massive resolution, but 400 megapixels would be an entirely different level.
The company also unveiled the design for the forthcoming 50mm f/1.0 lens for X Series cameras, which when released, will be the fastest autofocus lens in production in the world. It wouldn't be the first, as that honor goes to the Canon 50mm f/1.0 from 1989; however, that lens was discontinued almost two decades ago. Furthermore, whereas the Canon was a more esoteric lens designed for bragging rights, the Fuji lens is likely meant to be a more standard consumer lens.
You can watch the full presentation in the video above.
Nice! Fuji is kicking... lately. Can't say that I have a need but I would definitely investigate these Fuji medium format if I did. Proof that Camera manufacturers are still relevant.
I may one day venture into GFX territory when i feel my skills warrant it, the 50r and a couple of lenses would be ideal for landscape.
So, if the upcoming X-T4 will have have IBIS, it could also get this technology straight away as has the GFX100 from the X-H1 technology-wise, resulting in a whopping 102 Megapixels!?! Nice!
This 50/1.0 AF for crop sensor is going to cost well over $1,000 and ultimately will only be a 75mm f/1.5 full frame equivalent.
Fuji really leaves bokeh addicts out in the cold, their fastest “medium format” lens is f/2.0 which is only f/1.56 full frame equivalent and most of their G lenses are much, much slower.
I can’t imagine they’re selling many G series cameras and lenses, however they’d sell a ton of full frame cameras and lenses guaranteed.
Maybe they want to target their gear to professionals and not pixel peepers...
PS, f/1.whatever doesn't matter. The 110 is a hell of a lens that creates stunning bokeh. The 56 1.2 is the same.
I think they're doing better than anyone would ever expect in the GFX range.
Neither of those lenses can create as shallow DOF as a fast prime for full frame. You don’t need “pixel peepers” to see that.
The Fuji X 56/1.2 crates the same wide open DOF as an 85/1.8 which is a pretty pedestrian lens. The Fuji X or G cameras with their fastest top of the line primes can’t even match the shallow DOF as an f/1.4 lens on full frame.
My point is: if you’re a bokeh ho (and who among us isn’t) then nothing beats full frame.
Not that there are barely any pros using Fuji X for work, aside from a few people who shoot as a hobby and sometimes get paid. Those aren’t pros. That’s no insult - I fall into that category myself.
Virtually no one besides other photographers recognizes these differences, and even then only in direct A/B comparisons.
If I wanted more bokeh, even using "only" a 1.8 full-frame lens, I'd increase the distance between the subject and the background. Or use a longer focal length. Or use deft post-processing. It's not always about having the largest aperture.
I would say that for anyone selling to clients, shooting for clients or even shooting for social media praise, 1.8 at a mid range telephoto gives you more than enough bokeh. Hell, most clients neither know or care what bokeh is and would just as rather a photo where everything is on focus like their iPhone do.
You're clearly a studied guy, but your commentary here is a little frustrating.
We both know "The Fuji X 56/1.2 creates the same wide open DOF as an 85/1.8 which is a pretty pedestrian lens. The Fuji X or G cameras with their fastest top of the line primes can’t even match the shallow DOF as an f/1.4 lens on full frame." is frankly, a lazy at best statement since you didn't bother to call out which focal length at which aperture on which crop.
Whether medium format (which are we talking 6x7, 6x6, 645?), 35mm/full frame, APS-C or even micro 4/3rds, you can hit some levels of equivalency. In order to get the depth of field between a 50mm 1.0 lens on a 1.6x crop APS-C you'd need a ~80-90mm f/2 on full frame/35mm.
If we compare the old Canon 50mm 1.0 on 35mm versus the Fuji 50mm 1.0 on a 1.6x the shallower depth of field / bigger bokeh is going to land on the Fuji body due to the lens field of view. The Fuji is essentially behaving like an ~85mm on full frame at this point. Last I checked, there weren't many 80-90mm 1.0 lenses out there for under $1K, my old Canon 85 1.4 was somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 back in the day.
Geeking out like this isn't usually where my head sits when I'm creating, but actively shooting on 6x7 medium format film, full frame Canon back in the day and APS-C Fujis now-a-days, I've spent a fair amount of time living in this subject. I also think this is my first comment on fstoppers, so, despite my frustration with you, I appreciate you inspiring me to throw a hand grenade in the convo.
You forgot to apply the crop factor to the aperture. A Fuji X 50mm f/1.0 has the same field of view as a 75mm f/1.5 on full frame (not a 75/1.0) and that would be a pretty cheap lens to manufacture.
There are plenty of pros that shoot X and GFX as their primary cameras. This includes myself. xT3, X-Pro3 and GFX 100 is a perfect combo for my workflow. I shoot a wide variety and it covers all my needs.
50mm 1.1 on APS-C is about the same as 75/80mm 1.6 on full frame. Is that "absolutely incredible"?