Fujifilm GFX100S II: A Portrait Photographer's Dream Camera

I spent two weeks shooting with the new Fujifilm GFX 100S II, along with the GF 55mm f/1.7R WR and GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR lenses. I used this configuration for a number of portrait shoots at my studio and on location, including a portrait shoot with jazz legend Ron Carter. The results were impressive.

Before I continue, I want to make it clear that this article and the accompanying video are not an exhaustive review, but a "first impressions" overview, focusing on real-world use of the camera for portrait photographers. As mentioned, I used the Fujifilm GFX 100S II, along with the GF 55mm f/1.7R WR and GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR lenses.

Build Quality and Handling

The GFX 100S II is a solid camera, which will be no surprise to anyone who has previously used a GFX series body. The updated BISHAMON-TEX™ grip looks stylish and is comfortable, with a premium feel throughout. Although the camera is not small, the size and weight are comparable to a full-frame mirrorless camera, and I found it easy to take along for extended location shoots, without feeling like the camera was ever a burden. Paired with the 55mm f/1.7, the ergonomics and user experience are excellent. Even when using the 45-100mm f/4 lens, which is a bit bulky, hand-held shooting at various locations was fine. The camera is, however, "brick-like," but this is due more to the shape than to the actual size or weight. It's clear that the GFX 100S II is designed for professionals, as the body is both rugged and has multiple weather seals. The buttons and dials are firm and solid, and there is no part of the physical camera body that felt cheaply made to me.

Buttons and Dials

One gripe I continue to have with Fujifilm is the lack of cohesion regarding buttons and menus from one camera body to another. If you are upgrading from a previous Fujifilm camera, and especially if you are coming from a Fujifilm X body, there is a bit of a learning curve. For example, the GFX 100S II does not have a D-pad, which I missed at first since it's such a convenient way to access film simulations and white balance control. There are also other small differences in how buttons and dials respond, which differ from other Fujifilm cameras I have used. The saving grace here is that the camera is extremely customizable, so after I mapped a few buttons to access my most-used features, it took only a short time to find my footing. The learning curve will also depend on whether you are upgrading from an older GFX 100 model or from an APS-C camera, but again, there is nothing major to worry about here, and the dial layout is quite simple and intuitive once you spend some time with it.

Autofocus

Autofocus continues to be the elephant in the room for Fujifilm cameras. Overall, the speed and accuracy of the GFX100S II autofocus is good, especially considering that it's a medium format camera. I had the chance to try the 100S II a few months back at the Fujifilm NYC X-Summit, and I found it to be sluggish and unimpressive. I didn't make any harsh judgements at that time because I only had a few minutes with it. I'm happy to report that after using the camera for a few weeks in real-world scenarios, I found the AF to be much better than I initially thought, both for location shooting and for studio work. Keep in mind that I am only talking about still photos, and that I am speaking specifically as a portrait photographer shooting stationary or slow moving subjects. With that caveat, subject detect autofocus with eye-tracking enabled worked well. I didn't have false positives, or eyes out of focus, even when shooting in Times Square, where I had to set up my subject and light, and be quick about grabbing the shots we needed. The same was true when shooting out at a Long Island Lighthouse and on the beach. After culling two days' worth of images, there were very few misses to be found, and the eyes were nice and sharp. If you are considering upgrading from a Fujifilm APS-C or full-frame mirrorless camera, however, just keep in mind that the autofocus speed (and overall speed of the camera) is going to feel slow in comparison. Recording those 100 megapixel files takes just a little more time!

Image Quality

Now to the heart of the matter, and everything else be damned. I'm clearly being facetious here but of course need a disclaimer since this is the internet. I digress. The main reason a photographer upgrades to a Fujifilm GFX camera or any medium format camera, for that matter, is image quality. And the 100S II does not disappoint.

It's much more than the incredible amount of added detail, however. It's the dynamic range, the three-dimensional quality of the images, and also the detail, combined with Fujifilm's color science. Having 20 film simulations, including the newly released Reala Ace (a new favorite for me), only makes the camera even more of an image-making powerhouse.

Most important, however, is the insane amount of editing latitude the files have, especially in retaining information in the shadows and highlights. Because of this, editing is a complete joy (outside of the file size!), and as a photographer who loves to color grade and use multi-light studio setups, the GFX 100S II gives me more to work with than any other camera I've used so far. The resulting images have an almost three-dimensional, or "filmic" look. And, I know that both of these terms can be eye-rollers, but I'm not sure how else to describe it. I just know that the subject separation from the background is extremely pleasing and natural, and for someone like me who loves to shoot wide open, it helps me to bring my artistic vision to life.

Loose Ends

It can't all be good though, right? This is true with every camera, of course, and the GFX 100S II has its drawbacks. Outside of what I alluded to already, I found the EVF to be a bit sluggish regarding refresh rate, and when compared to the EVF in my Canon R5, it doesn't look nearly as true-to-life. Forgive this extremely non-technical explanation, but it was my real-world experience using the two cameras side by side. Also, the two buttons on the top plate next to the information display are not easily accessed while looking through the EVF, which made them less useful to me for accessing important functions. The price of the camera, however, is a bargain. At $4,999, it makes medium format photography more accessible than ever before. Finally, the GFX 100S II is truly a portrait photographer's dream. Whether shooting in studio or on location, the camera is not only extremely capable but delivers image quality that is impossible not to love.

A Note on the Images of Jazz Bassist Ron Carter

Recently, I had the distinct honor of photographing jazz legend Ron Carter. Mr. Carter is the most recorded jazz bassist in history and has performed with a who's-who that includes not only every jazz musician of note but also musicians from almost every other genre as well. I was very excited to capture a few portraits of Mr. Carter at his home, which he graciously has allowed me to post in this article. It was an experience that I will never forget!

What I Like

• Incredible image quality and color rendition
• Compact size for a medium format camera
• Build quality
• Image stabilization
• Price

What Can Be Improved

• EVF
• Autofocus speed

Specifications

• Lens Mount: Fujifilm G
• Sensor Resolution: Effective: 102 Megapixel (11,648 x 8,736)
• Image Sensor: 43.8 x 32.9 mm (Medium Format) CMOS
• Image Stabilization: Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis
• ISO Sensitivity Range:
  • Photo: 80 to 12,800 (Extended: 40 to 102,400)
  • Video: 100 to 12,800 (Extended: 25,600)
• Media/Memory Card Slot: Dual Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) [2 TB Maximum / V90 or Faster Recommended]
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.2
• Display Type: 3-Way Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• Battery Type: 1x NP-W235 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion

Buy one here.