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Fujif ilm GFX100
● £9,999 (body-only) ● http://www.fujifi lm.eu/ukIN PARTNERSHIP WITH MPB
Sony Alpha 7R IV
● £3,599 (body only) ● http://www.sony.co.uk
THERE’S no denying that £3,500
is a huge sum of money to spend,
but the Sony Alpha 7R IV is a
very special camera indeed. It’s
the new master of resolution in
the full-frame market, boasting
a 61MP sensor that delivers 15
stops of dynamic range and puts
in an admirable performance in
low light. The way it rattles out
a continuous burst at 10fps and
lets you shoot in APS-C mode
from a touch of a button is
especially good for shooting sport,
action and wildlife – something
that’s not usually associated with
high-resolution cameras.
Sony’s Artifi cial Intelligence (AI)
subject-recognition technology
has evolved, with face and eye
detection both available when
shooting stills or 4K video. Animal
Eye AF is incredibly responsive
for shooting wildlife on safari or
pets at home, and a number of
improvements to its grip and
ergonomics have resulted in
a more assured feel than
previous generations when
it’s coupled to large and
heavy telephoto lenses.
Its 5.76-million-dot
UXGA OLED
electronic viewfi nder,
improved focus point
colour and more
durable port covers are
worthy of a mention, too.
Thoughit’sa sensational
camera, there are areas for
improvement. We’d like to
see Sony develop sensible
compression for raw fi les, and
bring its touchscreen functionality
and convoluted menu system up
to scratch.
The A7R IV will be overkill for
amateurs, but it’ll satisfy many
enthusiasts and professionals in
equal measure. It crams a huge
amount into its compact body,
but ultimately it’s all about the
phenomenal detail and quality
of the images it produces.IF MONEY’S no object and you
want the very best camera
available, Fujifi lm’s extraordinary
GFX100 makes a considerable
case for itself. Built around a
102-million -pixel 44x33mm
medium-format sensor, it offers
sensational image quality that’s
only surpassed by much more
expensive models. But thanks to
its phase-detection autofocus,
in-body stabilisation and relatively
compact design, it’s far more
practical for taking out into the
fi eld than any other ultra-high-
resolution camera.
Image quality is simply
sensational, with the sensor
recording outrageous levels of
detail and phenomenal dynamic
range, supported by Fujifi lm’s
range of awesome GF lenses.
Indeed, the GFX100
comprehensively outperforms
any other camera we’ve tested to
date. When shooting JPEGs,
users will benefi t
from the fi rm’s
unrivalled set of
attractive Film
Simulation
settings.
Pro-level
features include
dual card slots,
two batteries
offering 800
shots stamina,plusdust-,water-andfreeze-
proof construction. The huge,
high-resolution electronic
viewfi nder can be fi tted with
a hinged adapter for low-angle
shooting, or removed completely
for tripod work using the
three-way tilting touchscreen.
This is a niche camera for sure,
but for photographers craving the
maximum possible detail without
sacrifi cing mobility, it’s an absolute
revelation, and a landscape
shooter’s dream. For those
interested in the advantages of
medium format but on
a smaller budget, we’d
recommend
taking a look
at the 50MP
GFX 50R
(£3,450).What we like
● Resolves mind-blowing detail
● Incredibly fast and responsive AF
● Improved ergonomics and handlingWhat we like
● Absolutely superlative image quality,
both in JPEG and raw
● Superb viewfinder and screen
● In-body stabilisation allows practical
handheld shootingGOLD Recommended
Colour and detail
from the 61MP
sensor are sublimeThe GFX100 records
staggering levels of detail
and huge dynamic range