Amateur Photographer - UK (2019-08-23)

42 17 August 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

Testbench CAMERA TEST

Forandagainst

Absolutelysuperlativeimage

qualitycomfortablysurpasses

anyfull-framecamera

In-bodystabilisationallows

practicalhandheldshooting

in mostlightingconditions

Superbviewfinderandscreen

givesexcellentexperience

whencomposingimages

StunningJPEGprocessingwith

excellentcolouranddetail

Controllayoutis lesscoherent

andengagingthanFujifilm’s

othercameras

Smallbuttonsanddialsare

fiddlytooperate

Uncomfortableverticalgrip,
withdifferentcontrollayout
tomaingrip
ALL

PR
CES

ARE

APPROX

MATE

STREET

PR
CES

F u j i fi l m G F X 1 0 0

Datafile

Sensor 102MP BSI-CMOS, 43.8 x 32.9mm

Output size 11648x8736

Focal length mag 0.8x

Lens mount Fujifilm G

Shutter speeds 60min-1/4000sec (mechanical),

60 min-1/16000sec (electronic)

Sensitivity ISO 100-12,800 (standard),

ISO 50-102,400 (extended)

Exposure modes PASM

Metering Multi, Spot, Average,

Centre-weighted

Exposure comp +/-5EV in 0.3EV steps

Continuous

shooting

5 fps (2fps with live view)

Screen 3.2in, 2.36-million-dot, 3-way

tilting touchscreen

Viewfinder 5.76-million-dot OLED,

0.86x magnification

AF points 117 or 425

Video DCI 4K (4096 x 2160), 30fps,

400Mbps

External mic 3.5mm stereo

Memory card 2 x SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)

Power 2 x NP-T125 Li Ion

Battery life 800 frames

Dimensions 156.2x163.6x102.9mm (inc EVF)

Weight 1,400g (inc EVF, batteries and cards)

With the 102-million-pixel GFX100, Fujifi lm has made

the most practical ultra-high-resolution camera yet.

Andy Westlake explores what this means

W

hen Fujifi lm

decided to give

full frame a miss

and instead

develop a medium-format

mirrorless system, it offered a

perfectly rational explanation.

Its APS-C X system would meet

the needs of most enthusiasts,

especially given its comprehensive

lens system. But for professionals

requiring higher image quality, the

larger 44x33mm sensor would

provide a much more signifi cant

step up compared to full frame.

However, while the fi rm’s current

50MP GFX cameras are capable

of producing truly stunning images,

the problem is that high-resolution

full-frame models aren’t all that far

behind, while offering faster and

more polished operation.

With the GFX100, Fujifi lm’s

answer has been to boost the

resolution to a spectacular 102

million pixels. Its brand new,

back-illuminated sensor also gains

on-chip phase detection,

promising much faster autofocus

• arguably the biggest drawback
  of the fi rm’s existing models. To
  further increase its all-round
  appeal, the camera boasts in-body
  image stabilisation (IBIS) and 4K
  video recording. However, the
  catch is that the GFX100 will
  set you back twice as much as
  the SLR-shaped GFX 50S, and
  almost triple the more compact,
  fl at-bodied GFX 50R. But in
  context, that’s still only a third
  of the price of its ultra-high-
  resolution rivals from the likes
  of Phase One and Hasselblad.
  Of course, I doubt many of
  our readers are likely to buy
  a 102MP camera that costs
  £9,999 body-only. But for a
  one-off special occasion, it won’t
  be out of the question to hire one.
  And if nothing else, it’s a really
  interesting demonstration of
  what’s possible at the cutting
  edge of camera technology.

Ataglance

£9,999 body only

● 102MP medium-format BSI-

CMOS sensor

● ISO 100-12,800 standard,

ISO 50-102,400 extended

● 5 frames per second shooting

● 5.76-million-dot EVF

● 2.36-million-dot tilting touchscreen