Since launching its medium-format GFX system in early 2017, Fujifilm has rapidly expanded the series regarding cameras and lenses. The new GFX 100S II is the seventh GFX camera and the fifth to sport a 102-megapixel CMOS image sensor. It will also launch as the most affordable of these five cameras.
The GFX 100S II shares many of its features with the flagship GFX 100 II announced less than eight months ago. However, the GFX 100S II is smaller and lighter, like the original 100S and subsequent 50S II. Fujifilm aims its latest camera squarely at image makers who want to upgrade from an earlier GFX model, like the 50S or 50R, or those who want an affordable, relatively compact entry point into large format photography.
“Our GFX System continues to revolutionize ultra-high-resolution, large format image making by taking it out of specialist studio environments and putting into the hands of passionate creatives across all genres, styles and applications,” says Victor Ha, vice president of Electronic Imaging Division and Optical Devices Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation. “GFX 100S II is the natural next step in the evolution of the product line that specifically caters to the needs of photographers who have wanted additional autofocus performance and responsiveness from their GFX 100S cameras. We feel we’ve really delivered in that regard and done so in a way that allows it to keep its compact form factor, which means it can make an appearance in almost any creative setting.”
The Same Improved 102-Megapixel Sensor Introduced Last Year
To that end, the GFX 100S II includes the same newly developed GFX 102MP CMOS II image sensor as last year’s GFX 100 II, including a lower native ISO (80 versus 100) and pixel-level improvements that improve image quality at the extreme edges of photos.
The revised sensor and a faster processor also deliver improved readout speed, which enables the GFX 100 II and new GFX 100S II to shoot at seven frames per second, an unmatched achievement in the medium-format space. It does come with some compromises, but it is nonetheless impressive.
Like all Fujifilm digital cameras, the GFX 100S II features a diverse range of Film Simulations. Since the original GFX 100S launched, Fujifilm has added a new one, Reala Ace, bringing the total to 20.
The camera also has pixel-shift shooting, which combines 16 RAW files into a single 400-megapixel file. The camera’s “Real Color” mode combines four RAW images, each shifted one pixel, to suppress false colors in an improved 102-megapixel file. Both modes require the use of dedicated desktop software, meaning they aren’t processed in-camera.
Eight Stops of IBIS in Fujifilm’s Lightest GFX Camera Ever
What is perhaps more intriguing about the GFX 100S II is not necessarily that Fujifilm has squeezed the same imaging performance of the 100 II into its new smaller camera, but that it has brought the excellent in-body image stabilization system of the GFX 100 II to the 100S-series. The 100S II promises up to eight stops of shake correction, making the 102-megapixel camera a legitimate option for handheld photography.
The 100S II weighs just 883 grams (1.95 pounds), so it should be even easier to use handheld than the 100 II, which weighs 1,030 grams (2.27 pounds). The GFX 100S II is the lightest camera in the GFX system — even lighter than the rangefinder-styled GFX 50R.
AI-Powered Autofocus
The GFX 100S II also gets the autofocus system from the GFX 100 II, which introduced an updated AF algorithm and AI-powered subject detection. In PetaPixel‘s GFX 100 II review, Chris Niccolls noted significant autofocus improvements, both in terms of accuracy and speed.
The Necessary Compromises in Design and Features
However, there is no such thing as a free lunch — the GFX 100S II isn’t just a GFX 100 II in a smaller, lighter body and at a lower price. There are, of course, tradeoffs.
In the case of the GFX 100S II, one of the most significant physical differences concerns the displays. The GFX 100 II has one of the industry’s best EVFs, sporting 9.44 million dots and an incredible 100% magnification. It’s a superb EVF. The GFX 100S II, on the other hand, has a 5.76-million dot EVF with 84% magnification.
Although not the best in Fujifilm’s current GFX lineup, the 100S II’s EVF has roughly the same resolution and size as the original GFX 100. It is also a considerable step up from the original GFX 100S, with its 3.69M dot and 0.77x magnification panel.
There are also performance differences, though, especially in the video space. The GFX 100S II records 4K/30p video, like its predecessor, the GFX 100S, but it can’t keep pace with the GFX 100 II. Fujifilm’s flagship GFX 100 II model records 8K/30p, 5.8K/30p, and 4K/60p video, which are all modes the 100S II doesn’t offer. The GFX 100 II also records ProRes (4:2:2 10-bit) internally, while the 100S II can only do so externally.
These differences are due to some notable omissions on the GFX 100S II. The new camera lacks a CFexpress Type B card slot, for starters, and it also has half the RAM of the GFX 100 II (64GB versus 128GB).
Where the GFX 100 II is Fujifilm’s “do-it-all” flagship GFX camera, the GFX 100S II is geared more toward still photography. Yes, it has video features, but that’s not an area of emphasis regarding features, specs, or performance.
Reaching for the Cloud
The Fujifilm GFX 100S II offers native Camera-to-Cloud (C2C) compatibility without additional accessories. Users can wirelessly connect their camera to Frame.io, provided they have wireless internet access, and send photos and videos straight to the cloud for immediate editing.
Pricing and Availability
Although the GFX 100S II loses a few features and a bit of versatility compared to the GFX 100 II, it gains a lot concerning value. The Fujifilm GFX 100S is launching next month for $5,000 ($6,750 in Canada), which is by far the most affordable launch price of any of Fujifilm’s 100-megapixel cameras. The GFX 100S II is available to preorder now through Moment.
Another nice perk is that, unlike the original 100S, the Mark II version works with an optional MHG-GFX S hand grip, retailing for $150 ($195 CAD). This is not a full-fledged battery grip but a way to extend the camera’s grip to make it easier to work with larger telephoto lenses, like the new GF 500mm f/5.6.
Image credits: Fujifilm
