Indulge me, if you will, for a minute. I know, I know these “NPA*” articles are supposed to be loaded with specifications and written by someone who got to use the camera for a couple of hours. Let’s break the mold here. When I walked into the office last week, I saw the FUJIFILM GFX100RF. It was on its way to a photographer for a first-look video. I somehow managed to convince them to let me take this beauty for the weekend. I make no bones about the fact that I have a love for FUJIFILM cameras, I was an early adopter of the X100 series, and I’m a long-time rangefinder shooter. This machine, it seems, offered everything I could ever want. The feel of a compact/rangefinder, beautiful color, and a HUGE sensor. Was I disappointed? Read on.
Key Specs of the FUJIFILM GFX100RF
- 102MP CMOS II sensor in the smallest GFX system paired with X-Processor 5 imaging engine
- Fixed 35 mm (28 mm full-frame equivalent) f/4 aperture
- EVF with 5.76 million dot resolution and 0.84x magnification
- New Aspect Ratio dial for instant access to a variety of compositional image formats
- 20 Film Simulation modes
- 16-bit RAW stills
- Minimum focal distance of 20cm
- Internal 4-stop neutral density filter for full exposure control
- Native ISO down to 80 with included 10-bit HEIF
- 9 Aspect ratio settings
- The screen is 3.15-inch diagonal, with 2.1 million-dot tilting LCD
- Compact at just 735g (25.9 oz)
- Digital crop presets: 45mm, 63mm, 80mm
- 4K/30p fps video resolution with 4:2:2, 10-bit 10-bit in-camera recording
- Has F-Log2 with up to 13 EV stops dynamic range
Biggest Features of the FUJIFILM GFX100RF
FUJIFILM has put together a near ideal package for those who love the feel of classic shooting. With the rangefinder style design, a ton of dials to control settings, and a tough “throw over your shoulder” build. Along with that, the classic aspect ratios, film simulation, and 16-bit RAW image quality are amazing. Oh right, a 102 mega-pixel sensor, and a crazy sharp lens.
Rangefinder Vibes
As noted above, I’m a big rangefinder guy. No, this is not a rangefinder, nor does it have the hybrid viewfinder of the X100 series. There, I got that out of the way. What the FUJIFILM GFX100RF offers is an experience that is very much like that of shooting a rangefinder with its compactness and off-center viewfinder. However, with the FUJIFILM GFX100RF, we get super-fast and silent auto-focus. This is appreciated by the parts of me that want super-fast focus… and my aging eyes. If you love the simplicity and feeling of connection a rangefinder gives you, you can’t ask for more in a camera that is technically not one.
Aspect Ratio Dial
Speaking of retro-fabulousness, the FUJIFILM GFX100RF brings us those classic vibes by offering some throwback aspect ratios. They don’t bury them in a menu, either. A beautifully tactile dial lets you get the feel of the FUJIFILM GX680 with 4:3 (or as we called it 6×8). Additionally, you can emulate the panoramic FUJIFILM TX-1 with 65:24 and 1:1 from Fujifilm’s first camera; the FUJICA Six. For those of us that like it modern, the GFX100RF includes 2:3, 16:9, and others.
You Can’t Say FUJIFILM Without FILM
Remember when I mentioned color in the intro? Here is an area FUJIFILM has always impressed us. Like other FUJIFILM cameras the GFX100RF has film simulations. 20 Film Simulations to be exact. Remember FUJIFILM has been mastering color science for 90 years, starting with the analog days. Of course, I say color, but black & white films are also included, and are some of my favorite.
Not Just 100-Megapixels
The FUJIFILM GFX100RF has a massive 102-megapixel sensor. When I say massive, I don’t just mean in pixels; this is a FUJIFILM large format sensor. We are talking almost 70% larger than full frame. Big pixels=big quality. Shooting 16-bit RAW images, the GFX100RF will capture detail beyond what you can imagine. We are talking low noise, wide dynamic range, crazy sharpness, and a native ISO down to 80. Beyond RAW, other formats are available, including 10-bit HEIF.
One Lens to Rule Them All
So far, we have a pretty amazing large format digital beast. However, what makes the FUJIFILM GFX100RF stand out to me is how easy it is to sling over your shoulder, stuff into a small bag, or, in my case, my jacket pocket! That’s right, a large format digital camera in my pocket! Yes, I do think double exclamation marks are needed here.
Much like the X100 series, the GFX100RF has a fixed lens. The built-in 35mm lens (28mm FOV when compared to full-frame) is a versatile and super sharp piece of glass. This lens gives us plenty of room to capture the world around us. This includes small details with a close focus of 7.8 inches, as well as sweeping vistas. A huge advantage of a huge sensor is the ability to punch in. The GFX100RF has a digital teleconverter that allows for 45mm, 63mm, and 80mm punch-ins, making the camera capable of being a traditional portrait shooter as well.
Leaf Shutter and ND Filter
A leaf shutter was one of the reasons many of us chose medium format back in the film days. It reduces camera shake and allows flash sync at all speeds (mechanical). Beyond that the FUJIFILM GFX100RF has an internal 4-stop neutral density filter (ND). This offers yet another option to capture the scene exactly as you want it without affecting image quality or compromising your intentional settings. You know, the exposure triangle.
Go Out There and Shoot!
If the goal with the FUJIFILM GFX100RF was to make a camera that would not just capture quality images, but to be a constant companion, they succeeded. There is something special about the mechanical dials, the solid feel, yet compactness of this camera. Despite it being large format, this camera feels like a “carry anywhere” camera. For those who shoot travel, street, documentary, or landscape, this may be the only camera they need.
All images shot in JPG format with a pre-production model.
