So… The Fujifilm GFX100RF: I Would Love To Give One A Try, But…
Preface:
I had not been following the rumor mills lately so I was caught off guard. Was watching the PetaPixel review opening thinking, “Very funny Chris. <Checked calendar.> A few days early for an April Fools video, isn’t it? That cannot be a real thing… That is a real thing!? Oh no.”
Back to the task at hand.
… as far as purchasing one, I am good. As always money tree in hand I would have already tried to get on some company’s waiting list on general principal. For starters just look at the thing.
And a 100MP medium format sensor and a wonderful Fujinon lens? But I am still good. Before I get to my why, it is not for the reasons I have already heard folks complaining about.
- No IBIS
- Would be nice, but it kind of matches the brief. A mix of new and old. I get it. At this price point one could expect it to come with everything. But, I am not bothered by this. At least not to the point of writing it off.
- f/4 lens
- Does not bother me. Given the sizable sensor, this works out to a depth of field that would match a faster lens on full frame. Plus it likely helps to keep the lens small.
- 28mm full frame equivalent
- With 100MP to spare for post cropping this makes a bit of sense. I can crop a wider image, but I cannot do anything to address a need for a wider scene when using a longer lens. Again. Makes sense.
Sidebar: Plus there is an easy solution to all three of these “issues”. Buy a less expensive IBIS having GFX100S II and slap any aperture and focal length lens you like on the front. Not necessarily a fault of this camera. May just be that you are looking at the wrong camera.
And there are some cool things also.
- Looks
- As stated earlier it is a gorgeous thing.
- Leaf shutter
- Flash sync up to the top shutter speed at full power. No HSS needed.
- 100MP
- Self explanatory.
- Price.
- I think the price is a plus. Price out the latest, smallest interchangeable lens 100MP GFX camera and the nearest spec lens and they cost significantly more. Reminds of me of one of the reasons I purchased an OG Leica Q. (A camera I also no longer own. A fine camera, but not the Leica I wanted.) Felt like I was getting a Leica camera with a free lens. Same applies here. Speaking of Leica Q3 sat next to it this camera almost… almost seems reasonably priced. Yes, one could argue that the added flexibility is worth the additional cost, but for a person like me, that will not ever likely switch from their main system this makes a bit of sense. As long as one remembers this is all nonsense… This is coming dangerously close to a justification… And I am an easy target having gone around the Fujifilm horn many times, and having owned a variant of this camera’s little brother before… having fought the massive pull of a digital medium format camera in general and a GFX camera specifically for years… and still owning a film Fujifilm medium format fixed lens camera… <ahem>… Moving on.
So why will I not be ordering one? Why do I not feel a need to get my hands on one? I am glad I imagined you asked. A boring answer actually.
I have no need for it.
I can hear the boos in my head. Anticlimactic I know. But hear me out.
I feel like it is trying to do too many things.
It is a camera capable of many great things. Personally I would rather a different camera for each use case.
High MP
100MP is great, but 61MP is plenty of resolution for me.
Good AF
I prefer great AF. See above.
Medium format DOF.
The medium format “look”. I am a fan, especially with film.
Not the same, but a full frame lens…
…comes close enough for me.
Good looking camera.
Not saying it looks anywhere near as good, but a certain Sony is good enough for me.
Video
Glad it is better than expected, but I am covered.
Small
I prefer really small.
So, to be clear there is absolutely nothing wrong with the GFX100RF. And I am very happy that they made it. If I ever had a desire to get rid of everything camera related and find one compromise solution this would be on my short list.
And I think it would be my pick. I have nothing bad to say about it.
Very good at many things.
Well done Fujifilm.
But, I am good.
This is subject to change at any moment, given enough reason to trade like a madman. It would not be the first time I go back on one of these “so…” posts and contradict myself later. The 50mm precious lens above is safe, but other things… Well. Let’s see what happens, shall we?
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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