RNF: Before You Preorder That GFX100RF… Or Maybe Buy That A7RV… Want An M11? May I Suggest You Consider…
RNF = Random neural firing.
For starters, I am ill equipped to provide anything remotely resembling advice. So that is not what this is. Advice? No. At best a cautionary tale. A don’t be like Eric story… Wow. Early in the post to be referring to myself in the third person. Not a good start. Let me just get on with it.
A “comparison” of sorts to different high end cameras. I will go in the order of the heading. One not yet available. One I have direct experience with. And a third I could only wish for.
The comparison will be against a camera I had overlooked until very recently. In all honesty I just got lost in the GFX naming and camera releases. I realized there was the first GFX, the 50S. Definitely knew of the very charming rangefinder-esque 50R. I realized that there was the first GFX100.. and a GFX100 II. Knew there was a GFX100S II. But somehow I completely missed the boat on the GFX100S. Likely because it was blindingly expensive, to me, when released at $6,000 and I mind wiped myself of its existence. So once I started my research for GFX100RF alternatives I had a “…wait, what?” moment when I saw that the GFX100S was going for about half of its release price used. Especially considering that it mostly had everything the significantly more expensive new or used GFX100S II had. As much as fifty percent less last I checked. It even shares the exact same camera body. In other words my kind of camera. Moving on.
One not yet available.
Link to my failed attempt to avoid the GFX system in general, and this camera specifically.
Well technically, I only failed in the latter. So… Yay? For each of these comparisons let us set the precedent at why each is better then capped off with a conclusion. I will try not to deep dive but keep to the most relevant differences.
Why one might prefer the GFX100RF.
- It is a good looking bit of kit.
- These things matter as far as I am concerned.
- It is the latest thing.
- Again, does not help take a better photo but it matters.
- It has more focus modes like animal and vehicle.
- Unique manual switchgear like the crop ratio dial and crop zoom toggle.
- Necessary? One could argue no, but I will give points for trying something different.
- Better video specs.
Why one might prefer the GFX100S.
- As Hamish pointed out to me you can change lenses.
- IBIS.
- I personally prefer the three way (up/down/side) tilt screen over the two way (up/down) screen on the RF.
- Much less expensive for mostly the same innards.
- One can, and I did, buy a lens and still spend many hundreds less.
- ..and you can change lenses and it has IBIS.
- I downplayed this initially but now that I have used both these are huge.
Conclusion.
I would not fault anyone regardless of what they chose, but when the dust settles I am more of a bang for buck guy than the latest and greatest guy so my choice would be the GFX100S.
One I have direct experience with.
A favorite of mine.
It is the camera I traded a Pentax 645D towards.
And I have no regrets. Appropriately kitted it kicks sand in the face of the 645D. The same happened twice when I compared it directly to the GFX50S in the camera shop. Offering more MP than both and far, far better practical performance in use it was no contest. But then recently there came another.
Why one might prefer the Sony A7RV.
- Faster performance.
- Much deeper lens selection.
- Native AF glass, unique lenses like the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8, as well as adapting this makes for much more choice which brings far less cost also.
- More than enough MP.
- One may not want to deal with 102MP files.
- It has more focus modes like animal and vehicle.
- The mother of all tilt screens.
Why one might prefer the GFX100S.
- In the vein of Spinal Tap, 62MP is more than enough but this one goes to 102MP.
- Medium format.
- While not the massive difference some would have you believe I will say that it is better.
- Bang for buck.
- More MP and larger sensor for a similar price used.
- More pop from adapted glass.
- While the list of lenses that will cover a medium format image circle are fewer in number when they do it offers a very unique experience.
Conclusion.
I would not fault anyone regardless of what they chose, but when the dust settles I am more of a bang for buck guy than the latest and greatest guy so if made to choose my choice would be the GFX100S.
And a third I could only wish for.
I am a fan of Leica. Purchased not just once but many times. Two analog.
Two digital.
Money tree in hand I would fall for the latest and greatest. The Leica M11. But back here in reality, the M 240 was the high point for me. I let that camera go to fund this last move. The very effective FUJIFILM manual focus aids made this transition a smooth one. But then one spec got me thinking. While I am enjoying using all 102MP on the sensor if I did use this camera in 35mm crop mode that nets me… 60MP. Basically the same specs as the M11. This is the main reason I add this camera here.
Why one might prefer the Leica M11.
- It is a good looking bit of kit.
- These things matter as far as I am concerned.
- It is the classic thing. All the rage in France.
- Again, does not help take a better photo but it matters.
- …well… Leica M was never a specs thing. More about experience so on paper this camera will not make sense.
Why one might prefer the GFX100S.
- IBIS.
- No M has ever or likely will ever have IBIS, and Leica adherents would have it no other way, but back here in modern times it is appreciated.
- Ability to use the exact same M mount lenses effectively.
- ..this could go on for days. The M was never meant to be in a this spec vs. that spec comparison so I will wrap it up.
- Special in its own way.
- While not imbued with Leica Pixie dust the FUJIFILM name is not without its own cachet with its own heritage to call on.
Bonus round.
I will also throw in the Hasseblad X1D and its siblings. Having had a Hasselblad film camera I thought this was the eventual zenith of my digital camera journey. A Hasselblad to go with my Hasselblad. But they are wildly expensive cameras and lenses and on paper have the exact same sensor with lesser specs. That will not do. So not by design, but quite organically I ended up with a FUJIFILM to go with my FUJIFILM.
Good thing I am nowhere near popular enough or brand consistent enough and far too brand agnostic (I like something about nearly all brands. I just may not own them.) to ever be considered for a camera brand partnership or I might hesitate before including the next paragraph.
So what of the other FUJIFILM cameras? You know… Not the medium format or film ones. The APS-C ones. Great cameras. Of which I have owned plenty. But not the FUJIFILM cameras I was looking for. So my main Sony kit is not going anywhere. Normally I would qualify that, but such caution is not necessary here. I have given in a try a couple times and I always end up back with Sony. I would be more inclined to go all in with GFX, but that is not necessary. Between the Sony and third party lenses that have been released over the last few years I am not interested in yet another APS-C FUJIFILM back to full frame Sony main kit round trip back to where I started.
Conclusion.
This will sound familiar. I would not fault anyone regardless of what they chose, but when the dust settles I am more of a bang for buck guy than the latest and greatest guy so my choice would be the GFX100S.
Final thoughts.
Again. This is not advice. If I must have a point I guess it is this.
The GFX100S sits at an odd crossroads for me.
Most of the functionality of the latest and greatest example of its breed, with some features it does not have.
Practicality and price that rivals cameras with lesser MP’d sensors.
Enough Pixie dust and performance to rival other, pricier Instathreadface darlings.
Nice.
Well done FUJIFILM.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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