Photokina: Fujifilm pulls out all the stops in medium format
At Photokina, Fujifilm is showing off its new GFX 50R medium-format hybrid camera and a prototype of the GFX 100 with "at least" 100 megapixels. New lenses are also coming to market soon. But for Marcel Weber of Fujifilm Switzerland this is not even the most important piece of information.
The Fujifilm stand is packed: everyone wants to see, touch and try out the new GFX 50R medium format hybrid camera. First we have to discuss where we can shoot the video. In front of the showcase with the entire future GFX series, we have a minimum of space and calm.
The Fujifilm company has quite simply tripled its range of medium-format cameras, but Marcel Weber, Key Account Manager at Fujifilm Switzerland, finds that this is not the most important information. For him, the most important piece of information is: in future, Phase One will support Fujifilm medium-format cameras in Capture One RAW development software.
What's special about this information? Phase One create medium format cameras themselves and therefore eliminated some medium format manufacturers (Pentax, Hasselblad, Fujifilm) from its RAW converter. Phase One has apparently changed its mind and decided to open up Capture One to the competition. But what's peculiar is the fact that the news even took the experts by surprise, even though the arrival of the two medium-format cameras wasn't exactly unexpected.
Fujifilm GFX 50R: almost a compact camera
Medium format cameras are big, heavy and expensive. But compared to other medium format behemoths, the GFX 50 R is almost a compact camera and has that form factor too.
It's relatively affordable, relatively light (775 grams) and relatively unobtrusive. Always with the emphasis on "relatively". Photojournalist Sandro Georgi has already intensely tested the new camera and has just spent two weeks in Thailand with it. He says he's been able to take photos of people without their eyes looking directly at the camera. Because the viewfinder is on the side and not in the centre as with the GFX 50S, he was also able to communicate better with people. The photographer not only sees what the viewfinder shows, but also notices what's going on around them.
The recommended retail price for Germany is 4499 euros. The exact price for Switzerland has not yet been determined, but the new camera will certainly be much cheaper than the almost 7000 francs you currently have to fork out for the GFX 50S. The 'inner values' of the camera are currently no better than the current model. The sensor has exactly the same resolution as the 50S, i.e. 51.4 megapixels. ISO values and video capabilities also remain largely identical. A small improvement has been made to the LCD. On the 50R, it can be tilted in two axes. The camera will be available from November 2018.
To go with the compact camera that can even be used with one hand, there is also a pancake lens with a 50mm focal length (equivalent to a 40mm field of view in 35mm format). In the showcase was a replica of the lens, but the release date, price and weight have not yet been revealed.
Der Megapixel-Knaller
The arrival of the GFX 100 is still unknown. Fujifilm has only indicated the official launch of development, but is already giving plenty of details. In addition to a resolution of 100 megapixels or perhaps a little more, the camera will have a built-in image stabiliser. Very important for high resolutions. The camera will also support 4K (currently GFX only offers Full HD), and that's with 10-bit colour depth.
Is this the democratisation of medium format?
More affordable prices, reasonable dimensions, ever-faster processors: time is on medium format's side. In the future, more and more amateur photographers will consider it. But Marcel Weber stresses that medium format will never be exactly the same as small format. Not a competitor, but rather an alternative. Or at least that will be the case over the next few years: each format will have its advantages and disadvantages.
My interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
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