Discovering the proper digicam for a single, high-stakes shoot is usually a balancing act. While you’ve solely acquired one evening to seize a selected scene for a consumer, there’s no margin for error. Decision, reliability, and adaptableness all matter, particularly when the ultimate pictures shall be printed at massive sizes the place each element counts.
Coming to you from mathphotographer, this thorough video walks by way of why the Fujifilm GFX100 II medium format mirrorless digicam was the selection for photographing Frankfurt’s skyline at evening. The shoot wasn’t nearly discovering the proper bridge and perspective; it was additionally about making certain every body was safely captured in most high quality. The GFX100 II’s 9.44-million-dot, 0.64-inch digital viewfinder made evening composition exact and comfy, particularly in comparison with rivals with decrease decision. For a job that demanded top-tier element, its 102-megapixel medium format sensor delivered information with large modifying flexibility.
Equally vital was the digicam’s construct and dealing with. The GFX100 II is weather-sealed, sturdy, and extra comfy within the hand than its measurement suggests, coming in at about 1.5 kg with the GF 35-70mm lens. The in depth bodily controls allowed fast changes with out diving into menus, which is essential when working beneath time strain. Absolutely customizable operate buttons made switching between face detection, topic detection, and autofocus modes virtually instantaneous. The spacious high show supplied important taking pictures info at a look, helpful when the digicam was mounted on a tripod at waist peak.
Key Specs
102 MP (11,648 x 8,736) medium format CMOS sensor (43.8 x 32.9 mm)
In-body 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization
ISO 80–12,800 native (40–102,400 prolonged for photographs)
Twin card slots: 1x CFexpress Kind B, 1x SD UHS-II
9.44-million-dot 0.64-inch OLED EVF
3.2-inch 3-way tilting touchscreen LCD
Steady taking pictures: as much as 8 fps
Inner video as much as 8K at 30 fps in ProRes 422 HQ
Climate-sealed magnesium alloy physique
The video additionally highlights the digicam’s pixel shift multi-shot mode, which may produce 400-megapixel composite pictures. Whereas the ensuing information are perfect for huge prints, the workflow is extra tedious than with some manufacturers, requiring guide picture choice in Fuji’s software program and providing no built-in movement artifact elimination. The GFX100 II’s in-body stabilization works nicely handheld however, on this case, wanted to be switched off for multi-second tripod exposures to keep away from picture softness, one thing not all cameras require.
Pattern pictures from the Frankfurt shoot confirmed the advantages of excessive decision and cautious setup. Lengthy exposures smoothed the river’s floor and captured vivid gentle trails from passing boats, whereas HDR methods introduced out additional element in shadow and spotlight areas. The GF 35-70mm zoom lens proved invaluable for adjusting framing with out altering place, providing prime-like sharpness with extra flexibility. Try the video above for the complete rundown.
