Disclaimer(s):

• I am not sponsored by Fujifilm or anyone else (I buy all my gear). I am into the Fujifilm system (APS-C and Larger than full frame format), and you should know I am slightly biased.

• I don't do technical reviews; these are my experiences handling the device during the loan period.

• I am not a full-time professional photographer, meaning I do not take photographs for a living (side gigs on projects that interest me or occasionally sell my prints - for sure).

• I am sharing from a medium-format user perspective. The last full-frame camera I owned was the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (2018 - 2019), and I switched to the GFX & X system ever since. I have not used the modern Full Frame camera (except for taking a few photographs using my friends' cameras - such as the Nikon Z7 or Canon EOS R5).

• The experiences and thoughts shared here are purely from the Fujifilm GFX System's perspective.

I entered the medium format system with the Fujifilm GFX 50s in 2018. I have been using the Fujifilm X-T2 and then the Fujifilm X-T3 until that time, alongside my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Not being a high FPS shooter, the process of photographing using the GFX system intrigued me. The Original GFX 50s is a slow camera compared with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. However, considering that I photograph mostly static or slightly moving subjects, I liked the slowness of the camera. Then I upgraded to the Fujifilm GFX 100s after testing it out for two weeks due to the autofocus upgrades that allowed me to relax while photographing.

The upgrade from the Fujifilm GFX 50s to the Fujifilm 100s was substantial - both from the performance and image quality perspective. Despite acquiring the skills to nail the eye (mostly) since my film days, I liked that I could rely on the camera to reduce my effort to nail the eye when photographing people. And I can do it quickly. However, as someone who occasionally comes across a wild animal, having lost the skill to quickly manual focus, I know I need more from the camera's autofocus system to compensate for the now reduced skill of quick manual focus for capturing occasional animals or birds when they interest me.

So when Fujifilm GFX 100 II was released, I was naturally interested in testing the camera. However, I had to wait a few months before I got a demo kit with a few lenses (The Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Lens and the Fujifilm GF 1.4X TC WR Teleconverter that I am interested in among the other lenses I already have) - thanks to Fujifilm Canada and McBain Camera.

The GFX 100 II Review

Overview

The GFX 100 II significantly differs from the previous professional GFX 100 camera in design, size, and weight. The camera did not feel substantial compared with my Fujifilm GFX 100s on the hands - except when I held it for a long time, such as a hike or walk. The new BISHAMON-TEX™ grip and body texture made the camera more attractive. The body is generally comparable to the GFX 100s than the GFX 100. The overall ergonomics feels good holding it in your hands. I don't use camera straps (I haven't used them for more than a decade) because I find them a nuisance, so the feel of the camera is important. The GFX 100 II does not disappoint in that aspect with both ergonomics and weight at 1030 grams.

The grip itself is not that different from the GFX 100s, but the texture and the materials gave a better feel. With close to 100 weather sealing points, the camera can withstand most weather - except in extreme conditions. It uses the same battery as my GFX 100s (2200Mah NP-W235) but gives more photographs due to its better tuning and slightly more efficient components. You need the USB-C cable for charging, which is convenient since most recent devices are USB-C, and chances are you have plenty in your home.

Then, you will notice that the GFX 100 II uses SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) and CFExpress Type B card slots. The CFExpress Type B compatible cards provide a slightly longer burst rate than the UHS-II cards. An upgrade in video specs (not covered since I have not taken video using a dedicated camera in a while) could be the reason for the CFExpress Type B card slot, but it also helps photography when it comes to burst modes. The camera provides a full-size HDMI jack, a full-size ethernet port, and a dual-purpose 3.5mm headphone jack or remote release. I am still not a fan of the side doors since they tend to dangle instead of being hinged - but I can live with that for a while.

The top plate is familiar but larger and slightly flushed, tilting towards the shutter press, adding to the overall aesthetics. It has three additional customizable buttons between the shutter press button and the top screen and two other buttons for the space next to the screen. The rest of the top is familiar to those from the GFX-100s, sparing a few more customizable buttons but being better designed.

The back side is identical to the GFX-100s than the GFX-100. Unfortunately, the LED screen behind the camera is no longer present, which makes it more compact (a trade-off). Coming from the GFX 100, you will notice the vertical buttons remain almost the same (except the AF on is moved between the rear command dial and the focus mode selector. The customizable additional buttons and the battery extension are missing in the GFX 100 II. However, if you come from the GFX 100s, you will find everything exactly how it is in the GFX 100s.

The EVF is excellent and clear compared with its 9.44 million dots and a 1.0x magnification. It is useful when photographing moving subjects or reviewing the photographs after the shoot. It is removable, meaning you can add a tilt adapter to make you feel special and practical in many situations if you are not an LCD person.

The back LCD has some nuanced differences despite similar specs between the GFX-100, GFX 100 II, and the GFX 100s at 3.2 inches and 2.36 million dots. The back LCD monitor in the GFX 100 tilts three ways (up, down, and sideways), and the GFX 100s tilts two ways (up and down). However, the GFX 100 II adds another tilt, making it more useful for architecture and environmental photographers by giving a four-way tilt LCD panel (a varying angle in addition to the three-way tilt in the GFX 100).

The flash sync speed has not changed from the current 1/125th of a second, leaving you to use the HSS.

For more details about the technical specifications, refer to the Fujfilm's product page here.

The Use

Depending on whether you are coming from the GFX 100 or the GFX 100s, you might find the camera dramatically or marginally light. But regardless, it fits perfectly in your hand.

When using the camera, three things stand out:

• The overall responsiveness,

• the autofocus performance,  

• it's diverse subject recognition,

• and the improved burst shoot.

I am not a burst shoot photographer, but I took the pain to test it out (who knows, after using the camera on the birds and animals, I sort of like it and know what I miss in my current GFX 100s).

Continuous shoot improvements

You will love the continuous shooting improvements if you are a wedding or an event photographer, with a few caveats.

You will get a full 125+ or 250 RAW images (uncompressed versus lossless compressed) to the CFexpress Type B card, such as the 1700 MB/s Lexar Professional CFexpress card, before you are reduced to 1fps until the buffer clears out. Cleaning the buffer takes a full 30 seconds, if not more (depending on the card). However, all this drops to 30-68 photographs depending on the RAW format on a USH-II SDXC card (300 MB/s) such as the Lexar® Professional 2000x SDHC™/SDXC™ UHS-II Card GOLD Series.

Regardless, you need to be mindful of the time it takes to clear the buffer, and it might be a break or make for a photographer relying on the burst mode to photograph fast-moving subjects.

Another factor you need to remember is the EVF blackout - while not as considerable as the original GFX 50s and an improvement over the GFX-100s, it is still something.

I photographed my son cycling around the park, testing the continuous improvements, and I was impressed. However, you will only get some of the eight frames fully focused on the subject. Depending on the subject's position and movement, you will get up to five fully focused photographs, which is an improvement compared with the GFX-100s.

After running against the buffer clearing time for the first two attempts, I become mindful of it in the subsequent attempts. While it did not impact my photography much in this situation (save for the time I photographed a bunch of birds), I can see this becoming a problem for an event, wedding wildlife, or sports photographer (the first two might use the GFX system).

One thing to remember with the burst mode photography is that you have two options - 5fps with 16-bit RAW and 8fpt with the 14-bit RAW. This does not make any difference online, but it chips away your pixel-peeping experience, large printing (I occasionally print 56 inches plus canvases), or hurts your ego, bragging about it with the other camera owners of smaller sensor sizes.

Autofocus

The autofocus is generally improved - thanks to the Fujifilm X-H2 algorithms (I have yet to use the Fujifilm X-H2 or the X-T5). Its ability to detect people is even more impressive compared with the GFX-100s. The addition here is subject recognition, such as the Animal, Bird, Automobile, Motorcycle/Bike, Airplane, and Train. I tested the Animal and the bird autofocus apart from the people detection, which you will read about in the next few paragraphs.

It uses the same hybrid contrast/phase detection system with 425 selectable AF points covering the entire sensor. The autofocus improvement is dramatic when coming from the GFX 100 and better than the GFX 100s, especially the low light. It is clear that Fujifilm preferred accuracy over pure speed when selecting a hybrid autofocus system.

Strengths of Phase Detection AF:

1. Speed: Phase detection AF is typically faster because it measures the convergence of light rays directly on the sensor, allowing the camera to quickly determine whether the subject is in focus.

2. Tracking Moving Subjects: It is highly effective for tracking moving subjects, making it ideal for action, sports, and wildlife photography.

3. Accuracy in Good Light: Phase detection works very well in well-lit conditions, providing quick and accurate focusing.

Strengths of Contrast Detection AF:

1. Accuracy: Contrast detection AF is highly accurate because it focuses on maximizing the image's contrast directly on the sensor. This makes it particularly effective for achieving precise focus.

2. Low-Light Performance: It often performs better in low-light situations than phase detection, as it doesn't require as much light to function effectively.

3. Focus Precision for Static Subjects: For static subjects, contrast detection can fine-tune focus to higher precision, which is beneficial for portrait and macro photography.

Hybrid System Advantages:

1. Combining Speed and Accuracy: By using both phase detection and contrast detection, Fujifilm cameras can achieve fast and accurate focus. The phase detection provides the initial speed, while contrast-detection fine-tunes the focus for higher precision.

2. Enhanced Low-Light Performance: The hybrid system leverages contrast detection in low-light scenarios where phase detection might struggle, ensuring reliable focus even in challenging lighting conditions.

3. Versatility: A hybrid system can adapt to various shooting conditions and subjects. It provides flexibility whether you shoot fast-moving subjects or static scenes in good or poor light.

4. Improved Subject Detection: Combining both technologies allows for better subject recognition and tracking, enhancing features like face and eye detection and AI-based subject recognition in advanced models like the GFX 100 II.

5. Consistency: A hybrid system can offer more consistent autofocus performance across different shooting scenarios, minimizing the risk of focus hunting or inaccuracies.

In practice, these are my experiences when using the improved autofocus system:

Wildlife/Aminal

I visited the local Elk Island National Park to photograph some Bisons (irony - I only find Elk if I trek into the deeper tails) and test its animal autofocus. I was lucky to witness more than 30+ Bison roaming around the Bison Loop at the park. Pairing my GF 100-200mm F5.6 lens (my now favorite GF lens for landscapes) with the Fujifilm GF 1.4X TC WR Teleconverter to remain at a safe distance while attempting close-up photographs of these majestic animals, I parked my car to spend a long time to truly test it out to see whether it addresses one of my pain point in photographing slower animals. I have often been frustrated photographing these massive beasts with my GFX-100s using the present autofocus system before resorting to manual focus. Since these animals are not fast-moving, it will be a good start for my testing venture.

I immediately noticed the benefits of animal detection as the camera locked into the nearby (about 200 meters - the photographs are cropped) Bison's eye. It was a WOW moment for me. However, the Animal was grazing stationary in one place - occasionally lifting its head and staring at me, pointing a camera at it.

Excited, I turned my attention to the herd further away, occasionally glancing at the Animal to my right to ensure it did not come close. I know some of these beasts will get playful in the dusk as they feed the grass, and I was not disappointed.

A few Bisons got excited and started locking their horns and chasing each other playfully. Now I start seeing the autofocus system's true performance, and it's a mixed bag of results. While it focused on the closest Animal's eye most times, it grabbed on their tails occasionally. One time, it refused to focus on any of those animals' eyes due to increased shadow but instead continued focusing on their tails despite many attempts to change that. The autofocus did its job perfectly when the animals stepped out of the shadow. The burst shoot gave only 10 to 20% focused photographs per burst. However, it is a massive improvement over my GFX 100s, which I am happy with.

In another instance, I had a similar experience when photographing my kitten. While the autofocus is vastly improved for the animals, the overall sensor performance must improve dramatically to see its benefits. However, I took a wonderful photograph of my kitten using the amazing GF 55mm f1.7 lens, which was impossible just relying on the autofocus system in my GFX 100s.

Bird Photography

One evening, I ventured into a floodwater overflow pond close to my home to test the Bird autofocus, where birds frequently stop by en route to elsewhere. While it's not fast enough to photograph small and quicker birds, it did an excellent job with the larger Geese. Stationary birds - regardless of their size, are a different story.

The camera effortlessly focused on the bird's eye when they were relatively stationary, giving me these photographs.

On the flight, I could successfully photograph the larger ones, giving many good photographs, which was impossible with the GFX 100s. The success rate is still around 40% of the shots, but it is a massive improvement compared with the previous generation of GFX cameras. But keep in mind that the camera sometimes tends to front-focus.

In general, the improvement in autofocus is noticeable in humans and definitely in other subjects such as animals. I did not test the camera on automobiles.

Image Quality

The redesigned sensor provides a marginal improvement in IQ at the base ISO and DR shadows due to its low base ISO of 80. This helps reduce noise at the low ISO and DR modes since it also opens up Fuji's DR200 and DR400 modes faster (IS0 160/320 rather than 200/400), giving you less noise in shadows.

Overall, while the GFX 100 and GFX 100S already deliver exceptional image quality, the GFX 100 II provides incremental improvements, particularly in processing power, low-light performance, dynamic range, and color science, making it the superior choice for those seeking the best possible image quality from a Fujifilm medium format camera.

Others

These are the list of other improvements or features that I did not test since I am not that interested:

• Fujifilm has added more film simulations with the GFX 100 II, bringing it to 20.

• The GFX 100 II includes improved video features such as 8K video recording support and enhanced video codecs.

• Marginally faster startup time compared with the GFX 100s.

• The slightly updated menu system - improving its usability.

Enhanced wireless connectivity options, including faster and more reliable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, improving remote control and file transfer capabilities.

Conclusion

The GFX 100 II is an excellent improvement over the previous generation, especially in autofocus and overall performance. While it is definitely a significant upgrade for the GFX 50s, GFX 50s II, and the GFX 100 users, it's an iterative upgrade for the GFX 100s users unless you want the autofocus goodies outside the human detection capabilities. I believe a fully stacked sensor with significant performance improvements that benefit its autofocus will be a better upgrade for the current GFX 100s users.

Thoughts on the GFX 100s II

The GFX 100S II shares many features with the GFX 100 II, such as the 102 MP sensor, X-Processor 5, and advanced autofocus system with AI-based subject detection. Both models offer 20 film simulations and improved video capabilities, including 8K recording.

However, the GFX 100S II is more compact and lighter, making it more portable and convenient for on-the-go photography. Compared to the GFX 100S, the GFX 100S II offers significant upgrades in image processing, autofocus performance, and overall usability, thanks to the newer processor and additional features like enhanced low-light performance and dynamic range.

Although I have not tested it, the GFX 100s II's buffer runs out quicker in burst mode than the GFX 100 II (from what I have read). It is also 1fps less, which is not a deal breaker for me. I am looking forward to testing the GFX 100s for my use in the near future. Stay tuned!