Fujifilm GFX 50R Image Quality

These two Fuji GFX siblings use the same sensor and processor, so as expected, image quality is practically identical ignoring slight differences in lighting and white balance.

Here we compare the medium format Fuji GFX 50R to the full-frame Canon 5DS R at base ISO. Although on paper the Fuji has just a slightly higher resolution (51.1MP with a 8256 x 6192 pixel image versus 50.3MP with a 8688 x 5702 image for the Canon), when framed vertically the 4:3 Fuji has a larger advantage over the 3:2 Canon in terms of resolving power than their relative pixel counts would imply. As a result, the Fuji does resolve a bit more detail in this comparison, but it also applies stronger default sharpening and contrast producing a crisper image with more "pop," though with slightly more noticeable sharpening halos as well. (Note that the Canon was shot with Fine Detail Picture Style which does a better job rendering fine detail without visible sharpening artifacts than Canon's Standard Picture Style, but images also have somewhat lower contrast.) The Fuji does however show slightly lower noise levels here at ISO 100, particularly chroma noise in the shadows, but it also doesn't reproduce the subtle offset printing coloration in the mosaic crop. Both cameras show some aliasing artifacts but that is to be expected from cameras without optical low-pass filters. Interestingly, the Canon produces higher contrast in our tricky red-leaf swatch. Both cameras produce very pleasing colors as we've come to expect from Canon and Fuji.

Here we compare the 50R to the 45.7-megapixel Nikon D850. Again be aware that the GFX's sensor has a 4:3 aspect ratio while the D850 has a 3:2 aspect ratio, so the GFX has more of a resolution advantage over the 3:2 cameras than their relative pixel counts would imply here, as we frame this shot vertically. (The D850 and GFX both produce images with 8256 pixels in the horizontal axis, but the Fuji yields 6192 pixels in the vertical, versus 5504 pixels for the Nikon.) As you can see, the GFX handily out-resolves the D850 and has lower noise levels as well. Both produce very crisp images, but the Fuji generates less obvious sharpening halos around high-contrast edges. The Nikon produces higher contrast though, particularly in our tricky red-leaf swatch. Both cameras offer pleasing, vibrant color though the Nikon is a bit warmer and overall the Fuji's colors are a little more accurate.

The Fuji 50R and Pentax 645Z use very similar if not identical sensors, so it's no surprise they both resolve very similar levels of detail. The Fuji's image appears crisper due to more sophisticated default processing and perhaps a slightly better lens, and it has more pleasing, accurate colors as well. The Pentax on the other hand produces much better contrast in our red-leaf swatch but it renders the pink fabric much too magenta. As expected, both show some aliasing artifacts.

The 51MP medium format 50R readily out-resolves Sony's 42-megapixel full-frame A7R III mirrorless, though again when framed vertically like this, the 4:3 aspect ratio Fuji has a larger advantage over the 3:2 Sony in terms of resolving power than their relative pixel counts would imply. The Fuji exhibits lower chroma noise in the shadows, but the Sony does a better job at reproducing the offset printing coloration in the mosaic crop. Sharpening halos are practically nonexistent from the Sony, but they aren't very obtrusive from the Fuji either. Both cameras produce aliasing artifacts but the difference in resolution happens to make moiré patterns more visible from the Sony in our red-leaf swatch. The A7R III renders much higher contrast in our red-leaf swatch than the 50R , however overall color is warmer and more accurate from the Fuji.

Again, nearly identical image quality from these two medium format siblings here at ISO 1600, as expected.

The Fuji 50R's image quality advantage over the Canon 5DS R increases here a ISO 1600, with the Canon producing much higher luminance noise as can be readily seen in flatter areas, and as a consequence, its default noise reduction begins to blur fine detail more than the Fuji. This is particularly evident in the red-leaf swatch which has become noticeably softer with much of the fine thread pattern blurred away. The Fuji has also lost some subtle detail in the red-leaf fabric, though not to the same extent. Contrast in the red-leaf swatch does however remain better from the Canon.

The Fuji GFX 50R easily bests the Nikon D850 here at ISO 1600, with much better detail and clarity, lower noise and a tighter noise "grain," though contrast is a bit higher from the D850.

Here at ISO 1600, the Fuji 50R produces a noticeably cleaner, crisper and brighter image even though the amount of detail preserved is still comparable. However most of the difference is due to better JPEG processing from the Fuji, as noise levels in RAW files appear very similar. Subtle detail in our tricky red-leaf swatch has been degraded more by the Pentax, however contrast is still a bit better. The Fuji continues to produce better colors.

Here at ISO 1600, the Fuji 50R continues to easily out-resolve the Sony A7R III as expected. Both show similar levels of luminance noise however the Fuji's grain pattern is a bit more regular and film-like, and it leaves behind much lower chroma noise. The Sony still shows much higher contrast in our tricky red-leaf swatch along with more obvious moiré patterns, however the Fuji's low-contrast rendering doesn't suffer from the Sony's somewhat peppered look.

Yet again, as expected the two Fuji siblings produce practically identical image quality here at ISO 3200.

The Fuji 50R's image quality continues to pull away from the Canon 5DS R's at ISO 3200, with a much cleaner, crisper, more detailed image all around. The Canon's default noise reduction is working pretty hard at this point, which unfortunately blurs and distorts fine detail while still leaving behind a lot of noise "grain".

Again, an easy win for the 50R here at ISO 3200 with a sharper, more detailed yet cleaner image, though contrast continues to be better from the D850.

Here at ISO 3200, the GFX 50R continues to produce a noticeably cleaner, crisper and punchier JPEG image with better color than the 645Z. And again, the leaf pattern in our tricky red-leaf swatch has been blurred a little more by the Pentax's default noise reduction.

Again, the Fuji GFX 50R bests the Sony A7R III in this comparison at ISO 3200, producing a cleaner, crisper, more detailed image with lower chroma noise and fewer noise reduction artifacts. The Sony continues to produce better contrast in our troublesome red-leaf swatch, however subtle detail is more distorted than from the Fuji.