Fujifilm GFX 50S Field Test

At Photokina 2016, Fujifilm did something many Fuji shooters had been eagerly anticipating: they announced a camera with a sensor larger than APS-C size. What was surprising about this announcement was that Fujifilm opted to skip over the popular full-frame format and dive straight into medium format territory with the Fuji GFX 50S, a 50-megapixel medium format mirrorless camera.

Launching in late February 2017, the Fujifilm GFX 50S hit store shelves with a body-only price tag around US$6,500. This price tag makes it about $2,500 less expensive than the competing Hasselblad X1D mirrorless camera, which also employs a 50-megapixel sensor, albeit in a slimmer, sleeker camera body with many less physical controls than the GFX 50S.

I have been shooting with the Fuji GFX 50S since early March, and it has continued to impress me. In my first Field Test, I discussed the GFX with the GF 32-64mm f/4 lens, mostly in the context of shooting landscape images. I covered the camera's ergonomics, autofocus and overall performance as well.

In this second Field Test, I will be discussing using the GFX 50S with the GF 63mm f/2.8 lens, expanding the prior discussion in a few ways and covering new topics, including the GFX 50S's video recording features and quality and its wireless functionality. I will also be discussing using the GFX as a portrait camera, primarily in the context of fast-paced environmental portraiture, and evaluate the camera's face detect and eye autofocus capabilities.

In Field Test Part I and Part II, I covered much of the Fujifilm GFX 50S' features and performance. However, the camera has numerous other features that could easily fly under the radar. I wanted to dig deeper into topics such as the new Color Chrome Effect, in-camera RAW processing, wireless and tethered shooting and finish with a collection of observations I've made during my extended time with the camera. Let's get to it and put a bow on my Fujifilm GFX 50S Field Testing.

Fuji Color Chrome Effect: What is it and does it look good?

As part of Fujifilm's ongoing GFX Technologies series, the company has gone behind the scenes with its new Color Chrome Effect. The GFX is the first Fujifilm camera to include the all-new Color Chrome Effect feature.