Fujifilm GFX 100 II Medium Format Mirrorless Camera Body

Fujifilm GFX 100 II Medium Format Camera Body Summary

In a fast-paced world, camera capabilities change rapidly and the updated flagship Fujifilm GFX 100 II Medium Format Mirrorless Camera Body arrives just a couple of years after the scaled-down GFX 100S launched. The new Fuji medium format body combines cutting edge technology inside, with class-leading connectivity and ergonomics on the exterior.

The next generation GFX 100 mark II camera houses a newly developed 102 megapixel medium format CMOS sensor, which not only captures incredible image quality, but offers faster readout speeds thanks to being paired with the high-speed X Processor 5 engine.

These contribute to a veritable shopping list of upgrades for hybrid creators who demand the best image quality, which the GFX medium format system consistently delivers. Upgrades include faster shooting speeds of up to 8fps, 2x buffer capacity, stunning video quality at 4K/60P and even 8K/30P 4:2:2 10-bit in cinema-ready formats, as well as improved ISO performance for stills and video. The X Processor 5 also facilitates AI-driven subject recognition and tracking, with significant improvements to face and eye AF detection, which cover a wide area of the large sensor.

External enhancements include the addition of an Ethernet port, recording to external SSD drive via USB-C, and a full-sized HDMI Type-A port for added robustness. Newly added function buttons enable quick access to various camera settings, while a CFexpress Type B card slot has been introduced to accommodate faster burst rates and higher video quality. You’ll also instantly see that the built-in grip has been removed, resulting in a lower body weight of 1030g vs 1400g for the first gen.

Fujifilm is targeting the movie industry squarely with the GFX 100 II camera able to record uncompressed 4:2:2 10-bit RAW video via the full-sized HDMI port, as well as BlackMagic 12-bit RAW video with a corresponding external video recorder. It also supports IDT for ACES with cinema standard colour space, plus Remote Rec. frame.io, and more for filmmaking professionals.

Key Fujifilm GFX 100 II Camera Features

• Newly developed high-speed GFX 102MP CMOS II HS sensor with fast readout speeds
• Continuous burst shooting at up to 8fps and 2x buffer capacity
• Record internal video at 4K/60p and 8K/30p 4:2:2 10-bit in-camera with reduced rolling shutter
• Improved ISO performance with base ISO 80 for stills and ISO 100 for movies
• F-Log2 colour profile with 14+ dynamic range
• AI-based subject-detection AF with deep learning for huge autofocus improvements
• X Processor 5’s AI face and subject detection AF
• Up to 8-stop in-body stabilisation with compatible GF lenses
• Enhanced flagship ergonomics with new ports, controls and connectivity
• In-body Ethernet / IP support
• Recording to external SSD hard drive via USB-C
• Support for IDT for ACES (Input Device Transform)
• Updated Pixel Shift Multi Shot with four images
• Bright 9.44-million-dot EVF with 1.0x magnification
• Optional VG-GFX II Vertical Battery Grip, which houses two batteries
• Weighs 1030g

Fujifilm GFX 100 II Medium Format Camera Body in More Detail

Newly developed CMOS sensor

Fujifilm is known for developing their own image sensors for both GFX and compact APS-C X-series cameras. This trend continues with the GFX 100 II boasting a brand new high-speed and high quality CMOS sensor, which not only packs 102 megapixels, but provides high speed readout.

Fujifilm achieved this by improving circuitry speed, adding a high-speed A/D converter at the top and bottom, whilst also fine-tuning power supply. The results are spectacular with a faster and more efficient shooting experience that caters to high-end content creation and fast workflows.

Other benefits to the updated core components include extended ISO 80 for stills and ISO 100 for movies, the addition of F-Log2 (ISO 800) and impressive quality ISO 80 in 16-bit RAW output for staggering colour, tonal variations and shading.

The newly developed Fujifilm medium format sensor also integrates improved PDAF information (phase detection auto focus) at the corners of the frame, for accurate AF even if your subject moves towards the outer edges.

Huge AF tracking speed and hit rate improvements

Thanks to the sensor, processor, buffer and algorithm updates, the Fuji GFX 100 II camera achieves significantly improved AF hit rates. The X Processor 5’s AI face and subject detection calculations start at the AF area and utilise programming ported from the latest X-H2S, X-T5 and other models from the X-series line-up. The power of AI enables the camera to detect animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, trains, insects and drones. With higher burst rates and buffer capacity, plus extended subject tracking AF, the mark II medium format camera offers more versatile shooting for previously challenging subjects, such as sports, wildlife and reportage.

Portrait and commercial photographers will in particular benefit from the high speed readout of the sensor phase detection system, combined with AI eye/face/body detection, which generates impressive AF results for human subjects. You can even allocate priority to front side eye or pupil, as well as the left or right eye of the subject.

Further fine-tuning is available through a customisable Zone AF function, which allows the shape of the AF area to be adjusted to suit any given shooting situation, for more accurate autofocusing.

Up to 8-stop in-body stabilisation

Having such a high resolution sensor can potentially make it difficult to gain sharp results at slower speeds. To combat this, the efficiency of the IBIS unit has been improved to provide the best performance of any Fujifilm camera, which is befitting of the most accomplished camera of all.

Stabilisation has been improved across every GF lens, with some achieving 8-stops of compensation in order to provide unprecedented handheld shooting and low light opportunities. Lenses with 8-stops are the GF 63mm F2.8 R WR, the GF 110mm F2 R LM WR and GF 80mm F/1.7 R WR Lens. Others range from 5.5-stops and 6.5-stops, with many delivering 7.5-stops of compensation against shake.

Updated ergonomics in a flagship design

A number of changes have been made to the exterior of the mark 2 GFX 100 camera, with new controls, ports and connectivity to support professional users. New additions include a CFexpress Type B card slot, ethernet port, upgraded HDMI type-A port and several new function buttons.

The top monochrome information screen has also been upgraded with a new 2.09-inch LCD panel for clearer viewing of current settings. The GFX 100 II’s shutter button is quick and silent, while the mode dial features no less than six custom settings for fast switching between preassigned functions.

Additionally, a new dedicated switch allows you to change between stills and video mode and all other connectivity has been retained from the previous generation. These include a microphone jack, headphone jack, SD card slot and backlight button.

The camera grip also sees a new BISHAMON-TEXTM texture, which offers improved purchase when shooting hand-held in various angles.

High resolution EVF

The camera is equipped with a high-magnification, high-definition 9.44-million-dot EVF with 1.0x magnification. It suppresses parallax and distortion, which typically occurs when an eye position becomes displaced while using the viewfinder, for incredibly clear and accurate visibility. The EVF boasts a smooth refresh frame rate of approximately 120fps in order to accurately identify a subject’s fast movements clearly.

GFX 100 II memory buffering and continuous shooting

Although the GF format sensor captures an extraordinary 102 megapixels of data, faster readout speeds and quicker processing allow you to capture bursts at higher frame rates than that of the GFX 100S for longer durations. The table below highlights the advantages of the newer body, when shooting with various modes and compressions using either a CFexpress Type B or SD card.

The advantages are clear with excellent buffering for photographers who want to capture bursts of images and capture the decisive moment without waiting for the buffer to clear. By comparison, the GFX 100S bursts to 5fps for a maximum 42 sequential shots in JPEG, or 16 RAW compressed images.

Medium format films and digital simulations

Fujifilm has extended their range of desirable Medium Format Film Simulations included in the GFX 100 II with the addition of REALA ACE, which results in natural looking images with rich and soft gradation.

This complements existing film simulation modes, which generate gorgeous results straight out of camera with iconic colours and tones. Some of the most popular include:

• PROVIA/STANDARD, which is based on the Fujichrome Provia reversal film.
• Velvia/VIVID, based on Fujichrome Velvia, that is loved for its ultra vivid rich and high-contrast colours.
• ASTIA/SOFT is based on FUJICHROME ASTIA, a film designed for fashion portraits, that prioritises soft and faithful reproduction of skin tones.
• CLASSIC CHROME is a Film Simulation mode designed to reproduce a similar style to 20th century documentary magazines with low-saturation and hard tonal gradation in shadows.
• ETERNA/CINEMA, which is a film designed for motion pictures, delivering uniform colours and an extremely soft tonal gradation in highlights.
• ETERNA BLEACH BYPASS applies a Bleach Bypass effect to the ETERNA/CINEMA for a high-contrast and low-saturation look, used by many filmmakers.

Medium format cinema support

Thanks to the new high-speed sensor and included codecs, the GFX 100 II is capable of cinema-quality filmmaking. It also supports IDT for ACES Cinema standard colour space, including GFX 100 II F-Log2 x IDT, Venice S-Log3 x IDT and ALEXA35 Log-C4 x IDT. This is the first GFX Series camera that features F-Log2 with dynamic range expanded up to 14+ stops.

When combined with a compatible ATOMOS HDMI device, RAW video output from GFX100 II can be recorded as 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW at resolutions up to 8K and frame rates up to 29.97fps. With Blackmagic Design Video Assist 12G HDR, RAW video output from the camera can be recorded as Blackmagic RAW at resolutions up to 8K and frame rates up to 29.97fps.

ATOMOS AirGlu BT is supported, which enables seamless timecode synching with multiple cameras, meeting demand from various video production sites.

Movies can be recorded in serval formats, outlined in the table below:

When shooting in Apple ProRes, the Fujifilm GFX II camera can use proxy video recording such as Apple ProRes 422 Proxy, which reduces video editing workload to streamline the overall workflow from filming to post production.

Video assist tools have been added to make moviemaking easier, and include:

• Displaying waveform vectorscope
• MF-assist function focus map
• Adding F-log2 D Range Priority mode
• frame.io compatibility
• ATOMOS AirGlu BT Wireless Timecode*
• Rec Frame Indicator
• IS Mode Boost
• Zebra tool

Cinema format lens compatibility

When using a mount adapter, the GFX II supports various cine recording formats such as Premista, 35mm, and anamorphic (35mm). This accommodates video recording in a versatile range of situations, complemented also by the enhanced sensor readout speed and the tracking AF.

Additional photo features

• With the GFX II you can use industry-standard IPTC tagging and profile edit which can also be set when using the newly released XApp V1.2.
• Saving images (and video) to an external SSD works the same as having a memory card, with excellent performance in comparison to SD cards.
• Thanks to new Ethernet / IP support, the GFX 100 mark 2 works with FTP, Frame.io, Remote Red. on the body only
• The Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function enables 4x resolution and accurate colour reproduction. 400 megapixel images are created with the IBIS mechanism, which is precisely controlled to shift the image sensor by 0.5 pixels and capture 16 RAW images in a quick succession. Dedicated software Pixel Shift Combiner is then used to combine the 16 RAW files to generate simply staggering results, making this feature the perfect choice for commercial photography or digital archiving of cultural assets.
• HEIF file format is supported, which provides 10-bit colour depth while keeping the file size to 70% of JPEG data for reduced memory and storage requirements.

Versatile accessories for the ultimate imaging system

Alongside the new medium format GFX II camera body, Fujifilm has launched a new EVF-TL1 EVF Tilt Adapter, as well as a VG-GFX II Vertical Battery Grip. The grip features a silent shutter button, rear command dial and 8-direction joystick-type controller plus holds two additional batteries, while the removable EVF offers the ability to tilt the EVF to angles from 0°90° when shooting horizontally and from -45°+45 vertically.

Despite updating everything from speed to image quality, Fujifilm has managed to improve performance from the W235 Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery, with battery life now reaching up to 540 frames. Investing in additional batteries is however warranted for the large majority of users.

For supplemental lighting photographers can make use of accessories for off-camera lighting such as the Fujifilm EF-W1 Wireless Commander, which can trigger the Fujifilm EF-60 or EF-X500 flashgun.

CFexpress and SD card slots

Thanks to the addition of a single CFexpress card Type B slot, which resides next to the SD card slot, creators can choose between ultra high-speed CFexpress and the ubiquitous SD format (UHS-II), according to their needs. A number of manufacturers such as Sandisk and Lexar make both options, which ensures creators can invest in whichever brand they favour.

Recording to external SSD drives via USB-C

Fujifilm has also introduced the option to record stills and video in any format including 4K/60P and 8K/30P to an external SSD hard drive. This addition offers lower cost per GB, and takes some of the intensive heat away from the body, which is generated during high-speed and high resolution video recording. As with memory cards, SSD are available from leading manufacturers in a variety of capacities and speeds, with external hard drive options from Austrian makers Angelbird, renowned for their Atomos SSDs offer several options, as do SanDisk Professional and Lexar, amongst others.

Filmmaking and video specific accessories

As a cinema-ready movie camera, the GFX 100 II can be extended to cater for any conceivable video requirements through the addition of video making accessories. These include headphones for audio monitoring, an external microphone for professional audio and an external camera video recorder for RAW video recording, with options available for ProRes as well as Blackmagic workflows.

The Fujifilm X-H2S Cooling FAN-001 can also be added for extended filmmaking and situations where recording in hot environments. It can be attached to the rear side of the body and receives power cable-free to extend the duration of continuous video filming without additional power requirements.

Ever growing high quality lens selection

GFX users have access to a number of exceptional Fujifilm medium format lenses, which are readily available, spanning everything from wide angle primes through to versatile telephoto zooms.

Fuji also released three all-new lenses simultaneously with the GFX mark II camera, opening up additional possibilities for medium format users. These are as follows:

1. Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Lens – a new standard prime with exceptional image quality, which is ready for anything from naturally lit street photography to high-end portraiture and as an everyday walk around option
2. Fujifilm GF 30mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift Lens – the wider of two T/S lenses with class-leading shift, well-controlled distortion and superb image quality for architecture, landscape and more
3. Fujifilm GF 110mm f/5.6 Tilt Shift Macro Lens – a mid-telephoto with 0.5x magnification, which renderers desirable results for commercial photography

Sample Images

Sample 01 Astrophotography. Camera settings: 25 sec. f/4. ISO 12800

Sample 02 Landscape. Camera settings: 1/440 sec. f/8. ISO 500

Sample 03 Big cat. Camera settings: 1/230 sec. f/8. ISO 800

Sample 04 Elephants. Camera settings: 1/230 sec. f/8. ISO 320

What’s in the box

• Fujifilm GFX 100 II Medium Format Camera Body
• Interchangeable electronic viewfinder EVF-GFX3
• NP-W235 Li-ion battery
• AC power adapter AC-5VJ
• Plug adapter
• USB cable
• Shoulder strap
• Body cap
• Hot shoe cover
• Vertical battery grip connector cover
• Memory card slot cover
• Sync terminal cover
• Cooling fan connector cover
• Cable protector