The reports of the new Fujifilm GFX 50R are making photographers carefully consider their next purchase.
One of the most exciting announcements that could be coming at Photokina 2018 is that of a brand new Fujifilm GFX 50R. This camera is slated to be the most affordable digital medium format camera on the market thus far. For those of us who have been looking at medium format as a serious option, it could be a major entry point. Years ago Pentax tried to do this with their Pentax 645 system and arguably weren’t able to capture the market due to pricing being akin to those of Canon 1D and Nikon D5 levels. But the new Fujifilm GFX 50R is reported to be even more affordable–nearly on the level of Sony’s a7r III and a few other cameras on the market.
If it is indeed real (and at this point we genuinely have no idea) then we hope that it has these features built in.
A Medium Format X Trans Sensor (Maybe with Image Stabilization)
One of the biggest let downs about the Fujifilm GFX 50S was the lack of an X Trans sensor. Granted, the 50MP medium format sensor at its heart is quite good, but I think that something that could drive it over the top is for the sensor to be X Trans. Not only would the sensor then have better color than most full frame 35mm sensor options, but it would also perhaps have better high ISO noise rendition and a much more true Fujifilm look. Arguably, the reason why anyone buys into Fujifilm is the X trans sensor. They’ve got great lenses for sure, but the look of Classic Chrome and Acros are so very unique.
Oh yeah, Image stabilization would be HUGE!!!!
OVF/EVF
When the Fujifilm X Pro 1 was launched, it was an incredibly revolutionary camera due to the fact that it allowed the photographer to have access to an OVF and the EVF while giving interchangeable lens capabilities. The X100 series of cameras before this did so too; but now it’s time for that feature to come to medium format. The idea of a digital Mamiya 6 type of camera that can give me the look of Astia via an X Trans sensor makes my jaw drop. With an OVF, it could potentially save even more battery life and appeal to all the photographers who still can’t wrap their head around EVFs.
Refinements on the Silent Shutter Mode for Documentary Shooters
Earlier this year, I personally worked on a story talking to medium format documentary photographers. Something that I seriously think could help with this type of work is obviously silent shutter improvements. Silent shutter as it is is quite good as a feature but a problem that the entire industry suffers with has to do with working with artificial lighting and the color banding that it produces. If Fujifilm could use their rendering engine to detect it and remove it, this would be huge.
Granted, the film simulations lend themselves to being able to embrace these flaws much better than those of other cameras.
Faster Flash Sync Speed
This is an absolute must for studio and location photographers working with Profoto lights and other options. A faster flash sync speed by default would help a whole lot unless the sensor was organically capable of going down below ISO 64. What sort of flash speeds am I asking for? I’d love 1/500th without high speed sync. With HSS, I obviously want full capabilities. But for a medium format camera, the Fujifilm GFX 50s sort of lacks in this department. If the Fujifilm GFX 50R is real, then it could help out a lot here.
Embracing the Look of PRO 400H in Camera
One of the hottest looks on the market is that super pastel look that overexposed Fujifilm PRO 400H renders in a scene when it is developed normally. That look being given to Fujifilm shooters by default and without the need for RNI Films, Mastin, VSCO etc would be really big. It would mean that we have much less post-production work to do and that instead we can just go right to retouching or something.