When I published my review of the Fujifilm GFX 50R in 2019, I declared it to be one of the best cameras that I’ve ever tested. And every time that camera is mentioned, I think back about some of the images I made with it. Perhaps moreso than with any other Fujifilm camera that I’ve used, I can fondly remember my time on the beach during the Polar Bear’s Plunge and the images I made using that camera and a Profoto B10 flash. With 50MP at the heart, it’s also a camera that I sometimes still even consider buying.
I describe the Fujifilm GFX 50R as the camera that Fujifilm created and neglected simply because it wasn’t able to bring in as much back to the nest for the family to all enjoy. But in the hands of loving and nurturing photographers, it made incredible images.
Here’s the thing: the autofocus is comparable to a DSLR in some ways, and that’s perhaps the biggest problem with this camera. Otherwise, it was capable of making photographs that I absolutely, positively adore. Notice how I keep talking about this? That’s because it reminded me to slow down and work with people to make portraits that go beyond just capturing moments as they’re happening. Essentially, if your subject isn’t moving, you’ll get great images. But once they move around, things change.
Something that I’ve said many times about medium format is that the way the sensor renders the lighting is part of what makes it so special. On top of that, the images feel like they have so much more depth to them. All of this is partially probably because of how I worked with the camera.
Since then, Fujifilm hasn’t made an interchangeable lens rangefinder style camera with a GF sensor even though people want it.
But would I buy the Fujifilm GFX 50R in 2025? Honestly, yes. And every now and again I consider doing it. A Sony a1 II sensor’s won’t give me this level of depth.