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Cameras

The Fujifilm GFX 100S II: A Portrait Photography Beast Gets Some New Tricks

Alberto Lima
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Last updated on 06/18/2025
06/22/2025
3 Mins read
A Fujifilm camera with a large lens resting on an olive green canvas bag with brown leather straps.
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When we first reviewed the Fujifilm GFX 100S II, we were less enthusiastic about the camera. While it was a solid performer, it did little to stand out, even with a 100-megapixel sensor. Since then, Fujifilm has continued to support the camera and recently released its latest firmware version. But is this new firmware update enough to change our opinion of a good yet unremarkable camera?

Improvements to Auto-Focusing

Sample image of a Pomeranian taken with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II edited with Photojournalism Lightroom Preset Pack
Sample image taken with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II edited with the Photojournalism Lightroom Preset Pack

In our initial review, we described the auto-focusing system as:

“…[having an] autofocus that feels like even the latest DSLRs could outdo it. And in some ways, I appreciate that. The slower autofocus is nice if it’s a camera that you want to slow down with. But in that case, I’d still want the autofocus performance to be better in lower light. That’s where I found the autofocus to really lack. It was this, and when trying to photograph birds moving around in the trees that the autofocus just couldn’t do that I wanted.”

To that end, the latest firmware update hoped to address some of the issues with the GFX 100S II.

A quick note about settings: I primarily used single-point autofocus and removed exposure preview to help the camera achieve the fastest possible autofocusing. While these changes in autofocus should also translate to video, I didn’t shoot any video and focused on the changes as they would apply to a stills photographer.

A Sample image taken with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II of man wearing glasses and a hat holds a baby while sitting on a chair in a cozy room.
Sample image taken with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II

For this update, I treated the camera as an event photographer would, capturing scenes from family functions, and even did some outdoor portraiture. In each instance, I found that the autofocus had definitely improved, but it was hardly noticeable from a functional standpoint. That said, the GFX 100S II continues to deliver on the autofocusing front, just with a little more speed and, from my testing, just a little more accuracy.

One of the odd choices in this camera (and really a lot of others like it) is the inclusion of Animal EyeAF. During our testing period, I found that it worked well enough, but it was far from reliable with an active pet. In our original review, the GFX 100S II struggled with birds and birding in general. With this update, shooting in more controlled situations, specifically posing an animal, the Animal EyeAF begins to shine and can very quickly find the animal’s eye.

But will it Change Your Photography?

Fujifilm GFX 100S II
Product image of the Fujifilm GFX 100S II

Although I can confidently report that there is an improvement in autofocus, I wonder who these changes are for. As a part-time event photographer, I can appreciate better autofocusing speeds, especially in trickier lighting, but I’ve never found myself wanting Animal EyeAF – on a medium format camera, it leaves me wondering who this was made for? The incremental changes to the overall AF abilities are always welcomed but do little to move the needle from our initial review. The Fujifilm GFX 100S II is still an absolute beast when it comes to portraiture, and if this is your bread-and-butter, it only gets better, even if it’s missing a lot of the soul that early X-series cameras were dripping in.

Image Samples

A fluffy brown and white dog on a leash stands on a sidewalk with cars and buildings in the background.
A woman in a red shirt holds a black pug while standing outdoors with greenery in the background.
Woman with glasses smiling in a kitchen, with wooden cabinets and a refrigerator in the background.
A fluffy brown and white Pomeranian on a leash standing on a city sidewalk.
Two people sit on a bench talking, while others relax nearby at an outdoor gathering.
A man in glasses holds a baby while sitting indoors, both looking toward the camera.
Young woman hugging an older woman from behind; both are smiling warmly in a bright room.
A baby sits on an adults lap, chewing on a colorful toy, with a hand raised nearby.
A smiling couple points at the camera while the woman holds a baby in a cozy, well-lit room.
Black and tan dog standing outdoors with its mouth open, another dog blurred in the background.
Light brown dog standing on a hexagon-tiled patio, looking to the left, with a red logo in the bottom right.
A person holds a small turtle by its shell, with blurred people in the background.
A decorated party room with long tables, yellow tablecloths, balloons, and colorful party cups.
Older man wearing a birthday crown holds a green Happy Birthday balloon, cake with 60 candles in front.
Long tables with yellow tablecloths and party favors in a decorated room with large windows and curtains.
A sunlit banquet hall with long tables, yellow tablecloths, chairs, and tall windows with draped curtains.
A young person with glasses and long hair smiles outdoors, wearing a textured light jacket.
A small black dog stands on wooden floor beside a person’s legs and a folded chair, looking up and baring teeth.
Person sitting on a bench, smiling and holding a race bib numbered C31463, with greenery in the background.
A modern silver digital camera rests on a wooden floor, viewed from above.
A digital camera body with a red sensor cover rests on a wooden floor.
A person with long dark hair and glasses sits on a bench in a leafy park, smiling at the camera.
A man sits on a bench in a park, holding a license plate, with greenery and a stone wall behind him.
Smiling man wearing a Happy Birthday tiara sits at a table with a cake in front of him.
A snake plant in a white pot sits on a wooden shelf by a window with other potted plants nearby.
A fluffy brown and white Pomeranian dog on a leash standing on a city sidewalk.
Person with long hair and glasses smiling while sitting on a park bench, trees and stone wall in background.
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