FUJIFILM
GFX 50R - First ImpressionsAhhh ... to have Medium Format in a rangefinder-styled body sporting 50mp that costs a few thousand dollars less than the original GFX 50S ... Now that is the promise of the Fuji GFX 50R. We were given a prototype of the camera last week, ahead of the announcement, and then a few days later were we able to shoot it in the field ... just straight out the door I went!I went to fields with flowers, fields with insect life, even to a soccer field. I searched and waited for the rising moon, and for any dramatic skies I could find you to bring you examples of what a powerful sensor could convey. And, while only a prototype sample, I did let the ISO climb on occasion as well. After all, Fuji bodies have historically shined brightly in higher-ISO competitions, with the GFX 50S itself setting a new record for maximum size while dialed to ISO 51,200!
GFX 50R: Let's talk about the GFX 50R in the hands. I had the privilege of shooting with the original GFX 50S shortly after it was unveiled for an initial gallery piece and was duly stunned by the image quality. But of course the feel of that camera in the hands is far different from the new 50R, as they are simply "different beasts" in their overall external designs.Just as Fujifilm offers the X-Pro series (rangefinder-styled) alongside the X-T series (DSLR-styled), both equipped similarly under the hood, this split-type series now makes its way to their GFX Medium Format offerings. The only big difference other than external shape is that the GFX 50R is priced far less than the original 50S, which runs about $ 1500 higher. So while not an inexpensive camera to be sure, the 50R is now the most modestly-priced Medium Format offering, which should certainly turn the heads of some landscape and portrait shooters who have been waiting for a more affordable entry point into this enticing realm.
Having a camera this large but without a traditionally deep grip took some getting used to at first. There is a small front grip, and the thumb grip is beefy and generous, but I still felt compelled to quickly add a wrist strap for safety. The camera is simply larger than any rangefinder-style camera I've yet held, and reminiscent of models from bygone days in the film era. I love the aesthetic, but again it took some getting used to out in the real world, especially in the hot, humid days in Atlanta where perspiration is a given.The 50R controls are rock solid, as I'd both hoped and expected. The metal dials are firm and reassuring, and the shutter speed dial has a locking mechanism as well. Every photographer is different in his / her personal preferences regarding external controls, but for me there is no substitute for actual dials. Simple, solid, old-fashioned dials. I love them, I am addicted to them, and I do not have them I get upset and lose my bearing. Hey, to each his own, that just happens to be the way I am. Being able to look through the EVF while I am adjusting the dedicated shutter speed dial to suit the shot is just awesome to me, or aperture, or EV, and with bodies from Fujifilm that is exactly what you get. Nothing more, nothing less, very simple.
They've removed the 4-way dial and associated buttons from the back, which at first seemed a little weird. But the joystick takes the place of it for the most part, and the joystick is, um, a joy to use. Once you've had one at your disposal for jockeying your point you'll see what I mean and will miss it when you switch to a camera without one. My right hand constantly goes back and forth to and from the dials and the joystick. Oh, and much like on the 50S, having the AF switch (S, C, M) near where your thumb sits is awesome. Fuji often puts this switch on the front of their cameras, and that has always seemed counter-intuitive to me. Now it's in a logical place that's easy to reach (and remember!).With this initial prototype sample I found autofocus to be fast and responsive, and accurate as well. With the super-shallow depths of field provided by bright lenses on a huge sensor, you certainly have to pay close attention, but that's not the camera's fault. The power afforded to photographers with this combination is awesome, but the learning curve heavily increases as well. I found myself concentrating more on the shooting than ever before, or at least in a similar fashion when I shot with the GFX 50S. But wow, when you nail focus, the rewards are significant.
This is the primary area of differentiation between the GFX 50R and the GFX 50S. Where the GFX 50S is more like the DSLR camera and includes a detachable electronic viewfinder on the top and a fairly substantial bulge behind the rear display for the battery, the GFX 50R is more like the rangefinder. The GFX 50S is a complex shape, which some have described as unattractive. The GFX 50R, on the other hand, is a generally rectangular block with a considerably simpler, more streamlined aesthetic.
Designed like a rangefinder, the electronic viewfinder is located in the top left corner of the camera rather than on top. Another difference between the GFX 50R and its 50S sibling is that the 50R does not have a battery bulge on the back. The difference in overall size with respect to depth is considerable, with the GFX 50R having a maximum depth of 2.62 inches (66.4 millimeters) versus 3.6 inches (91.4 mConsidering other dimensions, if you compare to the GFX 50S with its electronic viewfinder attached, the camera is 5.81 inches (147.5 millimeters) wide, 4.48 inches (113.8mm) tall and has the maximum depth of 3.6 inches. If you remove the electronic viewfinder from the GFX 50S, it's 3.71 inches (94.2mm) tall, which is slightly shorter than the GFX 50R - which has the built-in electronic viewfinder. (920 grams) and the GFX 50R weighs 27.3 ounces (775 grams).Fuji 50R Pricing and Availability
The Fujifilm GFX 50R will be available starting in late November for a suggested retail price of $ 4,499.95 USD and $ 5,699.99 CAD.
The GFX 50R includes a Li-ion NP-T125 battery, battery charger (BC-T125), plug adapter, body cap, strap clip, protective cover, clip attaching tool, shoulder strap, protective cable, hot shoe cover, sync terminal cover and owner's manual. The GFX 50R does not appear to include support for an optional vertical battery grip like the GFX 50S.
J. Gray /D. Pardue/I. Morán
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