On using the GFX100RF

Having picked mine up and used it for a few days my thoughts are that the IQ is as good as I’m sure we all thought it would be, the lens is excellent, but we all knew that would be the case

What I have found, and expected to be honest is that this camera will replace my X100VI.

As a travel camera

On my X100VI I use the WCL and TCL as a small travel kit, so for example I spent 10 days in Tuscany with just this kit and was really happy with what I got. This kit provided a FF Equiv of 28, 35 & 50mm and weighs in at 851g and is carried in a small non camera bag.

In comparison, the RF provides 28, 35 & 50mm ff equivalent at 102, 61 & 31mp respectively compared to the 40mp on the X100VI and weighs in at 735gm so 116gm lighter and smaller as it doesn’t need the conversion lens

High ISO on the RF beats the stabilised output from the X100VI, and I’m sure will be better when DXO is available for it. I’ve tested this with both cameras side by side in a ‘real world’ test walking round inside an aircraft museum. Both cameras on auto iso, range from lowest to highest iso and both set on P, leaving the cameras to pick what they want. The RF didn’t go below 1/40s ISO’s went up and no camera shake was seen on either camera

As a 2nd camera to the GFX50s ii

As expected, it provides a 2nd camera capability to me of 35, 45 & 50mm MF at 102, 61 & 51mp respectively which, depending on what I want to do, can replace the 35-70 or 50mm which gives me the option of carrying the RF with effectively a 35, 45 and 50 in one camera and the 80 or 100-200 on the 50Sii. It does also raise the question of do I sell or keep the 35-70 and 50mm.....hmmm

Area’s where I’d like to see changes
Custom settings. I would like to be able to save the aspect ratio into a custom setting same as I can on the X100VI, X-H2 and GFX50sii. I get that Fuji have gone down a different route here, but this would be nice but not the end of the world.

Conversion lenses - depends a lot on how big they would be, but a wider option and a short tele option

Thats pretty much it

I made a reservation. I will pay it on Monday and get it in 2 weeks. DoF is my only concern, but let’s see.

Im just curious, at $10k here in australia ,with so many disadvantages compared to other cameras why does one buy this camera 🤔
dont you buy MF for shallow DOF
all else equal the a6700 with a 30 1.4 would render subject isolation better.

I would suggest that what you perceive as disadvantages, others see as options. Nope, I dont buy digital mf for shallow depth of field, thats easily achievable on any camera based on focal length, distance to subject and subject distance from background as far as I'm aware.

I bought it as an everyday carry and second camera. I could cary my GFX + 80 1.7, but thats big, heavy and limiting in other ways. Agree a sony a6700 would do that, as would so many others, but im not a sony shooter and have zero interest in sony cameras

If you're really after subject isolation then 10x8 is the way forward 😀

Q2 has the same FL and 1.7 lens; it would have been nicer to have the same DoF that gives Q2 offers on a similar size package. I carry only one camera and I use shallow DoF often, so it is kind of important for me.
I am buying it purely to try and see how much I will like it. I bought X100VI, but I was not so happy with it; I kept using Q2 and sold X100VI eventually. If the same happens, I will sell GFX100RF, and I am sure that I am not going to lose money if I sell it.

You have an excellent point. It might turn out to be quite a disappointment for me. But there is a very important point that makes me buy it anyway: I will not lose any money even if I sell it second hand.

And that says a lot about why most fuji buyers buy fuji cameras, just like Andy above who will not even consider another brand : because it's trendy and the look of it is all that matters. Congratulations to fuji for creating that hype !

If that's what you understand from the OP, I suggest you read it again.
About the hype; yes, Fuji must be congratulated, and I am sure other camera manufacturers are trying to replicate their recipe of success, but you are so wrong that it is due to its "look" alone.

Hi,

I buy MF for producing larger prints. That's as true today as it was 40 years ago.

But while I have use for the 100 MP MF sensor, I do not contemplate any camera with a fixed lens, much less a MF one.

Fuji has a long history of producing fixed lens MF cameras, so it makes a certain amount of sense for them to make the 100RF at this point in time. I'm waiting for the dual side-by-side sensor model.....

Stan

Nope, I have 3 cameras that use the same menu system, colour options (film sims) batteries etc which to me is more useful to me than picking another system for no real gain. Nothing to do with being trendy. That probably says more about you i'm afraid

I did consider the Q3 as second hand they are about the same price as a new RF, but was put off by a couple of things, namely different menu system, the need for more and different batteries and I use 1x1 crop a lot, and on the Q3 using the full height would give a 40mp image (6336 x 6336) whereas the RF/GFX gives 74/75mp (8736 x 8736) which would make a big difference

Either way I suspect you are right and will be able to sell on for little or no loss

I understand that, as I also chose to stay with canon when I last changed my camera, mostly because I know the system. However that does not mean I have no interest in sony cameras or any other brand, I looked at most options and eventually made my decision.

Fuji cameras have a good image quality, sure, as do all other brands now, and I have never tried such a large sensor before and would like to, sure again.

But this model has shortcomings (lack of IS for example) that cannot be considered "option" since it isn't there (you have the option not to use it if it's there and you don't want it, here you lack the option). And a large sensor comes with an effect on dof that can't be completely replicated by any other changes (you always alter something to the picture, whether you get closer, us ea larger aperture, or anything else). And having a fixed lens is a limitation, and although you can crop as you do, you lose a lot of the 100mp you paid for, and you will never have that very wide angle you may need (but yes, you can make a pano).

But as long as you're happy with it and use it, it's all good !

I think the 'short comings' as you see them are not as I do, and that's fine, we all want different things, I happen to like fixed lens compacts, cropping is always an option in any camera subject to you being able to get the view you want, and I do crop for ratio if nothing else. But at the end of the day its all good and I think its great that a camera company is prepared to bring out different choices

True , it's why I bought the 6700 to pare with me a7iv , picked up my daughter's xt20 yesterday, it did feel nice and look pretty.