It's a photographic bonanza! - Fujifilm pulls wraps off GFX100S, X-E4 and a couple of new lenses

[D13H4RD]

Sony: We've launched our most advanced, feature-rich mirrorless camera to date

Fujifilm: Any more sake left for us?

 

Well, it really does look like a back-to-back special for photography enthusiasts. After Sony pulled the wraps off the a1, its most advanced and expensive model in its Alpha range to date, Fujifilm followed in the release of not one but two camera bodies alongside some new lenses, some of which were teased earlier.

 

GFX100S

Spoiler

 

The GFX100S was the star of the show. Essentially a miniaturized version of the flagship GFX100, the 100S packs the same 102MP digital medium format sensor into a body that's significantly smaller and lighter than its dual-gripped counterpart, being closer in handling to a full-frame mirrorless camera, whilst making other improvements such as an improved IBIS system.

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The Fujifilm GFX 100S is the logical next step in the development of the company's medium format lineup: a 100MP sensor in a single-grip DSLR styled body. But don't mistake predictability for complacency: the GFX 100S is an awful lot of camera.

 

Inside its comparatively compact body, the GFX 100S carries the 102MP BSI CMOS sensor from the original GFX 100 mounted within a smaller, more powerful image stabilization mechanism. By blending technology from the GFX 100 with components from the APS-C sensor X-T4, Fujifilm has created a very powerful camera at a comparatively affordable price.

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• 102MP BSI-CMOS 44 x 33mm medium format sensor
• Image stabilization system rated at up to 6EV
• Continuous shooting at up to 5 fps with C-AF
• 4K video at up to 30p with HDMI output of 10-bit 4:2:2 or 12-bit Raw footage
• Multi-shot 400MP mode for static subjects
• 2.36M-dot rear touchscreen with two-axis tilt
• Fixed 3.69M-dot OLED EVF with 0.77x equiv. magnification
• Lossy, lossless or uncompressed Raw in 16 or 14-bit
• Twin UHS-II SD card slots
• NP-W235 battery, rated at 460 shots

 

The GFX100S will be available in February, at a suggested price of $5999, making it very aggressively priced for an extremely high-resolution medium format camera body.

X-E4

Spoiler

A comparatively more "mundane" update versus the GFX100S, the X-E4 is essentially a refined and improved version of the X-E3, with the notably change being the adoption of the same Exmor R IMX571 backside-illuminated "X-Trans4" sensor and "X Processor4" duo introduced on the X-T3, coupled with the latest enhancements in processing and autofocus introduced on the X-T4 and X-S10. Essentially a rangefinder-styled X-T30, the X-E4 places an emphasis on size, making several changes in an effort to make the camera smaller, whilst also introducing a low-profile tilting screen that flips up in a similar way to the a6400.

 

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The Fujifilm X-E4 is a lightweight, rangefinder-styled camera built around a 26MP APS-C sized sensor that uses the company's X-mount lineup of lenses. Billed as a fun-to-use and compact photographic companion, the X-E4 is the smallest X-mount camera yet, encouraging you to keep it around wherever you wind up.

 

With Fujifilm's latest sensor and processor combo, the X-E4 inherits a lot of the goodies from the most recent Fujifilm cameras, including updated autofocus, solid video specs and really impressive burst shooting rates. And if you're a JPEG shooter, you now have eighteen of Fujifilm's excellent film simulations to choose from.

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• 26MP APS-C sensor with X-Trans color filter array
• 3.0" tilting touchscreen with 1.62M dots (can tilt up 180 degrees)
• 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder, 0.62x magnification
• DCI 4K/30p, 4:2:0, 8-bit internal video recording (4:2:2 10-bit over HDMI out)
• Full HD video at up to 240p, for 10x slow motion
• 8 fps burst shooting with mechanical shutter (20 fps with electronic)
• CIPA rated to 380 shots per charge (NP-W126S battery pack)
• 121mm x 73mm x 33mm
• 364g (12.9oz)

Like the GFX100S, the X-E4 goes on sale later in February, at a suggested price of $849.

Lenses

Spoiler

Other products shown at the livestream were the XF 27mm f/2.8 Mark II pancake, whose introduction coincides with the X-E4, offering similar optics in a weather-sealed package together with an aperture ring, priced at $399. The XF 70-300 f/4-5.6 makes a second appearance, now with a listed price tag of $799. Both XF lenses ship in March.

 

The medium format GF-mount also got its love, with the GF 80mm f/1.7 finally having its price announced, at a cool $2499, also available in March.

 

Other noteworthy announcements includes Fujifilm's firmware updates, historically dubbed "Kaizen". The X100V will receive a firmware update later which allows its internal ND filter to be used for video. The X-Pro3 will also be receiving a new firmware update improving its hybrid viewfinder. The X-T30 will also be receiving one as well, which includes features such as native webcam support.

 

My thoughts

Well, well, well. As a Fuji shooter myself. a lot of these announcements have tickled my fancy, especially the XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6. I am in the hunt for a capable planespotting lens that isn't both terribly expensive and chonky. The XF 70-300 especially at its $799 price fits the bill. I also think that serious landscape, archival, architectural and product photographers may have their ears perked up at the GFX100S being $5999. While still expensive, it does make 102 raw megapixels on medium format significantly more accessible.

 

Sources

DPReview GFX100S impressions

DPReview X-E4 impressions

DPReview news piece on GF 80mm with press release

DPReview news piece on XF lenses with press release

 

Images courtesy of Dan Bracaglia and Richard Butler of DPReview

[wall03]

Me: Canon EOS 5D Mark V when? (I'm on the used market for Mark III. Should drop to the price of Mark II hopefully)

Sony & Fujifilm: Yes.

[Mihle]

Maybe I should eventually switch my 55-200 for the 70-300 eventually depending on how it performs, hm....

[D13H4RD]

8 minutes ago, Mihle said:

Maybe I should eventually switch my 50-200 for the 70-300 eventually depending on how it performs, hm....

I'm thinking of complementing my 50-140 with the 70-300.

 

I love the 50-140, but I do want to go planespotting when the pandemic is all settled and done. 70-300 gives me that reach.

[Sauron]

3 hours ago, D13H4RD said:

the X-E4 goes on sale later in February, at a suggested price of $849.

Oof, that's a bit of a hike from the X-E3... or does this include a lens?

[D13H4RD]

6 minutes ago, Sauron said:

Oof, that's a bit of a hike from the X-E3... or does this include a lens?

Nope, just the body