Fujifilm GFX 100S II Review

What’s most interesting about the new GFX 100S II is that Fujifilm has broadened the intended user base.

The 100S II is now the lightest and most affordable camera body in the range.

As a result, serious hobbyists and enthusiasts looking to change brands or upgrade from the Fujifilm X Series have options.

Regardless of where you sit in the newbie-pro spectrum, the latest Fuji GFX has much to offer over other medium format systems.

Let’s take a look!

Fujifilm GFX 100S II Specs

• Sensor – GFX 102MP CMOS II
• Processor – X Processor 5
• Maximum Resolution – 11648 x 8736
• ISO – 80~12800 (40~102400 Extended Output)
• Viewfinder – 0.5″ 5.76 Million Dot OLED EVF
• LCD – 3.2″ 2.36 Million Dot tri-angle Touch Screen Color LCD Monitor
• e-Ink Display – 1.8″ 303×302 pixels
• Stabilization – 8-stop 5-axis Sensor-Shift
• Focus – 425 point Intelligent Hybrid AF (TTL contrast AF / TTL phase detection AF)
• Max Shutter – 1/4000 MS 1/16000 ES
• Movie Recording – 4K 30p
• Storage – UHS II Dual Slot
• Flash – Hot Shoe TTL flash compatible
• USB – USB Type-C (USB3.2 Gen2x1)
• Battery Life – Approx. 530 frames/Approx. 80min. (4K 30p)
• Weight – 883g (1.95lb) with battery and memory card
• Dimensions – 150 x 104.2 x 87.2mm (5.91 x 4.1 x 3.43″)

Build & Appearance

The Fujifilm GFX 100S II is possibly one of the sexiest cameras to behold!

I rarely use the term sexy to describe a piece of technology, but there’s just something about the latest GFX camera that gets the heart racing.

While I catch my breath, let’s walk around the sleek and stylish GFX 100S II.

Despite being the lightest GFX camera, the 100S II feels incredibly solid and hefty at 883g (1.95lb).

It’s also relatively compact for a medium-format digital camera, measuring 150 x 104.2 x 87.2mm (5.91 x 4.1 x 3.43″).

Without a lens attached, the scale of the GF Mount aperture gaping at the front of the camera body is hard to ignore.

The lens mount beckons like the Eye of Sauron atop Barad-dûr! Sorry for the Lord Of The Rings reference.

Of course, I’m referring to a whopping 102MP 43.8mm×32.9mm image sensor – it dwarfs the full-frame sensor size.

Beyond that, the weather-sealed GFX 100S II front is clean and minimal, with a single custom button, a deep grip, and a command dial.

The right side houses the grip that holds the larger NP-W235 battery. A hinged door houses the dual UHS-II SD Card slots and one for a remote control or remote release.

On the left-hand side, weather-sealed doors house the USB-C port, HDMI Mini port, and Sync port, as well as 3.5mm mic and 3.5mm headphone jacks.

The top plate is a sublime blend of old and new design thinking from Fujifilm.

A single PASM Mode Dial sits to the left of the hot shoe and includes six customizable modes.

There’s also an inset switch to instantly jump between the Still and Movie modes.

Fujifilm X Series cameras typically feature a shutter speed and exposure compensation dial.

However, the GFX 100S II continues the series tradition by featuring a 1.8″ e-ink display with a resolution of 303×302 pixels that displays essential settings.

I do miss the physical controls, including shutter speed and ISO dials.

To the right are a pair of customizable buttons for different settings, and forward sits the shutter release with the embedded ON/OFF toggle.

The rear of the GFX is equally as minimal and slick as the rest of the design.

An impressive 3.2″ 2.36 Million Dot tri-angle Touch Screen Color LCD Monitor sits flush against the body and, like the Fujifilm X-T5, features a tri-directional tilting mount.

As a result, you can confidently shoot in portrait orientation with the LCD tilted up for easy viewing.

The second standout feature here is the 0.5″ 5.76 Million Dot OLED EVF.

Command buttons sit across the top of the LCD to control Drive, Trash, AF ON, and a toggle to change focus modes between Manual, Continuous, and Single.

A second customizable command dial sits where your thumb can quickly reach.

Finally, to the LCD’s right is an 8-direction joystick, AFL, Menu, Display, Play, and Q buttons.

The camera is wrapped in Fujifilm’s BISHAMON-TEX, a synthetic textured material with a Japanese-inspired three-arrow pattern.

The GFX 100S II’s size, design, layout, and aesthetics perfectly blend Fujifilm’s retro styling with modern technology applications.

Ergonomics & Handling

If you’ve been reading along at home, you’ll know I typically shoot with, test, and review Fujifilm X Series cameras and lenses.

Known for their compact nature, cameras like the X-T5 and X-HS2 sit at the top of the X Mount food chain.

I was surprised at how similar and comfortable the larger and heavier GFX 100S II was to handle and work with.

Heading into this review, I was concerned that the latest GFX would be excessive and unyielding to shoot with.

However, I felt instantly at home holding the medium-format camera.

The deep grip is incredibly comfortable to hold and provides excellent ergonomic support.

I ditched the Fujifilm padded shoulder strap and opted for a strong Lucky Straps leather wrist strap.

The front and rear customizable command dials are easily accessible to the thumb and forefinger, allowing instant control of functions, including shutter speed and ISO.

The rear of the GFX 100S II also features a decent thumb rest and ample real estate for your thumb to support the camera’s weight comfortably.

The key buttons are easily accessible, and the 8-direction joystick provides reasonable control for setting focus points and menus.

However, I found the joystick incredibly stiff and would often have to push it a couple of times to register the menu change I desired.

The GFX features a respectable 3.2″ 2.36 Million Dot tri-angle Touch Screen Color LCD Monitor.

I found the touch sensitivity excellent, and the resolution is terrific in any lighting conditions.

The show’s star is the bright, punchy 0.5″ 5.76 Million Dot OLED EVF with a 0.84x magnification.

The eyecup is very comfortable, and the mandatory diopter helps old shooters like me who wear glasses.

I mentioned earlier that I found the GFX very familiar after shooting with Fujifilm X Series cameras.

The same was true of the menu and operating system. I instantly knew where everything was located and how to access and change desired functions.

Focus Performance

1/1000 | 3200 ISO | f/5.6

I tested the GFX 100S II in various settings and lighting conditions while pursuing a variety of subjects.

I initially had some trouble getting used to the slower focusing speed of the medium format cameras.

For context, when the 100S II arrived for me to review, I had just finished writing the Fujifilm X-T5 and X-T50 reviews back to back.

Both X Series cameras feature incredibly fast and accurate subject tracking and focus performance.

Despite housing the same X Processor chip, the GFX 100S II focus system wasn’t operating at the same pace.

Granted, I was working with the equally new Fujifilm GF 500mm f/5.6 super-telephoto prime lens. It houses and moves a lot of big glass elements.

While using single-point or zone focus modes in natural light, as long as my subjects mainly remained still, the Intelligent Hybrid AF hit the mark every time.

However, when attempting to capture fast-moving subjects, the autofocus system would hunt for subjects even with subject detection on.

Due to the autofocus performance, I can’t recommend it as a pro-grade sports camera, despite the subject detection modes.

The GFX features the latest Fujifilm subject recognition options to detect and track humans, animals, birds, bikes, and more.

I found the eye detection autofocus capabilities effective in single shot mode and with continuous shooting with the electronic shutter.

It’s important to note that I didn’t have other GFX lenses to test the camera.

I also tested the camera and lens before launch, so the firmware may not have been final.

Low Light Performance

1/60 | 12800 ISO | f/5.6

I was incredibly impressed with the GFX 1ooS II’s low-light performance.

The truly massive new 102MP CMOS II image sensor boasts a 43.8mm×32.9mm surface area.

It pulls in so much light and image resolution data.

I shot in an almost dark room with the ISO cranked way up, and the image quality and noise were exceptional.

I effortlessly manipulated the dynamic range and pulled details from near-black shadows to reveal crisp image quality when editing the RAW files in Adobe Lightroom.

I’ve never experienced files with so much hidden detail and more dynamic range than I knew what to do with!

Image Quality

1/500 | 6400 ISO | f/5.6

Let’s cut to the chase; the Fujifilm GFX 100S II captures exceptional image quality that puts APS-C and Full Frame to shame!

The GFX 102MP CMOS II medium-format sensor, X Processor 5, and 5-axis In Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) work in harmony to capture insane levels of image data. 

Despite the boosted RAM and processor, my 2017 iMac struggled with the massive uncompressed RAW files when editing. 

What’s most impressive is the ability to work in extreme lighting conditions – low and high – yet confidently push and pull exposure beyond what you’d typically expect. 

The GFX 100S II works with a standard ISO of 80 and captures 16-bit images with exceptional dynamic range.

Furthermore, the camera boasts a Pixel Shift mode that captures multiple RAW images and stacks them in post-processing to create a 400MP file.

Of course, a Fujifilm camera wouldn’t be complete without the 20 film simulation options that replicate the looks of film photography.

It also includes the relatively new film simulation, Reala Ace.

Another worthy mention is the aspect ratios, including 16:9 – ideal for landscape photographers.

Fujifilm GFX 100S II Sample Images

Here are some sample images I took using the GFX 100S II with a GF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR lens.

1/500 | 250 ISO | f/5.6

1/400 | 200 ISO | f/10

1/500 | 2000 ISO | f/10

1/100 | 2000 ISO | f/8

1/500 | 400 ISO | f/8

1/2500 | 1250 ISO | f/8

1/125 | 4000 ISO | f/5.6

1/200 | 4000 ISO | f/10

Overall Performance

The Fujifilm GFX is an easy beast to master thanks to its intuitive layout and stacked menu system.

Plus, manual command dials and customizable buttons allow you to tailor the camera to your shooting style.

The new GFX is quick to power up. You can instantly dial in your ISO and Shutter while controlling the aperture on your GF lens.

As mentioned, I found the focus performance a little sluggish, which may be due to the lens.

Like the Fujifilm X-T5, the 100S II features dual UHS-II SD card slots with an impressive readout speed.

Burst shooting delivers a reasonable 7FPS with the Mechanical Shutter and the entire sensor frame while utilizing subject recognition.

The buffer kept pace with the steady stream of Lossless Compressed RAW files.

Keep in mind that the GFX system employs a larger sensor, and as a result, there’s more data to move to the SD cards.

It’s clear that the GFX 100S II is intended to be a dedicated photography camera – however, it does have video functions worth mentioning.

When it comes to video features, the camera offers F-Log2 support and captures 4K 30p to the internal SD cards. 10-bit 4:2:2 is also standard.

Output to an external monitor allows for Atomos and BlackMagic RAW recording.

How I Tested the Fujifilm GFX 100S II

That’s me annoyed that a bird pooped on my hat!

As part of the recent Fujifilm X Summit held here in Sydney, Australia, the Japanese company announced the GF 500mm f/5.6 super-telephoto prime along with this GFX.

Fujifilm Australia sent me the GFX 100S II and the new 500mm lens to review together.

As a result, I didn’t have access to other Fujifilm lenses to test the new medium-format camera.

The GF 500mm f/5.6 measures 104.5 x 246.5mm (4.1 x 9.7″) and weighs a considerable 1375g (3lb).

Paired with the GFX 100S II, it was a mighty combo and, before long, caused some fatigue.

I tested the GFX at the local skatepark and botanical gardens, as well as in and around my home of Melbourne, Australia.

Alternatives to the Fujifilm GFX 100S II

The Fujifilm GFX 100S II is the seventh entry in the Fuji GFX range – eighth if you count the rare GFX 100 IR Infrared version.

It all started at Photokina in 2016 when Fujifilm shocked the photography world by announcing the GFX 50S.

Two years later, they dropped the news that a 102MP GFX 100 was on its way with an integrated vertical grip and detachable viewfinder.

As a result, there’s no shortage of Fuji GFX models to choose from – both those on the secondhand market and those still listed as current.

If you’re looking for a Fuji medium-format camera with higher video performance and faster readout speeds, the GFX 100 II is the flagship model.

It boasts a GFX 102MP CMOS II image sensor, the exact X Processor 5, 8-stop IBIS, and a much faster CFexpress Type B Card slot.

For videography, it confidently records 4K/60p and 8K/30p 4:2:2 10-bit in-camera recording with ISO 100.

However, the GFX 100 II is Fujifilm’s flagship camera, so it’s also the most expensive.

Alternatively, if you’re interested in medium-format but feel 102MP is overkill, the highly capable GFX 50S II is an ideal option.

It features a 51.4MP Bayer sensor, X Processor 4, and 5-axis IBIS, delivering up to 6.5 stops.

Value for Money

When photographers hear the terms “medium format systems” or “Fuji GFX,” their wallets and purses shrivel up and die.

The GFX 100S II retails for around US$4,999.

It’s a lot of money and is a considerable jump if you’re moving from the Fujifilm X Series cameras or even Canon and Sony full-frame cameras.

However, it’s considerably cheaper than the original Fujifilm GFX 1o0S, which retailed for around US$6,300.

For comparison, the flagship medium format GFX 1oo II retails for approximately US$8,400.

The GFX 100S II offers the best value for money.

It’s a worthwhile investment for anyone in the market for a state-of-the-art medium-format 100MP camera.

Fujifilm is making larger-format cameras more accessible and affordable for enthusiasts and professional photographers.

It’s also considerably cheaper than any of the GFX 102MP models.

Fujifilm GFX 100S II Review | Conclusion

I was incredibly impressed with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II.

I’ve shot with a couple of GFX cameras over the years but haven’t had the opportunity to test them thoroughly.

After spending two weeks inspecting every element of the 102MP beast, I have to say it’s an incredibly capable photography camera.

The big question is, who is the new 100S II large format Fuji camera intended for?

Given its accessible features, performance, and value for money, I’d agree with Fuji that the camera is for anyone interested in elevating their creative output.

To be honest, if I had the money, I doubt I’d buy the GFX 100S II – or any GFX for that matter.

Don’t get me wrong; I love Fujifilm cameras and a GFX would probably be the best medium-format camera for someone like me.

The image resolution and dynamic range alone are impressive! Not to forget Fuji’s GF lenses.

It isn’t for me and wouldn’t suit my work style or photographic experiences. I’m happy to stick with the equally impressive Fujifilm X Series.

However, if you’re an enthusiast or professional photographer looking for a photography workhorse, the GFX 100S II is hard to ignore.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Fujifilm GFX 100S II

Slick and stylish medium-format body that delivers exceptional image quality in any lighting conditions.