Fujifilm has announced late February availability of the GFX 50S – a 51.4-megapixel medium format mirrorless camera, the first in its new line of GFX medium format cameras.
The new system has a 43.8×32.9mm sensor and a new large diameter G-mount, for which Fujifilm has developed six lenses under the Fujinon GF lens banner.
Fujifilm is calling the camera a ‘game changer’, saying it will revolutionise the concept of medium format cameras with its light weight and compact form (the body weighs under 1kg) compared with others in the market.
It has similar dials, buttons and grips to X series cameras but has a detachable electronic viewfinder which can be removed when using an external monitor or to reduce the system’s weight.
The sensor can be adapted to various ratios, stretching the range of classic medium and large format film cameras, from the default 4:3, to 3:2, 1:1, 4:5, 6:7 and 6:17.
It has a X-Processor Pro imaging processor which reproduces colour and tones at an ‘extremely high level’.
The new GF lens line designed specifically for Fujifilm’s new medium format range will launch in late February with a standard 63mm f2.8 R WR prime lens ($2400); a wide-angle 32-64mm f4 R LM WR standard zoom ($3500); and a mid-telephoto macro 1:0:5 120mm f4 R LM OIS WR lens (4200).
Later in the year there will be a 110mm f2 R LM WR mid-telephoto lens; an ultra-wide 23mm f4 R LM WR lens; and a wide 45mm f2.8 R WR lens.
All lenses feature an aperture ring and have a new C (command) Position on the ring to enable aperture adjustments with the Command Dial on the camera body. They are dust and weather resistant, handling temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees
Additional accessories, such as an optional adapter to fit the viewfinder in at any angle and a Vertical Battery Grip for enhanced functionality during portrait sessions, will also be available.
The GFX 50S has a body-only RRP of $10K, compared to the US price of US$6500.