Fujifilm GFX 50S medium format camera development confirmed

Following years of rumors and speculation, Fujifilm has finally confirmed the development of its first digital medium format camera at Photokina 2016. The camera is called GFX 50S and it is coming sometime in 2017.

A camera is only as good as the person holding it. However, there is no denying that larger sensors could help you capture higher quality photos. Some problems are that cameras with large sensors are too big and too expensive, but the Fujifilm GFX 50S will aim to fix this.

Once a medium format giant in the film era, Fujifilm is now looking to conquer the digital era of this market. The new shooter will be joined by a lot of lenses by the end of 2017 and will be sold with an affordable price tag.

Fujifilm GFX 50S aiming to reinvent medium format

First things first: Fujifilm GFX 50S will feature a medium format sensor measuring 43.8 x 32.9mm. It will have a resolution of 51.4 megapixels, which is reminiscent of its Hasselblad and Pentax competitors. Nevertheless, the company says that this is a new sensor that does not have anything to do with the competition.

Fujifilm GFX 50S features a 51.4-megapixel medium format sensor and X-Processor Pro engine.

Photographers will be able to use the camera in multiple aspect ratios. The default will be 4:3, but 3:2, 1:1, 6:7, and 6:17 ratios will also sit at users’ disposal. In order to make sure that the camera will handle the 51.4MP resolution, Fuji will add an X-Processor Pro in the device.

The sensor of the Fujifilm GFX 50S measures 43.8 x 32.9mm.

The focus is on image quality, therefore the upcoming shooter will deliver “outstanding color and tone reproduction”. All of these will be provided in a compact body, but one that will be filled with dials and buttons for easy control over the exposure settings.

Fujifilm GFX 50S comes with a detachable electronic viewfinder.

Fujifilm GFX 50S comes with an electronic viewfinder, which is detachable. An adapter will be available, too, in order to allow users to tilt the EVF. Either way, the Japanese manufacturer is bold enough to claim that the camera will sell for “well-under $10,000”.

Six G-mount lenses to be released by the end of 2017

The biggest problem of a new system is the lens line-up. Back when they used to deny the existence of a medium format camera project, Fuji’s reps said MF would be too much trouble as they would have to create a brand new mount for such shooter.

Well, the new mount is real and is called G-mount and, at first, it will consist of three GF-series lenses, as follows: 63mm f/2.8 R WR, 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR, and GF 120mm f/4 Macro R LM OIS WR. This trio is coming alongside the camera at the beginning of 2017.

The first six Fujifilm G-mount GF-series lenses to be released on the market.

Later in the year, the company will being selling the 110mm f/2 R LM WR, 23mm f/4 R LM WR, and 45mm f/2.8 R WR lenses. You may have noticed that all six of them are weathersealed and the good thing is that the Fujifilm GFX 50S is also weathersealed.

Getting back to the lens mount, it has a flange distance of 26.7mm in order to eliminate vignetting whilst increasing edge-to-edge sharpness. More details will be released in the future, so stay tuned to Camyx for them!