Which GFX System Camera Is Right for You?

So, you’re thinking of investing in the GFX System? Good choice – you’re about to discover a new level of photographic performance and quality. Built around a medium format sensor, GFX System cameras offer an exceptional combination of resolution, colour, tonal detail and depth, giving your photography a unique look and feel.
But which GFX System camera is right for you?
The current range takes the system in several different directions. There’s the high-performance FUJIFILM GFX100 II, the compact and versatile GFX100S II, the tactile fixed lens GFX100RF and the filmmaking GFX ETERNA 55. 
Here, we’ll break down the main differences between these cameras to help you decide which is the most suitable for you.

What makes the GFX System different?

The GFX System is built around the GFX sensor. This vast imaging surface measures 43.8×32.9mm – making it approximately 1.7x larger than a full-frame sensor.

The benefits of a larger sensor include improved dynamic range, reduced noise and higher image quality. The GFX 102MP CMOS II HS sensor that’s used for these four GFX System cameras delivers a resolution of 102 megapixels.

Interchangeable-lens GFX System cameras are compatible with G Mount lenses. This growing lineup of exceptional optics spans ultra-wide to super-telephoto focal lengths, ensuring coverage to suit all subjects and styles.

FUJIFILM GFX100 II: For maximum performance

If you want the most capable all-rounder for demanding stills and video work, start with the GFX100 II.

This camera combines its 102-megapixel sensor with the X-Processor 5 to deliver a level of speed and responsiveness that was once difficult to imagine in medium format photography. It can make images at up to 8fps using its mechanical shutter, while advanced subject detection autofocus helps keep track of everything from people to animals and vehicles.

That makes a real difference when your subject is moving. Medium format photography is often associated with considered, deliberate work – landscapes and studio photography – but the GFX100 II opens the door to sports, wildlife, weddings and more.

It’s equally accomplished when you move into filmmaking. The GFX100 II can record 4:2:2 10-bit video internally at up to 8K/30p and 4K/60p, with a range of professional recording formats and connections enabling more advanced workflows. The large imaging surface also supports various cine recording formats, including Premista, 35mm and anamorphic.

On top of all this, there’s an in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) system offering up to 8.0 stops of compensation, helping to keep handheld stills and video steady, and the body is weather sealed for use in challenging conditions.

In short, this is the GFX body for photographers and hybrid creators who want uncompromising performance that matches the image quality.

Choose the GFX100 II if: You need speed, advanced autofocus and extensive video capabilities alongside 102-megapixel resolution.

FUJIFILM GFX100S II: The all-rounder

The GFX100S II takes much of the performance of the GFX100 II and puts it in a more compact body.

You get the same GFX 102MP CMOS II HS sensor and X-Processor 5 combination, but in a smaller form factor. At around 883g including battery and card, the GFX100S II is designed to be easy to carry around and use in the field.

Between its smaller form factor, lighter weight, powerful IBIS system (which offers up to 8.0 stops of stabilisation) and weather-resistant build, the GFX100S II is ideal for users seeking GFX performance but who are preparing for long days on location.

Hybrid users are well catered for with internal 4:2:2 10-bit 4K/30p recording, and fast stills action can be captured thanks to a 7fps continuous drive mode when using the mechanical shutter.

For many photographers, this is the sweet spot in the range – serious resolution and performance in a body that’s comfortable to carry.

Choose the GFX100S II if: You want the full GFX experience in a compact, versatile body that can handle a wide range of subjects.

FUJIFILM GFX100RF: For pure photography

Next up is the GFX100RF – providing a very different take on medium format photography.

Rather than accepting interchangeable lenses, the GFX100RF pairs its 102-megapixel sensor with a fixed 35mmF4 lens and a retro-inspired rangefinder-style body. Giving a field of view equivalent to 28mm on a full-frame camera, the result is a beautifully simple combination that lends itself to street, travel, documentary and everyday photography.

At only 735g, this is the lightest camera in the GFX System range – and when you factor in the fact that this includes the weight of its fixed lens, you’re looking at a truly portable option for medium format imaging.

The GFX100RF includes several nods to cameras of the past, with tactile exposure dials and an aspect ratio dial that gives you instant access to nine formats that helped to shape photographic history – including 4:3, 7:6, 16:9 and 65:24.

This feature combines with the digital teleconverter control – providing focal lengths of 35mm, 45mm, 63mm and 80mm – to enable effortless in-camera creativity. These features alone successfully challenge any preconceived limitations that you might associate with a fixed-lens camera. 

The camera comes included with a lens hood and filter that, when attached, give the GFX100RF full weather and dust resistance, making this a surprisingly rugged option for on-the-move photographers.

Choose the GFX100RF if: Portability, simplicity and in-camera creativity appeal to the way you like to work.

FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55: A tool for filmmaking

If your priority is moving images rather than still photography, there’s a GFX camera designed specifically for you.

The GFX ETERNA 55 brings the medium format GFX sensor into a dedicated cinema body. Built for serious production work, this box-style body is perfect for modular rigging with a range of mounting points and professional connector ports. It supports 8K recording at up to 30fps, 4K up to 60fps and Full HD at up to 120fps. It also supports 4:3 Open Gate recording, making full use of the sensor area and giving filmmakers greater freedom when choosing their final aspect ratio.

This camera is designed to fit naturally into professional filmmaking workflows. It supports GF lenses, while an included PL-Mount Adapter means you can work with a broad range of cinema lenses from the outset, including anamorphic and our own Premista options.

The GFX ETERNA 55 also features a built-in variable ND filter, giving up to seven stops of light reduction for smooth changes in exposure. F-Log2 C provides more than 14 stops of dynamic range, and this footage can be used in conjunction with Film Simulation LUTs to give filmmakers another way of bringing our distinctive colour science into their workflow.

This addition to the GFX System takes the format in a new direction – one designed around the demands of cinematography from the outset.

Choose the GFX ETERNA 55 if: You’re a filmmaker or cinematographer who wants to explore the possibilities of a medium format sensor within a dedicated cine camera.

Learn more about the GFX System with FUJIFILM UK

Spanning a range of profiles, and with a growing selection of lenses to match, the GFX System is now a capable option for most genres of a photography and filmmaking, creating stills and movies with a truly unique look.

If you want to learn more about imaging technique and Fujifilm equipment, explore the rest of the articles in the FUJIFILM Learning Centre.

Discover more about FUJIFILM X Series and GFX System, and shop the range today.