I had the unique opportunity to test the Fujifilm GFX100S II, my first GFX camera. Used to the X-Series cameras, I was curious to see how this large format would adapt to my street photography style, which focuses on portability and discretion.
I’ve been living in London for several years now, but I’ve never really taken the time to photograph it. So, I decided to use my new camera as an excuse to explore the city’s most crowded neighborhoods for a street photography session.
Compact and discreet
From the first time I took it in hand, I was surprised by the compactness of the Fujifilm GFX100S II. Paired with the Fujinon GF50mmF3.5 R LM WR, it has dimensions comparable to my usual X-T5. Far from the bulky large format cameras that I had in mind until now.
The idea I had until then about using large format cameras was far from my photography practice… In these conditions, my goal is to remain discreet and versatile in order to capture candid moments, without interfering with the photographed scene.
The Fujifilm GFX100S II perfectly integrated into my street photography practice. Its lightness and maneuverability allowed me to blend in with the crowd and capture candid moments without disturbing the scene.
Reassuring similarities
I was happy to find the familiar features of Fujifilm cameras:
- the dials, allowing you to quickly change shutter speed and ISO without taking your eye off the viewfinder
- this interactive viewfinder, which also allows you to keep all the information at a glance
- the intuitive menus, that I adapt on each new camera that I use to adjust the film simulations, the format of the images produced, the focus assist, the type of manual or electronic shutter release.
In addition to that, the top screen allows you to constantly check your settings, even when the screen is off.
Performance in motion
Sneaking into the crowd, blending into the background, capturing candid moments, everything was done with ease. The discreet sound of the shutter did not betray my presence, and its lightness allowed me to hold it easily, ready to react to the London chaos.
I like to walk with the camera held in one hand, which allows me to blend in naturally with the flow of pedestrians and to be able to quickly adjust my framing according to the scene I want to photograph.
The Fujifilm GFX100S II fits perfectly in the hand and its lightness for a large format allows me not to change my habits. The transition was very natural.
The 7 frames per second Burst mode proved to be very useful for capturing moving scenes and selecting the perfect image. It is a very practical tool in street photography.
In street photography’s situations, it is also possible to miss the focus by a small margin. I found the Fujifilm GFX100S II to be very efficient at this level: the focus error rate actually seemed less important to me than usual and I do not think it is due to chance but rather to the quality of the face detection and stabilization technology.
I particularly like being able to shoot while walking and approaching the subject and then select the image with the most interesting framing.
In cases where the framing is still not to my liking, the size of the images produced by the Fujifilm GFX100S II allows me to crop the image during editing without fear of losing final image quality.
Exceptional image quality
This photo session over, I immediately wanted to edit the result of this day.
The difference in image quality with my APS-C is striking. The sharpness is simply stunning.
The dynamic range allows you to recover a lot of detail. This more permissive sensor is perfect for street photography which is practiced in conditions that you cannot control. It is therefore not always possible to adapt settings according to the situation. Being able to recover from sub-optimal settings is an additional insurance.
At nightfall, I wanted to test the limits of the camera. I compensated for the low light by pushing the ISOs beyond 10,000. I got realistic and precise images, well beyond my expectations.
I have always appreciated the 4:3 format, and the Fujifilm GFX100S II finally allows me to fully exploit it without having to crop my images, which I have done in the past. This compromise is not necessary with this camera.
I was pleasantly surprised to be able to capture details that I would not have been able to include with an APS-C sensor.
Conclusion
The Fujifilm GFX100S II is a small revolution for street photography. Its compactness, discretion, performance, and exceptional image quality make it an additional tool for demanding photographers. It has definitely earned its place in my photographic arsenal.
