Any S to Fuji GFX100s Comparisons?

[John Smith]

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On 3/19/2021 at 12:02 PM, tom0511 said:

I find the SL lenses are maybe crisper/more pop, I however finde the S lenses render more gentle. Also the bigger S sensor has - in my unscientific finding - 1) better midtones (the SL2 images come out more contrasty) 2) a mire gentle transition from sharp focus distance to background. Also much less vignetting wide open.

One might prefer the S lenses' rendering more than, say, the SL lenses' or M lenses'. But I was responding directly to this comment: "I know S lenses have the ability to grab your attention from across a large room, and keep it all the way to nose-on-print distance." 

[BernardC]

3 hours ago, John Smith said:

One might prefer the S lenses' rendering more than, say, the SL lenses' or M lenses'. But I was responding directly to this comment: "I know S lenses have the ability to grab your attention from across a large room, and keep it all the way to nose-on-print distance." 

That's a personal observation, based on my own prints. I've made and seen a lot of prints over the years, the S lenses are special. Others are free to have different impressions, of course.

[tom0511]

I love the S lenses and the handling of the S and the OVF but I am in a (love) hate relationship with the S, because AF accurancy, specially at longer distances is sometimes frustrating and I feel I allways need some luck to get a shot 100% in focus at medium distances.

 

Edited March 27, 2021 by tom0511

[plasticman]

Just a quick update, even though it feels that the Hasselblad has been left behind in some of the recent conversations, I noticed that a couple of people were mentioning what they perceived as drawbacks (including "smelly rubber"?) of the X1D, so I thought another viewpoint might be useful to some people, now the used prices of both cameras and lenses is becoming more reasonable.

On image quality, as I've said before, I don't have any of the really high-end digital cameras to compare with, just the M8, M9, the Fuji X100, and the Leica T (of which I now only have the T), and the image quality is obviously beyond comparison better - in terms of detail, amazing dynamic range, color and pretty much every other comparative measure.

Especially dynamic range allows for more lifting of shadows and highlight control without affecting the natural look of the image - it doesn't in any way begin to look like the compressed HDR image that can happen with other digital files I've worked with.

Most of all though, when using the Phocus application, the colors are just simply so amazingly lifelike - especially (european) skintones. I've done several side-by-side comparisons with LightRoom Classic, and tried to emulate the Phocus look, but LR doesn't achieve the nuances and color detail that Phocus extracts from the files.

The battery life has been talked about, but when using lenses manually (like the 45P or 3rd-party manual lenses) the battery lasts me a couple days.

There was a lot of talk about the 'jello' effect when using an adapter and M-mount (or other) lenses - but after a week I haven't seen the slightest trace of it - photographing people or objects. Admittedly I haven't tried photographing the kids running around yet - but I was rarely successful doing that with other cameras either. Certainly for people standing or sitting relatively still (I'm never asking people to pose while I shoot), then I've had zero problems or worries whatsoever. I just point the camera as usual, click the zoom button with my thumb to fine-tune focus, then half-press the shutter to check composition and shoot. Natural and completely problem-free.

I was also newly impressed all over again with the simplicity of the camera interface. While I was waiting for the adapter to arrive, I suddenly had worries about how I needed to setup the camera to shoot with these non-native manual lenses. I looked through the manual, and it didn't specify any special setup other than one checkbox for the Electronic Shutter - so I thought I was gonna need to ask how to set it up in this thread. But when the adapter arrived, and I fitted the new lens, I really did just need to click one checkbox and the camera was ready to shoot. Just so simple and beautiful to use - definitely the closest to shooting with a film camera of any digital camera I've ever used.

I'm sure the new Fujis are exciting and probably 'better' for some people. But for me, the usability, simplicity, and especially compact package of the X1D make it a truly perfect digital camera. 

[Stuart Richardson]

While I think the X1D is a great camera, and I am sure it is much better than the cameras you mention, but they are not really comparable. I love the image quality of the M8 and M9, but they are 13 to 15 years old and from a different tech, so just have a totally different look. The closer comparison to the X1D really is one of the most recent CMOS cameras, which have come out in the last three years or so. The sensors in the SL2, Panasonic S1 and S1R, newer Sony/Canon/Nikon cameras, the Leica S3 and X100 are of a quite different stripe than those even a few years old. The DR and color have come a long way, as has the sharpness impression at the pixel level (which used to be quite bad on CMOS...at least to my eyes. It is better now). I think the reason that the X1D gets left behind is for the same reason that the S3 is often left out of conversations: they are both niche products with some major flaws that do not attract a broad audience. They both have really good strengths, and in some ways are two sides of the same coin. The S3 would have more appeal if it were priced at an attainable level, but it simply costs far too much to get into the system for what the camera offers compared to the competition. The X1D has a great design and ergonomics with very nice results, but it is very slow and held back by its speed and lack of lens choice in comparison to the other systems, as well as being more expensive and lower resolution. But if you want a compact and nice to shoot camera with great image quality and color and don't need speed or a snappy feel, then the X1D is a good choice. In the same way, the S3 is a great choice if you have a bunch of S lenses and want a camera with an optical viewfinder, and you are willing to paying double or triple what it would cost from any other company. 

[setuporg]

12 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

The X1D has a great design and ergonomics with very nice results, but it is very slow and held back by its speed and lack of lens choice in comparison to the other systems

Unless you consider the 907x, which has a huge selection of the HB V lenses and is as fast as you can manually focus a 500 camera!:)

[bags27]

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I bought a used GFX 50 R primarily. for scanning MF negatives, but yielded to temptation and just bought a used Fuji lens (the 50mm) so that I could have a weather-resistant autofocusing kit in addition to my M10, if I did want to shoot digital.

I'm no expert (period!) on digital, and I can't tell you that I love the digital photos. I think I prefer the photos I took with the M50 Lux ASPH attached to it, though in RAW the M50 does produce some minor vignetting.

However, having originally left Fuji for Leica because Fuji's UI was very frustrating and fearing the same this time around, I can say now that learning Fuji is like learning a foreign language. There are indeed frustrations and mental blocks. But if you push against them, in a rush suddenly there is comprehension.

No, the UI will never be Leica-like, much less Hassy-like. But it's more than manageable. And the value is amazing. Also, it feels great to carry: much prefer its heft to the SL2.

Edited March 30, 2021 by bags27

[setuporg]

Given the SL forum thread about GFX100S vs the rest is tilting the Fuji way, I don't know what it all portends for the EVF cameras... 
A consolation is that the SL2 EVF is reported to best even the A1 one.  Meanwhile if one wants to optimize for slowest change cycles, the M and the S systems are fairly safe -- one moving slowly, the other frozen in time like a brilliant butterfly in amber.:)

[setuporg]

Since I started seeing @Vieri here again, with great pleasure, I wonder whether S is back on the table, but most curious about whether GFX100S will now replace X1D as X1D replaced the S for you, Vieri!:)

[justru49]

vor 13 Stunden schrieb setuporg:

Since I started seeing @Vieri here again, with great pleasure, I wonder whether S is back on the table, but most curious about whether GFX100S will now replace X1D as X1D replaced the S for you, Vieri!:)

Vieri is Phase One Ambassador since Dec 2020 and I don't think he will quit there to go back to "small medium format"

[John McMaster]

14 hours ago, setuporg said:

Since I started seeing @Vieri here again, with great pleasure, I wonder whether S is back on the table, but most curious about whether GFX100S will now replace X1D as X1D replaced the S for you, Vieri!:)

Why?  He has an IQ4150 on an XT these days...

john

[setuporg]

Ah!  Time flies!:)

[Jeff S]

15 minutes ago, setuporg said:

Ah!  Time flies!:)

https://www.vieribottazzini.com/2021/02/simply-revolutionary-phase-one-xt-review.html
 

Jeff

[xiaubauu2009]

On 4/7/2021 at 6:58 PM, John McMaster said:

Why?  He has an IQ4150 on an XT these days...

john

XT, well build piece of kit. My P1 dealer trying to push one for me, but I am too deep into the Alpa pit. Pity the shift is only at 12mm. wonder they will come out with an new body or not?

[Vieri]

On 4/6/2021 at 10:23 PM, setuporg said:

Since I started seeing @Vieri here again, with great pleasure, I wonder whether S is back on the table, but most curious about whether GFX100S will now replace X1D as X1D replaced the S for you, Vieri!:)

Hello there! Yes, as others have said I am happily using Phase One now, and even if I weren't I am afraid the S3 wouldn't be an option for me (long exposures for one thing). I am still using an M10-R though!

Coming to your question, if I were still using the X1D the Fuji GFX 100S would look extremely interesting; while I would never have considered the GFX 100, too big & heavy and full with features that I don't really need for landscape, the 100S finally has a size / weight / bulk ratio that would make sense for landscape work were hiking is involved, IMHO. However, I am very happy with the XT, 12mm shift are enough for me (YMMV if you do architectural work all the time), no tilt is not a deal breaker for at all (I managed pretty well without tilt so far), and the IQ of the IQ4 with these Rodenstock lenses is just on another level

Best regards,

Vieri

[setuporg]

I've only read about Phase One, but looks like they are big, single point AF, and very slow to start, so have many of the features of the S and X1D.:). I guess that's not important for landscapes.  It'll be interesting to see what the GFX100S does to that market!

What are you using TS for?  Leica S has a great TS too...

[Vieri]

14 hours ago, setuporg said:

I've only read about Phase One, but looks like they are big, single point AF, and very slow to start, so have many of the features of the S and X1D.:). I guess that's not important for landscapes.  It'll be interesting to see what the GFX100S does to that market!

What are you using TS for?  Leica S has a great TS too...

Actually, the Phase One XT is a tech camera, so manual focussing lenses only  Best regards,

Vieri

[Einst_Stein]

On 3/15/2021 at 2:52 AM, xiaubauu2009 said:

it's rumor no? and the GFX100 has been out for close to 2 years, and we hear nothing from the X1D series yet. Personally, I would rather have a smaller body MF, maybe the GFX100s is the answer, but who knows...

100MP Hasselblad? It will threaten national security to US, UK, Canada, Australia,  and many many countries.

[Einst_Stein]

I have a Contax 645 system wi5 Hasselblad digital back. I have almost every lens except 55mm and 1.4x ( or is it 2x?). Leica S 007 wasn’t attractive because Its sensor size is small to be my interest. Until recently I want a second digital body for it, 

Accept Contax 645 lens is the must requirement. 

The Hasselblad digital back was twice back to Hasselblad to repair the corrosion glass cover. The internal battery that keeps the setting and clock is dead and not repairable. And I want faster CMOS sensor. S is a perfect choice because it has S to C adapter. I borrowed one to get the feeling. It will be a nice match for my need. I can’t say it is the second body because it might be the first, instead. I have not found a right price second hand yet. And then found Fujifilm GFX another option. 

No need to talk about the pros and cons, but I am interested in the tonal comparison in B&W. 

Can someone share this if you happen to have B&W sample pictures from S 007 and GFX? Even if they are unrelated scenes.
 

 

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[Jeff S]

On 12/26/2022 at 12:14 PM, Einst_Stein said:

100MP Hasselblad? It will threaten national security to US, UK, Canada, Australia,  and many many countries.

I guess you know that the 100 MP X2D was launched in September (with three lenses).  Various discussions here and elsewhere.

Jeff