GFX100RF: Fujifilm announces its Leica killer box

Fujifilm continues to cultivate its difference and announces a GFX100RF, the first digital camera with medium format sensor and fixed focal length. A case that mixes the concept of X100VI with the giant sensor of its hybrid boxes GFX100 II And GFX100S II. A device of the GFX100 line therefore, but with a telemetric housing look. Says Range Finder in English, hence the suffix rf.

This extraordinary case allows Fujifilm to go to the rider alone on this segment. Well almost. There is already a device of the same template and the same weight which incorporates an optics with the same angular coverage: the Leica Q3. A case that Fujifilm undoubtedly wants to bite, with its huge 100 MP sensor.

35 mm which is a 28 mm

Do not let yourself have 35 mm mentioned. The 35mm f/4 optics is placed in front of an average format sensor, which therefore corresponds to a 28 mm in 24 x 36 mm equivalent. It is therefore wider so that the 35 mm equivalent of 23 mm f/2 of the X100 line line with APS-C sensor.

Fujifilm has known its optical formula. Consisting of 10 lenses combined in eight groups, this block is a little compactness, made possible by the use of a central shutter. Capable of performing the minimum focus at 20 cm, the optics incorporates an ND4 filter for shoots at full opening to the flash or in a very high light – or for very long breaks.

Like the Leica Q, the GFX100RF takes advantage of its sensor very rich in pixels to offer cropping. A switch which will allow you to frame in 36 mm, 63 mm and 80 mm (in 35 mm equivalent). But beware, this will not change the compression of perspectives.

Precise and spacious viewfinder

Using the concept of X100Vi with an irremovable fixed focal length, the GFX100RF has both an electronic viewfinder and an adjustable touch screen. The viewfinder does not have optical rocking like the X100VI. But while the electronic viewfinder of the X100V offers only a definition of 2.76 MP and a low eye clearance, that of the GFX100RF takes advantage of its largest size to recover the component which already equips the GFX100S II. Namely a 5.76 Mpx slab with a magnificent x0.84.

The Multipoint Tactile LCD screen offers a very comfortable definition of 2.1 million points, barely lower than that of GFX100S II (2.36 million points). But his ratio changes. While that of his hybrid brother is at the 4/3 ratio (like the sensor), that of this GFX100RF is at the 3/2 ratio.

If the X100VI is a premium device, it is nonetheless accessible and compact, and therefore uses plastic. With an invoice three times higher and an enlarged template due to a large sensor, Fujifilm left more margin for this case. And had fun.

Hood, lens ring, wheel, sole and other elements are made of machined aluminum, and not magnesium alloy or other plastic material. The goal is clearly announced in the Fujifilm press release “offer a metal touch to make it a premium model”.

Note in passing that these knobs are very present not only in terms of aesthetics, but also ergonomics. In addition to speed wheel, that of the sub -eraxposition, etc. We benefit for the first time at Fujifilm from a ring managing the shooting ratio. If RAW images are obviously recorded in the 4/3 native 4/3 ratio of the 102 MP sensor, the great definition of the latter allows photographers to choose, without too much loss, the ratio of their JPEG shooting (which appears by default in RAW development software as Adobe Lightroom). With nine framing positions (4/3, 3/2, 16/9, 65/24, 17/6, 5/4, 5/4, 7/6, 1/1 and 3/4), the least we can say is that Fujifilm did not go with the back of the spoon.

Unstabilized sensor: faux pas, or not?

When reading the technical sheet, nothing is missing from this luxury case. Nothing ? If, an element that has become more and more important in most boxes: a sensor stabilization mechanism.

At first glance, this absence is doubly surprising. On the one hand, Fujifilm has managed to develop an ultra-compact mechanism for its X100VI, smaller than this GFX100RF. On the other hand, the modest opening of the optics – f/4.0 – partly limits the amount of light collected by this wide angle perspective (recall: it is a 28 mm equivalent).

We will obviously ask the questions to Fujifilm engineers to justify this choice. We already see several tracks. The first is their sacrosanct search for compactness and weight reduction. For having exchanged with the designers of the X100VI last year, the mechanism of stabilization of this sixth iteration took more than a year of development. With a much higher rate, this GFX100RF may not justify such an effort for (probably) much less volume?

However, it should be taken into account that the wider the angular coverage (it is an optics is much angle), the less the sensor/optical torque is sensitive to parasitic movements. Nevertheless, it is looking forward to how the 100 Mpx sensor responds. With at risk, more potential waste, or a rapid ISO climb to compensate for the risk of vagueness. The test will decide if the engineers were right. Or not.

High -end accessories provided

Small detail that may not be: the GFX100RF does not happen empty-handed. If there should not be a charger delivered due to European laws, the box will contain a little more than the device and its battery.

Fujifilm indeed announces several interesting accessories. The first is a rope shoulder that is reminiscent of certain models that we see flourishing in the world of the very high -end Leica or Hasselblad.

But it is also and above all delivered with three important tools: an adaptation ring, a sun visor and a filter. The first element is used in particular to set up filters, or any optical converters. No need to tell you what the sun visor is for, which takes advantage of the ring to be installed. As for the filter, coupled with the sun visor, it adds protection against bad weather and dust.

All these elements are obviously granted with the case, understand the same color and the same material as the case.

A Leica Q3 killer?

When the Leica displays 60 Mpx, the Fujifilm offers 100 Mpx. The Q3 incorporates an optics, certainly of quality, but 10 years of age while the GFX100RF benefits from a brand new optical formula. But there is more important. While its sensor is 60 % larger, the GFX100RF weighs 8 grams … less than the Leica!

And let's not talk about the price, which is again to the advantage of Fujifilm, since it appears € 750 cheaper than the Leica Q3 (and € 1,250 cheaper than the Q3 43). The question being whether the upgrade of Fujifilm will take as well as the brand anticipates it.

Difficult to decide on this potential success. But one thing is certain: the audacity and the singularity of Fujifilm's photo strategy has been working very well for more than a decade.

Unknowns: the finish and weight of the name

The Leica Q3 does not cost € 6,250 (€ 6,750 in a 43 mm version) for nothing.

Its optics are good, its sensor and its processor are efficient and the shots are beautiful. Its finish is excellent and its minimalist design throws it. But he also bears the name Leica. A name that mixes history and prestige on the one hand, technicality and manufacturing quality on the other hand. For the name, Fujifilm begins to really gain power, since the Japanese group has not only become the world leader in large -format sensor boxes. But the brand also sells and above all compact palettes Experts X100Vi at € 1,800 each. Without equaling German, the Japanese is clearly in a certain rise.

It therefore remains to assess the manufacturing quality. If it is also in full ascent, it must be measured that Leica and in particular its place the bar very high in terms of materials.

The marketing of the Fujifilm GFX100RF will take place on April seven. It will be available in silver or black version at € 5,499.