Fujifilm GFX100 II Medium Format Black Review

The GFX100 II is a monster of a camera, but it's not for everyone. The one thing you need to know is that this is a specialized tool for photographers and filmmakers who need ultimate image quality above all else. It's got a massive 102MP medium format sensor that sits in the 100th percentile, and its video features are shockingly good for a camera in this class. But you're paying a premium for that sensor, and you're making compromises everywhere else to get it.

What surprised me is how capable this is for video. A 102MP stills camera hitting 97th percentile for video performance feels like a cheat code. The 8K/30p, ProRes RAW, and direct-to-SSD recording make it a legitimate cinema camera alternative. The autofocus, sitting at a mediocre 45th percentile, is the obvious weak link. It's fine for controlled shoots, but don't expect it to track a running subject like a Sony.

At $8500, the value proposition is razor sharp. If you're a commercial photographer, landscape artist, or high-end videographer who bills clients for ultimate quality, it's worth every penny. For anyone else, it's a wildly expensive and cumbersome overkill. You're not paying for an all-rounder; you're paying for a specific, top-tier output.

For stills, the closest rival is the Sony A7R IV. You give up the medium format magic and some video chops, but you gain vastly better autofocus, a lighter body, and save about $5000. For a hybrid shooter, the Fujifilm X-S20 is the polar opposite: tiny, affordable, and incredibly capable for both photos and video, but with a much smaller sensor. The GFX100 II asks you to choose: do you want the best possible image, or the best possible camera? The Sony and the X-S20 are better cameras. The GFX is the better image.

Buy the GFX100 II if your livelihood depends on having the absolute highest resolution and most cinematic video from a mirrorless camera, and you're okay with its slow autofocus and lack of sealing. For everyone else, a high-resolution full-frame camera like a Sony A7R V or even Fuji's own GFX100S will give you 95% of the quality for a lot less money and hassle. This is a brilliant, flawed specialist.