Fujifilm GFX 50s

Fujifilm’s GFX50S is the first camera in its new medium-format system, promising image quality surpassing what's on offer from smaller sensors

- Daniel Lezano

FUJIFILM’S X-SERIES of APS-C mirrorless cameras have proven incredibly popular, thanks to their combination of small size, high specification and excellent image quality.

The GFX 50S is a totally different type of camera and the first in Fujifilm's G-system. At its heart is a medium-format sensor that's 1.7x bigger than full-frame yet smaller than other medium-format digital sensors. Photographers as old as me will know that Fujifilm has a heritage in medium-format cameras, with models like the GA645, GX680 and GX617 offering a diverse range of options for enthusiasts and professionals. So while the GFX system is new, the brand is well versed in medium-format cameras and optics that are capable of meeting the needs of the discerning professional photographer.

The GFX 50S is the first model in the range, and having used it for a couple of weeks I'm very impressed with it. While the bigger sensor requires the camera body to be larger to accommodate it, the GFX 50S is similar in size to pro-spec DSLRs from the likes of Canon and Nikon. However, the outfit does become bulkier with a lens fitted, as optics need to be larger due to the larger sensor. That said, it's still a relatively compact and lightweight offering bearing in mind the format size – I took the body and two lenses on a short overseas trip and didn't find it much different to carrying around a pro DSLR and set of lenses.