highdesertmesa Online Upload & Sell: On
|
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 5DsR & GFX: A Completely Unfair and Biased Comparison | |
OntheRez wrote:
...What's the thing feel like in the hand? Does it move well? Controls, menus, ease in setting up/changing shots?
I guess I'm asking just how much fun is it to shoot? Image comparison is, as we know, a fool's errant - that's why we're all here. Sort of like saying Steak Tartar and a cheese burger are basically the same thing. Well yes, they both started out as cow. Presentation differs some.
It handles really well, but if you like sleek, the Canon is more that. The GFX is a bit like an old boxy Mercedes G-Wagon, and it fits well, and in a different, almost utilitarian way. If find it comfortable to hand hold for long periods of time. I love it because it reminds me of the old Pentax 645 film camera. It's simpler to operate to me with the manual dials. I love looking down and seeing everything manually (ISO dial, shutter speed dial, aperture ring) or digitally on the top screen. The GF lens aperture rings are highly satisfying to move mechanically. They feel like something Leica would engineer. Then when you look combine this odd-looking camera with some really nice tech features. Some thoughts since you asked:
The digital depth of field scale in the viewfinder. At first I was irritated they didn't have focus distance markings on the lens, but after using the digital version, I find it much more useful. And unlike lens markings, I can set it to be digitally-based (only what's in sharp focus is shown) or film based (a more lenient, film-based interpretation of sharp). Looking at the DOF scale is cool – it's a white bar with distance markings along the bottom of the screen; then, across that is overlaid a blue bar representing what's in focus. I can change the aperture and watch the size of the blue bar increase (stopping down toward f/32) or decrease in size (opening up); then, you can move the focus ring in manual focus mode and watch this blue bar move back and forth / or autofocus and see to where it jumps.
Focus points all over the screen. The focus point selector joystick is super-slick and well done. Without having to push a button to activate it, I simply move the joystick (Canon requires a button press plus moving the joystick, but you can change it to operate the same way). I can comfortably can put the focus point anywhere on screen quickly and with finesse and control. The touch to focus on the rear screen is nice, too – works really well.
The EVF is pretty good for landscape and general use. I would prefer an optical viewfinder overlaid with the digital data from the EVF.
Shutter sound is interesting. It sounds like film is auto-winding with each shot. Weird, but also kinda cool.
Jury is out on endurance. I know my Canon will take a beating. The GFX and GF lenses are weatherproofed and well sealed, but time will tell how these do with taking the hard hits. I take care of my stuff and don't throw it around, though, so I may never know.
Flip-out rear screen is awesome. It tilts all directions.
Some people say the image review button is in an awkward spot on top of the rear screen facing upward, but I've gotten used to hitting it with the bottom of my thumb without looking down or having to think twice about it.
It's nearly a dust-free sensor. Fujifilm put the sensor cover glass 9mm away from the sensor so that any dust that falls on the glass is defocused and can't show as easily. Between that and the auto cleaning system, I've yet to see a single spot on it. With my Canon, I feel like I need to be in a clean room wearing a hazmat suit when I change lenses. I hate hate hate sensor dust, and so far the GFX has been great in that regard.
If you use the GF 63 or 45 lenses, the entire rig is about like the 5DsR with a 50 1.4 lens on it. Sometimes all I take out is the body and 63 lens (don't have the 45) and use it like an old Fujifilm fixed-lens medium format camera. It's basically a medium format Leica Q configured this way.
Some of the lenses make weird space sounds like you're on Star Trek or something. The 110 and 120 have elements operated by electromagnets, and the sound of them active is really odd but strangely addictive (as long as the camera is on, so are they). Sounds like I'm at the Very Large Array listening for aliens.
The batteries kick ass on these things. I have two batteries and can't imagine ever needing more than that for a day's shooting. I have yet to burn through one battery in a day, but I know others have said they will end up on the second battery sometimes on a long day's shoot.
I burned though a lot of cameras to end up with the GFX. In fact, this is my second GFX system. I returned the first one thinking something else appealed to me more. I was the same way about the 5DsR. And the Leica Q. What I didn't come back to was the Leica SL (never made friends with it) or the 5D Mark IV (AA filter – don't like mushy 1:1 viewing).
|