Dear friends,
has anyone here in the group subscribed to this medium format package to learn about the behavior of the GFX system and GF lenses in order to make the best purchases?
The package costs $120.00 per year and during this period new content is being added. Content that can only be accessed via browser. Lloyd is a competent, demanding and serious photographer. Many years ago I subscribed to the Zeiss package.
Your opinions will be highly appreciated. Thank you.
I have not subscribed to that website. It may be good value for you; perhaps others will know. My only concern about sites like that is you get the opinion of the site owner, without other perspectives. I prefer open sites because you get diverse views.
For free you can learn an awful lot about the Fujifilm GFX system at the DPReview Medium Format forum: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1067/ It's labelled a medium format forum, but I estimate that it's 85% Fujifilm, with a bit of Hasselblad and a very small amount of Pentax 645. Jim Kasson, who posts a lot there, has done an enormous amount of work testing and evaluating the GF lenses, and posts his results for free at his blog: https://blog.kasson.com/
You could do a lot of reading, or you could let me simplify your life...
If you have a lot of money and like huge files, buy a GFX 100.
If you want to economize, buy a GFX 50R. It's regularly on sale and it's terrific; this is the one I use.
If you want to economize but don't like the "brick" design of the GFX 50R, buy a 50S.
I do not own a stable of GF lenses. I have GF 50/3.5 and had a GF 63/2.8, but mostly I use a GFX 50R with adapted lenses. However, I can relay the perspective you'll find on the sites above, including from Jim's testing. As part of my own evaluation process, I've also studied RAW samples from most of the lenses.
In a nutshell, there are no bad GF lenses. People who have the GF 100-200 describe it as weaker than the others at the long end, but that's in comparison to some real superstars, like the 110mm.
The 32-64 zoom and the 45-100 zoom are both excellent.
Among primes, the 23mm is universally considered superb. The 50mm is inexpensive (when it's on sale) and excellent. The 45mm is excellent. Lots of people like the 63mm lens, but it has some mechanical quirks (including being slower to autofocus). I've already mentioned the 110mm. The 120mm macro is a winner.
Honestly, you can't go wrong -- assuming you're OK with the cost, the weight and the bulk of medium format.
Rob said it well. I started with 110mm f2 for the GFX50s as at that time there was no R and i don't like that style anyways. Now have 23mm, 32-64mm, 45mm and the 120mm f4. Just wish there was a GF TS-E lens. And hopefully Fuji would make a faster prime. Only 110mm is f2.
+1 for Rob's post. Even the "weak 63mm with quirks can render very nicely. If you have the Fuji XF 35/1.4, its a very refined version of that. If you do get a GFX, stick a Mamiya 80/1.9 to see if the upcoming GF80 will rock your boat as it will be a great companion to any kit (hoping that it will surpass the 110 which is the best 85mm equivalent I have used!).
Dear friends,
thank you for your useful contributions. I forgot to mention that I have had the GFX50R for two weeks now and so far I have only used Canon and Zeiss adapted lens with its limitations. I will sell most of them. My search for reliable information is directed to GF lenses and MCEX macro extension tubes.
I am considering 45mm or 50mm for general use and 110mm with macro tubes or 120mm macro.
Zooms would be more versatile, but I'm so used to primes...
Like I mentioned that I started with 110mm as portraits are my main subjects to shoot. I did pick the 45G tube. Not good IMHO as focus range is very limited. Not just not being able to focus at infinity which I don't care but I should have a nice range to focus closer but I found it very limiting. Maybe 18G tube is better. I then got the 120mm f4 and I wish it was 1:1. Yes now I can put that 45G tube on it and get 1:1 but I am thinking I will sell it and pick Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro for my Sony FF.
It seems that there is therefore good free information about this system and with the advantage of being open opinions. $120.00 is still something, for me. I had to choose to buy my GFX used and I need to sell my entire system to switch to this one.
In order to make the best purchases, you can also find another opinion on the various FujiFilm GF Series of Lenses...
In the following, online pdf Book (Please see pp. 153-156).
*A donation is warmly suggested, but it is free!*
-- Fujifilm Camera Helpful Tricks & Tips -- 230 Pages, 3rd edition.
Author: Ken Wheeler.
I am no expert, but when someone writes stuff like this, I don't know what to say.
"This is why WYSIWYG mirrorless photography leads to enormous amounts of under saturated FLAT damn images with gritty
shadows and lack of tonal range in the rendering, especially the low gain (bad SNR) intertonal details."
Uses WYSIWYG on my Sony mirrorless (GFX was in the bag as a backup, wanted to play more with my Sigma 105mm f1.4). Barely any processing. Exposure chosen in the camera.
Luis Cunha wrote:
Can you please elaborate a little more about your opinion? It is important to have different perspectives.
Thank you.
It's just more information than I need. I'm sure some people need the level of detail that the author goes into when describing the systems/processes he writes about, but I don't. It's very technical and not worth my time. Of course YMMV.
Note: It's a great source if you need that much information. I just do not.
