Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
p.1 #1Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
I am particularly inclined to portraits, have plenty of cameras and lenses in both Z and F Nikon mount from 24 to 45 MP, don't feel the need for more res but I am curious to see MF quality on both portrait and landscape, wondering pros and cons of adding a body like the GFX 50S II where I could adapt both AF Nikon F lenses (thinking of 20mm f1.8, 58mm f1.4 to name two) and MF Contax Yashica lenses (35/1.4, 50/1.7, 85/1.4 and 100/2).
Wondering what is the AF like, if it has some kind of IA focus like eye and how slow it is compared to modern ML bodies or vs latest D-SLR incarnations like my Nikon D850 camera which is still a superb piece of gear with great AF and very eclectic.
Particularly interested in comments from those who own/owned both and comparisons with portrait and high dynamic range landscape.
Thank you
Wondering what is the AF like, if it has some kind of IA focus like eye and how slow it is compared to modern ML bodies or vs latest D-SLR incarnations like my Nikon D850 camera which is still a superb piece of gear with great AF and very eclectic.
Particularly interested in comments from those who own/owned both and comparisons with portrait and high dynamic range landscape.
Thank you
Jul 13, 2026 at 11:14 AM
p.1 #2Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
You don't buy a 50SII for any sort of eye AF, I barely use it in the 100II. I don't adapt much either, but I'm not going to sell you 2 grand lenses if you don't have the budget for it.
Jul 13, 2026 at 11:19 AM
p.1 #3Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
It's only an upgrade (in image quality, nothing else) if you get some GF lenses, because that's where the value and quality lies.
Jul 13, 2026 at 05:00 PM
p.1 #4Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
I agree with the above.
Regarding your questions, my experience with the GFX100S II and GF lenses (20-35mm, 55mm, and 500mm) has been positive. I don't do formal and studio portraits, but I regularly take portraits (including environmental portraits) of my wife when traveling, as well as selfies, on timer. I came to rely on the eye AF and even have a preference for AF-C vs AF-S for portraits with eye AF. It basically works well in my experience on static and slow moving subjects with the GF lenses.
I am not interested in adapting non-GF lenses. This can be fun, I guess, but I would like to keep my GFX kit limited to essential glass only.
The sensors of GFX50S II and GFX100S II have differences other than the megapixel count. If you can afford the GFX100S II, I would suggest to go for this body. Don't be afraid of the 102MP sensor. My experience was that when I added the GFX100S II, I thought that the large MP count was going to be more of a trouble than useful. In practice, it turned out to be very useful, at least in my use for travel photography. If you want to experience larger-than-FF sensors, then it is better to try the GFX100 bodies. This experience is not limited to the larger sensor area or the megapixel count. When comparing to my other cameras (the micro-four-thirds OM-1 II and the full-frame Sony A1), there's something about the feel of the GFX100S II body in hand that I like, and developed a liking for the Fuji menu system that may appear odd at first. This is personal, of course. I cannot make any general claims. I don't shoot fast moving subjects - only travel and art photography. The experience of using the GFX system made me feel disinterested in FF systems. I still have the Sony A1 and several good FF lenses, but I no longer use them.
Regarding your questions, my experience with the GFX100S II and GF lenses (20-35mm, 55mm, and 500mm) has been positive. I don't do formal and studio portraits, but I regularly take portraits (including environmental portraits) of my wife when traveling, as well as selfies, on timer. I came to rely on the eye AF and even have a preference for AF-C vs AF-S for portraits with eye AF. It basically works well in my experience on static and slow moving subjects with the GF lenses.
I am not interested in adapting non-GF lenses. This can be fun, I guess, but I would like to keep my GFX kit limited to essential glass only.
The sensors of GFX50S II and GFX100S II have differences other than the megapixel count. If you can afford the GFX100S II, I would suggest to go for this body. Don't be afraid of the 102MP sensor. My experience was that when I added the GFX100S II, I thought that the large MP count was going to be more of a trouble than useful. In practice, it turned out to be very useful, at least in my use for travel photography. If you want to experience larger-than-FF sensors, then it is better to try the GFX100 bodies. This experience is not limited to the larger sensor area or the megapixel count. When comparing to my other cameras (the micro-four-thirds OM-1 II and the full-frame Sony A1), there's something about the feel of the GFX100S II body in hand that I like, and developed a liking for the Fuji menu system that may appear odd at first. This is personal, of course. I cannot make any general claims. I don't shoot fast moving subjects - only travel and art photography. The experience of using the GFX system made me feel disinterested in FF systems. I still have the Sony A1 and several good FF lenses, but I no longer use them.
Jul 14, 2026 at 08:25 AM
p.1 #5Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
I always been a passionate portrait person, not posed, at least not yet, I like the semi candid style and as such I don't need the fastest AF, I been doing something with MF lenses too but it's too hard to nail focus, I am happy with my cameras (Nikon FF both D-SLR and ML) and lenses, I have some really stunning glass but the aim at trying something different is always there.
I see GFX 50S II with kit lens at prices almost affordable now and there is where the itch comes back, I don't appreciate, understand and reply the above comments while I understand you need native glass to get the best out of a system, I went through some of it along my journey and besides two all of my lenses are native, if money was no issue and I would earn through photography I'd sure land on the GFX 100S II which I know having a more evolved AF module and not just that but this is not the case, if it was I would go for it and the 110mm and I am sure I'd be plenty happy.
I am eager to see some portraits shot with the GFX system and adapted lenses, just curious
Thank you
I see GFX 50S II with kit lens at prices almost affordable now and there is where the itch comes back, I don't appreciate, understand and reply the above comments while I understand you need native glass to get the best out of a system, I went through some of it along my journey and besides two all of my lenses are native, if money was no issue and I would earn through photography I'd sure land on the GFX 100S II which I know having a more evolved AF module and not just that but this is not the case, if it was I would go for it and the 110mm and I am sure I'd be plenty happy.
I am eager to see some portraits shot with the GFX system and adapted lenses, just curious
Thank you
Jul 14, 2026 at 09:04 AM
p.1 #6Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
I followed that exact path - coming from full-frame, I bought the 50SII—initially with the GF35-70, which is perfect for landscape photography. However, for portraits, I subsequently bought the GF45 and GF50, along with a range of adapted Minolta Rokkor lenses. The Minoltas were fun to use, and the portraits shot at f/1.7 or f/2.0 looked beautiful, but manual focusing proved very stressful in certain situations. That’s why I eventually switched back to native GF glass and added the GF63, which is wonderful for portraits. However, the autofocus hunts quite noticeably with that lens on the 50SII, and the camera's face and eye detection are completely useless (even though single-point AF works very well)—which is why I ultimately upgraded to a used 100SII. That combination is truly a dream. I never would have sold the 50SII for landscape or architectural photography—and the 35-70 would have been perfectly adequate for that. But for portraits, having reliable eye AF on the 100SII is a dream; the workflow is so much more relaxed, and the hit rate is simply higher. I fully agree with the previous comments: native GF glass is just excellent. Plus, you can often find these lenses used for nearly half the price.
Jul 14, 2026 at 10:30 AM
p.1 #7Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
So far it seems I better wait to be able to make the bigger jump to the GFX 100S II for the AF performance and eventually native glass.
I got tempted by a sub 4K GFX 50S II with the kit lens
I got tempted by a sub 4K GFX 50S II with the kit lens
Jul 14, 2026 at 11:58 AM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #8Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
The files are nice but the quality of life while actually shooting the thing is not great.
The 100S II is the obvious choice for a true "upgrade", though I was bothered by it being somewhat hamstrung by SD. I want CFE slots moving forward.
The 100S II is the obvious choice for a true "upgrade", though I was bothered by it being somewhat hamstrung by SD. I want CFE slots moving forward.
Jul 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM
p.1 #9Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
I have the 100S and the 100II. I kind of don't think the AF is that different between these two camera as long as you're not shooting anything revolving around action. The 100S is pretty good if you're on a tight budget.
GiovanniAprea wrote:
So far it seems I better wait to be able to make the bigger jump to the GFX 100S II for the AF performance and eventually native glass.
I got tempted by a sub 4K GFX 50S II with the kit lens
GiovanniAprea wrote:
So far it seems I better wait to be able to make the bigger jump to the GFX 100S II for the AF performance and eventually native glass.
I got tempted by a sub 4K GFX 50S II with the kit lens
Jul 14, 2026 at 01:04 PM
p.1 #10Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
RoamingScott wrote:
The files are nice but the quality of life while actually shooting the thing is not great.
The 100S II is the obvious choice for a true "upgrade", though I was bothered by it being somewhat hamstrung by SD. I want CFE slots moving forward.
Well said
Can you take portraits with the GFX50S II and adapted glass? Yes. The images will be beautiful if you get the exposure and focus right. But you will suffer, a lot, because the camera is slow, and adapted glass will not have any profiles in processing software and comes with a whole bunch of potential issues. If you are looking to create artsy images, sure, but you can do them the same way with your existing cameras.
I photographed portraits with the GFX50S II for a couple of years with native lenses. They looked great, but I did not enjoy the process at all. I had to ask models to freeze in poses...
The GFX100S changed things for the better, and the GFX100S II is much better still. It is still far behind modern full frame cameras in many aspects, yet I photograph posed people mostly with the GFX. If models move - it is z8 time.
The files are nice but the quality of life while actually shooting the thing is not great.
The 100S II is the obvious choice for a true "upgrade", though I was bothered by it being somewhat hamstrung by SD. I want CFE slots moving forward.
Well said
Can you take portraits with the GFX50S II and adapted glass? Yes. The images will be beautiful if you get the exposure and focus right. But you will suffer, a lot, because the camera is slow, and adapted glass will not have any profiles in processing software and comes with a whole bunch of potential issues. If you are looking to create artsy images, sure, but you can do them the same way with your existing cameras.
I photographed portraits with the GFX50S II for a couple of years with native lenses. They looked great, but I did not enjoy the process at all. I had to ask models to freeze in poses...
The GFX100S changed things for the better, and the GFX100S II is much better still. It is still far behind modern full frame cameras in many aspects, yet I photograph posed people mostly with the GFX. If models move - it is z8 time.
Jul 14, 2026 at 03:47 PM
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p.1 #11Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
RoamingScott wrote:
The files are nice but the quality of life while actually shooting the thing is not great.
The 100S II is the obvious choice for a true "upgrade", though I was bothered by it being somewhat hamstrung by SD. I want CFE slots moving forward.
Well said
Can you take portraits with the GFX50S II and adapted glass? Yes. The images will be beautiful if you get the exposure and focus right. But you will suffer, a lot, because the camera is slow, and adapted glass will not have any profiles in processing software and comes with a whole bunch of potential issues. If you are looking to create artsy images, sure, but you can do them the same way with your existing cameras.
I photographed portraits with the GFX50S II for a couple of years with native lenses. They looked great, but I did not enjoy the process at all. I had to ask models to freeze in poses...
The GFX100S changed things for the better, and the GFX100S II is much better still. It is still far behind modern full frame cameras in many aspects, yet I photograph posed people mostly with the GFX. If models move - it is z8 time.
The files are nice but the quality of life while actually shooting the thing is not great.
The 100S II is the obvious choice for a true "upgrade", though I was bothered by it being somewhat hamstrung by SD. I want CFE slots moving forward.
Well said
Can you take portraits with the GFX50S II and adapted glass? Yes. The images will be beautiful if you get the exposure and focus right. But you will suffer, a lot, because the camera is slow, and adapted glass will not have any profiles in processing software and comes with a whole bunch of potential issues. If you are looking to create artsy images, sure, but you can do them the same way with your existing cameras.
I photographed portraits with the GFX50S II for a couple of years with native lenses. They looked great, but I did not enjoy the process at all. I had to ask models to freeze in poses...
The GFX100S changed things for the better, and the GFX100S II is much better still. It is still far behind modern full frame cameras in many aspects, yet I photograph posed people mostly with the GFX. If models move - it is z8 time.
Jul 14, 2026 at 03:47 PM
p.1 #12Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
For fun, maybe see if you can borrow/rent one. Make some portraits of the sort you do with it. Make the same shots with your present gear. See how they stack up.
Jul 14, 2026 at 04:13 PM
p.1 #13Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
Unfortunately I live in a small place and it's not possible to rent one to test not to say I would need adapter rings to figure how my lenses work but next time I am abroad I will try and test one by taking a memory card with me to check the results.
Grazie
Grazie
Jul 15, 2026 at 12:14 AM
p.1 #14Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
Regarding you "don't feel the need for more res but I am curious to see MF quality on both portrait and landscape" - I think an important advantage of the larger sensors is exactly in that they can resolve fine detail better than smaller sensors. This is partly due to 100MP and more megapixel counts, but also because the fine detail is better resolved when an image is projected on a larger area.
Regarding "Particularly interested in comments from those who own/owned both and comparisons with portrait and high dynamic range landscape" - to take advantage of the better dynamic range of the GFX100S vs. FF sensors one has to shoot the GFX at the base ISO. From ISO 160, there is practically no advantage in DR of the GFX vs. FF. I think this is important to keep in mind.
Regarding "Particularly interested in comments from those who own/owned both and comparisons with portrait and high dynamic range landscape" - to take advantage of the better dynamic range of the GFX100S vs. FF sensors one has to shoot the GFX at the base ISO. From ISO 160, there is practically no advantage in DR of the GFX vs. FF. I think this is important to keep in mind.
Jul 15, 2026 at 02:08 AM
p.1 #15Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
GiovanniAprea wrote:
Unfortunately I live in a small place and it's not possible to rent one to test not to say I would need adapter rings to figure how my lenses work but next time I am abroad I will try and test one by taking a memory card with me to check the results.
Grazie
An alternative might be to download some GFX raw files (I’ve seen them online) and inspect, display, post-process, and print a few.
That will help you evaluate the _value_ to your photography, if any, of the objective fact that a somewhat larger high res sensor logically has the ability to resolve more subject detail — what I refer to as greater system resolution.
The question is not whether that exists or not — it does. The question is whether it is significant and meaningful in your photography, and whether this potential plus is significant enough to warrant potential downsides from using the larger system.
Others have faced the questions you are asking, and some decide to go one way while others decide to go in a different direction.
Edited on Jul 15, 2026 at 08:37 AM · View previous versions
Unfortunately I live in a small place and it's not possible to rent one to test not to say I would need adapter rings to figure how my lenses work but next time I am abroad I will try and test one by taking a memory card with me to check the results.
Grazie
An alternative might be to download some GFX raw files (I’ve seen them online) and inspect, display, post-process, and print a few.
That will help you evaluate the _value_ to your photography, if any, of the objective fact that a somewhat larger high res sensor logically has the ability to resolve more subject detail — what I refer to as greater system resolution.
The question is not whether that exists or not — it does. The question is whether it is significant and meaningful in your photography, and whether this potential plus is significant enough to warrant potential downsides from using the larger system.
Others have faced the questions you are asking, and some decide to go one way while others decide to go in a different direction.
Edited on Jul 15, 2026 at 08:37 AM · View previous versions
Jul 15, 2026 at 08:33 AM
p.1 #16Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
I’ve been contemplating the very same question recently
Decided to get into GF because of the Fuji GF 63 & 45-100
Watched lots of videos and browsed pics and those
Two lenses have the most pop for me
As I prefer to snap portraits also.
I decided to
Go with the 50 mpix sensor that is now very dated (2013) but has proven itself over and over again in these Gfx bodies and hasselblad cameras. I’m expecting the AF to
Be fast enough for me.
Watch this video that I’ll link at the end of this post by J.Marcus
that clearly shows the better overall IQ rendering of the 50mpix sensor over the 100mpix sensor. The colors are just much more saturated SOOC.
Plus, the 16bit raw files of the 100 mpix sensor
Is really only needed for very specific gradient heavy product shots etc - the 100mpix files might have needed me to get an even faster computer processor, as you can clearly see that they take over twice as long to render in computer software!
I decided on the 50r due to slimmer profile and rangefinder style EVF on the outer left side instead of in the middle of the camera body. Should be with me soon :-)))
Let’s do this!
Main reason for the switch is because the IQ of my Sony A7r3 just was not WOWing me - I had the A7r5 and same; it’s just not so WOW, but again, that’s very glass dependent
Like @Makten keeps repeating, you get GFX to use GF lenses, but browse Flickr before committing
I personally find many of their lenses lacking depth, because they need to use so much ED glass to correct for abberations. Examples of very flat lenses IMO are the 100-200, 120 macro, 500 Tele
Otherwise their 20-35 zoom has great depth perception!
Just note that a lens like the 110 at f/2 has such narrow DOF, that you’ll need to
Stop it down to e.g. f/4 to get the whole face in focus! As MF Aperature is also ~0,8x the equivalent in FF aperature terms.
" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">YT LINK WATCH THIS
Decided to get into GF because of the Fuji GF 63 & 45-100
Watched lots of videos and browsed pics and those
Two lenses have the most pop for me
As I prefer to snap portraits also.
I decided to
Go with the 50 mpix sensor that is now very dated (2013) but has proven itself over and over again in these Gfx bodies and hasselblad cameras. I’m expecting the AF to
Be fast enough for me.
Watch this video that I’ll link at the end of this post by J.Marcus
that clearly shows the better overall IQ rendering of the 50mpix sensor over the 100mpix sensor. The colors are just much more saturated SOOC.
Plus, the 16bit raw files of the 100 mpix sensor
Is really only needed for very specific gradient heavy product shots etc - the 100mpix files might have needed me to get an even faster computer processor, as you can clearly see that they take over twice as long to render in computer software!
I decided on the 50r due to slimmer profile and rangefinder style EVF on the outer left side instead of in the middle of the camera body. Should be with me soon :-)))
Let’s do this!
Main reason for the switch is because the IQ of my Sony A7r3 just was not WOWing me - I had the A7r5 and same; it’s just not so WOW, but again, that’s very glass dependent
Like @Makten keeps repeating, you get GFX to use GF lenses, but browse Flickr before committing
I personally find many of their lenses lacking depth, because they need to use so much ED glass to correct for abberations. Examples of very flat lenses IMO are the 100-200, 120 macro, 500 Tele
Otherwise their 20-35 zoom has great depth perception!
Just note that a lens like the 110 at f/2 has such narrow DOF, that you’ll need to
Stop it down to e.g. f/4 to get the whole face in focus! As MF Aperature is also ~0,8x the equivalent in FF aperature terms.
" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">YT LINK WATCH THIS
Jul 15, 2026 at 08:35 AM
p.1 #17Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
I've owned both 50 and 100s at the same time and compared the output. Occasionally, I felt the 50 files had a "smoothness" I liked. But I couldn't see differences in color rendering at all. To me, the reason to buy a 50 or 100s is to see if you like Medium format or not. Buy one on our forum and you won't lose much if any by reselling. I decided I like the format and plan to keep it around. Sure, it would be nice to have speedy, sticky AF but Im happily living with my 100s for now. I just like the look. I just spent a week hiking and climbing with my XT5 due to its compact for factor but Im anxious to get back to my Gfx. Not all preferences can be explained by spec sheets. I use both native and adapted lenses for different looks and plan to continue.
Jul 19, 2026 at 05:18 PM
p.1 #18Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
Best post ever!
Your posts on GFX have been quality throughout , kudos @SGinNorcal!
SGinNorcal wrote:
I've owned both 50 and 100s at the same time and compared the output. Occasionally, I felt the 50 files had a "smoothness" I liked. But I couldn't see differences in color rendering at all. To me, the reason to buy a 50 or 100s is to see if you like Medium format or not. Buy one on our forum and you won't lose much if any by reselling. I decided I like the format and plan to keep it around. Sure, it would be nice to have speedy, sticky AF but Im happily living with my 100s for now....Show more →
Your posts on GFX have been quality throughout , kudos @SGinNorcal!
SGinNorcal wrote:
I've owned both 50 and 100s at the same time and compared the output. Occasionally, I felt the 50 files had a "smoothness" I liked. But I couldn't see differences in color rendering at all. To me, the reason to buy a 50 or 100s is to see if you like Medium format or not. Buy one on our forum and you won't lose much if any by reselling. I decided I like the format and plan to keep it around. Sure, it would be nice to have speedy, sticky AF but Im happily living with my 100s for now....Show more →
Jul 20, 2026 at 08:08 PM
p.1 #19Fujifilm GFX 50S II - is it an upgrade coming from FF?
If you are comfortable using GF lenses and adapting some really high quality lenses (50mm Canon TS-E ii is absolutely insane), you will notice the difference. Of course, you also need to print the images.
Jul 24, 2026 at 05:15 PM