Fuji Enters Digital Medium Format Market

2016.09.19

Photokina 2016 is just about to start and they had an advance Press Release Day today full of exciting news! Given that it only happens every other year, Photokina is always a great avenue for photographic news. This is not to say that this year was unremarkable since it really picked up compared to 2015:

In pre-Photokina announcements, Canon introduced their EOS 5D Mark IV to follow their most successful line of DSLRs with a new 30 megapixels Dual-Pixel Full-Frame CMOS sensor. They quickly followed with their first serious mirrorless, the EOS M5 which features a built-in EVF in a freezeproof body.

Today, Fuji revealed their development of a completely new Medium Format Mirrorless system, the second after Hasselblad's, built around a new G-mount with short 26.7mm flange-distance. They announced the first camera in the line to be the 50 megapixels GFX-50s which is to be shipped along with three medium-format lenses that will be followed quickly by another three. All are expected to ship in early 2017.

The platform of the GFX-50s is a 44x33mm sensor with 4:3 aspect-ratio, representing a 0.8X reverse-crop compared to full-frame. The first 50 MP sensor will be paired with a X-Processor Pro processor to deliver outstanding color, tone and resolution from the anti-alias-filter-free sensor. This initial Medium Format Mirroless model supports an attachable EVF with optional tilting adapter for greater flexibility. The GFX-50s will be fully weatherproof and freezeproof down to -10C.

Six GF-lenses are part of this launch:

All these new Fujinon lenses will feature an aperture ring, with a new C position on the ring to enable aperture adjustments with a camera control-dial. Each lens will be dust and weather resistant, built to withstand operation at temperatures as low as -10°C to handle challenging weather conditions.

Pricing and exact availability are to be announced at a later date.

• Digital Camera
• Photokina