Call it imposter syndrome or just foolish anxiety, but I have always been bothered by this single question:    Am I truly a photographer if I don’t always have a camera with me?  Jay Maisel’s words have been ringing in my ears for years and years.  He always has a camera with him.  I remember an interview with Jay where his comments are dead on.

“If I carry a camera then I never have to go out shooting….. I am ALWAYS out shooting.  I am astonished that more photographers don’t.  For me it’s a way of life.” Jay Maisel

I don’t know about you, but as a photographer, I look at the world differently than non-photographers. Looking at how light scrapes surfaces.  Looking at how positive space affects negative space. Finding at textures…. or just seeing moments…. that I want to capture.   And yes, we all have our smart devices in our pockets that create amazing images for what they are.  And if I just want to throw a quick image onto social media, it fits the bill.  It works perfectly for those needs.  But how often do you look back at these images and think “this image truly warranted a better camera.”  If you are like me, this happens all the time. 

I have the world’s finest cameras available on the shelves of Capture Integration, however, there are different cameras for different uses with no single camera standing out as the single use system. When I travel somewhere iconic like Big Sur or Isle of Skye, I am taking a Phase One IQ4 150mp Digital Back. When I travel for business or vacation for relaxation, I bring a much smaller Leica M11 or the Leica Q3.  Yet, none of those are cameras that I have been happy to have in my briefcase, backpack, or the trunk of my car. Even though I have wanted the Q3 to be that camera for me, its hasn’t been.  I need a camera on my person that is high resolution, yet doesn’t get in the way. A camera that lives up to my standards of quality but is small and lightweight.    

Could this finally be my daily camera?

I was excited to see that the GFX100RF was on its way to us.  I thought “could this finally be my daily camera?” I had some hesitation, as the GFX50R did not live up to expectations.  The size and balance were honestly terrible.  While I loved the superior sensor quality, the body was not something that traveled well at all.  Secondly, I truly enjoy shooting a rangefinder camera.  I love the slower pace and “shooting with purpose” that a rangefinder gives me.  And using a camera in full manual mode brings me back to my youth.  A camera needs to fit my personality.  If the shooting experience is not that enjoyable then I just won’t want to pick it up and create images.  And that completely defeats the purpose of having a camera with you if you don’t enjoy shooting it.

Is that a Leica?

Well I opened up the box and I had a gut reaction.  Just one look at the new Fujifilm GFX100RF and you can see that Fujifilm is taking a direct swing at the Leica market.  With a quick visual the design similarities are striking. 

1. It ships in both Silver and black just like Leica M and Q
2. The top plate with its logo and manual dials screams Leica M
3. It calls itself a rangefinder like the Leica M 
4. It even ships with a metal cap, squared lenshood and rope strap like Leica M and Q

I am not sure that I have ever seen one manufacturer take aim at another in this fashion.  Yes, you can say that both manufacturers are designing their cameras with a “retro” feel and that these similarities are due to the retro design principles. But it just feels like so much more than that. So lets look at the specifications together.

Specifications

Criteria	Leica Q3	Fujifilm GFX100RF	Leica M 11-P
Price	$6295	$4899	$9195
Camera Size	93 x 80 x 130mm	76 x 90 x 133mm	40 x 80 x 147mm
Weight (no battery	26.2 oz	25.9 oz	19.9 (no lens
Fixed lens	Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH	Super EBC GF35mm f/4 ASPH	None
Aperture Range	f/1.7 - f/16	f/4 - f/22	Lens options
Sensor Type	CMOS Sensor	CMOS Sensor	BSI CMOS Sensor
Resolution	60.3 MP	101.8 MP	60.3 MP
Sensor Size	24x36mm	33x44mm	24x36mm
Pixel Count	9520 x 6336	11648 x 8736	9520 x 6336
ISO Range	50 - 100,000	100 - 12,800 (50 - 102,400 Extended)	50 - 100,000
Bit Depth	14 Bit	16 Bit	14 Bit
Raw File Format	DNG	RAF	DNG
Raw File Size (Avg)	70MB	208MB	70MB
EVF	5.76 Million Dot, 0.79x Magnification	0.5 inch OLED Color Viewfinder Approx. 5.76 million dots	True Rangefinder
Rear LCD	3", 1.84 Million Dot, Tilt Touch Screen	3.15 inch Tilt-Type Touch Screen Color LCD Monitor	2.95" Active Matrix, saphire glass
Image Stabalization	Optical Stabilization	None	None
Exposure Modes	P, A, S, M	P, A, S, M	A, M
Max Capture Rate (FPS)	15 FPS	3 FPS	3 FPS
Buffer Size	8GB		256GB
I/O Interface	USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C	USB Type-C 10Gbps	USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C
Storage Options	SD	SD	SD
Video Capability	8K Video	4K	none
Shutter Type	Leaf Shutter, Electronic	Leaf Shutter, Electronic	Focal Plane Shutter, Electronic
Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/2000th - 2 min	1/6000 to 60 min	1/4000th to 60 min
Electronic Shutter Speed	1/16000 - 1 sec	1/16000 to 60 min	1/16000 to 60 min
Flash Sync Speed	1/2000th sec	1/4000th sec	1/180th
Flash Connection	Hot Shoe	Shoe	Hot Shoe
Auto Focus	Single Servo, Continous Servo	Hybrid AF (TTL contrast AF / TTL phase detection	None
Auto Focus Face or Eye Detection	Yes	Yes	No
Auto Focus Subject Detection	Yes	Yes	No
Focus Bracketing	No	Yes	No
Color Profiling	Leica Natural, Leica Vivid	20 Fuji Film Simulations	Leica Natural, Leica Vivid
Software Support	FOTOS, Capture One, Adobe	Fuji X Acquire, Capture One, Adobe	FOTOS, Capture One, Adobe
Wifi	Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac	WPA2 and Bluetooth	WPA2 and Bluetooth
Advanced Repair Facility	USA	USA	USA
Camera Standard Warranty	2 Year	1 year	2 year
Operating Temperature	0°C to +40°C	-10°C to +40°C to	0°C to +40°C

Price, Size, and Weight

These aspects of this comparison are the easy ones. This is why I made them the top 3 of the specification chart. The price jumps out at you as significant difference. The new Fujifilm GFX100RF is $1400 less than the Leica Q3 and $4300 less than the Leica M11 without a lens. Now we can argue that the Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens is worth the extra price but that will be addressed later in this blog.

When it comes to size and weight, the 100RF stands out again. The smaller footprint of the lens allows it slide in to my briefcase and feel comfortable. The lens does not even get caught up on my jacket pocket. Whereas, the Q3 is a struggle to get in and out of any pouch or pocket that I normally use. And to my surprise I really like that the height of the GFX100RF is taller. The feel of a camera in your hands matters. The extra height allows my bottom fingers to comfortable grip the body, whereas on a shorter camera, my bottom fingers feel awkward underneath. This seems minor until you use a camera everyday…. and that comfortable feel means it’s more secure, stable, and I feel better using it.

Sensor Size and Quality

Let’s talk about the ratio of the two system sensors first. And I find this to be personal. Do you like the 2×3 format or do you like a 3×4 format? The image above illustrates how each compare to each other. Personally, if I am shooting for publishing or reproduction I prefer a 3×4 or 4×5 ratio in my sensor. That way I am using as much resolution as possible in the end image and not cropping out a significant part of my capture. However when shooting for enjoyment I find myself leaning more to the 2×3 or even more panoramic crop. So does the sensor ratio matter to you? There are no right or wrong answers.

Secondly, as you can see in the image above, the larger 33x44mm sensor with a 35mm lens yields almost the same angle of view as the 24x36mm sensor with the 28mm Lens. So the actual physical size of the sensor does not seem to be any advantage whatsoever. And again, if it does, then it is strictly your personal preference rather than something you can sink you teeth into in a specification.

However, this all changes when we speak about the actual quality of a medium format sensor over any other sensor on the market. If you have not done this test for yourself then I am requesting that you do so. I have done these kind of tests time and time again. Even when I am not conducting a test, I can look at a file and tell the capture camera by quality signatures that are left in the image. Let’s look at these qualities one by one.

Does more megapixels matter? Of course they do. Can you see it in the files? Of course you can. Please know that I am a very big fan of the Leica system. I truly enjoy shooting all of the Leica systems we have at Capture Integration. But the fact of the matter is that the Leica systems are 60mp and you absolutely will be able to see a difference in a 102mp capture with a Fujifilm GFX100 in any flavor. The image above is a 100% zoom for the GFX100RF and a 133% zoom on the Leica Q3. The image speaks for itself.

But again, if anyone has conducted the tests themselves then they will know that resolution is only a single factor of the advantages of a medium format sensor. Probably more importantly are factors such as color accuracy or dynamic range. All of the images posted can have a zoom feature that allows you to look closer than your screen crop. Use the loupe to look at the chain under the Deli sign. Both images were shot at ISO3200 and at f/5.6. Notice the clarity and how clean the medium format sensor is. Not only does it out resolve the smaller sensor, but there are other qualities that yield a higher quality image.

And finally let’s look at the dynamic range of the sensors. With both exposed and pushed equally, the above image is a 200% screenshot. Both of these systems are top of the line cameras. Both yield incredible results. But this is a comparison so please excuse me as we have to pixel peep here. My favorite aspect of a Medium format sensor is the extended dynamic range. Do not just look at a bit depth spec, as this does not tell the story. Leica is 14 bit capture and Fujfilm is 16 bit, but I find those specifications to be hard to quantify and present properly in images. And trust me, I have tried to illustrate this factor a million times. What you can see here is the Leica image results in overexposed areas without detail. Yet the tree trunk and branches do not blow out on the Fujifilm GFX100RF. There is printable data there in the GFX100RF, whereas the Leica image has less graduation of color and data in the highlights. This is a perfect illustration of the extended dynamic range with a 102mp medium format sensor. As one of my clients states, “the dynamic range makes the image look more film-like and not digital.” And I can not disagree with that opinion. The proof is in the final results.

Bokeh and the Lens

“Oh damn……. it’s an f/4 lens.” Yes, that was the initial reaction when I read the specs. I love bokeh. I love a sharp small sliver of DOF with a hard fall off to nothing. The Noctilux is on my Leica M11 75% of the time. So needless to say, I was not thrilled to see GF35mm f/4 ASPH as the fixed lens of choice. However, I can also state that I have been utterly shocked at the quality of glass that has been designed by Fujifilm engineers for the GFX series cameras. I have stated over and over again that Fuji does not charge enough for the quality of lenses that they sell. They consistently perform as well as, if not outperform, glass from its’ competitors that are double the cost. So the clear next step was to test them side by side.

Remember that the Fujifilm sensor is 30% larger than the Leica sensor. How will that physically larger sensor yield bokeh differently? The image above is a perfect example. My expectations were exceeded. I thought that the DOF and fall off would be substantially different than what we discovered. Yes, they were different but the bokeh af f/4 was very nice and not far from the smaller sensor of the Leica at f/1.7. OK, now the real test…. lets try something moving!

So I brought both systems with me for morning feeding at the farm. And I then chased one of the new kids with each camera shooting at its widest aperture. My results? I was very happy with both systems. The sharpness and the bokeh of both were very pleasing. And honestly I could not tell if one lens was faster than the next. I will say that my accuracy of focus was better with the Leica Q3. But I don’t know if I can judge anything by this with only having the GFX100RF for just 48 hours and having a pre-production body and firmware.

Leica Advantages

To be fair to both parties, there still are features of the Leica system that I love. The OS in the Leica Q, M, SL3 etc are all the same. It is very easy to move back and forth between those systems and just know how to maneuver quickly with whatever camera I am using at the time. Secondly, in my daily camera I might want to shoot macro when I see the opportunity. This advantage goes to the Summilux 28mm on the Leica Q3. Even better, it is a manual ring on the lens that is very easy and quick to engage or disengage on my needs. And finally, the simplicity of the Leica OS has always fit my personality. They layout and ease of use gives me comfort, almost as if the engineers understand me.

Fuji Advantages

There are some cool new features and at least 7 customization wheels, buttons, and toggles. There is no way I could get to them all in hours I could use the system. Each customization wheel had a 9 page menu scroll of the optioned set features. Cool and daunting at the same time. Secondly, the new aspect ratio dial and the 20 film curves could be nice for some people, they don’t work for me. I shoot raw and I develop in Capture One. (AND CAPTURE ONE HAS THE GFX100RF PROFILES AVAILABLE TODAY!) So any features meant for jpeg shooters are off the table for me. Cool but nothing I will ever use. The one feature that I will use is the built in 4 stop ND Filter. Unique and usable. I look forward to being able to use that when needed.

One thing that has bothered me being a Leica user is that the M batteries don’t fit my Q. And my Q2 batteries are not compatible with my Q3.  They change them on such a regular basis that it is hard to keep up with what is compatible. Did I grab the SCL4 or is it an SCL6? And can I even read the small type to tell???   This is where the Fujifilm GFX100RF stands out.  The battery and charger is standard in all of the 102mp GFX bodies. In fact, it is the same battery and charger in the XT series as well.  If you use any of these systems, then all of your batteries and chargers are usable with the rest of your cameras.  And I can tell you that there is nothing more frustrating than arriving to a location and finding the wrong batteries are packed!  Unfortunately, I am speaking from experience. This seems small but is it? How frustrating is it to you?

Secondly, How easy is it to move from one OS to the next on my camera systems that I own?  Are the buttons and dials in the same place? Is the menu completely different from one to the next?  And again, this is where the GFX user will be happy.  The new GFX100RF has the same layout on the back as their main camera system.  The familiar joystick, menu button, display, button, scroll wheel, and drive toggle are all exactly the same along with some great new custom dials exclusive to the 100RF.   So the user experience for both professional Fujifilm camera and the travel cameras will be almost exactly the same.  It will be very easy to move from one to the other using muscle memory and instincts.  How important is that do you?

I strongly believe that these subtle similarities shouldn’t be overlooked.  When I shoot photography for enjoyment, I want the camera to be secondary and out of my mind. I want it to create images and not be slowed or hindered by a new system.  This “feature set” should be important to the current Fujifilm user. And it is my strong opinion that the Fujifilm GFX100RF is the perfect everyday camera for every GFX user.

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