The Fujifilm GFX 100S II medium format mirrorless camera promises towering detail and smooth 16-bit color, but real trips expose practical trade-offs in weight, autofocus, and file size. If you want cleaner files and smarter handling without getting tripped up by workflow slowdowns or softer video, this breakdown shows where it helps you and where it might hold you back.
Coming to you from Dylan Spitz, this detailed video shows what it’s like to live with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II medium format mirrorless camera on a real trip through Canada. Spitz focuses less on specs and more on daily use, like how it feels to carry, how the controls work, and whether the ergonomics hold up over long shooting days. He points out that despite its size, the GFX 100S II didn’t feel overly heavy when hiking in Banff, which is worth noting if you’re worried about bulk. He also highlights the three-way tilting LCD design, which he prefers over a fully articulating screen because it feels quicker and less awkward for still shooting. These kinds of details matter because they affect whether you actually want to carry and use the camera in the field.
What stands out in his footage is the image quality. Even at higher ISO values, files remained remarkably clean with noise that was almost unnoticeable. Spitz describes the 16-bit color as smooth and nuanced, which gives you room to push files in editing without breaking them apart. He emphasizes that this is the reason you buy into the system: the look and the depth you get in your images. On the flip side, he points out two drawbacks in handling: the small AF-On button, which feels undersized for such a large body, and the top screen, which he would trade for Fuji’s traditional dials. These aren’t dealbreakers, but they show how preference can shape your experience with the camera.
Key Specs
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Lens Mount: Fujifilm G
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Sensor: 43.8 x 32.9 mm medium format CMOS, 102 MP (11,648 x 8,736)
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Image Stabilization: 5-axis sensor-shift
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ISO Range: Photo 80–12,800 (extended 40–102,400) | Video 100–12,800 (extended 100–25,600)
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Continuous Shooting: Up to 7 fps
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Video Recording: Up to DCI 4K and UHD 4K, 10-bit 4:2:2 via HDMI
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Media: Dual UHS-II SD card slots (up to 2 TB)
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Viewfinder: 0.5" OLED, 5.76M dots
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Display: 3.2" 3-way tilting touchscreen LCD
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Weight: 1.8 lb / 802 g (body only)
As for video, Spitz wasn’t impressed. Even when testing across different codecs, the footage came out looking softer than expected. He suspects it has to do with the downsampling from such a large sensor, and although the color and grading flexibility were excellent, the overall look left him underwhelmed. If your work depends heavily on video, this is something to factor in, especially since other cameras in the same price bracket handle it better. Where the GFX 100S II shines is still photography: landscapes, portraits, and anything that benefits from its incredible files. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Spitz.
