Fujifilm's 50MP Medium Format vs 40MP APS-C Camera

[@danielscheerer3032]

Applicable to me as I have both. Love the X-T5, but I don't use it for landscape (mostly because that is what the GFX is made for). The files from the GFX are amazing and much more flexible and "smoother" than the APS-C. But I didn't realize how great the GFX is until I finally moved to CaptureOne. WAY better at resolving the files and bringing out the detail than LR. So my only advice for those looking at the GFX is to commit to Cap1 from LR. Took me too long to figure that out, now I can't go back to LR. (I actually thought I had some lens issues cropping in on files on LR and returned one! Then I found out Cap1 fixed the "smudgy" look from LR. Sheesh.) Oh, and 50S2 is much lower noise than the 100S for dark/night situations because of the larger pixels, which I do a lot of. Thanks!

[@bigheadtaco]

Yes I’m planning on testing Capture One with the GFX as well as the X-T5. And yes the GFX has a smoother look compared to the X-T5, even though the resolution is similar. I still think there’s life left in the 50MP medium format sensor, it jus needs a few updates

[@bobby350z]

50s doesn't have less noise than 100s. I have both. I do like what that 50MP sensor can do.

[@tombube49]

I have both (XT5 and GFX50S ) and while the image quality of the xt5 is good enough for everything, and the system is lighter and cheaper. I like the GFX more and shoot different (not so lazy) with it. Also the 4:3 ratio is perfekt for portraits

[@Itscarlosocando]

I love 4 x 3 Aspect ration that's why I shot with a GFX 50s II and Micro fourthirds cameras

[@jakaufma1933]

I have changed gear many times and never afraid of shifting system. I remember my X-t1/T2 was so enjoyable many years ago. Today I am all in Canon but decided to sell all Canon R5,R6 many RF lenses etc. and go with X-t5, X-H2s for events etc. and GFX 100s for Studio sessions etc.. I may be wrong but I need to test it. The GFX lenses are not more expensive and the Bokeh (110mm) is on par or better than 85MM RF DS on Canon L - I may regret it but: No Risk No Fun - any feedback?

[@nevvanclarke9225]

I now own both cameras and I've done my own comparisons . The 50s ii is a fantastic camera as the xt5 is. The xt5 is very close to full frame capabilities but the gfx is so good in recovery of shadows and dynamic range. But oddly I will keep both cameras and they have their places. I use the xt5 for action and sports. And the gfx is my main landscape camera

[@rogerb5615]

A comparison of the GFX50S II to a fullframe digital camera such as Nikon's Z7 & Z8, or even the humble Pentax K1, might be more appropriate.

[@just_A_Hack]

Thanks Take! Love your videos. Think I am going x-t5 for certain. The size and cost is a big deciding factor. Maybe one day I will have myself a medium format, but that day is not today lol. Hope you are well my friend.

[@bigheadtaco]

Hey Alex, thanks for your thoughts. Yes, I too went X-T5 for the sake of size and weight and price. One day I’ll move up to digital medium format. For now, I’ll stick with my film medium format cameras :-)

[@wilson_law]

I think im done with camera comparisons. Basically its like taking a bigger bag comparing with a smaller bag. Its like saying a bigger bag can carry 3.8x than a smaller bag, but if you cut the bigger bag down to a smaller bag in terms of shape, you get 3.3x the space. Personally, i would say, just use whatever you really need. If you have a car, feel free to bring the bigger bag, if you're can only aford taking the bus around town, use a smaller bag. You'll look wierd bringing a bigger bag to family gatherings. Trust me, the biggest bag i've brought to a family gathering was the baby bag. 😂 Shout out to all the dads out there!

[@wilson_law]

What I'm trying to say is buy whatever you can afford, less your liabilities and expenses. Life is not fair, and it will never be. Some people can afford Ferraris, McLarens, or Rolls Royce, while others can't even afford a car. Don't try to act rich when you know you're not. Learn to save, learn to invest in stable investments, watch it grow and money will follow. You will get there. I once turned $350 to $10k in 6mths just by having a small business idea back in college, I was then able to buy whatever I wanted, everything was buy without second doubt. Spending the money was never easier than I ever had, just click the buy button. Don't follow get-rich-quick schemes, learn how money works, learn supply and demand, learn marketing, learn management, learn accounting. We are only talking about $10,000 cameras here at best. In the end, when $10,000 is only 10% of your savings, it doesn't matter, its just another number. But if you're living paycheck to paycheck, then you better start saving and investing. P.S. Please don't use crypto, I know friends who loose $80k+ in volatile investments like these.

[@bigheadtaco]

I wanna see a dad or mom carrying a camera bag as big as the baby bag, including a carbon fibre tripod and a couple of panel lights 😅😅😅

[@wilson_law]

Just for that family group photo occasion 😂

[@bigheadtaco]

@@wilson_law you never know.... gotta be prepared. Photo Prepper :-)

[@Narsuitus]

I would also love to see a comparison of the Fuji GFX 50mp medium format camera vs. the 50mp full-frame digital sensor.

[@HolgerBuerger]

What I didn’t see mention are attributes like Depth of Field challenges with GFX and overall lens ecosystem - with GFX cameras don’t have a long reach.

[@annakell5245]

I traded what was an extensive Fuji kit for the GFX 50 SII and very much love it. But I also added a Leica Q2 Monochrom and SL2. The Fuji I prefer for landscapes.

[@nguyenhoangvu9609]

Same for me:).

[@CollinB_EDC]

Awesome video, with actual numbers! Not just subjective interpretations.

[@bigheadtaco]

thanks, yes when I have time I try to take critical photos and do comparisons.

[@babarfyi]

Excellent, as always. It’s quite telling that a 10+ year old technology has better iq than top of the line aps-c. I think aps-c will be like mft in 5 years, due to much better phone cameras. I’m happy with my current setup with aps-c and ff (fuji, nikon, leica), but would like to try medium format for some projects. Not this setup though, but more likely a used 50R, original 50s or Hasselblad X1D which sometimes can be had for ”nothing” ;)

[@bigheadtaco]

I think APS-C will still be around because it’s still popular in the video world known as Super35. The smaller sensor allows for much quicker throughput, great for video-centric creators. Also, I think Fujifilm will still have those are between pro and entry level photographers and videographers. I do think smartphone cameras have pretty much killed the small sensor point and shoots, but cameras like the Ricoh GR series will still be around. As for a used medium format, I really like the original GFX50S, even though it has no IBIS. The X1D is great, but not being able to use adapters to add third party lenses is what doesn’t work for me. I want to use old vintage lenses on large sensors :-) Thanks for your thoughts!

[@npvids]

Thanks for sharing your views i was expecting more of a comparison on Fuji bodies but i heard mostly an apcs vs medium format.

[@bigheadtaco]

Sorry, yes I guess if I wanted to compare the bodies, I would have grabbed the X-H2 vs GFX50S II as they have a similar DSLR-like PSAM interface. Personally I’m not a fan of the GFX50S II interface. I don’t them removing the D-Pad, and I don’t like the removal of the ISO dial and sub-Drive dial. The X-T5 has a more traditional film camera SLR layout with all the dials, so it’s more intuitive for someone like me. I hope the next generation GFX will have a photocentric version with all the dials returned from the original GFX 50S.

[@jmd.5899]

@bigheadtaco, what's your top down video setup? Which lens do you use for taking your shots? Curious to know. Thanks!

[@comeraczy2483]

Thanks a lot for this extended discussion. I am wondering why you are saying that the GFX50S has a better image quality than the XT5. I have never tried the GFX but I find this very surprising. I certainly expect that at same f-number and same ISO, the XT5 would produce much worse images, but that's not related to the sensor size, it is simply because the image on the XT5 would get about 4 times less light. When comparing apples-to-apples, in this case two images taken with lenses set to the same Iris diameter and same shutter speed, I would expect the images to be roughly equivalent - perhaps with a slight advantage for the XT5. For instance, if you were taking a picture with the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 at f/2 and ISO 100 on the XT5 and with the GF 50mm f/3.5 at f/4 and ISO 400 on the GFX50S, both at the same shutter speed, you should have very similar images (similar brightness, noise, dynamic range, depth of field, and angle of view). Is my guess totally incorrect?

[@bigheadtaco]

I guess it depends on what you’re trying to make equivalent. Some try to make the depth of field equivalent, while others are trying to compare and match ISO performance. For me, I’m testing everything. The advantage of the APS-C sensor is that it’s smaller, which allows for smaller lenses, less rolling shutter, faster mechanical shutter, etc. I’ll take that advantage, not try to equalize it with the GFX. The same as the GFX. I know the advantage is larger pixels, larger micro lenses, less pixel density, different colour filter array (Bayer vs X-Trans), but slower response, slower mechanical shutter, worse rolling shutter, larger lenses, etc. In terms of IQ, the sensor architecture is different and pixel density does make a difference. For instance, if you compare the X-H2S APS-C sensor with the X-H2 or X-T5 APS-C sensor, the same size, but different pixel density, hence different ISO response, different sensor readout speeds, etc. So the larger sensor does give you IQ advantages, but of course you’re also giving up some things to gain that advantage. For me, it’s not worth it, at least for now.

[@claytonsmith1906]

Honestly it's the cost of the lenses that holds medium format back. You can get a 50sii for around the same price as a Sony A7RV. If Fuji got aggressive on lens pricing in that format they might actually be able to market medium format to the masses.

[@bigheadtaco]

Another way to look at this is using adapters and using vintage glass on them? I know many who do that. But you’re right, if they got more aggressive with lens pricing, then perhaps more would convert. I think the big issue they’re having is production. Most of the GF prime lenses are still built in Japan in their Omiya factory, and their output is not even close to their overseas production facilities. I think it’s because the gear built in Japan have more strict tolerances and so they tend to make the more premium cameras and lenses in Japan. This increases the price. If they can push production of some of their GF prime lenses overseas, perhaps they can drop the price.

[@Snapit551]

Great comparison video 👌 I have the xt5 and a gfx 50r and the xf18mm on the xt5 has very similar image quality to the gf45-100mm zoom but when I’m using the gf45 or the gf80mm on the gfx 50r the image quality from the gf prime lenses is just incredible and it’s just on another level compared to the xt5 and the gf prime lenses are just stellar in terms of image quality

[@bigheadtaco]

Thanks for your personal experience. You should compare the GF45mm vs the new XF23mm f/1.4 R LM WR.

[@lemon58421]

I have the GFX 50SII and it's AMAZING!!!!! :-) (by the way I own also the XE4)

[@bigheadtaco]

Congrats. Wow you have the biggest and the smallest 😂😂😂.

[@the-additional-f-stop]

Wow. I'm the second one. Finally. :) I actually would still go for the x-t5 simply because of weight and form factor. I appreciate the comparison because I had not considered it before. I struggled between the XH2s and the x-t5 and ended up going for the XH2s but thinking of adding the x-t5. I have so many Fuji cameras though! Thanks for another great video!

[@bigheadtaco]

Ha ha, welcome! I think having both the X-H2S and X-T5 makes a lot of sense. One is for hybrid-video work, and the other is for high-resolution stills. Two very different sensors as well as ergonomics.

[@the-additional-f-stop]

@@bigheadtaco actually, I do zero video work. I love the flexibility of the XH2s for events and actually, believe it or not, bird photography! The x-t5 will round it out for the portrait side. Thank you!

[@luig135]

I think that comparing from a megapixels count leaves out too important variables, that make up to the fact that medium format images have a distinct look vs APSC, apart from any pixel count.

[@Gallery296.photography]

What I found interesting is the XT5 is 40mp. I’m in the market to upgrade to a higher MP and move to FF Mirrorless as the bottom line. The Z8 & the GFX 100s have been on my wish list. This purchase will happen within 2 weeks so I’m doing a lot of research. Being a street photographer who has been shooting with a Fuji X2Pro the GFS is worrisome with the shutter lag. On the Z8 side, it has CFexpress media, which is also worrisome because of the connectivity issue of the contact pins bending. Oh Vay what to do. I’m going to surprise myself when I make the purchase. Dr. P

[@bobby350z]

50s/r and even GFX100/100s are more for take it slow shooting style.

[@torb-no]

Karl Edwards (StreetShootr) used the GFX 50S (original) for street photography when he reviewed it and answered yes (with some beautiful compositions) to the question of ”can it street”. Granted, his technique is based around zone focus, so since he's using a manual focus based technique, autofocus has no impact on his shooting speed. Video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4XJmYBpoJiMeKc

[@JayGrapherTh]

would love to have the MF for a studio - but going out to do projects outside or even traveling then the apsc all the way and compact lens and camera, make a sacrifice in technological quality and focus more on being light weight to travel/move more and focus on composing the image - concentrate on timing on when to take the image more. well unless its a paid project to then make it worth while to bring the MF. (well, if i could even get a MF camera in the first place haha)

[@HumanClouds]

If money was no object, I would go medium format the old fashioned way: Hasselblad 500cm. Digital medium format is too expensive and still not on par with those big old mf negatives, imho. Great comparison though!

[@bigheadtaco]

I currently have the Mamiya 645 and Fujifilm GA645zi. That’s good enough for me :-)

[@nevvanclarke9225]

Thanks for the video I've been using an XT5 now for about nine months for landscape photography and I'm getting great results out of it especially paired with some good lenses. But I have always wanted a medium format camera. I don't need a medium format camera but I've always wanted one and I think this is the one I'm probably going to get I actually have a Nikon 850 as well. Yes I do she professionally in the landscape space and it's something I've always wanted. I will probably sell my Nikon D8 50 and get the Fujifilm 50 S2

[@BenjaminKanarek]

The 20-35 is closer to a16-28. I love mine!

[@chumleyk]

Hasselblad all the way baby. Also... 3rd. In all seriousness, Fujifilm really needs to go full frame. Leaving so much on the table and I don't believe the excuses.

[@bigheadtaco]

Ha ha, yes number 3 :-) Hassey X1D or X2D?

[@chumleyk]

@@bigheadtaco X2D. I think that one's the start of Hasselblad finding their mojo with that form/function factor.

[@bigheadtaco]

@@chumleyk ya that’s a beautiful camera. I remember when the first X1D came out. I got to play with it in Hong Kong. ONe of the best ergonomics and button-dial layout on any digital camera.

[@maellopez5409]

Excellent Resource for Making Camera Purchases

[@ironmonkey1512]

I mostly convert to B&W and you can beat the crap out of GFX file without it breaking down. You start seeing ugly artifacts pretty quickly from a lesser sensor.

[@thatren7179]

BHT asking the real questions

[@bigheadtaco]

Ha. I hope so…. Maybe?

[@ericfallabel9201]

In my opinion, this comparison was too focused on the spec sheet and sensor size/pixel numbers. Autofocus performance, handling, mechanical shutter speed, buffer size, actual image comparisons, lens selection - lots of other dimensions to compare

[@bigheadtaco]

True, that’s why I mentioned my article on Fujilove so people can take a closer look at the images instead of squinting on a KZbin video screen capture. AF speed is night and day between these two cameras as mentioned. Contrast detect only vs contrast-phase detect is a huge difference. I also mentioned the slower shutter cycle of the GFX vs the X-T5 due to the much larger surface area, and showed examples of the rolling shutter. Hopefully you can make it to Fujilove.com and check out my various reviews on both these cameras 😊😊😊

[@dennisjames5076]

Music is a little loud, BHT. Running over your voice.

[@bigheadtaco]

Thanks for heads up. I edit on my headphones which gives a different audio mix than laptop speakers. It does quiet down as the video goes on, I’m not sure if you noticed.

[@dennisjames5076]

​@@bigheadtaco listening right now on headphones. See what you mean. Always good to consider all the ways listeners will listen. For example #1 is probably phone so I always consider a compromise. Now that the technical part is done, love your videos. Yes I'm a subscriber. Carry on my wayward son. ✌️😎

[@ChrisLRobinson]

Hey Taco! Which light is that?

[@peterzpictstube]

The pixel density of the 40mp APSC is so hard on the glass. Tech can't over come the physical limits of glass.

[@bigheadtaco]

Can you imagine smartphones that have 40MP and 100MP? That’s why I was mentioning even the quality of the micro lenses on top of the pixels. The GFX has beautiful micro lenses that help with micro contrast and overall sharpness and colour rendition due to the much larger surface to work with. if only they can upgrade that old sensor to BSI and even stacked for throughput, that would be the dream. I’d love to have a medium format X-H2S :-)

[@TomO-rw2xd]

I’ve just picked up a GFX50sii coming from Sony ff (A7rii and A7c). The GFX is a different beast. Felt like this review was a bit bias and not really offering the value that MF offers. Why buy MF to crop down ratios to test? Seems odd

[@scotthullinger4684]

Medium format cameras can't be compared to dx format cameras because it's not all about just the megapixels. It is, in fact, all about the SIZE of the format which matters most of all. Larger is better. Same for film cameras. The sort of film being used is only half of the equation.

[@youngalwyn1124]

“light-weight-ness” 😄

[@MrSolidair]

I hope the gfx 50siii will have a new sensor

[@rockartistet]

Resolution is not all about megapixel. Disappointing review. When you print very large and just compare on a computer monitor . Medium format is streets ahead

[@hauxon]

"as you punch in, you can really see the difference in image quality between these two" ...kind of says it all. Either you want/need "ultimate" IQ and pay for it, or save some and go for convenience.

[@ralfpassing]

A comparison shouldn't be talked - show pictures with both. I own the 100s which is nice but in comparison to my Nikon Z9s not that much better over all - just in a few areas

[@bigheadtaco]

Yes, that’s why I encourage people to go to my Fujilove article to take a closer look at my photos. I use these videos as complements to my articles.

[@macbookdieter]

Nice video, but if you shoot raw, you really can’t use the profiles.

[@enshongmiranda]

APS-C X-Trans fall apart pretty quickly in editing. Crucial when shooting events. Not bad but the files I get from the GFX are definitely way better. Twice better, IMO. Still, I love my X-E4 which I pair nicely with my GFX for weddings and events.

[@4Kandlez]

Maybe don't do so much editing

[@TechFi-te3ik]

I went both 😎

[@jang1555]

Why did you use the 10-24, this lens can not resolve the full resolution of the xt5?

[@bigheadtaco]

Not it can’t and neither can the new version, but it closely matched the focal length of the GF20-35mm. I was showing two cameras with similar megapixels and focal lengths. I hope that makes sense.

[@D.Trider]

Wow. I’m the first one. Finally.

[@bigheadtaco]

welcome :-)

[@D.Trider]

@@bigheadtaco well thx. I never thought I’d be one to comment in this fashion. Thx nonetheless! You should compare the Fuji to the sl2. I switched from the gfx setup to the sl2/m setup and have never felt so content with gear. This is an interesting comparison nonetheless!

[@D.Trider]

@@bigheadtaco oh and what was that little Light in the beginning?

[@bigheadtaco]

@@D.Trider Ulanzi L2 RGB cube light.

[@djxcel23]

Medium format is just superior

[@banboosy]

imagine making a 20 minute video and showing like 2 images, c'mon bro

[@nanra491]

We already know where the future is heading and it's a smartphone and DSLR baby, fed with Einstein level Ai making sensor sizes a toss up

[@Vitch7]

what is going on with Fujifilm?

[@_o__o_]

music is annoying

[@jan-martinulvag1953]

Just talk. Talk talk talk.

[@jimixjimix5097]

Really sorry to see you've made this pretty nonsense comparison. Why nonsense? Well, for starters, if someone's wondering whether or not to get an APS-C camera or an MF camera , then they don't really know what they want. If they are serious photographers, knowing their stuff and what they shoot, then the answer is simple. Having both cameras is a great idea, but again - you need to know WHY you need and the APS-C and why you need the MF. Wandering whether to choose one over the other is like wandering whether to drive a sport version of Honda Civic or a VW Crafter California. Such is this nonsense. Comparing these cameras probably stems from the fact the GFX50SII with the 35-70/4.5-5.6 zoom lens is relatively cheap now, basically cheaper than any FF Nikon or Canon with a 24-120-ish standard lens. So, people thinking of switching from an APS-C camera to a larger sensor format may be considering the GFX, especially when they hear, from this video, that it's an entry-level camera which it definitely isn't. Secondly, the resolution. You mixed things up here. A resolution describes DENSITY of pixels per given square area, e.g. a square mm. It basically denotes a RESOLVING CAPABILITY of a sensor. So, tell me, if you have, say, a 50 Mpix 1/2-inch sensor in a mobile phone, and a 100 Mpix MF sensor, which one of them provides higher resolution and which one provides a bigger NUMBER of pixels? Thirdly, the quality. If you ever took pictures with, for example, a 24 Mpix APS-C sensor (NIkon D7200 for instance), and a 24 Mpix FF sensor (Nikon D750 for example), then you can see the quality is way worse in the case of the APS-C sensor. The dynamic range, the signal to noise ratio is absolutely different and the FF sensor wins in both respects hands down. BTW, which one of them is a higher-resolution sensor...? :) Comparing the 16-bit RAW files from the GFX 50SII with the 12-bit RAWs from the APS-C gets you exactly where it should: the conclusion that this MF sensor, regardless of it not being a BSI, is representing a crushing advantage in terms of image quality. There's really not much to compare. If you need an MF camera, then you probably know why. Not because it's kinda cheap, but because your work needs it.

[@benobaars]

No visible difference. All marketing.

[@michaelwhiles5282]

With AI being able to ‘create/ improve’ images from Smartphone tech the future does not belong at any ‘ traditional’ cameras. Love my XT4 but within a couple of generations and clever tech my phone will outperform it 🤪😵😵‍💫