During this November of 2018, I’ve finally gotten a chance to visit the places that I’ve been wanting to for some time now. Chengdu and Tibet (China) were the places that I visited. I was glad that I was able to visit the place before the year comes to an end. I traveled to the rural and mountainous areas with my new companion, the Fujifilm GFX 50R medium format camera, and that is what I will be sharing with you guys today. In total, I shot a ton of photographs which heightened my senses and filled my heart as many of you would know that I love travel and documentary photography

For this trip, I wanted it to be really authentic and to live within the locals but there was no guarantee that I would be able to but I still went spontaneously with my fingers crossed. Miraculously, a warm and lovely lady invited me to stay with her family at her home and wow, you could not have imagined how thrilled I was.

I stayed in the lovely and humble abode, well-taken care with some home cooked food. I’m so thankful to this kind-hearted lady and I will share with you more about the experience I had in China along with the photographs that I have taken. (Stay tuned!)

For this post, I will be sharing with you about the FUJIFILM GFX 50R medium format camera.

FUJIFILM GFX 50R Camera Review

Travel, Street and Documentary Photography

I personally feel that the GFX 50R medium format camera is perfectly suited for photographers who do street and documentary photography. Being a photographer who loves doing street, documentary and travel photography, I know how convenience and durability are vital.

FUJIFILM GFX 50R Camera Review

Unpredictable conditions are common during travel expeditions, therefore, I would like my camera to resist harsh conditions and be able to resist the hard knocks but at the same lightweight and durable. Weighing just 775g, the GFX 50R is easily portable and easy to carry around without it feeling like a heavy weight on my shoulder. It is also able to withstand dust, moisture and low temperatures which is perfect for tough shooting conditions.

The GFX 50R is designed to be shot on the go, just perfect for street and documentary style.

Camera Specs of the FUJIFILM GFX 50R

Here are some of the specifications taken from FUJIFILM’s product page:

Rangefinder style
Compact lightweight body
Weather resistant structure
43.8 x 32.9mm 51.4 megapixel CMOS medium format sensor
X-Processor Pro
2.36m dot touchscreen lcd back panel
Fujinon GF lens

Ergonomics And Design

Functionality with a sleek design is what this camera embodies. I love how the GFX50R fits nicely in my hands with a size of the grip that fills my palm. The grip is made of rubber material which feels so comfortable. The dials click smoothly and the overall look of the magnesium alloy body makes the camera look elegant and luxurious.

FUJIFILM GFX 50R Camera Review

Overall, the GFX 50R has a great feel and grip to the camera, it has a sexy and trendy design that is aesthetically pleasing- similar to the XT series and it is super lightweight.

Do you know the Fujifilm GFX 50 went through at least 10 different designs? Well, I think that it was well worth all that process because the camera looks amazing!

Quality

Being a medium format camera, you can be sure that it delivers amazing high definition and high-resolution quality. 44 x 33mm 51.4mp sensor. Bigger pixels, high-quality lenses and a large image area of the film; makes me sure that the quality in printing will be impeccable.

FUJIFILM GFX 50R Camera Review

Using it first hand myself, I can confidently say that it truly delivers incredible image quality and resolution with an amazing dynamic range.

Internal Core

Using the same technology as the GFX 50S, you can be sure that the image quality is not compromised. It uses the CMOS medium format sensor with an impressively effective resolution of 51.4 million pixels, compatible with the high-performance GF lenses. You are sure to deliver superior tones and crisp sharpness.

With the X-Processor Pro, the GFX-50R advances in its processing, accelerating and optimizing the camera’s performance and it has Fujifilm’s stunning film simulation modes, which is what Fujifilm is known.

With a GX lens mount, it is compatible with up to 7 different lenses. (From 18mm all the way to 198 mm) It has a rangefinder style with a flip screen. With that being said, its focusing system allows you to measure the distance of the subject and taking photographs with sharp focus. Bluetooth connectivity that will allow you to transfer pictures easily and effortlessly.

GFX 50R vs GFX 50S

Let’s do a little comparison, shall we?

Before the GFX 50R, there was the GFX 50S. You may view my review here: (https://www.josejeuland.com/fujifilm-gfx-50s-review/)

Heavy duty, reliable and overall an amazing camera especially for professional studio shoots.

In terms of specifications and internal core, the GFX 50R is similar to GFX 50S. But externally, it has improved with a slimmer, sleeker design and you will notice that the bulky eyepiece has been removed.

It also does remind me of the Fujifilm XE-3 camera in terms of the shape of the body but of course in a larger size.

FUJIFILM GFX 50R Camera Review

Besides shooting in the Tibetan area of China, I have done street photography shoots in Singapore with the GFX 50R. I was shooting for a project and visited places such as Pulau Ubin, East Coast Park and Singapore’s City area.

It is much bigger than the newly released XT-3 but smaller, sleeker, sexier than the GFX 50S.