Camera Review, Top 10 ReviewMorten ByskovSeptember 14, 2022Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GFX 50R in 2022, Buying a Fujifilm GFX 50R in 2022, Should I get Fujifilm GFX 50R in 2022?, Fujifilm GFX 50R used price, Fujifilm GFX 50R vs. GFX 50S II, Fujfilm GFX 50R sample images, Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR sample images11 Comments

Fujifilm GFX 50R in 2022

The Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR — Breaking in a pre-owned (new to me) Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR. Scouting for landscape photography locations in Vernon, B.C, Canada

Finally, I Have a GFX Camera

Buying a Fujifilm GFX 50R in 2022

It seems just like yesterday and yet it has been three years since I first tried and reviewed the Fujifilm GFX 50R. Newer and more tempting GFX models have arrived since then and it has been interesting to follow the evolution of the GFX system.

I have mentioned the Fujifilm GFX 50R several times in my latest GFX reviews as I was following used prices closely every time a new camera was released.

The GFX 50R has been discontinued resulting in used prices becoming more affordable. The lower price point is what eventually triggered me to get on board with a GFX 50R. Let’s see how it has panned out so far.

Morten Byskov, camera reviewer at 5050 Travelog, taking landscape photos at Kamloops Lake with a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Near Kamloops Lake, BC, trying to make sense of a landscape scene with smoke rolling in from forest fires in BC and Washington State

The GFX 50R Makes Sense

The following will be a personal account of why I think the Fujifilm GFX 50R makes sense, even in 2022. I have already corresponded and talked with a few photographers pondering the same idea so I hope you can derive a few ideas about the Fujifilm GFX 50R and how it fits in the mix of current options.

Price Considerations

Admittedly price was an all-important factor for me. Fees and shipping included, I paid $2,000.00 for a near-mint copy including three original batteries. The GFX 50R was $4,500.00 when first announced in September 2018.

A man points to the north shore of Canada on a map. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/5.6

My initial plan this past summer was to buy a GFX 50S II but money has been slipping out of my bank account faster than ever this summer. Inflation, vacation time, and I have been shaking my head repeatedly at the gas pump, etc., etc.

If you are in the market for a 50-megapixel camera, the GFX 50S II also makes a lot of sense depending on your needs and budget. This was especially true when it was on sale earlier this summer. I will get into a few differences below.

John Krakauer's book, Into Thin Air, in an RV van window. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/5.6

Why Not Stick With the X Series and APS-C?

For several years leading up to our travel project that kicked off in 2015, I used a long line of full-frame cameras in the Canon 5D series. For travel, the Fujifilm X Series made more sense with a lower cost, lower weight, and better portability.

I sold all my Canon gear and started building a Fujifilm kit, in large based around the X-Pro1, X-Pro2, and X-Pro3 cameras. I still have these and intend to use them alongside the newly acquired GFX camera.

While, for the most part, I am happy with the X Series, at times I would like to be able to create images with a different look.

The extra megapixels and the larger-than-full-frame 44 x 33mm sensor give me a new set of paint brushes and the result will yield a different result.

A park bench at Kin Beach in Vernon by Okanagan Lake. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/5.6

Fujifilm GFX 50R vs. GFX 50S II

At the time I purchased a pre-owned GFX 50R, the savings were approximately $1,900.00 over getting a new GFX 50S II.

The last time this post was updated (May 2023) the GFX 50S II was on sale for $3.199.95 which indeed makes it tempting. Keep an eye on sales as this likely will influence your decision between going with a used GFX 50R or a new GFX 50S II.

At this point, the GFX 50S II has also been on the market for a while and you may be able to scout out a good deal on a used copy. Used GFX 50R cameras are now likely priced a bit lower than when I purchased my copy.

I considered the GFX 50S II and think it is an excellent option that will get you niceties such as 6.5 stop image stabilization, and a new sleek ergonomic body with an excellent grip.

Add to this the newer X-Processor 4 image processor, a new and smaller NP-235 battery with higher capacity, not to mention the wonderful Nostalgic Neg. film simulation which was one of my favorite film simulations when testing the GFX 100S and GFX 50S II.

One of the clinchers, however, is the fact that the two cameras share the exact same 51.4-Megapixel CMOS sensor and this weighed heavily in my decision to conclude that the GFX 50R will do just fine and will be good enough for my needs.

You are not likely shopping for these cameras to shoot video and both cameras feature a lackluster full HD, 30 fps. option only.

While IBIS is a very nice addition, somehow and perhaps miraculously, to this day I have survived without ever having a camera with built-in image stabilization.

Kidding aside, IBIS will keep your ISO lower for still shots without having to lug around a tripod and I can already see that I have to bump my ISO in many scenarios when shooting with the slower f/3.5 GF 50mm lens. High ISO performance, however, is very good with this sensor.

Another consideration that swayed me towards the GFX 50R is its body layout reminiscing that of a range finder camera that is very similar to my X-Pro cameras. This goes for the way you operate it as well as how the buttons are laid out.

A woman walks down the street in Vernon, BC. Street photography sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Vernon, BC, Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/5.6

Switching between the GFX 50R and X-Pro cameras is less demanding when it comes to muscle memory. While some may prefer the new PASM mode dial on the GFX 50S II, I prefer the more tactile shutter speed dial and dedicated exposure compensation dial on the GFX 50R.

When it comes to weight the GFX 50R is slightly lighter at 1.7 lb, 775 g, vs. 2 lb, 900 g for the GFX 50S II.

Size comparison between the Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-Pro2, X-Pro3, and GFX 50R — Comparison between the Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-Pro2, X-Pro3, and GFX 50R. Notice the somewhat similar button layout with a dedicated shutter speed and exposure compensation dial on top of the cameras.

So Far So Good

It has been a week with the GFX 50R and so far so good. I was lucky to get the camera the day we headed off for a camping trip with lifelong friends to Ellison Provincial Park near Vernon in British Columbia, Canada.

This has given me a chance to use the camera for some of my intended genres such as travel, road trips, landscape, and street photography with a few candid personal photos thrown into the mix.

The mountain range near Lilooet in British Columbia, Canada. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Lillooet, BC, Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/11

With the latest firmware, version 2.41, the GFX 50R feels like a much faster camera than the review unit I tried in 2019. I like the resounding shutter sound and only in a few scenarios was the autofocus hunting a bit in lower light.

Autofocus speed feels determined for the most part and for my style of shooting, I do not anticipate it to be an issue. This however is pending on more low-light photography and studio scenarios. I will report back on this later. For my first week, I have mostly been shooting in excellent daylight conditions.

Update:

I have now tried the GFX 50R in the studio using only the modeling light in my studio strobe. I used a continuous light to light my backdrop which actually caused my model to be somewhat backlit which could have caused trouble in regard to autofocus performance.

I used the GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR for this studio session and was positively surprised by how good the autofocus performance was. There was no hunting at all. I used a single AF spot on the eye. My hit ratio with shots in focus was about 98%.

Actor, Mik Byskov, Vancouver — Actor, Mik Byskov
Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR @ f/5.6

Be prepared for a bulkier camera which also does not operate as fast as the latest X-Pro3. Things will slow you down somewhat with any GFX camera and the GFX 50R is no exception.

There is more blackout time between frames. You need to adjust your approach and do not expect to be able to quickly fire off a series of shots. The GFX 50R maxes out at 3 fps.

Railroad tracks near Lillooet in British Columbia, Canada. Black and white sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Lillooet, BC, Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/11

One Lens to Start - the GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR

For a while, it is my plan to have the GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR as my main and only lens for the GFX. Pairing the GF 50mm with the GFX 50R makes for the most portable and lightweight GFX camera/lens combination and this is important to me for street photography or while cycling, which I often do.

Stay tuned for more G-Mount lens test drives coming up and I am also exploring options to try more adapted lenses which should be interesting.

Smoke from forest fires seen in the mountains along Highway 99 near Pemberton, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Highway 99, BC, Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/11

Image Quality

After testing the GFX 50R and GFX 50S II earlier I knew what to expect when it comes to image quality but I am excited to try the camera out in more scenarios to see how it performs.

While you will not have the same ability to crop images as with the 102-megapixel Fujifilm GFX 100S there is plenty of details in the GFX 50R images with ample dynamic range.

I find the files from this 51.4-megapixel sensor to be very organic and film-like. They are rich in detail and yet do not look overly clinical.

Film photography, and especially black and white photography, is becoming more and more important to me, and love how the GFX 50R renders black and white with the Acros film simulation. Check for more sample images below.

Okangan Lake as seen from Kin Beach in Vernon, British Columbia on a beautiful September morning. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Okanagan Lake, BC, Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/16

That’s a Wrap

If you are looking for an affordable gateway into the Fujifilm GFX system the GFX 50R or GFX 50S could be the way to go as long as you can live with not having the latest tech under the hood.

These cameras are easy to find on the used market and are often in good condition as many photographers use them on a tripod or in a studio setting.

Make no mistake. The early model GFX cameras can still deliver amazing results. If you prefer an SLR-style camera, the 50S would be the way to go and if the rangefinder-style is your cup of tea, take a closer look at the GFX 50R.

Two kayaks paddle by the rocks at Ellison Provincial Park on Okanagan Lake near Vernon, BC, Canada. A black and white sample image from a Fujifilm GFX 50R — Okanagan Lake, Fujifilm GFX 50R and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR @ f/8

Stay tuned for more GFX content coming up. I am tinkering with my studio lights and plan to do some portrait photography in the near future as well.

You can catch my full 2019 review of the GFX 50R here:

Fujifilm GFX 50R - Review

I have several articles in my Musings section of this site centered around the GFX 50R:

Morten’s Musings

Please see more sample images below.

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading this post to the end. I hope you found it helpful. The GFX 50R has been discontinued but you can probably find one on your local buy-and-sell if you are okay with a used copy.

If you are considering the GFX 100 II, GFX 100S, or GFX 50S II, you can help support our site by using the links below. There is no additional cost to you.

Fujifilm GFX 100 II - B&H Photo
Fujifilm GFX 100S - B&H Photo
Fujifilm GFX 50S II - B&H Photo

Thank you for your support.

Fujifilm GFX 50R - Sample Images

Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos. Some of the images are cropped slightly.

Please click to view larger images.