Engaging in portrait photo sessions is my passion, especially when the photo shoot is well-conceptualized, from selecting the model, makeup, and outfit to choosing supporting elements such as the studio, lighting, and a great studio set. Have you ever been invited to a photo session to try out the latest camera and participate in the photo shoot? Well, this was my first experience being invited to such an event.
Allow me to share a bit about my experience of being invited to attend the launch event of the latest Fujifilm camera. The event was organized by a significant camera dealer located in Jakarta. For context, I live in Kalimantan, and it takes a 2-hour flight to reach Jakarta. My purpose for visiting Jakarta was not only to attend a One Ok Rock concert but also to participate in a photography class conducted by a renowned photographer in Jakarta. So, how did I end up being invited to the Fujifilm camera launch event?
I was invited because one of my acquaintances had a good relationship with internal contacts at Fujifilm. Since I came from a distant city without a camera dealer, he recommended me to be invited to try out the latest camera from Fujifilm. In my city, photographers rarely get the opportunity to try out the latest cameras and lenses. Often, we have to buy the equipment just to test it, and if it doesn't suit our needs, we sell it later. This is a stark contrast to those living in larger cities, where they can easily try various lenses and cameras at dealers before deciding to make a purchase.
My friends have mentioned that they can thrive because they live in a big city, where they have access to potential clients, and some even have international clients. Many of my photographer acquaintances offer photo sessions internationally, such as in Japan. They can do this because they live in a big city with easy access to air transportation. In comparison, I have to travel to Jakarta first to go abroad, and the ticket prices are equivalent to those already living in large cities, meaning I have to pay 2-4 times the airfare.
Perhaps due to these limitations, my friend felt sympathetic towards my situation and extended the invitation to me for the event. I was thrilled to receive the invitation, especially to try out the latest Fujifilm camera, the Fujifilm GFX 100 Mark II. For your information, the Fujifilm GFX 100 Mark II is the latest medium format camera from Fujifilm, with a relatively high price tag of around $7499 for me. I felt proud to have the opportunity to try out a camera that would have taken me years to save up for. Here are the results of the photos I took:
For its specifications, this medium format camera is equipped with a 102-megapixel sensor, which is truly astonishing to me. When I view its files on my computer, I can see the pores on the face and even the blood vessels in the eyes, and the resulting files are incredibly sharp. Perhaps in the past, autofocus in medium format cameras was slow, but with its latest camera line, Fujifilm has addressed that challenge. I experienced this firsthand when trying out this camera; the autofocus adhered to the eyes even in low-light conditions.
The file size produced is also significantly large. For the raw files (.raf), the size is around 200MB for a single photo, and for the jpg files, it's approximately 80MB. So, when using memory with a slow write speed, it can naturally impede workflow when working with this camera.
The colors produced by this camera are truly amazing, and I have no regrets spending my time trying out the most expensive camera I've ever held. The photos I share represent the camera's true colors; I only adjust exposure and contrast and do a bit of retouching to enhance their appearance. Because when using this camera, facial pores are very pronounced, so I need to smooth them out a bit to make them look even more beautiful.
As I mentioned earlier, this camera has addressed the issue of slow autofocus in medium format cameras. The photos above were taken in low-light conditions, using slow shutter techniques, yet the results remain incredibly sharp even with moving subjects. Despite the camera's considerable weight, thanks to its 8-stop IBIS capability, I could still capture stable images even in low-light conditions.
Since the photo sessions also had time constraints, approximately 5 minutes per person, I couldn't explore the camera as much as I wanted. However, one thing is certain – if I had enough money, I would buy it. Oh, this camera is also perfect for photographers who love landscape photography because the detail it produces is truly stunning.
I'm delighted to share my experience trying out this $7499 camera with you, and I hope you enjoy my photos. Don't forget to continue your support, so maybe I can buy this camera someday. Hehe.
Thank you,
warm regards from me.
