GFX 50R w/50 vs Sony A7R IV vs RX1R II

So I see the GFX 50R w/50/3.5 is on sale for about 4K. One of my dream cameras would be a Sony RX1R style camera with a Medium Format sensor and a lens between 28 and 40 (preferring 28), so this actually comes pretty close at a comparable price.

I have seen the amazing reviews and pics from the GFX 100, but I am curious what people think of the GFX 50R? How does it perform? How does it compare to the Sony A7R IV or RX1R II? How does the 50 perform?

Curious for those who have experience with this camera.

Thanks in advance!

I owned the 50s shortly after the 50r and more recently (last few months) the GF100. They are all excellent cameras. For me the 50r is the best sweet spot. Its the most film-like body design that really feels like a "camera" first, digital/computer secondary.

The image quality of the 50r is insane. The GF 100 is very DSLR like - I have it for the added upgrades in AF performance and IBIS (but to be truthful, its nice, but not super amazing just yet on the AF side in comparison to the other models you mentioned). The IBIS, on the other hand, is amazing. I had a model holding still while I was handholding and I image was so stable in comparison to the 50 bodies, I thought the whole camera had freezed up.

I have no owned the A7 IV but owned the A7r III, which was a feature-rich camera but really felt like a computer.

The medium format bodies take a bit of getting used to. For me, the biggest change was the blackout time, even coming from the medium format days. But it no longer bothers me, I've become used to it.

You can never go wrong with a larger sensor.

The 50R is so good, even owning the 100, I'm tempted to pick one up.

travelinbri_74 said:

One of my dream cameras would be a Sony RX1R style camera with a Medium Format sensor and a lens between 28 and 40 (preferring 28) ...

I am curious what people think of the GFX 50R?

Click to expand...

Insofar as the G 50mm lens would give you a lens at the less-desired long end of your range, maybe at least include for consideration / in your query the alternative of the 50R plus the 45mm f/2.8.

Yes, that combo would cost 30% more ($5200 versus $4000), and weigh 14% more (1265 g versus 1110 g). But you're already talking about a kit that is neither inexpensive nor light. IMOPO, given your stated preference for the wider end of the range, getting the equivalent of a 36mm f/2.2 instead of a 40mm f/2.8, maybe should be part of the discussion. You may well decide that the cost and weight still point toward the 50mm lens, but it might facilitate a helpful thought exercise--JMO.

Hi, is one of your desires to have a compact high quality camera?

If so, and you have dreams of the 50R being it, look elsewhere if I were you. I have both 50R and RX1RII and I’d say the Fuji is 3 times the size.

If you’re waiting for a GFX X100 it just might come one day. But for now I personally don’t feel a 50R is anywhere near that.

Image quality wise the 50 is better than the RX1. But...







--

I agree and would for sure pick GF 45 over GF 50 if I had to pick only one of those (I have both and also GF 63). Having said that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the GF 50 (great lens in its own right and could be anyone's main general purpose lens for all practical purposes). However, GF 45 IQ is absolutely incredible - certainly the best general purpose lens I have ever owned and images taken with it that great photographers have posted on this forum have only confirmed that to me. Also, the overall package size/weight when used with GFX 50R is not that much more than with GF 50 (I find GF 45 also balances really well on that camera).

JT26 said:

Hi, is one of your desires to have a compact high quality camera?

If so, and you have dreams of the 50R being it, look elsewhere if I were you. I have both 50R and RX1RII and I’d say the Fuji is 3 times the size.

If you’re waiting for a GFX X100 it just might come one day. But for now I personally don’t feel a 50R is anywhere near that.

Image quality wise the 50 is better than the RX1. But...

Click to expand...

I should look at camera size more. This is a telling comparison.

--
All the best,
TBri

From an RX1 to a GFX is a giant leap in size. I expect with the success of the GFX system though, they will introduce a fixed lens camera in time.

JT26 said:

From an RX1 to a GFX is a giant leap in size. I expect with the success of the GFX system though, they will introduce a fixed lens camera in time.

Click to expand...

This may be highly unlikely - as much as I'd want one!

The system revenue and GP is in the lenses - you buy one body but many lenses, the pull through revenue and GP is what funds the system for Fujifilm.

If you sell a fixed lens body, you miss out on all of that pull through, and the addressable market for a digital 'Texas Leica' is small.

Not saying it's not possible - but financially it would be a winner.

Have both and took both to Yosemite in February and here are my observation

- the 50-50 combo has a pleasing Fuji look while the rx1 is more clinical and has the Zeiss look. For landscapes they are close
- my sensor is 24mp hence the MF combo resolves better.
- both are awesome
- the rx1 has some distortion at the edges at close distances. The 50-50 doesn’t.
- the 50-50 has a better look due to the longer focal length. This is more true for people pics.
- for a near pocketable landscape and travel camera the rx1 has no equals, yet. This is my subjective opinion and I have experienced all the X100-s excluding the V

Any chance you can send a pic of the two cameras next to each other? Camera Size doesn't have the 50 available yet (for comparison sake).

I first bought the Leica Q2 for full frame high MP in small body. I just could not warm up the the body, no flippy screen and had a hard time seeing what I was shooting. Sent it back and came across the 50-50 sale. I just love the whole setup. Evf and lcd are brilliant to boot and it has a flippy screen. Been shooting Fuji for a bit so body controls were second nature. Yes, there are high MP bodies out there much smaller than the 50r but I just like this combo. Will add the 30mm when it comes out and most likely be done. Nice setup for my nature walks.

nothing can beat the RX1RII when it comes to size and nobody will look at you when you point it at them....its small, has way better af then the fuji and the lens is great...

it does have the older A7RII sensor which is slightly behind the A7RIII in DR and color, I have both, there is a difference....I dont consider the A7RIV better then the A7RIII, just more pixels (and better AF)...which some people might need....

the gfx50 is a different beast, slower, AF cant compare to either Sony but files are slightly better, the RX1RII maybe having a little advantage because of its "look" but of course yo can mount pretty much any lens on the other Sonys or the fuji.....

the size of the RX1RII really puts it into its own class, the files are probably 95% of the time impossible to tell apart but you can shoot kids running around with it.....battery life might be the only drawback....you really need 2 extra for a full day....

the gfx really has a different more focussed and maybe limited but ultimately maybe more rewarding use, not as fast, bigger, battery life is ok but the files are just better if you dig in....

the real problem is that if you need a fast, all around quality system that gets the job done, neither the GFX nor the RX1RII are the best solution.....A7RIII or IV is closer in IQ to the GFX, put a small pancake on it and it really outshines the RX and the rest of the time it will handle anything and everything from portraits to sports to video better then anything.....

Paul said:

nothing can beat the RX1RII when it comes to size and nobody will look at you when you point it at them....its small, has way better af then the fuji and the lens is great...

it does have the older A7RII sensor which is slightly behind the A7RIII in DR and color, I have both, there is a difference....I dont consider the A7RIV better then the A7RIII, just more pixels (and better AF)...which some people might need....

the gfx50 is a different beast, slower, AF cant compare to either Sony but files are slightly better, the RX1RII maybe having a little advantage because of its "look" but of course yo can mount pretty much any lens on the other Sonys or the fuji.....

the size of the RX1RII really puts it into its own class, the files are probably 95% of the time impossible to tell apart but you can shoot kids running around with it.....battery life might be the only drawback....you really need 2 extra for a full day....

the gfx really has a different more focussed and maybe limited but ultimately maybe more rewarding use, not as fast, bigger, battery life is ok but the files are just better if you dig in....

the real problem is that if you need a fast, all around quality system that gets the job done, neither the GFX nor the RX1RII are the best solution.....A7RIII or IV is closer in IQ to the GFX, put a small pancake on it and it really outshines the RX and the rest of the time it will handle anything and everything from portraits to sports to video better then anything.....

Click to expand...

Very valid point for most people. My situation was that I already own a nearly full set of Fuji xt lenses and several bodies. Love them on the street and at any action oriented shoot. So I was really reluctant to start a FF body and lens gas-athon. With the GF line, I bought the 50-50 setup and plan to get the 30mm when it comes out and that is it. All the rest are just monsters that I would never want to lug around. They defeat the purpose of my casual hikes through that local parks. When I see these guys hiking up mountains with several kilos of gear on their backs, it makes me shudder. This is strictly for my nature walks and it does feel nice to slow down and not be firing off bracket this and bracket that. I really like the body and lens setup. So yes, different strokes for different folks.

travelinbri_74 said:

Any chance you can send a pic of the two cameras next to each other? Camera Size doesn't have the 50 available yet (for comparison sake).

--
All the best,
TBri
https://www.flickr.com/people/130803098@N05/

Click to expand...

debo said:

travelinbri_74 said:

Any chance you can send a pic of the two cameras next to each other? Camera Size doesn't have the 50 available yet (for comparison sake).

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Much obliged (and really brings the point home)!

--
All the best,
TBri

Yeah, the RX1 remains unbeatable as a miniMF compromise for travel (I carry it in my jacket pocket and my laptop bag for work trips).

Other thoughts: Although its 2x the size, weight and price (more like 3x), the 50+50 combo has sublime rendering for people pics and I love the experience. I am an amateur and its a lot of camera for me. If I didn't care for the MF experience I would be equally happy with the RX1 for travel and a R3/4 + 21/45/85 combo

debo said:

Yeah, the RX1 remains unbeatable as a miniMF compromise for travel (I carry it in my jacket pocket and my laptop bag for work trips).

Other thoughts: Although its 2x the size, weight and price (more like 3x), the 50+50 combo has sublime rendering for people pics and I love the experience. I am an amateur and its a lot of camera for me. If I didn't care for the MF experience I would be equally happy with the RX1 for travel and a R3/4 + 21/45/85 combo

Click to expand...

Debo, When I travel, I only bring my XT setup. International, Fuji XT-3 with 10-24 and 16-80 covers all my needs. Local festivals, maybe my Fuji XT-3 plus f2 fujichrones. If I want really small, then swap the XT3 for the XT20. But, wandering the local nature preserves where I can take my time and scout out a location, the GFX is just a pleasure to use. So yes it is bigger and heavier but so what, I have small when I need or want it...So it has it’s place in my lineup, and ohh those gorgeous images it produces, love it...

Paul said:

nothing can beat the RX1RII when it comes to size and nobody will look at you when you point it at them....its small, has way better af then the fuji and the lens is great...

it does have the older A7RII sensor which is slightly behind the A7RIII in DR and color, I have both, there is a difference....I dont consider the A7RIV better then the A7RIII, just more pixels (and better AF)...which some people might need....

the gfx50 is a different beast, slower, AF cant compare to either Sony but files are slightly better, the RX1RII maybe having a little advantage because of its "look" but of course yo can mount pretty much any lens on the other Sonys or the fuji.....

the size of the RX1RII really puts it into its own class, the files are probably 95% of the time impossible to tell apart but you can shoot kids running around with it.....battery life might be the only drawback....you really need 2 extra for a full day....

the gfx really has a different more focussed and maybe limited but ultimately maybe more rewarding use, not as fast, bigger, battery life is ok but the files are just better if you dig in....

the real problem is that if you need a fast, all around quality system that gets the job done, neither the GFX nor the RX1RII are the best solution.....A7RIII or IV is closer in IQ to the GFX, put a small pancake on it and it really outshines the RX and the rest of the time it will handle anything and everything from portraits to sports to video better then anything.....

Click to expand...

I just saw this thread and am surprised how well behaved everyone is on this potentially very dangerous topic. But the Virus is in full attack and who wants to bring up all the old arguments about FF vs MF now? This thread would have been locked by now in normal times as it would have attracted so many hard-working marketing professionals. But you guys are really behaving well. I commend you.

But I am amazed that someone wants to compare a small fixed lens FF camera to a MF GFX camera. It is an impossible comparison. Just sort of ridiculous really, but I guess fun to speculate about on a camera equipment forum. Yes, there are many threads all over DPR about people dreaming that there existed a Fuji X100v with a MF sensor! LOL!!! Same thing here in a way.

Paul handled this well above. I don't agree with it all but he handled it well.

The real decision is whether or not to get the alphasevenarefour vs GFX if you are deciding whether or not to enter into the world of one system vs the other.

That comparison can get nasty fast too, but it makes a Hell of a lot more sense to argue about than this.

Greg, I am a newbie in the GFX world (23, 50, 110 + R) and have a bunch of X gear. However its still quite hard to beat my old 500g FF RX1 tossed into some corner of my laptop bag, (especially on work trips though that's not going to happen for a while!). For that need, I have tried various X-gear including X100xyz. My mental weight limit on work trips is about 500g as I carry a 15.4" laptop, Ipad, chargers etc

This spring, I took my GFX 50+50 combo (my X100MF) to Yosemite and it was fun to use (didnt have any other lenses for it then) and my RX1 tucked up in a PD-5L. I did some side by side tests and the X100MF was better but not significantly so for landscapes. For near/midfield family pics there was no question, the X100MF was ahead with 0 distortion while the RX1 has plenty of distortion. I got into MF for family environmental portraits (e.g. in national parks etc).

Another point: I am not brave enough (yet) to carry MF gear everywhere Even in SF, people get mugged regularly for their gear

Thus, horses for courses (for me).

debo said:

Greg, I am a newbie in the GFX world (23, 50, 110 + R) and have a bunch of X gear. However its still quite hard to beat my old 500g FF RX1 tossed into some corner of my laptop bag, (especially on work trips though that's not going to happen for a while!). For that need, I have tried various X-gear including X100xyz. My mental weight limit on work trips is about 500g as I carry a 15.4" laptop, Ipad, chargers etc

This spring, I took my GFX 50+50 combo (my X100MF) to Yosemite and it was fun to use (didnt have any other lenses for it then) and my RX1 tucked up in a PD-5L. I did some side by side tests and the X100MF was better but not significantly so for landscapes. For near/midfield family pics there was no question, the X100MF was ahead with 0 distortion while the RX1 has plenty of distortion. I got into MF for family environmental portraits (e.g. in national parks etc).

Another point: I am not brave enough (yet) to carry MF gear everywhere Even in SF, people get mugged regularly for their gear

Thus, horses for courses (for me).

Click to expand...

Great post. Very interesting. Yes, I agree.

I have traveled hard, far and wide (I am very fortunate in many ways) for the past 16 months carrying GFX gear, first my GFX 50r (for a year) and then the GFX 100 (for the past 5 months) and 5 or 6 GFX lenses. I have walked so many countless miles with the camera around my neck and a bag on my shoulder with GFX lenses in it and a monopod or tripod in my hand. I do worry about safety and getting robbed, but thankfully it has not happened (knock wood).

I came from Fuji X, which I still have (many of the cameras and all of the lenses). I went to that system because of the ergo / size / weight and great smaller glass. But now I am back up to a big load using GFX. But the IQ and res is so astounding I just can't seem to make use my other great gear.

But I also always have a small fixed lens camera with me on the rip and usually in the bag on my shoulder. That was always the Fuji X100F but is now the Leica Q2.

So I get it. I hear you. All these cameras are damn good and you can get beautiful res and wonderful images with all of them.

For me it's about want, not need. It is also about fun. I want GFX. And having it is fun.

But Fuji X? That is the sweet spot for so many people Man. And Sony FF, especially their high-res FF? Amazing cameras. I have always been extremely tempted by it and I want an alphasevenarefour. Well.... If I really wanted it I would just buy it. But if I did that I would be too embarrassed but it would just be completely ridiculous.