Fujifilm Takes Unassailable Leadership of the Medium Format Market: Fujifilm GFX100 with Pixel Shift and Fujifilm GFX100 IR (infrared)
Related: digital sensor, filters, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX100, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, infrared, medium format, Multi-Shot High Resolution Mode, pixel shift, true-color sensor or image
See my Sony mirrorless wishlist.
Kudos to Fujifilm for adding value to their cameras with regular firmware updates and additional models. By comparison, Sony is asleep at the wheel—where is my focus stacking support, now lacking for five years when in fact it’s a trivial software feature to implement. My expectations of any camera vendor are to keep adding value to my purchase via firmware updates!
Fujifilm GFX100 pixel shift
Fujifilm’s recent firmware update for the Fujifilm GFX100 brings with it a 16-shot pixel shift feature. I don’t see it as very useful for field work given the 16 raw files it requires, which must be combined used FUJIFILM Pixel Shift Combiner software. However, if the smarts are there as with the Panasonic multi-shot high-res mode feature, maybe it might be applicable to field use. While I understand the value to product photography in a fixed setting, a 4 shot pixel shift would be 4X faster and 4X less demanding of storage, and thus far more practical for field use.
Fujifilm GFX100 IR
All I want for XMAS is a Fujifilm GFX100 IR! This new model (available early 2021) uses the same sensor, but without the infrared-cut filter. It means that regular color images may be made by attaching an IR-cut filter over the lens, or infrared images across a wide band of wavelengths can be made using appropriate visible-light-cut filters.
Of course, I’d like to see a GFX100 monochrome model also, for pure visible light monochrome images without the Bayer matrix artifacts.
It’s not clear to me why there should be a special license agreement to buy and use the camera; this is asinine at best, at least here in the USA. Will you own the camera or not? Weird. UPDATE: see Oren G’s comment that follow.
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Fujifilm Introduces FUJIFILM GFX100 IR (Infrared) Large Format Mirrorless Digital Camera
Valhalla, N.Y., November 25, 2020 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of FUJIFILM GFX100 IR digital camera (GFX100 IR), a uniquely specialized version of its GFX100 large format mirrorless digital camera, now with infrared image-making capabilities, which can be produced upon order for professionals in forensic, scientific, and cultural preservation fields. Infrared images can now be made at 100MP - and even at 400MP through GFX100 IR’s new Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function - to reveal intricate details within a subject or scene that can only normally be seen through the infrared spectrum.
GFX100 IR also includes the ability to:
Make images in the infrared spectrum at an incredible 100MP or 400MP of resolution
Images made of a subject within the infrared spectrum can reveal details that a regular (non-IR) digital camera or the naked eye cannot see. For example, in the field of forensics, this can be an important tool in helping to identify counterfeit documents. For individuals working in cultural preservation, GFX100 IR can be used to analyze pigments in works of art and historical artifacts, even if they have degraded over time. Using the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot feature on GFX100 IR can create 400MP images with incredible detail and little-to-no color fringing.
“Using GFX100 IR with the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot feature is invaluable for cultural research because reviewing images in infrared could lead to unlocking the secrets of some of history's most treasured artifacts,” said Victor Ha, senior director of marketing and product development for FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “It can also be an incredibly powerful tool for researchers using the images to evaluate works of art or pieces of evidence.”
Use special filters to make images within specific wavelengths
Different IR filters in front of the camera lens can be used to make images at various wavelengths, which can reveal different details within a subject. However, using the appropriate IR cut filter will allow GFX100 IR to be used normally (i.e. in the same manner as the standard FUJIFILM GFX100 digital camera) to make regular, color images within the visible spectrum.
Additionally, when the camera is set in a fixed position and paired with Capture One or a similarly compatible software application to engage tethered capture functionality, users can create images with the same angle of view. This enables them to maintain a simple capture to output workflow for maximum efficiency.
Availability
GFX100 IR is designed for forensic, scientific, and cultural preservation applications, and the product will not be made available to general photographers or customers for personal use. GFX100 IR will only be offered by specific, Fujifilm authorized retailers, and sales of GFX100 IR will be subject to a GFX100 IR User Agreement, which sets out the specific terms of use for the camera. GFX100 IR is currently expected to be available in the first quarter of 2021.
Oren G writes:
The restricted license for the GFX100 IR is not unique to Fujifilm, nor to this model. Pentax has the same restriction on the
645Z IR: https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/645z-ir/
as did Fujiilm for the X-T1 IR: https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/consumer/digitalcameras/ir-camera#
AFAICT this restriction was introduced with Fuji's third extended-spectrum camera, the IS Pro variant of the S5 DSLR. The USA EULA tells the tale - the concern was what's in the "In addition..." provision:“You hereby acknowledge and agree that your use of the camera's UV and/or IR light energy sensitive capabilities, as enabled by Fujifilm's camera firmware, will be purely to accomplish a legitimate business purpose in the medical, forensic, fire investigative, law enforcement, scientific, systems integrators, museum/antiquity, aerial photographic survey, astronomy, professional nature and fine art photography, photographic education and local and federal government markets.
In addition, you further agree not to use the camera's hardware and firmware enabled capabilities to engage in unethical photographic conduct involving the violation of personal privacy, child endangerment, lewd photography, and or paparazzi like activities.”
You may recall that there was a fair bit of controversy around some early-generation Sony digital cameras and camcorders with a "Night Vision" mode that was reported as enabling users to see through clothes.
DIGLLOYD: rings a bell.
