Go Large and Save Cash with MPB

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The Fujifilm GFX 50R has a rangefinder-style body with the viewfinder eyepiece at the far left side of the body. Here, it is partnered with the GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR standard zoom.

Pentax started the more affordable medium-format ball rolling in 2010 with its 645D and a few years later the 645Z. However, it was Hasselblad with the X1D, the first mirrorless medium-format camera and, more significantly, Fujifilm that really gave the ball a serious shove and made going large much more accessible. Of course, accessible is one thing but affordable is quite another, and when the Fujifilm GFX 50S reached the shops in 2017, its body price was £6199 with another £2199 needed for the GF 32-64mm R LM WR standard zoom. In other words, you still had to be pretty keen with reasonably deep pockets to go medium-format but it was undoubtedly more affordable than rivals at the time. 

Since then, Fujifilm has continued to put its considerable weight behind its GFX system, which is based on a 33x44mm sensor, with a regular flow of new models and lenses. To date, we have seen seven interchangeable lens cameras while the eighth, introduced earlier this year, was the fixed lens GFX 100RF.

So, for the keen photographer looking for outstanding image quality, there are seven models with 51 or 102 megapixel resolution to choose from. For this guide, we’ve assumed a budget of £5000 for a Fujifilm medium-format camera with lenses that would appeal to keen scenic photographers.

The first decision is the camera body with the option being 51 or 102 megapixels. However, our budget makes this straightforward. MPB has excellent condition samples of the GFX 100S at £2849, but if you are happy to accept a good condition sample, the price drops to £2389. 

Taking this 102-megapixel option means about half of the budget would be swallowed up on the camera body alone, and that would consequently limit lens options. However, the GFX 100S is an impressive beast with an in-body stabiliser with a claimed 6-stop benefit, decent AF skills, 5fps continuous shooting and excellent imaging performance. Pair a good condition GFX 100S body (£2389) with the GF 23mm f/4 R LM WR (£1159-1179 used at MPB) and the GF 32-64mm R LM WR (£1149-1309 used at MPB), and that’s around £4800 spent, enough left for a couple of extra NP-W235S batteries at £26 each. 

The GF 23mm is equivalent to 18mm in full-frame terms while the GF32-64mm is equal to a 25-51mm zoom, so these two lenses are well endowed in the wide-angle to standard lens department but totally lacking in the telephoto region.

Of course, having 102 megapixels does mean there’s great potential when it comes to cropping to give a faux-telephoto effect but this isn’t ideal. 

So, another permutation would be the GF 32-64mm R LM WR (£1149-1309) partnered by the GF 100-200mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR, which is available used from MPB in the range of £879-944. This telezoom is the full-frame equivalent of a 79-158mm, so while its pulling power and maximum aperture are modest, it is good value in the context of our medium-format system.

The GF100-200mm f/5.6R LM OIS WR telezoom might not have the greatest range and its maximum aperture is modest, but it’s portable and not too expensive, £879-944 used from MPB.

However, for maximum lens versatility, we could forego 102 megapixels and opt for the 51-megapixel GFX 50R. This was the second model launched in the GFX system, and its rangefinder body design makes it a great handling and compact outdoor medium-format camera.

Having 51 megapixels under the bonnet might sound a serious come-down to many photographers but it shouldn’t because the Raws from this camera are excellent, with plenty of editing headroom when it comes to shadow and highlight control. Furthermore, the files still open up to 8256×6192 pixels so print out to 27.5×20.6in at 300ppi, and that’s without any software interpolation, so we are still talking serious resolution.

This extremely high contrast scene was captured on a GFX 50R shooting Raw format. Editing in Lightroom Classic, no masks were used and the shadows were lifted and the highlights brought down using the tonal adjustment sliders only. It gives you an idea of the contrast control potential of the camera’s Raw files. 1/250sec f/14 ISO 200. Image by Will Cheung.

The camera itself is well furnished when it comes to core photography features that include Fujifilm’s Film Simulation settings, a comprehensive exposure system with PASM modes, four metering methods, autoexposure bracketing and a 100-12,800 native ISO range. The focal plane shutter is mechanical with an electronic front shutter and electronic, although you must take care with this option because it does suffer from rolling shutter distortion.

Downsides to take note of include the lack of an in-body image stabiliser, and the contrast-detect AF system is less sure-footed than more recent models. Also, the battery, the NP-T125, is not used in current models so you may have to search around for extras or buy third-party. 

If you want ultimate detail rendition, medium-format could be for you. The GFX 50R body does not have in-body stabilisation but it’s still fine for critical sharpness shooting handheld. Optical IS is available on several GF lenses. ISO 200 1/400sec f/11. Image by Will Cheung.

To sum up, MPB has a used GFX 50R at £1579 so that is the centrepiece of our outfit. For lenses, we have gone for a GF 23mm f/4 R LM WR at £1159, the GF 32-64mm R LM WR at £1149 and the GF 100-200mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR at £879. That three-lens outfit comes in at £4766, which leaves enough change out of our £5000 for protection filters and a couple of batteries.

As far as lens coverage is concerned, our three lenses cover from 18mm to 158mm in full-frame terms which is a more than useful range for scenic photography and the whole kit is reasonably portable. The GFX 50R is compact and comparable to a DSLR body in sizes but the medium-format lenses are solid, rotund optics and the outfit is quite weighty and that’s before adding a tripod. However, using the GFX 50R is a pleasure and the editing flexibility of the Raw files is a pure joy.

The generally more sedate pace of scenic photography suits the more considered approach of medium-format and the GFX 50R is at home for shooting handheld or mounted on a tripod. 1/8sec f/13 ISO 100. Image by Will Cheung.

MPB Explained

You need kit to take photographs and produce videos, and taking the used route is a cost-effective way of making the most of your budget and keeping up with the latest developments in imaging technology.

MPB is one of the biggest used retailers with bases in the UK, Germany and the USA.

Trading with MPB the process is fair, safe, painless and incredibly easy.

Whether you have kit to sell, want to make a purchase or part exchange, start by going to the MPB website which is intuitive and straightforward to use.

If you have kit to trade, just start typing the name in and a list of suggestions from MPB’s huge database will appear. If a name on that list matches your product click on it and add its condition; if not, continue typing in the whole name and condition.

It’s worth bearing in mind that MPB’s database covers much more than cameras and lenses so if you have, for example, a photo backpack, tripod or filters to sell these can be shown as you type in their name too.

With all your kit listed, add contact details and a quote will appear in your inbox soon afterwards, although manually entered items will take one working day.

If you are happy with the quote, accept it and follow the instructions to get the kit ready for courier collection on a day to suit you. For higher-value deals, an MPB account manager will also be in touch, so you have a personal point of contact if you have any queries.

Once received by MPB, you will get a notification and after checking by its product specialists you will receive a final quote. This can vary from the original quote if there is a missing item —like a battery not being supplied—or your assessed condition differs from the actual condition.

A quote can go down, but it can also increase if the kit’s condition is better than your assessment.

The whole process doesn’t take long and MPB are in touch by e-mail at every step so you’re never in the dark, and only when you are totally happy with the deal, pass on your payment details or pay the balance in the case of part-exchange. Either way, the money or your new kit will be with you soon after.

Get A Quote From MPB Today

About MPB

• MPB is the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video kit.
• MPB is the simple, safe and circular way to trade, upgrade and get paid.
• MPB is not a marketplace, instead buying directly from visual storytellers and evaluating all items before reselling MPB-approved kit.
• MPB’s dynamic pricing engine provides the right price upfront for all items.
• Circularity is at the centre of MPB, promoting sustainability, diversity and inclusion in everything they do.
• MPB prioritises inclusive recruitment and supports employees with extensive training and development. They promote inclusive visual storytelling and an inclusive circular economy.
• MPB’s business model is 100% circular. All packaging is 100% plastic-free. Their cloud-based platform uses 100% renewable electricity.
• MPB recirculates more than 570,000 products annually
• MPB provides first-class customer service. Customers can receive support through their Help Centre or by speaking directly with a kit expert.
• MPB’s product specialists are trusted by thousands of visual storytellers in the UK.
• MPB is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 37,000 reviews.

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