GFX 100 teardown at Lens Rentals

[Oren Grad]

Roger Cicala and Aaron Closz at Lens Rentals had the opportunity to tear down a GFX 100 that got ruined by salt water. Two key take-homes, a mix of good news and bad news: construction of the IBIS unit is very robust, but the weather sealing isn't.

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2020/08/the-fujifilm-gfx-100-vs-salt-water-teardown/

 

[SrMphoto]

Roger Cicala and Aaron Closz at Lens Rentals had the opportunity to tear down a GFX 100 that got ruined by salt water. Two key take-homes, a mix of good news and bad news: construction of the IBIS unit is very robust, but the weather sealing isn't.

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2020/08/the-fujifilm-gfx-100-vs-salt-water-teardown/

They explain how IBIS works :

You see, you put the magnets and electromagnets together, program stuff and connect it to some sensors, add a little electricity, and then magic happens, and your picture is better

 

[Oren Grad]

Yeah, the Lens Rentals teardowns are worth reading just for the Roger-isms.

 

[buildbot]

Roger Cicala and Aaron Closz at Lens Rentals had the opportunity to tear down a GFX 100 that got ruined by salt water. Two key take-homes, a mix of good news and bad news: construction of the IBIS unit is very robust, but the weather sealing isn't.

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2020/08/the-fujifilm-gfx-100-vs-salt-water-teardown/

Matches my experience with the GFX 50S, which was that the top part was well built and sealed, and everything else was not very sealed and used very thin/brittle metal.

What medium format body does have good weather sealing though?

 

[nameBrandon]

matches my experience with the gfx 50s, which was that the top part was well built and sealed, and everything else was not very sealed and used very thin/brittle metal.

What medium format body does have good weather sealing though?

x1d / x1d ii

 

[SrMphoto]

Matches my experience with the GFX 50S, which was that the top part was well built and sealed, and everything else was not very sealed and used very thin/brittle metal.

What medium format body does have good weather sealing though?

It is said that X1D (except for remote release) and Leica S3 are weather sealed. I do not know how well.

 

[MGrayson]

Matches my experience with the GFX 50S, which was that the top part was well built and sealed, and everything else was not very sealed and used very thin/brittle metal.

What medium format body does have good weather sealing though?

Leica S(006), but the bodies have barely changed since then:



From that same walk...



Matt

 

[buildbot]

Leica S(006), but the bodies have barely changed since then:



From that same walk...



Matt

Wow, both are impressive!

If Leica S glass was cheaper, it would be fun to pick up an older body just to shoot one. If the M9 or M240 I've used are anything to go by, it would feel amazing too shoot even if the pictures where so so...

 

[Ed Hurst]

What medium format body does have good weather sealing though?

The Pentax 645Z does. Of course, you have to use it in conjunction with one of the weather-sealed lenses, or there's a weakspot there. But if you do, I have found it to be good in that respect!

 

[tcdeveau]

Wow, both are impressive!

If Leica S glass was cheaper, it would be fun to pick up an older body just to shoot one. If the M9 or M240 I've used are anything to go by, it would feel amazing too shoot even if the pictures where so so...

I've only taken a few shots with an S body for a few minutes, but I enjoyed the body and shooting experience...if you like the M experience, you'd probably like the S

 

[dwood]

Leica S(006), but the bodies have barely changed since then:



Matt

Excellent picture, Matt!

 

[Charles2]

Leica S(006) ... From that same walk...

I like it, too. I will note, though, that a pull of the luminance curve down at the third quartile mark creates a good alternative rendering. (Folks did see the snowman, yes?)

 

[Paul2660]

Interesting read, thanks for posting.

I would feel free to state that no camera can stand much total submersion or immersion in water, and salt water is 100 times worse. I have used the GFX100 in the rain, in fact a driving down pour I got caught in last fall. So far so good, but I after reading their tear down, I will be more considerate of conditions.

I guess if you want water proof it's still Nikonos.

Paul C

 

[MGrayson]

I like it, too. I will note, though, that a pull of the luminance curve down at the third quartile mark creates a good alternative rendering. (Folks did see the snowman, yes?)

Getting :OT:, but I appreciate your suggestion. It definitely works. I was going for low visibility except for the nearest lamppost, with the snowman barely visible. Here is enough drop in luminosity to change the feeling of the image.



Thanks,

Matt

 

[ErikKaffehr]

Pentax 645D used to be known to be though. I would guess 645Z, too.

Best regards
Erik

Matches my experience with the GFX 50S, which was that the top part was well built and sealed, and everything else was not very sealed and used very thin/brittle metal.

What medium format body does have good weather sealing though?

 

[ErikKaffehr]

The Pentax 645Z does. Of course, you have to use it in conjunction with one of the weather-sealed lenses, or there's a weakspot there. But if you do, I have found it to be good in that respect!

It seems it is not shipping proof...

Glad to see your is repaired after shipping damage!

Best regards
Erik