GFX 100S test of ISO range

Just when I thought I might be done with my tripod, I started wondering about the usable range of ISO on this camera. Like my other tests this is done mostly for my own benefit, so that I know the constraints I'm working with. 

Everyone has different tolerance to noise but most photographers would prefer it to be as low as possible. Adding film-like grain is a different matter since this has quite a different look from sensor noise. The aesthetic appeal can be gauged by the number of software applications just waiting to add grain to your shots. 

You can read my previous post for my testing method. Let's see how this camera performs!

Vintage lenses tested on GFX 100S

Recently I tested two Fujifilm lenses on the GFX 100S. Since I can't afford a full fleet of native glass my plan is to use my modest collection of fine vintage (manual focus) glass. I have been happy to use a selection of these on the full-frame (135 format) Panasonic S5. But not all of these lenses will support the larger sensor size. I expect some vignetting, especially wide open. Or the borders could simply be too weak (e.g. blurry with aberrations).

So... bring on the testing! I lined up a selection of Contax-Yashica mount Carl Zeiss lenses, namely:

• Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/28
• Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1,4/50
• Carl Zeiss Makro Planar T* 2,8/60 C 
• Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 2,8/85
• Carl Zeiss Planar T* 2/100

And a few M42 screw mount lenses:

• Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Pancolar auto 1,8/50 MC
• Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Domiplan 2.8/50
• Pentacon 2.8/135

Pentax will have to wait since the adapter I purchased is apparently on a world tour. 

A quick Fujifilm GFX lens test

The first two lenses I purchased with the Fujifilm GFX 100S are similar everyday focal lengths: 45mm and 50mm. The plan is to compare these and keep the one that works best. So I immediately went for a walk in my neighbourhood... who could resist!

Nonetheless, I return to my bookshelf for this article, since it provides a controlled environment with a variety of colours, textures, and printed text. Test shots allow me to get a quick idea of lens acuity / sharpness at different apertures. While I don't claim to be scientific, this is more controlled than mere guesswork.

Enhancing the GFX: modes versus recipes

I just published my first look at the Fuji GFX 100S. Today I present a recommendation that would be a huge win for ergonomics and the Fuji community. This would fix a logical error in how these cameras deal with saving and restoring settings. All it would take is a firmware update to open up a new world of flexibility and the possibility to directly share development recipes. 

First look at the Fujifilm GFX 100S

I'm only five years late, but here's my evaluation of the GFX 100S, a medium format camera that might replace my Panasonic Lumix S5 as my main workhorse. In this article I will compare salient features. To begin:

MODEL                  DIMENSIONS (mm)  MASS (g)  SENSOR       PIXELS
Fujifilm GFX 100S      150 x 104 x 87   880       43.8 × 32.9  102 mp
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5  133 x 97 x 82    715       36.0 x 24.0   24 mp

A personal photography chronology

I've used five different camera systems in my life, but a sixth has just arrived at Studio Ubiquity. This seems like a good time to update my history with still photography. So I've trawled the archives and compiled the following narrative. It helps me to understand the decisions I've made along the way. Perhaps it will be useful to you?

You can also read an older version of this article. 

Presentation tips

Presentations are an important aspect of delivering your ideas to a group, whether you work in business, at a design firm, or on a community project. Besides this you might be a student or, like me, a lecturer. Each year I present dozens of times: in class, at conferences, in arts contexts.

Here follow seventeen pointers that I have compiled over many years. Read on to learn two secrets. Shhhh!

stereo electret microphones in 2026

This is a summary of sources for electret microphones in May 2026. These mics are a great choice for stereo and binaural recording where tiny size is the over-riding concern. Paired with a small audio recorder, these make a compact setup for field recording and other tasks. Please check out the Field Recording Gear page for other useful resources. 

Field Recorders in 2026

Well, it's been a good long while since my last field recorder update and a few things have changed. So here I am once again, at your service, summarising the 23 available models that sell for under €1500. Read on for the PDF download and my commentary.

Updated 11 May 2026 to include the Deity PR-4. And then again add additional power options for each recorder. 

An introduction to my music recommendations

After my last article it struck me that I don't post music recommendations on this blog. Instead they've all been dumped on Facebook where they become part of that mushy landscape, receding into the past almost immediately, never to be seen again. Given that I take quite a lot of time to listen and advise, this seems somehow inappropriate. Music does not have an expiry date.