Medium Format v. Full Frame for Landscape Photography: Comparing Canon 5DSR, R5, & Fuji GFX 50s II

If you've been following my channel for the last two years, you'll know that I absolutely love using my Canon 5DSR for landscape photography. What I haven't shared is that medium format cameras, particularly the Fujifilm GFX series, have been calling my name! Well, this year I finally gave in and picked up a used Fuji GFX 50s II with the 35-70mm kit lens. To say I am ecstatic to now be able to use a medium format camera is an understatement!

Of course though, the first thing I wanted to do was to see how my 5DSR compared to the GFX 50s II. I've long assumed that the 5DSR would have fairly comparable image quality to medium format (excluding uber high end options like PhaseOne, Hasselblad H6D, etc.) in a moderately similar price point as high end full frame options. The point of this video is to get out and test that assumption. In particular, I wanted to see how to colors, detail, and dynamic range compared across these three cameras in a real world setting.

So I set out on on a predawn winter hike to the Flatirons in Boulder, CO as my test location. This is a great spot because it's a location I would enjoy photographing, it has lots of great detail in the scene, and the mountains at sunrise is one of my favorite things to photograph. In addition to the three cameras, you could also say that this is a test essentially comparing the Canon EF 24-70mm 2.8L II lens vs. the Fuji 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, too, though that wasn't the point. I also compared a sunset image from the week prior where I photographed sunset over the Rocky Mountains with these three as well.

Be sure to check out how each camera performed relative to each other! Also a disclaimer: this test is very un-scientific, and it's just to compare the image quality in a setting how I would use it. I'm not claiming to be an expert or for this comparison to be exhaustive! These are three excellent cameras, and all of them are capable of producing exceptional images. I know this test is splitting hairs, but I really wanted to know how medium format compared to the best Canon full frame options today and in which circumstances each would be best.

Thanks for watching and happy photographing!
Brian

Intro: (0:00)
Composition: (0:59)
Image Comparison (Fuji vs. 5DSR): (4:47)
Image Comparison (R5 vs. 5DSR): (6:28)
Image Comparison (Fuji vs. R5): (7:07)
Dynamic Range Comparison (Fuji vs. 5DSR): (9:14)
Dynamic Range Comparison (Fuji vs. R5): (10:36)
High Contrast Comparison: (11:42)
High Contrast Comparison: (11:42)
Color Comparison: (13:11)
Second Color Tone Comparison: (15:40)
Final Thoughts: (17:53)
Final Image: (18:44)

Gear Used:

#landscapephotography #mediumformat #canonr5

[bciecko]

Canon shooter here and just picked up a Fujifilm X-T4 for street photography. Fell in love with it and found out about the Fuji Medium formats. Currently have a guitar listed for sale to fund the new to me Fuji GFX 50s.

[justinkmiller]

Thank you!! I’ve been searching for a thorough review of the Fuji GFX 50s ii and you nailed it. I like how you threw in the R5 and 5DSR too.

[AQUPAS]

This just makes me love my 5DSR even more. Excellent shots and just spectacular scenary out there in Colorado.

[PeteBrownGuitars]

I've been contemplating upgrading to mirrorless from my current 5DSR. However, as I enjoy photographing landscapes as well as wildlife, I'm currently leaning towards keeping the 5DSR and adding Canon's APS-C sensor R7 for wildlife subjects - its AF looks amazing. It's great to hear that the venerable 5DSR can hold its own with the Fuji and the R5! Thanks for taking the trouble to record and share your findings.

[thomastuorto]

For anything that isn't fast paced, the larger the format, usually equals better image files, plus add some great color science. Not a necessity for making beautiful photos but a joy to work with. Have fun with your new gear.

[JudeStreicherPhoto]

The Fuji GFX is a PHENOMENAL camera system! Love seeing such a great detailed comparison of this camera and a couple others of similar caliber. Having your real world use as an example also really helps give the viewer confidence. I think you're going to love the Fuji the more you get to know it! Thanks for sharing, my friend!

[RussWeymouthPhotography]

Very interesting to see the yellow shift on the R5, which I also own. In some way that would explain why I have sometimes adjusted the hue of the yellows/oranges towards a deeper orange as I felt it was just a little to yellow in some of my photos.

[JimsPhotographyArt]

Great video. I also recently picked up a great deal on a used GFX50S II w/35-70mm lens and absolutely love it. I also picked up a used GF 23mm for the wide end. This 50S II has quickly become my favorite camera to shoot with, especially for nature and landscape pics. I'm using an old Pentax 150mm 645 lens for the long end which is working quite well but often just use my XT5 with the 70-300mm when I need the reach. (I may end up getting the GF 100-200mm). The GFX system is amazing!

[jasonlorphotofilms]

Great spot for some photography. Thanks for demostrating each camera differences. Always enjoy your photography and travels. Can't wait for the next one. 19:13 is my favorite.

[mikkirurk]

Great video. I am watching it again after 3 months, this channel definitely deserves more attention.

[RichardBirchett]

Hi Brian, I really like the tempo of your videos. I'm predominately a Wildlife Photographer but I'd like to try my hand at some Landscape photography when I move from the UK to Canada this summer. I've a 5DSR which doesn't get used much for the main part of my work as I shoot with the R3, 1DX Mk III and R7 but the 5DSR will get used for more of my landscape work. Looking forward to seeing more from you. All the best Rich - Love the Viz, I have two of them and they are just the best dogs. 👌

[mikkirurk]

Thank you for all the work you've put into this - well done. Canon 5DSr is unbeatable price to performance ratio wise, both other options are just way too expensive IMHO. Have a good day.
Also, if I may ask, how large do you usually print? Greetings from Czech Republic.

[Peter_Reed_Photography]

I know it's a fair few months old now, but thanks for doing this video. Very useful.

I watched a video recently where a photographer compared an APS-C, Full Frame, and Medium Format and concluded there wasn't much difference between the three, but their "test" was rather biased toward making the FF and MF similar. They even used some AI software on the FF image to make it 'comparable'.

Thanks for doing a real-world test and not trying to goose it one way or another.

[yiyang]

Great comparison, haven't seen anything with this much detailed explanation! I have a D750 and have been thinking of switching to either Z7ii or GFX 50s II mainly for weekend hiking trip landscape, having a hard time deciding lol

[jaredboazphoto]

Great video man! Congrats on the new system, looks like you'll be able to make some great photos with it! Great in-depth review of all of the systems. I am still on the R5 but interested to see what the R5 MK II has up its sleeve. Hits all the marks for me at the moment and I just moved to a second R5 body for my vlogs (I was using an R6) but man the image quality looks so good on the Fuji! Excellent work as always!

[WalterMatherPhoto]

I love the canon 5Dsr, great camera! Great comparison and very informative!

[JAproPhotoRenoCarson]

Great job dude. As expected. I shoot the 5DSR and am heading to the 50sii as well. Wife will keep the 5DSr in her bag. Fuji is the way for accurate and flat film like renditions. Really great stuff man. Keep it up. We are relocating to Reno so maybe we will see ya out on the mountain man.

[strawzinthewind]

Nice comparison, can’t lose here. 5DSR is such a sleeper. Loved mine and only recently sold it a to fund a killer deal on the GFX 50R.

[Chris-NZ]

Really interesting Brian and thanks for taking the trouble to make these comparisons 😀 . I’m an R5 user and very happy with it being a hybrid shooter, retired and feeling better with its light weight compared to my D series set up 😀.

[johnchambers]

Thank you Brian for sharing your very good comparison of these 3 models. I was pleased to see that the 5DSR held up well against the R5. I think out of this that I will be bracketing more or taking an extra image for the shadows though. So no plans on upgrading to the R5 but the GFX 50s II is a different story. I ddin't expect to see that much difference in image quality and color rendering. Looking forward to more content on the 5DSR & GFX 50s II.