I had the pleasure of spending a day and a half filming and testing FUJIFILM’s first dedicated cinema camera on a UK racing track with an early release version of the firmware. The GFX ETERNA 55 delivers distinctive large-format imagery through its 102MP 43.6 x 32.7mm sensor with dual native ISO 800/3200, variable electronic ND filter, and 4K 4:3 open-gate recording up to 48fps. But at $16,500 for the camera body and supplied accessories, will it appeal to many customers and become successful? This camera does very well what it is intended to do, and we have already seen some beautiful images coming out of it when deployed in large-scale productions. However, I wanted to see how easy it is (or is not) to operate in a one-man-band situation and to find its strengths alongside its weaknesses, especially in such a competitive camera market. Let’s dive into it! This review documents real-world shooting conditions rather than controlled lab testing. FUJIFILM Europe kindly provided me with the camera on location in the UK, allowing me to evaluate the GFX ETERNA 55’s practical viability for documentary and one-man-band operations. The test scenario involved capturing fast-moving drift racing alongside the daily life routine of Malcolm Williams (Steadicam operator, filmmaker, model, consultant to some leading companies in our industry) and Amber Jones (Formula One presenter). This dedicated and passionate power couple is building their own drift car, and I was fortunate enough to follow them for a day and hear their personal story. Upon...
Published By: CineD - Thursday, 22 January