Fujifilm GFX 100 ii Photoshoot: Medium Format Filmmaking with the Flatsix Classics Safari 911
A photoshoot with the flagship Fujifilm GFX 100 ii is always a treat, but to film a medium format video of our journey on the same camera… that shouldn't be possible… Right? Medium format filmmaking would have been completely unthinkable only a few years ago and now here we are. If the pairing of a Safari Porsche 911 and the Fujifilm GFX 100ii interests you, then read (and watch) on.
The Camera
Fujifilm has boasted some impressive video specs for the latest iteration of the GFX and I was very keen to try some medium format filmmaking. With a sensor so large (both in megapixel count and dimensions) the processor has to work overtime to render each of those 101 million pixels. For this reason Fujifilm did warn me this is mainly meant as a camera is more 'controlled' environments and not necessarily as a handheld run-n-gun filmmaking tool.
It was hard to recall this advice as I was contorted in the back of the Safari 911 (with no seats) with head bent and pressed up against the rear glass, attempting to film Ryan powerslide on the mountain logging roads.
I requested the GF32-64 f4 and GF55mm F1.7 and attempted to film in a few different recording formats as each was a compromise between image quality, full sensor coverage and rolling shutter performance. More detail about this in the review video.
Update - nov. 12, 2024
Fujifilm has just announced development of a cinema camera in 2025 based on the GFX 100 ii called the FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA. According to a new CineD interview with the product manager at Fujifilm, Eterna will share much of the specs including sensor and processor which begs the question, will the same recording limitations be present in the new cinema camera. Will full sensor readout be limited to a pixel binned image? What is certain is Fujifilm’s new found dedication to filmmaking. We’ve seen FLOG2 introduced, FLOG2C announced for future updates, and now the Eterna. Looking forward to getting more details as they become available.
The Car
For those with a keen eye, you may have spotted the early stages of this build in my mini-documentary about Billy, a magician with a bodyshop. The Flatsix Classics Safari 911 is a 1980 Porsche 911 SC which started out as a 3.0L and refurbished to a 3.3L twin plug.
A sneak peek at the Safari build before she went in for paint from the video “Billy the Magician”
Peter of Flatsix Classics is often more demanding than his clients and made sure no detail was overlooked.
Whether it's the gauges, Heuer clock or the stopwatches, every inch of this machine is treat for the senses.
The Shoot
The idea for our video was pretty simple, Ryan, the outdoors man of Flatsix Classics, delivers the car to Peter who prepares it for our photoshoot. A pretty simple concept.
Ryan is eager to get going.
Making a video comes down to a series of decisions (for better or for worse). Aside from the simple narrative, I had decided to film as much as possible on a tripod. I wanted a more controlled and intentional feel as opposed to a doc-style hand held piece.
All productions, whether for a client or passion project, form a transitory team. A group of characters who come together to create a thing then disband. Through the multi-day adventure the shoot takes you to different locations, challenges and even brushes with law enforcement.
Capturing a few of these moments throughout the shoot on the GFX became some of my favourite images.
Peter (left), Krys (centre) and Ryan (right) after we lost light and wrapped day 1.
Pho was the perfect end-of-day meal.
Peter and Krys did their best to stall the security guard asking us to leave this location. So I had to get creative as a one-man photographer light stand and remote trigger (with the phone you see in my hand).
There are prints available of some of the shots above at the print shop. If you see something you’d like to order that isn’t in the print shop, let me know!
Go give these guys a follow who all made this shoot possible: