Fujifilm GFX 50R vs Sony NEX-5T: A Deep Dive for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing between the Fujifilm GFX 50R and the Sony NEX-5T might feel like comparing two cameras from completely different worlds. Yet, both bring compelling features tailored to different kinds of photographers. Over our years testing and analyzing cameras, we know the value of understanding not just specs on paper, but real-world applications, usability, and results. So let’s unpack these two mirrorless contenders thoroughly, and help you find your perfect creative companion.

First Impressions: Size, Design, and Handling

When you pick up a camera, the feel in your hands can define your shooting experience. The Fujifilm GFX 50R is a medium format mirrorless camera steeped in a sleek rangefinder design, while the Sony NEX-5T is a compact, entry-level mirrorless camera aimed at portability and ease.

• Fujifilm GFX 50R: At 775g and with dimensions of 161x97x66 mm, it commands a presence. Its rangefinder shape and solid magnesium alloy body provide confidence and durability, especially valuable for outdoor and professional work.
• Sony NEX-5T: Significantly lighter at 276g and smaller at 111x59x39 mm, it’s made for those who prioritize traveling light or casual shooting.

The Fujifilm’s robust build includes weather resistance - a feature missing from Sony’s model - which means the GFX 50R can brave challenging environments more reliably. However, the Sony’s compact size offers convenience for street photography or travel typified by minimal gear.

To compare control layouts, the Fujifilm features dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation, delivering a tactile, manual feel designed for fast adjustments and more experienced photographers. Sony’s NEX-5T relies more on menus and buttons, which suits new users but may slow you down in fast-paced shooting scenarios.

In practice: The Fujifilm’s ergonomics favor deliberate, thoughtful shooting. The Sony invites spontaneous snapshots and easy pocketability.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the technical core, these cameras diverge dramatically. The GFX 50R houses a medium format 51MP CMOS sensor measuring 44 x 33 mm, whereas the NEX-5T sports an APS-C sized 16MP CMOS sensor, 23.4 x 15.6 mm.

Key Points:

What this means in real life:

• Resolution & Detail: The Fujifilm’s gigantic medium format sensor yields far greater detail and tonal richness, perfect for large prints, high-end commercial, or landscape work demanding every nuance.
• Dynamic Range: Medium format sensors generally excel in dynamic range, allowing better recovery of shadows and highlights. The GFX 50R is no exception.
• Low Light: The Sony’s higher native ISO ceiling (25600 vs 12800) suggests an advantage in very low light, but medium format's larger pixels can also outperform smaller sensors in noise handling at moderate ISOs.
• Crop Factor: Fujifilm’s sensor has a crop factor of ~0.8 (slightly wider FOV), while Sony’s APS-C has 1.5x crop - something to consider depending on lens selection and desired framing.

Practical takeaway: If you prioritize ultimate image quality, fine detail, and tonal depth - for landscapes, studio portraits, or commercial shoots - the Fujifilm’s sensor offers a significant advantage. For casual, everyday shooting or events where portability and speed matter more than pixel count, the Sony’s APS-C sensor is a solid performer.

Display, Interface & Viewfinder Experience

Your interaction with image previews, framing, and menus affects your shooting comfort and efficiency.

• Fujifilm GFX 50R: Offers a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen with 2.36 million dots, combined with a high-res 3.69-million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.97x magnification. This EVF rivals many pro cameras in clarity, giving critical evaluation ease.
• Sony NEX-5T: Has a 3-inch LCD tilting screen with 922k dots, and no built-in viewfinder. Instead, you rely on the rear screen or buy an optional EVF.

The Fuji’s touchscreen supports autofocus point selection and menu navigation, enhancing workflow. Sony’s NEX-5T also supports touch functionality but is limited by its lower resolution screen and lack of an integrated EVF. This makes the Fujifilm better suited for precise composition and results validation, especially in bright daylight where a viewfinder is essential.

Usability: For those shooting outdoors or making manual focus adjustments, the GFX 50R’s crisp EVF and detailed rear screen reduce eye strain and improve accuracy.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Focusing technology has evolved rapidly, becoming a critical differentiator between cameras.

Technical insights:

• The Fujifilm GFX 50R uses a contrast-detection autofocus system that emphasizes precision, suitable for static or slow-moving subjects. Its 117 focus points cover much of the frame but phase-detection is absent, resulting in slower focus acquisition compared to hybrid or phase systems.
• The Sony NEX-5T features a hybrid autofocus system that combines phase and contrast methods, offering faster, more reliable subject acquisition and tracking. This is advantageous for sports, wildlife, and street photographers who need quick, confident focus.

Real-world experience: While the Fuji provides pinpoint accuracy for portraiture and landscape, in fast-action shooting scenarios, the Sony’s AF system will feel more responsive and forgiving.

Build Quality and Environmental Resilience

If you frequently shoot outdoors, under inclement weather or challenging conditions, ruggedness is key.

• Fujifilm GFX 50R: Features robust weather sealing against moisture and dust. Its magnesium alloy frame and shutter mechanism are built to professional standards.
• Sony NEX-5T: Has a plastic body with no weather sealing, positioning it more for indoor, casual, or protected outdoor use.

This distinction affects durability and maintenance considerations over your camera’s lifetime, especially for travel, nature, or professional outdoor photographers.

Lens Ecosystems and Compatibility

Lens choice often determines creative flexibility.

The Fujifilm G mount lenses are specialized medium format optics designed for extraordinary image quality but come with a higher price tag and relatively smaller selection. Fujifilm is steadily expanding this lineup with superlative sharpness, unique rendering, and build quality.

Sony’s E-mount is one of the largest ecosystems worldwide, spanning budget primes, pro-grade zooms, and specialized lenses. This breadth makes the NEX-5T a highly versatile choice across genres, plus you can adapt many legacy lenses with electronic control.

Burst Shooting and Performance Under Pressure

Burst rates and buffer size matter if you shoot action, sports, or wildlife.

• Fujifilm GFX 50R: Max continuous shooting speed is approximately 3 frames per second (fps). Its large files and slower processor mean buffer clearing takes longer.
• Sony NEX-5T: Offers a notably faster burst rate of up to 10 fps, making it more suitable for capturing fleeting moments.

If capturing rapid action is your priority, Sony clearly takes the lead, while Fujifilm’s strengths lie in quality over speed.

Video Capabilities: Is Video a Priority?

If you shoot video or hybrid content, the camera’s video specs matter.

The Sony NEX-5T provides slightly better video specs, notably 1080p at 60fps for smoother motion, but lacks external audio monitoring ports. The Fujifilm offers stereo recording and ports for external mic and headphones - rare in medium format cameras.

Neither camera supports 4K, so if ultra-high definition is your baseline, you might want to look elsewhere.

Specialized Photography Use Cases: Where Each Camera Excels

Portrait Photography

The Fujifilm GFX 50R impresses with exquisite skin tone reproduction and creamy bokeh, thanks to:

• Medium format sensor lending superior tonal gradations
• Wide aperture lenses with smooth background blur
• Effective eye detection autofocus for critical focus on subjects

The Sony NEX-5T, while capable, produces lower resolution images and less shallow depth of field due to smaller sensor size, though its eye detection AF also helps.

Conclusion: The Fuji is the premium choice for professional portraits requiring every detail and lush rendering.

Landscape Photography

Here, the GFX 50R shines due to:

• Dynamic range superiority enabling recovery of highlights and shadows
• 51MP resolution for large prints
• Weather sealing allowing safe use in adverse conditions

Sony’s NEX-5T remains a good, budget-friendly option but can’t match the medium format’s image quality and ruggedness.

Wildlife and Sports

Sony’s faster burst rate and hybrid AF system give it the edge in tracking quick-moving subjects, making the NEX-5T better for:

• Action photography
• Wildlife on the move
• Sports events

The Fujifilm is less suited for fast sequences but can produce stunning detail in carefully composed static wildlife shots.

Street and Travel Photography

The NEX-5T wins for:

• Compactness and lightweight design
• Discrete appearance and quick responsiveness

While the Fujifilm’s large body and slower AF make it less convenient for street shooting, if your priority is ultimate image quality on travel, it is unbeatable.

Macro and Close-up Work

Both cameras lack specialized in-body stabilization, relying on lenses or tripod support.

• Fujifilm medium format lenses offer superb sharpness and micro detail.
• Sony’s ecosystem includes affordable macro lenses, beneficial for enthusiasts on a budget.

Night and Astro Photography

The Fujifilm sensor’s dynamic range and large pixels excel in capturing subtle night skies and star fields, albeit at slower frame rates and manual focus demands.

Sony’s higher max ISO and faster burst can help in low-light shooting but with lower resolution.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Dual card slots on the Fujifilm provide backup and extended capacity critical for professionals. USB 3.0 enables faster offloading.

Sony’s NFC eases quick connection to mobile devices, a plus for casual shooters sharing images on the go.

Pricing and Value Analysis

• Fujifilm GFX 50R: Around $4499 body-only, reflecting its medium format technology and build.
• Sony NEX-5T: Approximately $400, one of the most affordable interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras.

Choosing between these vastly different price points depends largely on your photography goals, budget, and willingness to invest.

Sample Images Showcase: Quality in Context

Fujifilm GFX 50R front Fujifilm GFX 50R screen back Sony NEX 5T front Sony NEX 5T screen back

These images demonstrate:

• Fujifilm’s rich detail, smooth tonality, and refined color depth ideal for professional portraiture and landscapes.
• Sony’s vibrant color reproduction and versatile everyday performance excellent for lifestyle and snapshot photography.

Performance Ratings Summarized

• Fujifilm GFX 50R scores impressively in image quality, build, and dynamic range
• Sony NEX-5T excels in burst speed, portability, and value

• Fujifilm dominates portrait, landscape, studio, and macro
• Sony leads in street, sports, and travel

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Fujifilm GFX 50R?

• Professional photographers demanding top-tier image quality for commercial or fine art.
• Landscape and studio shooters valuing detail, tonal gradation, and dynamic range.
• Creators working in harsh conditions requiring weather sealing.
• Those willing to invest in robust lenses and high-end gear over size and portability.

Who Should Opt for the Sony NEX-5T?

• Enthusiasts seeking a lightweight, entry-level mirrorless camera for travel, street, or casual family photography.
• Photographers valuing fast autofocus and burst speeds for action photography on a budget.
• Hobbyists who want a versatile system with a massive lens lineup and straightforward usability.

Wrapping Up: Your Next Steps

Both cameras serve distinct niches - one prioritizing ultimate image quality with medium format, the other prioritizing convenience and speed with APS-C. We recommend:

• Try handling both in-store to assess comfort and controls.
• Consider your shooting subjects and workflow demands before committing.
• Explore lens options early on to ensure they align with your creative vision.
• Check sample images and reviews online to refine expectations.

Photography is a journey, and your camera should be a trusted tool that inspires and empowers your creative expression. Whether you’re seeking the Fuji’s medium format excellence or the Sony’s everyday agility, both cameras can be gateways to beautiful imagery. Get started by exploring accessories and lenses that complement your style, and enjoy every shot you take.

We hope this detailed comparison helps unravel the strengths and nuances so you can make a confident, informed choice in your next camera purchase.