Fujifilm GFX 50S II vs Nikon Z8: A Pro Mirrorless Showdown From My Extensive Testing Experience

When two standout pro mirrorless cameras hit the market - the Fujifilm GFX 50S II and the Nikon Z8 - the natural question for advanced enthusiasts and professionals is: which model brings the right balance of image quality, performance, and usability for your specialized photography needs? After putting both through their paces over many days of rigorous shooting in diverse scenarios, I’m excited to share a comparison that goes beyond spec sheets to reveal their true real-world capabilities. I’ll break down the technical details, usability factors, and creative potentials that genuinely matter to photographers.

At First Glance: Size, Design & Handling

Both cameras adopt a DSLR-style mirrorless body, but their physical dimensions and ergonomics vary meaningfully. The GFX 50S II is notably bulkier, reflecting its medium format heritage with a 150 x 104 x 87 mm size and a weight of 900g without a lens. The Nikon Z8, while nearly the same weight at 910g, is a bit more compact - 144 x 119 x 83 mm - thanks to its full-frame sensor design ironing out some girth lengthwise.

Handling-wise, Fujifilm’s GFX body feels robust with a deep grip, well-balanced when coupled with their G mount lenses, which are larger to cover the bigger sensor area. Nikon’s Z8 continues the strong DSLR lineage feel with a slightly wider grip and thoughtful button placement. Its illuminated buttons (absent on the Fujifilm) truly shine during low-light sessions by boosting usability.

I appreciate Nikon’s top LCD panel as well for quick info readouts on the go - something the GFX 50S II does include but is slightly smaller and less detailed. Overall: Fujifilm’s larger frame telegraphs serious intention for studio and landscape shooters who prioritize image quality above all, while Nikon’s Z8 strikes an attractive balance between portability and professional control.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Medium Format vs Full Frame

Image sensors are the heart of any camera system, and here the differences between these two become clearest. The GFX 50S II packs a 51.4 MP medium format CMOS measuring 44 x 33 mm, offering a whopping 1,452 mm² sensor area - about 70% larger than full frame. Nikon’s Z8 sports a 45.7 MP stacked CMOS sensor sized at 35.9 x 23.9 mm, with an area of 858 mm².

Medium format commonly delivers superior dynamic range, color depth, and ultimate resolution, characteristics that make the GFX 50S II a powerful tool for portrait, landscape, and commercial photographers chasing pixel-level detail and tonal fidelity.

In my side-by-side image quality testing, the GFX’s larger sensor produced images with noticeably richer gradations and cleaner shadows at base ISO (100 native, extendable down to 50). The Nikon Z8’s full-frame sensor holds its own with excellent dynamic range too - noise levels stay low up to ISO 3200 and beyond, aided by its stacked architecture which accelerates readout and noise suppression.

If you often find yourself pushing ISO limits for events or low-light shooting, the Z8's better high ISO performance (native ISO up to 25600) edges out the GFX, which maxes at 12800 natively but extends faintly to 102400. RAW files from the Z8 also benefit from more flexible highlight recovery in post, though the Fujifilm's larger sensor can’t be beat in sheer pixel capture quality.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy & Tracking

Autofocus can make or break capturing the decisive moment - especially across fast-paced genres like wildlife or sports. Fujifilm’s GFX 50S II uses contrast-detection autofocus only, spreading 425 selectable points. This results in very precise AF for still subjects such as portraits or macro but is somewhat less effective for tracking moving subjects due to the inherent speed limitations of contrast-based systems.

The Nikon Z8, however, is equipped with a hybrid system - phase-detection AF over 493 points combined with contrast detection, delivering blazing autofocus acquisition and tracking. Plus, it supports reliable animal eye AF in addition to human face and eye detection, making it highly effective for wildlife and action shooters.

During my side-by-side shooting with small birds in flight and kids at play, the Nikon Z8 locked focus and tracked movement fluidly, maintaining sharpness through erratic motion - something very difficult for the GFX 50S II despite its excellent single-shot AF.

Sustain Performance in Burst & Buffer Depth

When photographing sports, wildlife, or events, burst shooting and how fast the camera can sustain frame rates is a critical consideration.

• GFX 50S II offers a limited 3 fps continuous shooting rate.
• Nikon Z8 pulls a staggering 30 fps burst with full autofocus and exposure tracking.

The Z8's advantage here is dramatic. Even though the medium format sensor on the GFX produces ultra-high-res files, it's just not designed for high-speed capture. This makes the GFX a camera meant for more deliberate, composed shooting rather than rapid-fire action.

The Z8’s buffer and fast CFexpress/SD card slots ensure that you won’t be waiting - even shooting heavy ProRes or 8K video. The GFX 50S II provides dual SD slots supporting UHS-II cards but lacks the specialized media speeds necessary for sustained bursts.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Both cameras crown themselves as pro bodies with environmental sealing - dust and moisture resistance - essential for rugged outdoor use.

The Fujifilm GFX 50S II features weather sealing but does not claim freezeproof or crushproof ratings. Likewise, the Nikon Z8 sports a robust magnesium alloy body with comprehensive sealing, yet neither offers shockproof tech.

Despite similar weights, the Z8 feels tougher in hand, with tighter seals on all ports and buttons, including a dust-resistant shutter mechanism.

If you routinely shoot in bad weather or challenging environments, both cameras will perform well, but Nikon’s tighter finish may give it an edge under extreme conditions.

Evaluating Screens, Viewfinders & Interface Experience

Both cameras employ 3.2-inch tilting touchscreens and top LCD panels, along with high-resolution electronic viewfinders.

The Fujifilm's rear LCD resolves 2.36 million dots, while Nikon’s is slightly less dense at 2.1 million dots but benefits from a brighter display and smoother touch response. The GFX’s LCD tilt mechanism grants better articulation for low- and high-angle shooting, which I find invaluable in macro and landscape work.

Both electronic viewfinders (EVF) provide 100% coverage with nearly identical resolutions (3.69 million dots for GFX vs 3.69 million for Nikon), but Nikon’s greater magnification (0.8x vs. 0.77x) offers a marginally wider preview - crucial when tracking fast-moving subjects.

The UI of both brands reflects their heritage: Fujifilm leans into tactile dials and a simple menu system, ideal for photographers who enjoy manual control. Nikon’s interface is more modern and customizable, incorporating illuminated buttons and extensive menu options - a nod to users who require rapid access to a myriad of settings.

Comprehensive Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Here, Nikon shines in sheer diversity, thanks to its Z mount offering approximately 46 lenses, spanning everything from compact primes and pro telephotos to affordable classics. This vast lineup lets photographers equip for nearly any discipline:

• Wildlife supertelephotos
• Fast wide-aperture lenses for portraits
• Tilt-shift options ideal for architecture

Fujifilm’s G-mount lens fertility is smaller with 14 prime and zoom options, primarily optimized for high resolving power necessary on medium format sensors. These lenses tend to be larger and pricier, fitting the niche of studio, landscape, and fashion work rather than fast action or travel.

If you prioritize lens selection and rapid autofocus telephotos, Nikon offers broader flexibility out of the gate.

Battery Life and Storage Solutions

Long shooting days demand dependable battery performance and reliable storage.

• Fujifilm uses the NP-W235 battery, rated for approximately 440 shots per charge.
• Nikon’s EN-EL15c battery yields about 330 shots.

Though the GFX 50S II wins out here, real-world performance dips with heavy video or LCD use. Nikon’s battery is well-supported across many Z-series bodies for ease of carrying spares.

Storage-wise, Fujifilm offers dual SD UHS-II slots providing redundancy for professionals. Nikon’s dual slots are mixed: one CFexpress Type B (much faster) and one SD UHS-II - ideal if you prioritize high-speed video capture or raw burst shooting.

Advanced Features for Photography Disciplines

Portrait Photography

The medium format GFX 50S II reigns supreme for portraits, thanks to its larger sensor delivering exquisite skin tone gradation and creamy natural bokeh at wide apertures. Its face and eye detection are solid, though the Nikon Z8 adds animal eye AF, superior for pet photographers.

Nikon's full-frame sensor also produces stunning portraits and excels at low-light situations with higher native ISO and faster autofocus.

Landscape and Studio

For landscapes, the GFX’s higher pixel resolution (51.4 MP) paired with immense dynamic range - thanks to the medium format sensor - produces enormous, clean files suitable for large prints or commercial work.

Nikon’s Z8 balances high-resolution output (46 MP) with significantly faster handling, so it’s also great for travel landscapes or photojournalism.

Both cameras are weather-sealed, but the GFX 50S II’s larger lenses and body might be cumbersome out in the field.

Wildlife and Sports

In fast-action genres, Nikon’s 30 fps burst rate with guaranteed AF tracking is a game-changer compared to the GFX’s 3 fps. Z8’s advanced subject tracking, including animal eye detection, ensures sharp results of moving subjects.

The GFX system simply isn’t designed for high-speed shooting, so wildlife and sports shooters will find Nikon’s performance far more practical.

Street and Travel Photography

Street photographers will appreciate the Z8’s smaller footprint and discreet operation, as well as its superior autofocus speed in dynamic environments.

Fujifilm’s GFX 50S II, due to its size and handling, is less convenient for spontaneous street shooting or travel use but excels in deliberate landscape or studio work.

Macro and Close-Up Work

Fujifilm’s sensor combined with its G-mount lenses offers unparalleled resolution for macro work, capturing incredible detail once combined with a suitable macro lens.

Nikon also supports excellent macro lenses and faster autofocus, but the Z8’s 46 MP sensor is slightly behind the GFX in sheer resolving power.

Low-Light, Night, and Astrophotography

When shooting in near-darkness, Nikon’s Z8 outperforms with superior native ISO range and lower noise. It also offers advanced exposure modes for astrophotography, leveraging its stacked sensor and processing to reduce noise.

While the GFX 50S II’s ISO base is lower and noise creeps up at high settings, shooting at base ISO with long exposures yields beautiful tonal gradations prized in night sky captures.

Video Capabilities

Nikon’s Z8 is a clear leader on the video front:

• 8K UHD video at 30p
• 4K up to 120p for slow motion
• Offers ProRes and H.265 codecs for professional workflows
• Gear for audio monitoring: mic and headphone ports
• Sensor-shift 5-axis stabilization

The GFX 50S II limits video to 1080p at 30 fps, which may disappoint hybrid shooters looking for high-quality video.

Professional Workflow and Reliability

Both cameras support raw image capture and dual card slots for backup. Nikon’s CFexpress support better serves professionals requiring short turnaround times.

Both provide built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for remote shoot control and image transfer, with Nikon offering slightly more mature wireless app integration.

Real-World Image Comparison

Fujifilm GFX 50S II front Fujifilm GFX 50S II screen back Nikon Z8 front Nikon Z8 screen back

Studying sample images confirms what the specs foreshadow:

• The Fujifilm GFX 50S II images exhibit exceptionally clean shadows and pleasing color rendition - ideal for art, portraits, and landscapes.
• The Nikon Z8 offers punchy images with excellent dynamic range, finely detailed textures, and superior noise control at high ISO.

Photographers looking for pixel-peeping perfection and exclusive tonal richness will gravitate toward the GFX. Those balancing high-speed responsiveness and versatility will feel the Z8 is the better all-rounder.

Pricing and Value Assessment

Both cameras launch at $3,999, a significant investment justified for distinct reasons:

• The GFX 50S II demands higher spending on larger lenses and accessories but offers medium format IQ at a comparatively affordable price.
• The Nikon Z8 provides pro-level speed, autofocus, and video capabilities that can serve as a single camera system for many pros.

If budget is flexible and image quality trumps speed, the Fuji’s medium format sensor is enticing. For those prioritizing speed, versatility, and video, Nikon’s Z8 delivers more bang for your buck.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Suits Your Photography Style?

After extensive hands-on evaluation, here’s how I’d summarize recommendations:

• Choose the Fujifilm GFX 50S II if you are a portrait, landscape, or studio photographer who values ultimate image quality, superb dynamic range, and can work within its slower shooting speeds and medium format ecosystem. It’s a pixel-level tool for deliberate, artistic capture.

• Opt for the Nikon Z8 if you require a do-it-all powerhouse - excelling at wildlife, sports, event photography, and professional video. Its highly responsive autofocus, fast burst rates, 8K video, and rich lens ecosystem make it extremely versatile.

• For travel and street photographers, the Z8’s smaller size, advanced AF, and better low-light capabilities will be more practical.

• Macro and astrophotographers will weigh resolution and noise differently, yet overall the GFX delivers unparalleled detail, while Z8 excels in flexibility and speed.

In essence, these cameras stand at two different poles of pro mirrorless design - medium format with artisanal imaging vs full-frame with all-around performance and speed.

This comparison brought to you from countless hours of direct shooting, pixel-level examinations, and workflow testing. Both cameras are remarkable choices, but understanding their unique strengths helps you invest wisely for your photographic passion.

If you have questions about specific use cases or lenses, feel free to ask - I look forward to helping you find your perfect camera fit.