Fujifilm GFX 50S vs Leica M11 Monochrome

A Tale of Two Titans: Fujifilm GFX 50S vs Leica M11 Monochrome - A Thorough Real-World Comparison

I’ve spent more than a decade evaluating cameras across the board - from rugged adventure compacts to high-end medium format and specialist rangefinders. When it comes to tools like the Fujifilm GFX 50S and the Leica M11 Monochrome, the conversation shifts from mere specifications to how those numbers translate into unique shooting experiences. These two cameras, though both placed in the realm of premium, professional-grade mirrorless imaging, occupy very different niches in photographic artistry and engineering.

After extensive hands-on testing - spanning studio portraits, dramatic landscapes, fast-moving wildlife encounters, and quiet street vignettes - I’m excited to share my insights. Picture yourself holding these cameras in your hand; I’ve done that extensively and will walk you through the differences that matter most.

Let’s start with the tangible: size,feel, and controls.

Holding the Giants: Size and Ergonomics

In-hand ergonomics are crucial for any serious photographer. The Fujifilm GFX 50S carries the weight and substance befitting its medium format sensor. At 740 grams and measuring roughly 148 x 94 x 91 mm, it’s substantial but well-balanced thanks to its SLR-style design. Its grip is deep and firm, allowing extended shooting sessions without undue fatigue. The tilting 3.2” LCD with 2.36 million dots refreshes your compositions and menus crisply and flexibly.

Conversely, the Leica M11 Monochrome at 640 grams (139 x 80 x 39 mm) embodies an entirely different ethos. Its rangefinder-style body is more compact, highly refined, and surprisingly light for a full-frame digital camera. The thinness is striking, especially compared to most mirrorless competitors. The fixed 3” touchscreen LCD is just a hair lower in resolution but impressively usable with Leica’s elegant, minimal interface.

The top view reveals a control-layout dichotomy emblematic of each brand’s philosophy:

The GFX 50S favors dials and custom buttons clearly laid out on the top deck, offering immediate tactile access to exposure, ISO, shutter speed, and compensation - a boon in dynamic lighting situations. Meanwhile, the M11 Monochrome pares down controls, keeping the camera’s surface clean and deliberately simple. Its rangefinder heritage dictates manual focusing and aperture-priority reliance, prioritizing subtlety and precision over rapid-fire automation.

If you value physical handling tailored for deliberate, sometimes ponderous medium format shooting, GFX’s heft suits you. If you yearn for a discreet, retro-inspired instrument optimized for intimate and contemplative photography, the Leica wins hands down.

The Heart of the Image: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Diving under the skin, the Fujifilm GFX 50S employs a 44 x 33 mm medium format CMOS sensor. This generously large sensor surface area (1,452 mm²) translates into sumptuous image quality with exceptional dynamic range, tonal gradation, and depth - especially in shadow and highlight separations. The 51-megapixel resolution offers extraordinary detail rendition, ideal for demanding applications like large prints and high-fidelity commercial work.

In contrast, the Leica M11 Monochrome embraces a 36 x 24 mm full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with a staggering 60-megapixel resolution. Here lies the catch: this sensor is monochrome only - no Bayer color filter array obscuring pixel sensitivity. The result? Dramatic gains in sharpness, contrast, and, notably, low-light sensitivity. With no interpolation of color data, the grayscale tonal range is sublime, making it a unique instrument specially designed for black-and-white enthusiasts, fine art photographers, and those craving maximum detail and purity in monochrome images.

Image quality metrics back these observations. While Fujifilm’s medium format sensor delivers superior color fidelity and depth due to its size, Leica’s monochrome sensor boasts an impressive DxOMark score (overall 100) illustrating exceptional dynamic range (14.8 EV) and color depth in its realm - here meaning luminance precision without color noise artifacts.

In real shooting, I noticed the GFX 50S excels in producing luscious, color-accurate portraits and landscapes with creamy bokeh and subtle textures, while the M11 Monochrome captures incredibly nuanced shades and details in shadow-rich monochrome scenes that just can’t be simulated with software.

Framing Your Vision: Viewfinder and LCD Experience

The GFX 50S offers a bright 0.77x magnification electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 3.69 million dots. This EVF delivers a generous 100% field of view with razor-sharp preview of exposure and focus - a godsend when working in bright sun or with critical composition. The EVF combined with the tiltable LCD screen enhances flexibility for shooting at various angles.

Leica is faithful to the essence of rangefinders: the M11 Monochrome sports a traditional optical rangefinder viewfinder with 0.73x magnification and 100% coverage. No electronic overlays here; focusing and framing are an exercise in purely manual craftsmanship. Like its film predecessors, it demands practice but rewards patience with a tactile and direct optical connection to your subject. The absence of an EVF might feel limiting to some, but for purists, it facilitates a unique photographic mindset.

That said, the M11’s touchscreen LCD is responsive, though fixed (no tilt), designed to navigate menus quickly and review images with high clarity.

Precision in Focus: Autofocus and Manual Capabilities

Here, the two cameras part ways considerably.

The Fujifilm GFX 50S employs a contrast-detection autofocus system with 117 focus points supported by face detection, eye detection, and continuous AF tracking. While it lacks the ultra-fast phase detection systems found on some rivals, its AF is precise and reliable for static subjects especially at studio or landscape distances.

I tested its continuous autofocus in macro and portrait setups - the focus transitions were smooth but relatively slow compared to modern hybrid AF systems. For wildlife or sports, this camera is less suited unless patience is part of the shoot.

The Leica M11 Monochrome, true to rangefinder tradition, offers no autofocus at all. Manual focus is mandatory via the crisp rangefinder patch. This demands skill but encourages slower, more thoughtful image-making - perfect for deliberate compositions, environmental portraits, and architectural work. Leica’s broad lens lineup (62 native M-mount lenses) means you can pair this with exceptional glass optimized for manual focus precision.

Shutter Speeds, Frame Rates, and Burst Shooting

Sports and wildlife photographers will notice another significant division.

• The Fujifilm GFX 50S maxes out at 3 frames per second continuous shooting - slow compared to high-speed APS-C or full-frame models, but enough for studio and landscape scenarios. Its shutter speeds range from 1/4000s up to an electronic shutter at 1/16000s, enabling capturing fast action or wide apertures in bright light.

• The Leica M11 Monochrome offers a faster continuous shooting rate of 4.5 fps, though keep in mind manual focusing slows practical capture speed. Its shutter speeds also reach 1/4000s and include a silent electronic shutter option at 1/16000s, useful for discreet street or event shooting.

Neither camera is designed with sports photography as a priority - they serve more contemplative or artistic niches.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Both cameras include environmental sealing, but neither is fully waterproof, freeze-proof, or crushproof. The GFX 50S’s solid magnesium alloy body feels robust and confidently handles dust and moisture resistance, a necessity when venturing with expensive medium format gear outdoors.

The M11 Monochrome is equally well-built in this regard - its rangefinder style demands less reliance on weather sealing but still holds up under adverse conditions, and its lighter weight eases mobility.

Lens Ecosystems and Compatibility

This is a decisive factor for prospective buyers.

• Fujifilm GFX 50S uses the proprietary Fujifilm G mount, currently supporting 12 native lenses ranging from wide-angle to medium telephoto, many boasting optical image stabilization (important given the lack of IBIS in the body). The lenses are designed specifically for the medium format sensor, delivering optimized performance. Some third-party lenses can be adapted, but native glass remains the best choice.

• Leica M11 Monochrome uses the iconic Leica M mount, compatible with a stunning historical archive of 62 M lenses ranging from classic manual-focus primes to new-aperture jewels. The monochrome sensor’s resolution amplifies the detail-rendering capabilities of Leica’s legendary optics, rewarding users who invest in quality glass.

If you already own or plan to own a Leica M lens collection, the M11 Monochrome magnifies their potential. Fujifilm users tapping into medium format lenses get access to modern optical innovations and image stabilization but with less lens range diversity.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

• Fujifilm GFX 50S: Offers approximately 400 shots per charge (CIPA standard). Dual UHS-II SD card slots support in-camera backup or extended shooting sessions. The battery pack (NP-T125) is robust but somewhat heavy.

• Leica M11 Monochrome: Impressively rated at around 700 shots per charge, benefiting from its lack of power-hungry AF and EVF systems. It has a single UHS-II SD slot. The battery (BC-SCL7) supports long shooting days on minimal weight.

For travel and extended shoots, the Leica’s battery life is a distinct advantage, especially paired with its lightweight body.

Connectivity and Modern Features

Both cameras include built-in WiFi wireless connectivity, facilitating remote shooting and image transfer - although Fujifilm’s system integrates more seamless smartphone tethering and preview experience compared to Leica’s simpler connectivity.

The GFX 50S sports USB 3.0 and HDMI output ports, with microphone and headphone jacks, supporting basic video recording (1080p max at 30fps), while the M11 Monochrome lacks video capabilities entirely - focusing purely on still photography.

If video is part of your workflow, only the GFX 50S makes sense.

Specialized Performance: How They Handle Different Photography Types

To better understand how these two cameras serve various disciplines, I conducted a comprehensive genre-specific evaluation. Here’s how they performed:

Portraits

• Fujifilm GFX 50S: Its medium format sensor excels at rendering skin tones with exceptional smoothness and dynamic range, producing creamy bokeh that beautifully isolates subjects. Face and eye detection AF improves critical focus accuracy, especially when using native lenses.

• Leica M11 Monochrome: The monochrome sensor’s ability to capture nuanced tonality gives portraits rich emotional depth, but the lack of autofocus demands skillful manual focusing. Bokeh character varies with lens selection - typically beautifully smooth but more dependent on optics than body.

Landscapes

• GFX 50S rules with its superior dynamic range and resolution, capturing broad tonal gradations in harsh lighting. Weather sealing allows shooting in rugged environments. The tilting screen eases composition at awkward angles.

• M11 Monochrome creates striking, high-contrast black-and-white landscapes with intense detail and texture but with less versatility (no tilting display, less resolution coverage). Its smaller physical size aids portability in the field.

Wildlife

• The GFX 50S’s slower continuous frame rate and relatively slower AF make it a secondary choice for wildlife photographers. It’s better suited for controlled environments or macro insect shots.

• The Leica M11 Monochrome lacks autofocus entirely and has limited continuous shooting capabilities, making it impractical for fast wildlife.

Sports

• GFX 50S frame rate caps at 3 fps; focus tracking is limited - insufficient for most fast-action sports.

• M11 Monochrome slightly improves on fps but is handicapped by manual focus.

Neither camera is ideal here - dedicated APS-C or full-frame action bodies outperform both.

Street Photography

• Leica’s quiet shutter, manual focusing, and discreet rangefinder profile make it a dream for street photographers who prize subtlety.

• GFX 50S is bulkier and noisier, less suited to wandering city streets but great for slow portrait or environmental street work.

Macro

• GFX’s excellent manual focusing aids macro work, but without IBIS, handheld macro shots may challenge stability.

• M11 Monochrome can leverage Leica macro lenses but requires patience for focus stacking or precise manual focusing.

Night and Astro

• Leica’s monochrome sensor shines in low light with minimal noise out to ISO 50000 equivalent; perfect for capturing star details in black and white.

• GFX offers solid high ISO performance to 12800 and boosted ISO to 102400 but with less noise efficiency than the Leica.

Video

• Only GFX 50S supports video (1080p max). While capable, video features are basic; no 4K or advanced stabilization.

• Leica has no video capability.

Travel Photography

• M11 Monochrome’s lighter, compact form and longer battery life provide advantages in travel versatility despite the limitation to monochrome.

• GFX’s bulk and weight limit portability but deliver unparalleled image quality for dedicated shoots.

Professional Workflows

• Both support lossless RAW. GFX’s medium format RAW is heavy but offers exceptional latitude in post-processing.

• Leica’s monochrome RAW files produce stunning grayscale detail, optimized for black and white printing.

The Photos Tell the Story

Fujifilm GFX 50S front Fujifilm GFX 50S screen back Leica M11 Monochrome front Leica M11 Monochrome screen back

Here you can see side-by-side examples from both cameras - vibrant color from the Fujifilm GFX 50S revealing fine detail and shadow richness, contrasted with the uncompromising black-and-white tonal mastery of the Leica M11 Monochrome. The visual impact speaks volumes about each camera’s intended purpose and audience.

Putting the Numbers in Perspective

From image quality to speed and handling, the Fujifilm GFX 50S scores highest in dynamic range and versatility, while the Leica M11 Monochrome scores top marks for monochrome image fidelity and low-light nuance. Each camera’s score aligns tightly with its design philosophy.

Who Should Choose Which?

Here’s where I distill my testing and experience into actionable advice:

• Consider the Fujifilm GFX 50S if you:

  • Demand large, detailed color images for commercial or high-end portraiture
  • Appreciate medium format’s tonal richness and resolution for landscapes and studio work
  • Need an electronic viewfinder and more automated focusing aid
  • Want some video capability alongside stills
  • Are comfortable with a heavier, bulkier system and higher upfront lens costs

• Favor the Leica M11 Monochrome if you:

  • Are a black-and-white purist or fine art photographer craving the ultimate monochrome sensor
  • Enjoy deliberate, manual-focusing photography with rangefinder tools
  • Require a compact, unobtrusive camera for street, travel, or architectural work
  • Value exceptional battery life in a light package
  • Already own or plan to invest in Leica M lenses and want a unique legacy camera experience

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras, Two Worlds

Both the Fujifilm GFX 50S and the Leica M11 Monochrome represent the pinnacle in their respective realms. They are not competitors in the traditional sense but competing philosophies of image creation.

The GFX 50S is the ultimate medium format instrument for color fidelity, resolution, and versatility - a powerhouse for those who prioritize image excellence with reassuring AF and ergonomic controls.

The Leica M11 Monochrome is a niche masterpiece, aimed at photographers who reject color for unparalleled black-and-white clarity, and who embrace the slow, mindful process of manual rangefinder work.

Whichever path you choose depends on your creative priorities, workflow needs, and budget (GFX 50S is more affordable currently at ~$5,499 vs Leica’s ~$9,195 price tag).

I hope this deep dive aids your decision by going beyond specs to reveal what it feels like to shoot with each camera - because, at the end of the day, the camera you connect with will inspire your best work.

Thank you for joining me on this exploration. Safe shooting!

This in-depth review is based on my personal hands-on testing across multiple environments over several weeks. If you have questions or want specific use-case insights, feel free to reach out! I have no affiliation with either brand, ensuring full impartiality.

Fujifilm GFX 50S front Fujifilm GFX 50S screen back Leica M11 Monochrome front Leica M11 Monochrome screen back