Camera Size Comparisons

After I wrote about my new-to-me Fuji GFX medium format camera last night, I got to thinking that I should probably add more camera size comparisons since I had written about how small this new Fuji medium format camera is compared to other cameras with smaller sensors.  So, I captured a few more photos this morning.

This first photo shows my tiny compact Fuji X30 camera (on left) compared to the new Fuji medium format camera.  This compact Fuji X30 is small enough to easily slip into a coat pocket...  

This next comparison is showing a camera that has a sensor that is a bit larger than the above compact camera but now the camera body is almost as large as the Fuji medium format camera!  

This is my Panasonic G9 (on right) with its relatively small four-thirds sensor (same as 110 film size) yet the camera bodies are quite similar in size and shape.  The Fuji GFX medium format camera (on left) has a sensor roughly the same as a 6x4.5 film camera so the sensor plane is significantly physically larger than the sensor plane of that tiny four thirds camera yet the bodies are quite similar.  Actually, with my eyes closed, it is tough to know which of these two cameras I am holding!

This next comparison is showing my Sony a7rIIIa (on right) that has a large full-frame sensor (same as 35mm film size) with my new medium format Fuji (on left).  Although this Sony full frame camera has a much, much larger sensor than the four thirds camera above, it is quite a compact package.  

I'm still amazed at just how small this Fuji GFX medium format camera is especially when compared to my other most used cameras with significantly smaller sensors.  That being said, I am well aware that the larger the sensor, the larger the lenses need to be and that is where the size and weight differences really come into play.  It is the size of the lenses that make the difference in today's photography world.  Generally speaking, the sizes of the camera bodies have equalized.  You can, however, still pair a small lens with a larger sensor as is seen in the above photo...  the Fuji GFX camera body has a small 40mm f/1.8 lens mounted on it.  This would be a typical walk-around lens for me.

I have fairly large hands so many tiny cameras are quite uncomfortable for me to hold steady and push tiny buttons.  Some buttons are so small on smaller cameras that I have to resort to using my fingernail to push the buttons!  An extreme and familiar example of a camera being too small for my hands would be using a cellphone for photography...  my hands are simply too large to adeptly use these absurdly slippery devices for anything especially photography.  Besides, my trained eyes can clearly see all the drawbacks and compromises in images that cellphone cameras produce.  

On the other end of the spectrum, there are some cameras that are too heavy and too ergonomically awkward for my hands to use.  Some of these cameras quickly make my wrists hurt almost instantly.  Carrying around a big, heavy camera all day can also hurt my spinal injuries although, honestly, the bigger problem for my spine is carrying around a backpack or shoulder bag with heavy lenses as well as my medications (I always have a pack with my medications and a drink).  

What I'm saying is, for each of us, there is a Goldilocks size and shape that perfectly fits our hands.  Most grown adult men prefer closely the same size...  most grown adult women prefer slightly smaller sizes...  most teenagers prefer closely the same size as women...  and kids prefer and can more adeptly handle a very small camera (for example, even a crappy cellphone).

For me and my large hands, I'm really liking this medium format Fuji GFX camera especially now that I have customized which button does what.  This camera fits my hands very well.  Better yet, the image quality and especially the tonal quality is amazing!