Fujifilm GFX 50R vs Nikon L840

The Fujifilm GFX 50R and the Nikon Coolpix L840 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2018 and February 2015. The GFX 50R is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the L840 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a medium format (GFX 50R) and a 1/2.3-inch (L840) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 51.1 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm GFX 50R		Nikon L840
Mirrorless system camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Fujifilm G mount lenses		22.5-855mm f/3.0-6.5
51.1 MP, Medium Format Sensor		15.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
1080/30p Video		1080/60i Video
ISO 100-12,800 (50 - 102,400)		ISO 100-6,400
Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.2 LCD, 2360k dots		3.0 LCD, 921k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second		7.4 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
400 shots per battery charge		590 shots per battery charge
161 x 97 x 66 mm, 775 g		113 x 78 x 96 mm, 538 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm GFX 50R and the Nikon Coolpix L840? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm GFX 50R and the Nikon L840 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The L840 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the GFX 50R is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon L840 is considerably smaller (44 percent) than the Fujifilm GFX 50R. It is worth mentioning in this context that the GFX 50R is splash and dust resistant, while the L840 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the L840 has a lens built in, whereas the GFX 50R is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	161 mm	97 mm	66 mm	775 g	400	Y	Sep 2018	4,499
2.		Nikon L840	113 mm	78 mm	96 mm	538 g	590	n	Feb 2015	299
3.		Canon 6D Mark II	144 mm	111 mm	75 mm	765 g	1200	Y	Jun 2017	1,999
4.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
5.		Canon 5DS R	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	549
7.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	148 mm	94 mm	91 mm	740 g	400	Y	Sep 2016	6,499
8.		Hasselblad X1D II	148 mm	97 mm	70 mm	766 g	..	Y	Jun 2019	5,750
9.		Leica Q2	130 mm	80 mm	92 mm	718 g	370	Y	Mar 2019	4,995
10.		Leica M-E Typ 240	139 mm	80 mm	42 mm	680 g	..	Y	Jun 2019	3,999
11.		Leica X Typ 113	133 mm	73 mm	78 mm	486 g	350	n	Sep 2014	2,295
12.		Nikon B600	122 mm	82 mm	99 mm	500 g	280	n	Jan 2019	349
13.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299
14.		Nikon D850	146 mm	124 mm	79 mm	1005 g	1840	Y	Jul 2017	3,299
15.		Nikon B500	114 mm	78 mm	95 mm	541 g	600	n	Jan 2016	299
16.		Nikon P900	140 mm	103 mm	137 mm	899 g	360	n	Mar 2015	599
17.		Sony A9	127 mm	96 mm	63 mm	673 g	650	Y	Apr 2017	4,499
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The L840 was launched at a lower price than the GFX 50R, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm GFX 50R features a medium format sensor and the Nikon L840 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the L840 is 98 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 0.79 and 5.6. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 51.1MP, the GFX 50R offers a higher resolution than the L840 (15.9MP), but the GFX 50R nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.33μm versus 1.33μm for the L840) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the GFX 50R is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 7 months) than the L840, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Fujifilm GFX 50R implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GFX 50R for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 41.3 x 31 inches or 104.9 x 78.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 33 x 24.8 inches or 83.9 x 62.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 27.5 x 20.6 inches or 69.9 x 52.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon L840 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Fujifilm GFX 50R has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Coolpix L840 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	Medium Format	51.1	8256	6192	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
2.		Nikon L840	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon 6D Mark II	Full Frame	26.0	6240	4160	1080/60p	24.4	11.9	2862	85
4.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
5.		Canon 5DS R	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.6	12.4	2308	86
6.		Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
7.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	Medium Format	51.1	8256	6192	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
8.		Hasselblad X1D II	Medium Format	51.3	8272	6200	none	..	..	..	..
9.		Leica Q2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/30p	26.4	13.5	2491	96
10.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Full Frame	23.7	5952	3976	1080/25p	..	..	..	..
11.		Leica X Typ 113	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Nikon B600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
13.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
14.		Nikon D850	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/30p	26.4	14.8	2660	100
15.		Nikon B500	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	..	..	..	..
16.		Nikon P900	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
17.		Sony A9	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.9	13.3	3517	92

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the L840 provides a faster frame rate than the GFX 50R. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Fujifilm is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the GFX 50R has an electronic viewfinder (3690k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the L840 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Fujifilm GFX 50R and Nikon L840 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	3690	n	3.2	2360	tilting	Y	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
2.		Nikon L840	none	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.4	Y	Y
3.		Canon 6D Mark II	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.5	n	n
4.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
5.		Canon 5DS R	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
6.		Canon SX60	922	n	3.0	922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4	Y	Y
7.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	optional	Y	3.2	2360	full-flex	Y	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
8.		Hasselblad X1D II	3690	n	3.6	2360	fixed	Y	1/2000s	2.7	n	n
9.		Leica Q2	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	20.0	n	Y
10.		Leica M-E Typ 240	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
11.		Leica X Typ 113	optional	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0	Y	n
12.		Nikon B600	none	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.4	Y	Y
13.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
14.		Nikon D850	optical	Y	3.2	2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	n
15.		Nikon B500	none	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.4	Y	Y
16.		Nikon P900	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
17.		Sony A9	3686	n	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	Y

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The GFX 50R has a touchscreen, while the L840 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the GFX 50R is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm GFX 50R has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the GFX 50R and the L840 write their files to SDXC cards. The GFX 50R features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the L840 only has one slot. The GFX 50R supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the L840 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm GFX 50R and Nikon Coolpix L840 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Nikon L840	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon 6D Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
4.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 5DS R	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon SX60	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
8.		Hasselblad X1D II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	-	3.0	Y	-	-
9.		Leica Q2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y
10.		Leica M-E Typ 240	Y	mono	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Leica X Typ 113	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Nikon B600	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Nikon D850	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	Y
15.		Nikon B500	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Nikon P900	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony A9	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the GFX 50R has a hotshoe, while the L840 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Fujifilm GFX 50R (unlike the L840) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The GFX 50R is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Fujifilm. In contrast, the L840 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the L840 was succeeded by the Nikon B500. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Fujifilm GFX 50R and the Nikon L840? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm GFX 50R:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (51.1 vs 15.9MP) with a 79% higher linear resolution.
• Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2360k vs 921k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II) SDXC cards on both slots.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 7 months of technical progress since the L840 launch.

Advantages of the Nikon Coolpix L840:

• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60i versus 1080/30p).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7.4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the GFX 50R necessitates an extra lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (113x78mm vs 161x97mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the GFX 50R).
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (590 versus 400) out of a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2015).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GFX 50R is the clear winner of the match-up (22 : 11 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm GFX 50R and the Nikon L840 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GFX 50R or the L840 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	5/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2018	4,499
2.		Nikon L840	..	+ +	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	299
3.		Canon 6D Mark II	4/5	+	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2017	1,999
4.		Canon 5DS	..	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
5.		Canon 5DS R	5/5	+	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Canon SX60	3/5	+ +	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	549
7.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	..	..	85/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	6,499
8.		Hasselblad X1D II	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jun 2019	5,750
9.		Leica Q2	..	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	4,995
10.		Leica M-E Typ 240	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2019	3,999
11.		Leica X Typ 113	3.5/5	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Sep 2014	2,295
12.		Nikon B600	..	+	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	349
13.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299
14.		Nikon D850	4.5/5	+ +	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2017	3,299
15.		Nikon B500	..	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2016	299
16.		Nikon P900	..	..	77/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2015	599
17.		Sony A9	5/5	+ +	89/100	5/5	5/5	Apr 2017	4,499
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Fujifilm GFX 50R vs Nikon L840

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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