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Bridgerton season 4: key information- Filming underway as of September 2024- Confirmed for a 2026 release- Its romantic lead is Benedict Bridgerton- Halo TV show alumnus Yerin Ha cast as love interest Sophie Baek/The Lady in Silver- New cast additions and returning actors also confirmed- Snippets of its plot have been teased- Sneak peek and behind-the-scenes looks unveiled, but no official trailer yet- Officially renewed for seasons 5 and 6- Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes has eight-season plan for hugely popular showDearest readers, Bridgerton season 4 has a release window. So, ready the carriages and don your best attire for season 4's arrival in 2026. As the cast and crew are currently filming the next instalment of the popular Netflix romantic drama series', we'll have to wait patiently until sometime next year to enjoy it on our screens. But, delving into the forthcoming season's pairing of Benedict Bridgerton and his new love interest, Sophie Baek, has us feeling like it's definitely going to be worth the wait.In the absence of Lady Whistledown’s gossip papers, we've taken it upon ourselves to do the digging around the 'Ton and fortunately, there's a lot we've found out. So, as we await Bridgerton's return on one of the best streaming services, here's what we know when it comes to release date speculation, confirmed new and returning cast, potential story threads, sneak peek footage, and more. Full spoilers follow for Bridgerton season 3 and the previous seasons. Potential spoilers for Bridgerton season 4 will also appear.Bridgerton season 4 release date predictionPlease rise for Sophie Baek & Benedict Bridgerton!!!Here's your first official photo of Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson on the set of Bridgerton Season 4. Now OFFICIALLY in production. pic.twitter.com/TyOlryDXEUSeptember 16, 2024Bridgerton season 4 has been on the cards since it was announced alongside season 3 in April 2021. And while it doesn't have a release date, it does have a release year with Netflix Tudum confirming it'll arrive in 2026.Netflix confirmed filming on season 4 had begun on September 16 as one of many Netflix Geeked Week 2024 announcements. And, per What's on Netflix, principal photography will likely run for several months, too.Dearest Gentle Reader, have you selected your best garments? Preparations for the Masquerade have begun… Bridgerton Season 4 is under way. pic.twitter.com/LU5yUYSGHXOctober 28, 2024And Bridgerton season 4's release window was previously hinted att by showrunner Jess Brownell, who told The Hollywood Reporter (THR): "We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language. And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range."Bridgerton season 4 trailer: is there one?Acting as further confirmation of Bridgerton season 4's 2026 release, a sneak peek trailer was released showcasing the moment Benedict first lays eyes on Sophie at the Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball.As he saunters through the crowd, fighting away the attention of other women in attendance, Benedict sees Sophie in a white gown completely distracted by the dazzling chandelier above her. Until, another gentleman asks her to dance, much to Benedict's dismay.Compose yourselves, esteemed members of the Ton, for a preview of the forthcoming season has arrived... pic.twitter.com/326Quj7pRWFebruary 14, 2025During the Bridgerton Virtual Fan Event, aptly hosted on Valentine's Day (in true 'Season of Love' fashion), an official behind-the-scenes look was released for Bridgerton season 4. In a flurry of exciting clips, the masquerade ball takes center stage, as does the meet-cute of Sophie Baek and Benedict Bridgerton. Or, as we're already fondly referring to them as 'Benophie.'Alongside the two leading characters of this season's love story are glimpses of more Bridgerton family members, including the newest addition, Penelope and Colin's child, as well as other returning cast members such as Lady Danbury and Eloise Bridgerton.A brief Bridgerton season 4 teaser, which arrived in July 2024, also previously acted as the confirmation that season 4’s romantic lead will be Benedict Bridgerton.Seen amongst clips of past seasons, the text "Welcome to the marriage mart, Benedict," appears on the screen. Following the montage, we’re treated to behind-the-scenes footage of a person off-screen saying "I hear we’re fitting you for a suit", to which Benedict aka Luke Thompson replies "I already have an outfit for tonight." The person off-screen responds "Oh no, it’s not for tonight. It’s for the masquerade ball", before Benedict says "In that case, come on in."The masquerade ball, according to Julia Quinn’s novels, is where Benedict famously meets Sophie Beckett, aka the ‘Lady in Silver,’ but we’ll dive into this in our plot section.Bridgerton season 4 confirmed castYerin Ha will take on the role of Benedict's love interest in Bridgerton season 4 (Image credit: Netflix)Full spoilers follow for Bridgerton season 3.Here's the confirmed cast for Bridgerton season 4 so far:Luke Thompson as Benedict BridgertonYerin Ha as Sophie BaekJonathan Bailey as Anthony BridgertonVictor Alli as Lord John StirlingAdjoa Andoh as Lady DanburySimone Ashley as Kate SharmaHugh Sachs as BrimsleyJulie Andrews as the voice of Lady WhistledownLorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. VarleyMasali Baduza as Michaela StirlingNicola Coughlan as Penelope BridgertonHannah Doss as Francesca StirlingDaniel Francis as Lord Marcus AndersonRuth Gemmell as Lady Violet BridgertonFlorence Hunt as Hyacinth BridgertonMartin Imhangbe as Will MondrichClaudia Jessie as Eloise BridgertonLuke Newton as Colin BridgertonGolda Rosheuvel as Queen CharlotteWill Tilston as Gregory BridgertonPolly Walker as Lady Portia FeatheringtonEmma Naomi as Alice MondrichKatie Leung as Lady Araminta GunMichelle Mao as Rosamund LiIsbaella Wei as Posy LiGracie McGonigal as HazelOli Higginson as Footman JohnSophie Lamont as CeliaGeraldine Alexander as Mrs. WilsonWe know who Benedict Bridgerton is, but who will play the famous Sophie Beckett (or, in Netflix's adaptation, Sophie Baek)? In August, Variety's sources suggested Australian actress Yerin Ha (Halo, Bad Behaviour) had been cast, and Variety's sources proved to be right – Netflix confirming Ha will play Sophie in an X/Twitter post on September 11 2024.Your Sophie has finally arrived. Please welcome Yerin Ha to Bridgerton Season 4! pic.twitter.com/sHZMZIPhTDSeptember 11, 2024Speaking to Netflix Tudum about what drew her to the role, Ha said: "She immediately has obstacles – something that she constantly has to overcome, whether it’s this battle around social status or trying to hide her feelings from Benedict. When does Sophie put on this mask to cover her emotions? Or vice versa, when does she take it off and when does she soften up? Playing with those [questions] is just really fun."But why the surname change? As Ha explains, it's down to her Australian actor's Korean heritage, which showrunner Jess Brownell was also eager to honor as part of Sophie's slightly revised backstory. "A name is the first bit of identity that you share with the world, and that’s why changing a name can be so powerful," Ha said. "To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering. All credit to Jess Brownell, our showrunner. It’s a really nice way for me to feel like the role is fit for me, rather than me having to fit a certain mold. It’s amazing what it can do just in a psychological sense. So, it means a lot that Jess did that for me."Rejoice for it is the season of joy and merriment! pic.twitter.com/SwCnruL5vmDecember 25, 2024Ha's hiring isn't the only one to be announced in September. Five days after Netflix cast its Sophie, the streamer also revealed three more stars who'll appear as prominent characters in season 4: Katie Leung (Arcane, The Peripheral) as Lady Araminta Gun, Michelle Mao (A Big Bold Beautiful Journey) as Rosamund Li, and Isabella Wei (1899) as Posy Li. And, during the Bridgerton Virtual Fan Event (as per Tudum), it was also revealed that season 2's leading lady Simone Ashley will be returning as Kate Sharma.And, according to Deadline, Emma Naomi and Hugh Sachs have also been promoted to series regulars for Bridgerton season 4 as Alice Mondrich and Brimsley respectively. Whilst there's plenty of new and returning cast members, there's one character that won't be part of season 4's cast - Daphne Basset (née Bridgerton) played by Phoebe Dynevor. Speaking to The Direct, she revealed executives have: "not called [her] yet" and that she's "still waiting for that call."BENOPHIE LOADING pic.twitter.com/reMYaASG9ISeptember 16, 2024As for season 3’s shining couple Penelope and Colin, they’ll also be back. Speaking to Town & Country, Luke Newton said: "I’m excited for the happily ever after and to see what that brings. I have so much trust in Jess [Brownell] that it will always be interesting and always be exciting. That’s also the joy of being in the Bridgerton family: There’s always going to be drama. There’s always going to be something I get to help out with or causing mischief or whatever it is."Bridgerton season 4 plot rumorsSeason 4 will adapt the third novel penned by Julia Quinn, which is titled 'An Offer From a Gentleman' (Image credit: Netflix)Full spoilers follow for Bridgerton season 3 and Julia Quinn's 'An Offer From a Gentleman' book, which season 4 is based on.Bridgerton season 4's story brief hasn't been unveiled yet – and it won't be until closer to its release. Even so, we have some ideas of where the plot will go, based on its source material and how Benedict's story in the third season ended. We also know it will be eight episodes long, thanks to Tudum.In Bridgerton season 3, the focus was Penelope and Colin, which actually meant the show skipped ahead in Julia Quinn’s book series. As previously mentioned, however, season 3 will leap back a few chapters to book three, which is called 'An Offer From a Gentleman'. Fans of the books will know, then, that it’s time for Benedict the bachelor to meet Sophie Beckett – the elusive Lady in Silver who sneaks into the masquerade ball to find a suitor, stumbles upon him, and likely captures his heart.Benedict Bridgerton’s Season 4 story? Let us pour some tea…Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down -- until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother's masquerade ball. pic.twitter.com/KmGDp1L5FFJuly 23, 2024In the books, the Lady in Silver is the illegitimate daughter of an Earl and one of his maids, although he hasn’t publicly acknowledged her as his daughter despite her living with him.It may be hard to believe Benedict may finally settle down, considering how season 3 ended. Indeed, viewers watched as Benedict embarked on not one, but two relationships; the untethered playboy messing around with Lady Tilley Arnold and Paul Suarez. However, he broke up with the pair in the season 3 finale after he decides he doesn't want to tie himself down to any one person.Elaborating on why Benedict made that decision, Luke Thompson, who plays the character, told Netflix Tudum: "Benedict has always been a little lost – or free, depending on the way you want to look at it. But, now he’s trying to find something a bit more solid in himself. His identity has been a little bit of a question mark, but it doesn’t ever seem to really bother him. It often feels like 'you’re either this, or you’re this'. He’s finding it out."Penelope and Colin navigate life raising their child (Image credit: Netflix)Showrunner Jess Brownell also spoke to Tudum about Benedict’s love story, adding: "It felt important for him to explore the fullness of himself before he settles down. He is someone who has big appetites, and we wanted to see him living a big life before he goes into settle-down mode."Much like Bridgerton’s first three seasons, though, the romantic lead isn’t the only one embarking on a love story, of which there’s most certainly more to explore in season 4. We know that Lady Violet Bridgerton was enjoying the company of Lady Danbury’s brother, Lord Marcus Anderson – and, during the season 3 finale, we saw the pair dance the night away at the Dankworth-Finch ball.Kate and Anthony are due to welcome their first child, too, which will see the married couple travel to India to do so. There’s also more to explore from Colin and Penelope as Polin embark on married life and raising their child. Luke Newton spoke to Tudum about their new role, teasing: "Once you’ve had your moment, it’s really nice to see how they’ll navigate married life. It’ll be a place of comfort for them and they’ll enjoy it."Penelope and Eloise's close bond continues in season 4 (Image credit: Netflix)And then there’s Eloise traveling to Scotland alongside her sister Francesca and new husband Lord John Stirling. She decided to pursue her curiosity and take a break from the marriage mart in doing so, so it’ll be interesting to see how she spends her time there.Though it appears she'll be returning to the 'Ton in due course, as Brownell revealed to Tudum that that pair will reunite in Bridgerton season 4: "They're more bonded than ever! Their trials and tribulations last season have added new depth to their friendship, and we're excited for viewers to see their relationship looks now that they've each grown up a little."It was as much of a cliffhanger ending for the new Stirlings as well, as Francesca met John’s cousin Michaela Stirling. In Quinn's book 'When He Was Wicked', this character is male and goes by the name Michael Stirling, so the role has been gender-swapped for Netflix's adaptation. Michaela’s appearance sent fans wild, and for those who’ve yet to read the book, the significance will become all the more clear as the seasons continue.Finally, amongst all the love and marriage, Queen Charlotte made a statement in the season 3 finale of accepting Lady Whistledown, aka Penelope Featherington. Whether the Queen’s favor continues, only time will tell. Though Queen Charlotte actress Golda Rosheuvel did reveal during the Bridgerton Virtual Fan Event that season 4 will also "introduce some of the people who keep the ton's many households up and running." With Brownell speaking about "touchstones from the romance genre - including Cinderella - that resonated in this most recent season."Where to watch BridgertonWill Queen Charlotte choose a diamond in season 4? (Image credit: Netflix)Bridgerton seasons 1 to 3 can be streamed exclusively on Netflix. One of the best Netflix shows is also joined on the platform by prequel spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. If you find yourself at a loss while we wait for season 4, here are six dashing dramas like Bridgerton to be captivated by, too.Will Bridgerton get a fifth season?Dear readers, there is certainly much to celebrate, indeed... pic.twitter.com/LhkQmKLRAOMay 14, 2025Yes, Bridgerton has been renewed for season 5 – and season 6. Netflix has taken a similar approach to Bridgerton seasons 3 and 4 and renewed two more seasons at the same time, telling us via Tudum, to "celebrate accordingly".And, according to executive producer Shonda Rhimes, there’s hopefully going to be at least eight. Per Variety, Rhimes said she still plans to adapt all eight of the Bridgerton books, adding: "I do have a very specific plan of where we go each season – which one is which. Because you really have to start seeding in the other siblings, and what’s going on with them, to push them to the next season. We’ve really talked about it through, I think, season 6 or maybe 7."As for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Rhimes has teased the possibility of making a second season. "We talk about it a lot," she told Variety. "And, for a while, I was holding it very close, and didn’t necessarily know that I wanted to play it out in a Bridgerton season. But, now we’ve been talking about what it would look like if we saw a little bit in Bridgerton’s present day, with Brimsley and Reynolds, and what that would mean [and] I think it deprives us of a chance to tell the story the way it should be told."For more Netflix coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, One Piece season 2, and 3 Body Problem season 2.

Tesla's robotaxi service has started testing in Austin without drivers in advance of its promised June launch, according to the company. "For the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no on in driver's seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents," CEO Elon Musk posted on X. "A month ahead of schedule."

Earlier this year, Tesla promised to launch its robotaxi service sometime in June, using an internal fleet of 10 to 20 Model Ys operating in a limited, geo-fenced part of Austin with remote human assistance. The level of human assistance (teleoperation) isn't clear, but there are fears based on Tesla's recent history that human operators may be used to cover up any technical deficiencies in Tesla's self-driving vehicles.

A recent Bloomberg report was more specific about the launch date with paid customers, putting it at June 12. However, reports earlier this month indicated that Tesla had yet to even start testing without drivers as of mid-May, so it would only have a few weeks of testing before a commercial launch.

On top of that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still in the dark about many details around the service. "The agency would like to gather additional information about Tesla's development of technologies for use in 'robotaxi' vehicles to understand how Tesla plans to evaluate its vehicles and driving automation technologies for use on public roads," the NHTSA wrote in a May 8 letter to Tesla.

That information is key for public safety, because Tesla will only be using camera-based systems and not LiDAR and radar sensors like Waymo and other robotaxi operators. In a recent analyst call, Elon Musk said that the Model Y robotaxi vehicles would be the same as Model Y vehicles sold to the public. "There's no change to it," Musk said (before being contradicted by Tesla's Autopilot software director).

No other details were released, but the upcoming service is certainly of critical importance to the automaker given flagging Tesla EV sales, particularly in Europe. CEO Elon Musk famously staked the future of Tesla on robotaxis, reportedly even canceling a budget EV to focus on that service. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-says-it-has-been-testing-driverless-model-ys-in-austin-for-several-days-123037251.html?src=rss

A full year of Peacock Premium is on sale right now for $25 as part of a Memorial Day promotion. This is $55 off the typical price of $80. Just enter SPRINGSAVINGS at checkout. The promotion is live until May 30. This is the ad-supported version.

Peacock is a decent platform and made our list of the best streaming services. It doesn't get the attention of Netflix or Disney+, but it's home to several nifty original shows. There's the AI-adjacent tomfoolery of Mrs. Davis and the Rian Johnson-made whodunnit Poker Face. It also airs several video game adaptations, like Knuckles and the surprisingly-decent Twisted Metal.

The big draw here, however, is likely the long-awaited spinoff of The Office, which is called The Paper. That one premieres in September and is a Peacock exclusive. The platform also signed an 11-year agreement with the NBA and that goes into effect this fall. The mobile app could be getting minigames and short-form vertical videos (like TikTok) in the near future.

There's one caveat. This subscription will automatically renew for $80 after the year runs out. Stay on top of scheduling if you want to cancel before then.

The Scranton documentary crew is heading to Toledo. #ThePaper arrives this September on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/Mzmbw7TBzF— Peacock (@peacock) May 12, 2025

Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-peacock-premium-deal-ends-soon-get-one-year-for-only-25-163231984.html?src=rss

It's almost time to bid farewell to The Doctor once more.The final episode of Doctor Who season 2 (that's season 15 for anyone who's watched it since the show's 2005 revival) will be with us very soon. And, whether or not you believe the rumors that it'll be Ncuti Gatwa's last hurrah as the 15th Doctor, you won't want to miss what happens in this season's finale.So, when will 'The Reality War' be released? Below, I'll tell you when and where you can watch Doctor Who's next episode. Set those co-ordinates for Earth via the TARDIS, everyone, and let's travel through time and space to find out more.What time can I watch the Doctor Who season 2 finale?'The Reality War' will be available to stream on Disney+ (internationally) and BBC One/BBC iPlayer (UK only) on Saturday, May 31.As for the actual time that one of the best Disney+ shows' next chapter be released on these services, check out the list below to see when it'll launch in your country (NB: if your nation isn't mentioned below, use one of the listed times to work out when you can stream it in your region).US – 12am PT / 3am ETUK – 8am BST (BBC iPlayer) / 7pm BST (BBC One)Australia – 5pm AESTCanada – 12am PT / 3am ETBrazil – 4am BRTIndia – 12:30pm ISTNew Zealand – 7pm NZSTJapan – 4pm JSTSingapore – 3pm SGTWhere will Doctor Who season 2 episode 8 be available to watch?In less than a week, THE REALITY WAR begins... 💥 #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/JFjKsmPkPLMay 26, 2025As I mentioned above, UK viewers can tune into BBC iPlayer and BBC One to see if The Doctor, Bel, Ruby, and numerous other heroes can save the day. If you can't watch 'The Reality War' until it airs on BBC One, I'd recommend staying off social media, and/or muting certain words and hashtags, so nobody spoils its biggest moments for you ahead of time.Meanwhile, the rest of the world can watch it on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.You might also like'Is this for real?': Lilo and Stitch fans are furious about the live-action remake's ending, so they're watching the original movie on Disney+ insteadSpider-Man: Brand New Day reportedly set to feature one of the first Avengers in a big role, but I hope it's not true for two huge reasonsThe Last of Us season 2 ending explained: is [spoiler] dead and how this chapter's final scene sets up the hit HBO show's third season

The Steam Deck just got even more useful. NVIDIA's native GeForce NOW app is now available for the portable console, after being teased back at CES. This allows Steam Deck owners to stream the entire library of over 2,200 games, with up to a 4K resolution at 60FPS.

There are some benefits to using this service even when the game already runs natively on the Steam Deck. The integration provides HDR, DLSS 4 and Reflex on supported titles and the settings can be pushed much higher than usual. This is a streaming platform, so the Steam Deck is more or less just a display for cloud content.

To that end, NVIDIA promises a massive increase in battery life when using GeForce NOW as compared to running a game natively on the console. The company says players could squeeze around 50 percent more use out of the Steam Deck before requiring a charge. This is a big deal, as the Deck is a noted battery hog.

It also allows players to run games that aren't available on the handheld. GeForce NOW pulls its library from Steam, Epic Games Store, Game Pass for PC, Ubisoft, Blizzard's Battle.net and other places. NVIDIA says that it can be used to run games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Monster Hunter Wilds and Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 "at max settings without worrying about hardware limits." That's an enticing proposition.

The Steam Deck is also easily docked to a TV, offering a way to play the aforementioned titles on the big screen. There's a free version of GeForce NOW to try it out, but it comes with serious caveats. The queues are generally much longer here than with paid subscriptions and users are limited to play sessions of one hour. The company's offering a six-month Performance membership right now for $30. This reverts back to $50 once the period expires.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nvidias-native-geforce-now-app-is-now-available-for-steam-deck-130016615.html?src=rss

GreyNoise finds new hacking campaign targeting Asus hardwareThe threat actors are exploiting poorly secured routers to gain initial accessThey abuse known flaws to establish persistent access and create a botnetThousands of ASUS routers were compromised and turned into a malicious botnet after hackers uncovered a troubling security vulnerability, experts have warned.“This appears to be part of a stealth operation to assemble a distributed network of backdoor devices — potentially laying the groundwork for a future botnet,” noted cybersecurity researchers GreyNoise, who first spotted the attacks in mid-March 2025.Using Sift (GreyNoise’s network payload analysis tool) and a fully emulated ASUS router profile running in the GreyNoise Global Observation Grid, the researchers determined that the threat actors were first breaching routers with brute force and authentication bypassing.Advanced operationsThese poorly configured routers were easy pickings for the attackers, who then proceeded to exploit a command injection flaw to run system commands.This flaw is tracked as CVE-2023-39780 and carries a severity score of 8.8/10 (high).The vulnerability was first published in the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on September 11, 2023, and since then ASUS released firmware updates to address it.“The tactics used in this campaign — stealthy initial access, use of built-in system features for persistence, and careful avoidance of detection — are consistent with those seen in advanced, long-term operations, including activity associated with advanced persistent threat (APT) actors and operational relay box (ORB) networks,” GreyNoise further explains.“While GreyNoise has made no attribution, the level of tradecraft suggests a well-resourced and highly capable adversary.”The attackers use the ability to run system commands, to install a backdoor that’s stored in non-volatile memory (NVRAM).This means the access they establish survives both reboots and firmware updates. The attackers can maintain long-term access without dropping stage-two malware, or leaving other obvious traces.We don’t know exactly how many devices are compromised, other than that there are “thousands”, with the number “steadily increasing”.You might also likeASUS reveals critical security flaw affecting AiCloud routers, so patch nowTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

After watching its fixed-lens X100 VI camera do stratospheric sales numbers, Fujifilm decided to build a bigger and badder version that could go up against Leica’s full-frame Q3. The result is the $4,899 GFX100RF, the first-ever 100-megapixel medium format compact camera.

The GFX100RF has some novel features, like a crop dial that lets you choose aspect ratios ranging from vertical 3:4 to a panoramic 65:24. It can digitally zoom via a dedicated toggle and offers all the social media-friendly benefits of the X100 VI, including film simulations. You can even shoot medium-format 4K video.

However, the GFX100RF has some flaws. Where Leica’s Q3 has a fast 28mm f/1.7 lens and optical stabilization, Fujifilm’s 35mm lens (28mm equivalent) here is limited to f4 and lacks any shake reduction, hurting the camera in low light. I’ve used the camera for nearly two weeks now and enjoyed it, but given the high price and quirks, it’s definitely not for everyone.

Design and handling

Though it’s Fujifilm’s smallest medium-format camera, the GFX100RF is still a hefty unit at 735 grams. That’s more than many full-frame mirrorless cameras and around the same weight as the Q3. The control layout is similar to the X100 VI with control dials on the front and back, along with exposure compensation, shutter speed and ISO controls on top.

What’s new is the aspect ratio dial that offers modes for 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 17:6, 3:4, 1:1, 7:6, 5:4 and 65:24 (the latter pays tribute to Fujifilm’s TX-1 panoramic camera). The GFX100RF also has a toggle up front to select 28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 63mm (full-frame equivalent) zoom levels. Those gradually lose resolution due to cropping, from 100MP at 28mm down to 20MP at 63mm. Bokeh is also reduced as the sensor size shrinks.

The rear 2.1-million-dot, 3.15-inch display only tilts up and down, but that’s fine for the camera's primary street photo role. Though sharp and detailed, the 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder unfortunately lacks the X100 VI’s signature hybrid display that lets you switch between optical and electronic views. However, it does offer three modes to support the aspect ratio dial and make composition easier. One only shows the selected crop, another shows the full scene with a box around the crop and the third displays everything outside the crop at 50 percent opacity.

Fujifilm's GFX100RF includes an innovative aspect ratio dial at back

Steve Dent for Engadget

Battery life on the GFX100RF is outstanding with up to 820 shots on a charge or about 100 minutes of 4K 30 fps video shooting. For me, that amounted to nearly two days of use, which is better than nearly every other (non-DSLR) camera I’ve tested. The camera also includes dual UHS-II memory card slots plus mic, headphone, microHDMI and USB-C ports. The latter allows not only data transfers and charging, but also SSD video recording.

Performance

The GFX100RF is essentially a GFX100S II squeezed into a compact body, so performance is similar with up to 6 fps burst shooting speeds. However, each RAW file is up to 150MB in size and JPEGs are 70MB, so even at those slower speeds, you can fill your memory cards very quickly. That said, this camera definitely isn’t designed for sports or wildlife, so I didn’t use burst shooting often.

The autofocus is reliable when shooting single photos, but it’s a little laggy for bursts. Using the face and eye detect AI modes helps nail eye focus reliably, but it’s not as fast as Sony and Canon’s systems. It also supports animal, bird and vehicle tracking, which helped me capture sharp photos of ducks floating on the Seine river in Paris.

Steve Dent for Engadget

The GFX100RF has both mechanical and silent electronic shutter modes. Rolling shutter skew is a big issue with this sensor in silent mode with fast moving subjects, though. Luckily, the mechanical shutter eliminates that and is nearly inaudible.

The built-in ND filter can reduce light up to four stops, letting you shoot on sunny days while retaining some bokeh. However, the main problem is when there’s not enough light. The minimum f4 aperture is simply inadequate and the lack of stabilization exacerbates the issue as you risk blurry photos at slow shutter speeds. In dim light you may need to pack a tripod, which isn’t ideal for a compact camera.

Image quality

The aspect ratio and zoom options on the GFX100RF are handy and fun. Some curmudgeons may prefer to shoot full sensor 100MP photos and then just crop later in post production. But the GFX100RF lets you have your cake and eat it, too. You can apply all the crops, zooms and film simulations you want and save them as JPEGs for easy sharing. Then, if you need to go back and change something, you also have the full 100MP RAW image as a backup (though obviously, shooting both will fill your memory card more quickly).

As with the GFX100S II, the GFX100RF is a top performer when it comes to detail and sharpness. Colors are pleasing and RAW files retain high amounts of dynamic range, allowing for easy adjustment in Lightroom. And of course, Fujifilm’s film simulations give you colorful, nostalgic options — like Reala Ace or the dramatic black and white look of Acros — straight out of the camera.

The GFX100RF also delivers beautiful bokeh, with the f4 aperture equivalent to around f3 for a full-frame camera in terms of depth of field (but not light gathering). Like other GFX models, the large sensor produces more dramatic images than full frame for portraits, landscapes or street shots.

Like I mentioned, things fall apart when the light dims, though. With no option below f4 and no stabilization, I relied on high ISOs to boost exposure. The GFX100RF isn’t bad in this area, with controllable noise up to about ISO 8000, but that’s not high enough considering the other factors. For these reasons, the GFX100RF is less versatile than it could be.

Video

Steve Dent for Engadget

The GFX100RF can handle 4K and widescreen DCI 4K at up to 30 fps with fairly high bit rates, as long as you have a fast UHS-II SD card. It can even shoot ProRes with at much higher data speeds, but for those, you’ll need to record directly to an SSD via the USB Type-C port.

Autofocus for video is decent but not incredibly fast, so ideally your subjects don’t move too much. The AI-powered face and eye detection helps nail focus when filming people, but again, can fail if subjects dart around.

Video has a dreamy quality and bokeh that only a large sensor can offer. Like the GFX100S II, the GFX100RF captures video using the full width of the sensor in most modes, albeit with pixel binning that reduces quality. The sharpest video comes with a 1.32x crop, but that reduces the image quality benefits of a large sensor.

Video on the GFX100RF has one thing going for it that the photo side lacks: digital stabilization. This smooths out shakiness for handheld shots, but the excessive rolling shutter limits your ability to move the camera quickly.

Colors are pleasing and easy to adjust, particularly when using Fujifilim’s F-Log or F-Log2 10-bit modes to boost dynamic range. And of course, Reala Ace, Acros and other film simulations are available in video modes to create great looks straight out of the camera.

Wrap-up

Steve Dent for Engadget

Fujifilm’s $4,899 GFX100RF is a powerful camera with incredible image quality that’s hampered by a lack of low-light performance. It’s also a niche and expensive product that, unlike Fujifilm’s popular X100 VI, only appeals to a small group of photographers.

Its primary rival in this space is Leica’s Q3, which has a smaller 60MP full-frame sensor and higher $6,735 price tag. However, the Q3 has a much faster 28mm f/1.7 lens, less rolling shutter, a single SD UHS-II card slot and up to 8K video. It also has the Leica brand cachet, which does mean something to people spending this kind of money.

The GFX100RF is fun to use, though, and introduces several innovations like the aspect ratio dial. Though it may never have a huge market, I think products like this push the industry in new directions and create conversations that draw new people into photography. So even though I’d never buy one, I’m glad the GFX100RF exists for those reasons.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-gfx100rf-review-a-powerful-and-fun-camera-thats-far-from-perfect-133034384.html?src=rss