FUJIFILM has reached a meaningful cinematic milestone. The FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55 is now officially IMAX-certified, joining a very select group of digital cinema cameras approved for the Filmed For IMAX program. This is not a new camera announcement. The hardware has not changed. What has changed is the status. IMAX has formally approved the ETERNA 55 as a camera capable of meeting its demanding theatrical image standards.

Filmed For IMAX vs Shot With IMAX

To understand why this certification is important, it helps to revisit the long-standing distinction between IMAX acquisition formats, as explained in Filmed For IMAX vs Shot With IMAX. What’s Better?. That article clarified a critical industry nuance. Shot With IMAX traditionally refers to productions captured using IMAX’s own proprietary 65 mm film cameras. These systems remain the gold standard for absolute image scale and resolution, but they are rare, complex, and limited to a small number of productions. Filmed For IMAX, on the other hand, is IMAX’s certification program for high-end digital cinema cameras. These cameras are evaluated and approved based on their ability to deliver image quality, dynamic range, and most importantly expanded aspect ratios that take advantage of IMAX screens. The FUJIFILM ETERNA 55 now belongs to that second category.

Adding the Fujifilm GFX ETERNA 55 to our roster of IMAX‑certified cameras is a win for filmmakers and fans alike, giving the world’s best storytellers another world‑class tool to design truly immersive, cinematic visuals specifically for IMAX. As we continue to expand the ecosystem of certified cameras, we’re opening the door for more directors, DPs, and production partners to deliver unforgettable experiences to audiences around the world.

–  Jonathan Fischer, Chief Content Officer at IMAX

The sensor is the key reason IMAX approved it

IMAX certification is deeply tied to image area, not just resolution. That is where the ETERNA 55 stands out. The camera features what Fujifilm describes as the tallest digital filmmaking sensor currently available on the open market, with a 32.71 mm sensor height. Its native 4:3 Open Gate mode allows filmmakers to capture the full sensor area, preserving vertical information that is crucial for IMAX expanded aspect ratio presentation. This aligns directly with the principles, where vertical image scale was identified as one of the defining characteristics separating IMAX-optimized capture from standard widescreen workflows.

A cinema camera by design, not by adaptation

Another important point. The ETERNA 55 is not a stills camera adapted for motion work. It was designed from the ground up as a dedicated filmmaking camera. It features a cinema-style body, industry-standard connections, an adaptable native lens mount, and an internal electronically controlled variable ND filter with visually stepless operation. Color capture is handled via F-Log2 C, supported by Fujifilm’s film simulation heritage, including 3D LUTs and internal film simulation modes inspired by photochemical film. These design choices matter in IMAX workflows, where consistency, reliability, and post-production latitude are critical.

What IMAX certification actually unlocks

By joining the Filmed For IMAX ecosystem, the ETERNA 55 becomes eligible for productions that are designed, supervised, and finished specifically for IMAX presentation. This does not mean it replaces IMAX film cameras. It means it becomes a legitimate digital alternative for filmmakers targeting premium theatrical experiences. The Filmed For IMAX path exists to expand creative choice while preserving IMAX’s quality bar. Fujifilm’s certification is a clear sign that IMAX sees value in large-format Open Gate digital sensors as part of its future.

Receiving this certification is an honor for many reasons, one being that IMAX is a beacon for ambitious filmmakers; we’re so proud that GFX ETERNA 55 provides an accessible pathway for filmmakers to craft stories with an epic cinematic perspective. At Fujifilm, we have a deep belief in the importance of the theatrical moviegoing experience, where audiences come together to share thoughts, ideas, and emotions through the experience of visual storytelling. GFX ETERNA 55 is made for all types of storytellers, including filmmakers who dream of creating larger than life stories for the silver screen and beyond. Fujifilm is proud to provide filmmakers with a system that allows the ability to create motion pictures that are fit for the cinematic scale of The IMAX Experience.

– Yuji Igarashi, general manager, Professional Imaging Group, Imaging Solutions Division, Fujifilm Corporation

The bigger picture

IMAX continues to broaden its certified digital camera ecosystem, while still preserving the distinction between digital certification and proprietary film capture. The inclusion of the FUJIFILM ETERNA 55 reinforces a trend that YMCinema identified years ago. IMAX is less about a single camera type and more about how image area, framing flexibility, and immersion translate to the largest screens in the world.

Bottom line

The FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55 has not suddenly become something new. But with IMAX certification, it has become something validated. For filmmakers who think in terms of image scale rather than specs alone, the ETERNA 55 now stands as a serious Filmed For IMAX tool, firmly positioned within the evolving IMAX digital ecosystem. Would you shoot with the ETERNA on your next IMAX production?