Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Fujifilm X100 series cameras, comes the first GFX large format camera with a fixed lens: the Fujifilm GFX100RF. The GFX100RF is notable for incorporating a 102MP high-speed image sensor alongside a fixed 35mm F4 lens, all in a compact body that weighs only 735g. This makes it the smallest and lightest in the GFX large format camera range, with its weight even less than a Fujifilm X-T5 mounted with a regular kit lens.
The GFX100RF is a rangefinder style camera, with the viewfinder offset to the side of the camera, making it ideal for street, travel and documentary photography.
Moreover, this is the first Fujifilm digital camera to also incorporate an Aspect Ratio dial, allowing photographers to quickly switch between common aspects such as 3:2, 4:3 and 1:1, but also uncommon ones, including 17:6 and 65:24 for wide landscapes, providing nine options in total.
The newly designed Fujinon 35mm lens is equivalent to 28mm in 35mm format, allowing a more natural perspective, close to our regular field of vision. With a minimum focussing distance of only 20mm, the lens also includes a built-in 4-stop ND filter and leaf shutter that syncs flash at any shutter speed – the first to do so in the GFX range. As users move closer to their subject, the shallower depth-of-field creates stunningly soft bokeh to deliver a look only a large format camera can provide.
It is worth noting that the GFX100RF includes the same GFX 102MP CMOS II large format sensor and high-speed X-Processor 5 image processing engine as found on the larger Fujifilm GFX100S II camera.
Indeed, 102MP offers photographers a lot of megapixels to play with, with Fujifilm adding a Digital tele-converter selector to the front of this camera. It offers photographers the ability to quickly “zoom” digitally, moving from the normal 35mm, through to 45mm, 63mm and 80mm, simply by operating the lever.
Overall, the GFX100RF offers a highly tactile photographic experience, with Fujifilm seeing the camera not just as a tool, but also a camera photographers would be proud to own. The top plate of the GFX100RF, for example, was machined from a full block of aluminium – the first time Fujifilm has done so – allowing sharp and defined edges. Indeed, the lens ring, dials, bottom plate and other details were all precision-machined from aluminium, enhancing the sense of metal texture when holding the camera in hand and providing a sense of unity in design.
Once again 20 of Fujifilm’s Film Simulations are onboard, while the GFX100RF accommodates videographers with smooth 4K/30p 4:2:2 10-bit video recording. With a base ISO of 100, it offers low noise for shooting, while F-Log2 provides 13+ stops of dynamic range for rich tonal expression and high flexibility in post-production.
Ultimately, image quality is one of the most important aspects of camera performance. And the GFX100RF’s large format sensor is what allows photographers to record textures, delicate colours and smooth tonal gradations, creating photos that can be cropped or printed large without losing detail.
South African photographer and World Press Photo Story of the Year 2024 winner, Lee-Ann Olwage, was involved with the launch of the Fujifilm GFX100RF, documenting an ongoing project in Zanzibar with the camera. She notes how the compact nature of the GFX100RF makes it easy to photograph in intimate environments, while also loving the depth of field achieved through the F4 lens. “I truly believe this camera will make large format the standard for documentary storytelling,” Olwage says.
The compact Fujifilm GFX100RF large format rangefinder style camera with fixed 35mm F4 lens is set to arrive in South Africa during April, with a suggested retail price of R115 000 incl. VAT.
