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Lenses

Review: Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR (Fujifilm GF)

Chris Gampat
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01/22/2018
8 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR review product images

With the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR, many photographers who love primes could have a favorite lens.

When Fujifilm announced the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR, I was incredibly excited. While most folks would think of this lens and something closer to the normal range, one needs to remember that this is medium format. It’s something closer to my beloved 35mm field of view. In the older days of medium format, lots of photographers reached for primes like this. With modern Fujifilm’s glass, coatings, and designs you can be sure the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR is quite a performer. This is a lens that will easily find its way in the hands of professional photographers. Then you consider the weather sealing, the 35mm f2 equivalency with the compression of a 45mm lens, the feel, the relatively small size, and the overall lightweight system that the Fujifilm GFX is and you get yourself a fantastic option.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Fantastic color rendition
  • Pretty fast focusing abilities
  • Very sharp
  • Keeps distortion down pretty well
  • Weather sealing
  • Lightweight
  • Pretty small

Cons

  • I really wish this lens had a significantly faster aperture. This is larger than full frame but smaller than 645; so I think Fujifilm can and should produce faster f1.8 or f1.4 glass. With so much innovation at a company like that, it has to be possible.
  • The Fujifilm GF system has fantastic autofocus for medium format, but is still behind 35mm full frame cameras.

Gear Used

We tested the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR with the Fujifilm GFX 50s and an Adorama Flashpoint Zoom Li-On flash. Additional tests were done with the Manfrotto Magnetic Backdrop Clip and a Lastolite Background.

Tech Specs

Specs taken from our original news blog post

  • FUJIFILM G Mount is compatible with the FUJIFILM GFX 50S
  • Weather and dust resistant design capable of operating at temperatures as low as 14°F/-10°C
  • 8 groups and 11 elements construction using one aspherical lens and two ED lenses
  • 9 blade aperture creates smooth and circular bokeh
  • Nano GI coating suppresses ghosting and flare

On the GF lens front, Fujifilm has announced their new GF 45mm F2.8R WR, a lens that they have developed as the sixth lens in the GF system, and it is aimed squarely at street/documentary style photographers.

The 45mm F2.8 R WR has an effective 35mm focal length of 36mm, making it perfect for those who are in love with shooting on a 35mm lens with their DSLR. So wedding, portrait, street, documentary, and journalists who may be shooting with the new Fujifilm GFX system now have a killer option for a wide variety of purposes.

In terms of pricing, the new 45mm F2.8 will also be available in November 2017 for an retail price in the neighborhood of $1,699.95. Stay tuned for pre-order links once they are available.

Ergonomics

Taken from our first impressions post

When you look at the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR lens, you’ll see it more or less resembles many of Fujifilm’s other lenses. It’s a prime lens, so its design is mostly dominated by a large focusing ring with a smaller aperture ring towards the back of the lens. You can also set it to A mode for automatic control or C mode to allow the camera’s dials to control the aperture settings.

The Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR is otherwise more or less a typical, standard lens, except for its massive size. But the weird thing is that, despite being a much wider lens, it isn’t larger than the Fujifilm 80mm f2.8 for the X series. The GF format is larger than full frame.

Build Quality

As the name implies, WR in the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR means it is weather resistant. To prove that, Fujifilm put a small rubber gasket around the lens mount. But in addition to that, I’ve taken Fujifilm cameras out into hurricane-like weather and they’ve survived when used with a weather sealed lens. So I’m honestly not worried here.

During my review tests, I didn’t take it out into the rain but it survived being tussled about in a camera bag and being bumped by people and doorways in Manhattan. It shrugged them all of like the expensive champion of a lens that it is.

Ease of Use

The Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR is a lens that I’m sure would confuse a number of photographers I’d introduce it to, but who would eventually warm up to it. The Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR has a full working aperture ring bound to satisfy many classical and Fujifilm shooters. But if you set it to the C mode, then you can change that setting using the camera’s dials. In this way, it will function more like a Phase One, Canon or Nikon DSLR. In most shooting situations that medium format requires, you’re often keeping the settings at what they are with little to no changes – at least that’s what you do in the studio.

In documentary work, you’re most likely setting a higher ISO and aperture priority. Keep in mind this lens has the field of view and depth of field of a 35mm f2 lens full frame 35mm equivalent when shooting wide open. But because this is medium format, you’re getting the light gathering abilities of f2.8 even though you’re shooting with a shallower depth of field.

Autofocus

The Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR is fast and accurate but in some ways I feel like the Fujifilm GFX 50S is sort of holding it back. The autofocus is fantastic for medium format cameras in general but I think it is still behind 35mm full frame cameras. The autofocus is good, accurate, fairly fast, and works. But it could be faster in order to keep up with moving subjects, such as in a documentary setting. Photographers who shoot in the studio will genuinely enjoy this, but when it comes to using face detection and eye focus, the GFX 50s can be a bit behind the other products out there. Instead, I recommend just adjusting the size of the focusing point, moving it, and selecting the eye you want in focus. Granted, this can slow down your shooting.

Here’s an example of when I was using face detection and the camera focused a bit back on the subject. It happens every now and again, but to be fair this is tough for a lot of different cameras. It’s tougher for the GFX though due to the shallower depth of field at various apertures vs smaller sensors.

Image Quality

In studio settings and situations where you can slow down and take your time, the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR is a fantastic lens. In fact, I’m partial to saying it is one of my favorites. It’s as sharp as something like a Zeiss 35mm f1.4 Milvus, but it doesn’t have Zeiss’ color rendition. Instead, it’s all it’s own. It can create gorgeous bokeh for sure and in the hands of the right photographer it can be very capable.

Bokeh

Wide open, the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR has the depth of field and view of a full frame 35mm f2 lens on a full frame 35mm camera. With that said, you’re bound to get some nice bokeh. Indeed, you surely do with the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR. It isn’t distracting and, with the right white balance and film simulation, the bokeh will be gorgeous. This bokeh isn’t cinematic in my opinion, nor does it look anything like film and what film can do. Instead, it looks pretty darn digital. But to be fair, the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR is on a camera that has a very digital sensor. It’s smaller than 645.

Below are a few informal comparisons.

Rokinon 35mm f2.8 at f2.8
Sigma 24-35mm f2 at f2
Canon 35mm f2 IS at f4

The Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR can focus fairly closely for sure and that gives you even better bokeh. Part of why you purchase medium format cameras and lenses is the bokeh. And unfortunately I don’t feel like either Fujifilm or Hasselblad are using their potential yet when it comes to fast lenses and depth of field.

Chromatic Aberration

Given this is a newer, medium format lens you wouldn’t believe the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR to have chromatic aberration of any sort. It indeed has no signs of purple fringing or anything like this. When I ran the images I shot through Adobe Lightroom’s Upright, it didn’t really find any major problems with distortion. While there is some, it’s not any more distortion than you would expect from the Sony 35mm f1.4 Zeiss lens.

Color Rendition

The Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR has a lot to offer when it comes to color rendition. This is due to how the Fujifilm GFX 50s works. It offers up various film simulations such as Astia, Classic Chrome, the PRO Negative films, etc. For most of these studio session images I switched to either Classic Chrome or PRO Negative High Contrast. I’m really in love with the colors. Fujifilm won’t automatically give skin tones a nice, warm look like Canon and Zeiss lenses will, so instead I’d recommend going all manual when it comes to color editing. Again though, that has to do with the sensor.

Sharpness

When the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR nails the focus and a flash is added to the scene, the sharpness is off the charts amazing. I don’t feel it’s sharper than some of Fujifilm’s longer prime lenses though; and in some ways I’m torn there. It means you’ll have less skin smoothing to do at times if you’re shooting portraits, but it can also mean you’ll have more work to do if you’re doing landscapes and stuff. Fujifilm’s 63mm and 120mm lenses are both sharper than this. Again, I’m torn because I don’t want my portrait lenses to be uber sharp.

Extra Image Samples

Conclusions

Likes

  • Sharp photos
  • Colors are good
  • Weather sealing
  • Feels nice in the hand
  • The classic 35mm!
  • Not a bad price point!

Dislikes

  • Not a whole lot that this lens can necessarily solve

I think the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR is a fantastic lens. Can it have a faster aperture? Absolutely. It also isn’t sharper than some of the other primes, so keep that in mind. If anything, that’s my biggest problem with the lens. My other problems are with the Fujifilm GFX system and I’m sure those will be improved via firmware updates.

But otherwise, there is a whole lot to love about this lens. It’s weather sealed, comes in at a fairly affordable price point, can deliver good colors, and with flash it can really make scenes pop. Combine this with knowledge of how to get the most from the GFX and you’ll have great images. I think professional documentary photographers and editorial photographers will be able to make the most of the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR. I don’t think it will be perfect for weddings but it can surely do the job. This is due again to the Fujifilm GFX autofocus. But at the same time, it falls in line with what most medium format photographers have been doing for some time. It would be nice to see Fujifilm and Hasselblad continue to further change the game though. If this is a budget option for Fujifilm’s GFX system then I totally get that. It’s a great option. But I see room for a faster aperture and even sharper lens performance for most photographers who have teams of retouchers. With that said, it’s still a tough upgrade from full frame. Canon’s sensor tech is behind here, but Nikon and Sony have awesome results. The justification from full frame can be difficult, but it is surely there in the way of weight, per pixel performance for big prints, and versatility.

The Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR receives five out of five stars. Want one? Check out their prices on Amazon.

35mm f2 autofocus Bokeh canon Chromatic Aberration color rendition documentary film fujifilm Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR Fujifilm GFX 50S lens medium format portraits sharpness zeiss
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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