These four weather sealed lenses will help you get the most out of your Medium Format monster.
Fujifilm’s foray into the world of Medium Format cameras has been a successful one so far. The GFX 50s and the GFX 50R have wowed photographers around the globe thanks to their incredible image quality, and their surprising price points. Equally as impressive are the weather sealed lenses that go with the cameras. The whole system is rugged and well built, and you can tell that these cameras and lenses were designed to work in extreme conditions. The four weather sealed lenses we will be looking at today will help you get the most out of your Megapixel monster. Click on through the break to see four of our favorite GF mount weather sealed lenses.
Whether you’re a portrait, landscape, documentary, or fashion photographer there are lenses for you on Fujfilm’s Medium Format platform. All of these lenses are built like tanks, they offer razor sharp images, and they are weather sealed to the nines so that you can use them in the most extreme, most demanding conditions around. Let’s take a quick look at these weather sealed lenses and what they have to offer in exchange for your hard earned cash.
Fujifilm GF 23mm F4 R WR
If you’re looking for a wide angle lens for your Fujfilm GFX camera look no further than the GF 23mm F4 R WR. This 18mm equivalent lens is solidly built, exhibits great overall sharpness, and has a magical image quality about that has to be seen to be believed.
In our review we said:
“Thereâs something about the Fujifilm GF 23mm F4 R WR that can only be described as majestic; it delivers a big, grand, wide view of the world but it also has a very classic documentary look and feel to it that I think is going to be valued by adventure and documentary photographers who choose the Fujifilm GF system.”
Inside the plastic body you’re going to find 15 elements in 12 groups (includes 2 aspherical ,1 Super ED , 3ED), and 9 rounded aperture blades. The optics that Fujifilm lenses use are nothing short of spectacular. We’ve seen time and time again just how good image quality can be from Fujifilm glass and this lens is no exception. Images are sharp from F4 but they hit maximum sharpness at around F11. Color rendition is superb as well. Of course overall colors will really be determined by what Fujfilm simulation you use in cameras, but you will love the results regardless.
The lens is capable of focusing close which means you can get some nice bokeh out of this glass too. There’s some slight distortion, but just in the corners. Even then it’s minimal and is easily corrected in post. Overall you will not be disappointed with the images that you produce with this lens. There is something quite magical about them. Focusing performance is good overall. In low light situations its a little slow, but the lens almost seems limited by the camera body. This is a Medium Format platform though so this is almost expected.
The build quality is also excellent. The body is made out of plastic, but it still feels like premium lens. Had it been made from metal it would have been way too heavy. Even with the plastic body this lens weighs 1.8lbs which is crazy when you consider this is a 23mm prime, but it just goes to show how much quality glass there is inside this beast. It feels solid in the hands overall. The weather sealing is superb, and you can easily see the beefy rubber rings around the lens mount. You’ll have no issues taking the GF 23mm f4 out into crazy weather. It won’t miss a beat.
If you’re looking for a lens that is really wide then this could be the one for you. It’s perfect for documentarians, landscape photography, and environmental portraits, and the weather sealing and overall build quality will make this lens last a long time. It’s one of the must have weather sealed lenses on the Fujfilm GFX platform.
Buy now ($2599.95): Amazon
Fujifilm GF 23mm F4 R WR Image Samples
Pro Tip: Lenses and cameras arenât the only items we carry that need to be protected from the weather. SD cards and batteries are really quite fragile and donât do well when they come into contact with moisture. Keep them safe and secure in a weather proof case. This extra layer of protection will give you peace of mind when you head into the great outdoors.
Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR
If you love using 35mm primes you’re going to absolutely love the Fujifilm GF45mm F2.8 R WR. The lens has a equivalent focal length of 36mm which makes it perfect for wedding photographers, street photographers, documentarians, and environmental portrait artists. Of course the lens is also weather sealed and produces glorious images to boot.
In our review we said:
“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, youâre bound to get some nice bokeh. Indeed, you surely do with the Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR. It isnât distracting and, with the right white balance and film simulation, the bokeh will be gorgeous”
The GF 45mm f2.8 is another quality lens all around. The casing of the lens is again plastic, but this is a solid lens and will easily survive the rough and tumble of being in your camera bag, and won’t be hurt from the odd bump here and there. Weighing in at just 1.08lbs this svelte lens is light enough to walk around with for long periods of time, and is the reason why it lends itself to the above mentioned genres of photography so well.
The large focus ring offers a nice place to grip the lens, and as with all Fujifilm lenses you’ll find the aperture ring towards the mount of the lens. The weather sealing is just as great as others in the GF lineup. You can see the grommet around the mount of the lens, and from past experience we know that Fujifilm weather sealed lenses just laugh in the face of bad weather. In fact this lens can operate in temperatures as low as 14°F/-10°C and will brush off rain and snow with ease.
Inside the housing you will find 11 elements in eight groups (one aspherical element and two ED lenses), along with nine circular aperture blades that can create some nice smooth circular bokeh. This lens is super sharp, especially when used in studio settings and with external lighting. Even the most hardcore pixel peepers will be pleased with the results here. Color rendition is great as well, but it really depends on what film simulation you’re using. Skin tones are good, but aren’t overly warm so if using for portraiture there will be a need for some editing. Ooverall colors are fantastic though.
Autofocus performance is good for a Medium Format lens. It’s accurate, pretty fast, and does what it’s supposed to do. It never missed focus during our testing, but it could be faster in order to keep up with moving subjects.
When it comes to weather sealed lenses, the GF 45mm f2.8 is a must have if you like to get out and hit the streets, or do a lot of wedding work. It’s solidly built, produces nice sharp images, and has plenty of weather sealing. If you’re looking for a classic 35mm lens for your GFX 50S or 50R grab this one.
Buy now ($1,699.95): Amazon
Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR Image Samples
Pro Tip: Make sure you keep extra SD cards on your person when using Medium Format cameras. The file sizes are huge compared to their smaller Full Frame bothers. The last thing you want to do is run out of storage space in the middle of a shoot. This SD card is fast (U3), reliable, and cheap.
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f4 R LM WR
The Fujifilm GF 32-64mm F4 is the Fujfilm’s attempt to make a general purpose lens for the GFX system that can can just be mounted onto the camera and left there for shoot after shoot. With an equivalent 35mm focal range of 25-51mm, this is as close to the 24-70mm as you’re going to get on the Medium Format platform, but does it deliver? Oh yes. Indeed it does.
In our review we said:
“It sports sharp output, nice bokeh, versatile colors, weather sealing, and is more or less a lens youâll always want to keep on your camera. During my time with it, I really fell in love with the Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f4 R LM WR lens.”
The Fujfilm GF 32-64mm F4 is a monster of a lens. This zoom lens weighs in at 1.92lbs so it’s not light by any means and you might think that it would make this lens hard to use for longer periods, but the excellent ergonomics make this lens a joy to use. The focus and zoom rings are nice and large, as is the aperture ring. All three operate smoothly and easily.
As is the norm with GF lenses, the build quality is fantastic. The housing of the lens is plastic but it gets cold like metal does, and it even feels like metal. The weather sealing is great. We took it out into a small snow storm and the lens performed admirably and came out unscathed. Just attach it and go. You don’t need to worry about the weather too much. Just no hurricanes okay.
Inside the body you’ll find 14 elements in 11 groups (three aspherical, one extra-low dispersion element and one super extra-low dispersion element), and nine rounded aperture blades. As you can imagine image quality is ridiculously good. In fact we simply couldn’t believe just how sharp this lens is. Color rendition is really good overall with colors tending to be a little saturated. As with all Fujifilm lenses though you’re at the mercy of the film simulation you choose to use, but again, you won’t be disappointed. This lens is not a bokeh monster, but when used close to your subject the out of focus areas are rendered nicely.
The autofocus performance of the lens is excellent too. Of all the GF mount lenses the 32-64mm had the least amount of misses during our testing. It’s still not going to focus as fast as a Full Frame or APS-C lens, but in terms of Medium Format lenses, this one is a speed demon. You’ll be happy with it’s performance for sure.
If you’re in the market for a jack of all trades lens, the Fujifilm GFÂ 32-64mm f4 will fit the bill nicely. Its great for street, documentary, portraits, and environmental portraiture thanks to its fast autofocusing capabilities, its sharp output, and its excellent overall build quality. This is another of the must have weather sealed lenses on the platform.
Buy now ($1,940.43): Amazon
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f4 R LM WR Image Samples
Pro Tip: Weather sealed lenses are made to be used out in the elements, but that won’t stop them from becoming covered in grime. Keep a basic lens cleaning kit in your camera bag so that you can remove dirt, grease, and water spots that the rain and snow will leave behind.
Fujifilm GF 110mm F2 R WR
The GF 110mm F2 will no doubt please portrait photographers to no end. This 87mm equivalent lens is a stunner that’s well built, and can deliver some of the best images out of any of the GF mount weather sealed lenses that we have tested so far.
In our review we said:
“The Fujifilm GF 110mm F2 R WR lens is without a doubt one of the best lenses weâve tested. Itâs sharp, has nice bokeh, great weather sealing, and can deliver really nice colors.”
Make no mistake about it; the GF 110mm f2 is a massive lens. Despite its gargantuan size the lens weighs in at just 2.22lbs. Looking at it you would think that it would weigh much more than this. The lens is also still easy to use, and it balances well on the GFX 50S that we used to test the lens. The housing is plastic, but like other GF lenses it feels incredibly solid, and we have no doubt that it will stand up to abuse over the years. The weather sealing is just as stout as the other lenses in the GF line up too. Using it outside when the weather is beyond nasty will be no problem at all. It will work out in the snow and rain all the time you want it to. In fact you’ll quit before this lens ever does.
Inside the premium plastic housing you’re going to find 14 elements in nine groups (includes four ED elements), and nine rounded aperture blades. Images produced with this lens are going to make your jaw drop. They are beautiful. You’ll find edge to edge sharpness when using this glass, colors that are nice no matter what film simulation you are using, and bokeh that’s nice, creamy, and very pleasing to the eyes. You won’t find any chromatic aberration or color fringing from this lens either, and distortions are non existent. This lens is stellar when it comes to image quality.
The autofocus performance does leave a little bit of a sour taste in the mouth, but this again is mainly due to it being used on the GFX 50S. This cameras isn’t designed for speed at all, having said that though it still beats out other competition in this market segment. With that in mind, this lens is still one of the fastest auto focusing Medium Format lenses out there.
The GF 110mm F2 R WR lens is a must have lens for portrait photographers who have adopted Fujfilm’s Medium Format platform. It’s image quality will really blow you away, the build quality will make this lens last a long time, and the weather sealing makes this lens very versatile. It’s just another one of the quality weather sealed lenses that Fujifilm have produced for their growing Medium Format Fan base.
Buy now ($2,346.88): Amazon
Fujifilm GF 110mm F2 R WR Image Samples
