Fujifilm cameras and lenses have consistently gained popularity among users of APS-C and medium format sensors. The company has introduced the powerful GFX series, making medium formats more accessible than those of Hasselblad or Phase One. It now appears that the company is working on new prime lenses, which are not exactly fast; however, this raises questions about the company’s future. Here is a look at what the new patent discloses.
According to Asobinet, Fujifilm has introduced a new patent, 2025-178957, which showcases two new designs: 28mm f4 and 35mm f4. Unlike smaller lenses, the patent draws attention to its design, which seems to be for medium-format cameras. There are multiple designs that showcase a compact design, which are becoming more complex as the sensor size grows.
Example 1
- Focal length: 28.3822
- F-number: 4.12
- Angle of view: 81.4
- Back focal length: 5.1540
Example 2
- Focal length: 35.6183
- F-number: 4.12
- Angle of view: 80.8
- Back focal length: 5.4299
Example 3
- Focal length: 28.3541
- F-number: 3.60
- Angle of view: 82.4
- Back focal length: 6.5825
Example 4
- Focal length: 29.3800
- F-number: 4.12
- Angle of view: 79.8
- Back focal length: 5.9173
The patent describes lenses with f3.6 to f4.12 apertures. The focal ranges are also interesting, which implies these wide-angle lenses are better suited for landscape, documentary, and street photography. However, the article also notes that the 28mm seems to fall short for the 44 x 33mm sensor size, but the 35mm’s design seems more capable of covering the GFX sensor. In other words, the short back focal range suggests that the lenses are not for interchangeable cameras such as the GFX100S II or the GFX 50R. Instead, the patent points towards a fixed-lens camera, which could be a new GFX camera, such as the GFX100RF. However, patents do not always come to fruition, which means that the company is not developing a compact camera but rather focusing on the type of lenses their future devices can use.
If you look at third-party lens makers, only a handful are working to launch new lenses for medium format. For instance, Loawa has a few options, such as the 17mm f4 or the 35mm f2.8. There is TTArtisan, but they only have the 90mm f1.25. Other players, such as Tamron or Sigma, have not yet dabbled with the medium format. So, while there is a gap, it can’t be filled so soon. In fact, Fujifilm has not launched a 28mm or a 35mm lens itself. Photographers have a zoom lens in the range of 20-35mm f4 and a 30mm f3.5.
It remains to be seen what the company launches eventually, but for now, it is safe tos say that they need more options for photographers who need fast aperture, compact lenses.