The New Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR Lens

 In Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX, Fujifilm Promo, News

The Fastest Medium Format Lens Ever Created

Weak link in Medium Format

Before today there were only three “fast” lenses in the Medium format marketplace. Two are for large heavier bodies, the Leica S 100 f/2 and the Hasselblad HC 100 f/2.2. The third, and fastest lens, is the Hasselblad XCD 80mm f/1.9. With the release of the new Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7, FujiFilm now takes over the lead in speed/ resolution combination in the Medium Format marketplace. It is significant to have a lens body combination with 100mp resolution and f/1.7 speed. And it fills a hole that our industry that clients have been asking for since day one.

Where it sits in the FujiFilm Line Up

GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR LensGF 80mm f/1.7 R WR LensGF 110mm f/2 R LM WR Lens
Lens Configuration10 elements in 8 groups
includes 1ED element
12 elements in 9 groups
1 aspherical and 2
superED elements
14 elements in 9 groups
includes 4 ED elements
Focal Length63mm80mm110mm
Angle of view46.9°37.7°27.9°
Max. aperturef/2.8f/1.7f/2
Min. apertureF32F22F22
Number of blades999
Minimum Object Distance0.5m0.7m0.9m
Step Size1/3EV (22steps)1/3EV (23steps)1/3EV (22steps)
Filter SizeΦ62mmΦ77mmΦ77mm
Max Magnification0.17x0.15x0.16x
Weight405g795g1,010g

Why it matters to this photographer

My shooting style has two needs. For architecture and and landscape I use a 150mp Phase One on a Cambo Technical camera. This yields the highest quality images of any digital system I have ever used. However, as a photographer I always want a camera with me. I have always wanted a high resolution system with strong dynamic range with a lens that delivers the ultimate bokeh. Secondly, price and size matter with this second system. I want to have it in my car, in my computer bag, or anywhere I go. Clearly taking a 50k system does not fit that need and secondly, there are no fast lenses. Now with the GFX 100s and the GF 80mm f/1.7, I might have the perfect combination of weight, size, speed, and cost.

Having it in my hands

We were very fortunate to have the new GFX 100s and the GF 80mm for 24 hours last week. But it was just a tease. We each were all able to test it in situations where we would use the combination personally. Being a GFX 50s user, I was one of those users who really disliked the GFX 100 user interface. I felt that it was over engineered and over complicated compared to the smaller body. Now having the 50s size, weight, and interface but with the 100mp resolution and dynamic rage, this fits my personality perfectly. And Furthermore, I have the speed and bokeh of a f/1.7 lens.

The second hurdle for me for my testing besides the short time period is that I am exclusively a Capture One raw format photographer. Since it is impossible for C1 to have profiles or even recognize raws of a yet to be announced camera, I stripped the metadata and replaced the camera data with GFX 100 data. This means the color was not perfect but I look forward to having the real profiles in March when it ships.

FujiFilm is proud of their ED (extra low dispersion) glass technology. The ED technology helps eliminate chromatic aberrations in their line of lenses. This new lens has 2 SuperED elements and is the first prime lens to have 2 SuperED elements in its design. Never has any manufacture been able to come anywhere close to this quality and speed in a MF lens. And quite frankly, the first few images I process illustrate just how well Fujinon lenses perform.

Typically the fastest lens in a line up is also the heaviest. For comparison you can see the size in an image attached above. In comparison of weight, the lens is smaller and lighter than half the lenses in the line up. It is 10% lighter than the 32-64mm and about 5% shorter and lighter than the 23mm. So any FujiFilm user can understand how balanced it feels and how it can be the perfect addition to their camera bag.

Bokeh Bokeh Bokeh

Can you say beautiful dropped out backgrounds combined with a razor sharp but shallow plane of focus? Tell me what you think….

How much and when….

Orders for the lens can be accepted today

The first lenses will be delivered after March 11th

Cost = $2299

Contact your salesperson or call us today at (877) 217-9870

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