Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Lens Review
Fujifilm have consistently demonstrated their ability to manufacture superb medium format cameras and lenses, right the way through from their film-era rangefinders to the vibrant APS-C format mirrorless range and onwards to the real “big guns” of the day, the medium format GF lenses and cameras. Our expectations are running high as we look at the Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR lens, coupled up with the new Fujifilm GFX100 II body and its staggering 100MP sensor. Let’s see how it all works out, both in the technical tests and on location.
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Handling and Features
The step up from a large DSLR to the medium format Fujifilm camera is not a huge or insurmountable one by any means. The new lens weighs in at a manageable 780g and is fairly compact at 94.7mm x 99.3mm. This is of course not exactly “compact” compared to an APS-C format body, but it is still carryable for field work and balances extremely well on the GFX100 II body. It is a very far cry from the compact that fits in a pocket, but for photographic trips out not too much of a burden.
Starting our tour of the lens at the front, there is a provided bayonet fit lenshood and this clicks smoothly into place. The release catch for this is however very soft in its action and very proud of the hood itself and could be accidentally pressed a tad too easily. Within the bayonet fit for the hood is a standard 77mm filter thread.
The manual focusing ring is electronic, super-smooth and without vices. Focusing is down to 0.5m, for a maximum magnification of 0.17x. This is around expectation for any traditional standard lens. The close focus of the lens is adequate for most general purposes, but it is no macro lens. AF is fast, accurate and virtually silent, driven by a DC motor. The IF (Internal Focusing) system means the lens does not extend or rotate in use.
The only other control is Fujifilm’s piece-de-resistance, their arguably over-engineered but quite beautiful aperture ring, with its silky smooth click stops, bold grip and the addition of a useful locking catch. The lock can be applied to keep the ring within its one-third-of-a-stop manual range or to keep it at C or A. C enables setting of the aperture via the camera and A permits setting automatically by the camera.
A 55mm on medium format has a “35mm equivalent” field of view of around 44mm, which is almost exactly the same as the human eye. Thus, this should make an ideal “standard lens”, offering a normal view of the world as we see it. This makes the lens universally useful for a wide range of subjects from portraits to landscapes to architectural shots. The fast f/1.7 maximum aperture enables low light shooting as well as making out of focus backgrounds easy to achieve.
To all of this can be added the powerful medium format “look”, a combination of the effects of reduced depth of field and the staggeringly high resolutions possible. This results in a 3D look to images and will likely be a strong contender for fashion photographers as well as the usual general subjects. The Fujifilm package is also relatively compact and mimics very closely the operational features of smaller formats, so the step up is one that retains a good degree of similarity. Overall, the handling experience is excellent.
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Performance
Central sharpness is excellent from f/1.7 all the way through to f/16, pushing into outstanding at f/2 and f/2.8. Sharpness remains very good even at f/22. The edges are good at f/1.7, very good at f/2 and f/2.8 and excellent from f/4 to f/11. The edges are still very good at f/16 and f/22. An amazing amount of detail is recorded right across the frame and really any aperture could be used with confidence.
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR MTF Charts
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How to read our MTF charts
The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges.
For this review, the lens was tested on a Fujifilm GFX100 II using Imatest. Want to know more about how we review lenses?
CA (Chromatic Aberration) is also very impressive, centrally being close to zero. The edges are also kept well under control. Overall, CA is unlikely to be a problem and in any event there are software solutions should they be required.
Distortion is almost zero, actually measuring at -0.05% barrel. This is purely academic, and we have a basically rectilinear lens that would put some macro lenses to shame in this respect.
Bokeh is smooth, relaxed and has that gorgeous medium format look about it. What a superb lens for portraiture and social photography such as weddings.
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Chromatic Aberration Charts
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How to read our CA charts
Chromatic aberration (CA) is the lens’ inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.
Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more.
For this review, the lens was tested on a Fujifilm GFX100 II using Imatest.
Fujifilm’s coating technology is well proven and excellent. Even with the most severe lighting tests, it is almost impossible to generate any significant artefacts.
Vignetting is present at open aperture to a modest degree but soon reduces to a very insignificant level.
| Aperture | Vignetting |
| f/1.7 | -1.1 |
| f/2 | -1 |
| f/2.8 | -0.7 |
| f/4 | -0.6 |
| f/5.6 | -0.6 |
| f/8 | -0.6 |
| f/11 | -0.6 |
| f/16 | -0.6 |
| f/22 | -0.6 |
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Sample Photos
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Value For Money
The [AMUK]Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR|Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR[/AMUK] lens is priced at £2249.00
Alternatives within the GF system might be:
- [AMUK]Fujifilm Fujinon GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR|Fujifilm Fujinon+lens[/AMUK], £1649
- [AMUK]Fujifilm Fujinon GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR|Fujifilm Fujinon+lens[/AMUK], £1749
- [AMUK]Fujifilm Fujinon GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR|Fujifilm Fujinon+lens[/AMUK], £949
- [AMUK]Fujifilm Fujinon GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR|Fujifilm Fujinon+lens[/AMUK], £849
This makes the new lens somewhat more expensive than the alternatives offering a 55mm focal length, but the fast f/1.7 aperture more than makes up for that. It offers solid value for money, not cheap, but probably around a fair price level for what it is.
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Verdict
What a great lens to handle, and what fantastic results! Fujifilm have given us here a superb standard lens that will hold its head high amongst the very best. Handling is great as well, perhaps not something that we would pop into a pocket for a casual stroll, but definitely something that would be worth carrying to fulfill the quality requirements for landscapes with incredible detail or flawless architectural shots, even with the night lights of the city glaring at us from every angle.
So, be it weddings, advertising, landscape, architecture, heritage, portraits of any other subject that a standard lens could cover, the Fujifilm Fujinon 55mm f/1.7 R WR will deliver the goods and is an absolute pleasure to use. An Editor’s Choice award is duly given.
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Pros
- Superb sharpness and detail
- Low CA
- Virtually no distortion (rectilinear)
- Constant f/1.7 open aperture value
- Weather resistant
- Excellent handling
- Gorgeous bokeh
- Modest vignetting
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Cons
- Focusing could be closer
- Bulky
- Fair but high cost
[REVIEW_FOOTER]R_features=4.5|R_handling=5|R_performance=5|R_value=4.5|R_overall=5|A_level=5|A_text=Editor’s Choice – A superb standard lens that resolves masses of detail and offers gorgeous super-smooth bokeh|E_id=8027[/REVIEW_FOOTER]
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Source: Photography News
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR Lens Review
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