Lens Review, Camera ReviewMorten ByskovDecember 12, 2022Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Adapted to Fujifilm GFX, Canon 40mm f2.8 on GFX, EF 40mm on Fuji GFX, Fringer EF-GFX Pro Adapter, Canon EF 40mm on GFX Sample Images, Canon EF 40mm sample photos on GFX5 Comments

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Review - Adapted to Fujifilm GFX

The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to Fujifilm GFX using a Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter — The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to the Fujifilm GFX 50R with a Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter

Adapting the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM to Fujifilm GFX With the Fringer EF-GFX Pro Adapter

Which lenses are the best to adapt to your Fujifilm GFX camera? That was the question I asked when got my Fujifilm GFX 50R earlier this year.

During my research, one of the lenses that popped up again and again as a suggested choice is the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM. Not only is it inexpensive but it is said to cover the larger than full frame 44 x 33mm sensor quite well.

The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to a Fujifilm GFX 50R using a Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter — The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to the Fujifilm GFX 50R with a Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter

I was curious to put this to the test so when I recently got the Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter I set out to find a used Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM and found one for $130.00 in mint, near new condition.

This would be the second 40mm lens I have adapted to Fujifilm GFX, the first being the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs and I wondered if the Canon lens would be better.

For full disclosure, Fringer provided me with the adapter but has not dictated a narrative. The opinions and take on the adapter will be unbiased and my own.

Handling

Wow. This setup is even smaller than pairing my GFX 50R with the GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR. On my kitchen scale, the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM and Fringer adapter weighs 10.5 oz, 297 g, and the GF 50mm 11.9 oz, 338 g.

This is not a huge difference but it feels like you are lugging around less bulk with the Canon EF 40mm. See the photo below.

The aperture ring on the Fringer feels surprisingly good albeit missing the aperture markings as it has to work with a range of Canon EF lenses. It is a smart adapter sending EXIF info to the camera and you have autofocus with EF mount lenses.

Adapting a Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM to a Fujifilm GFX 50R using a Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter. Size comparison to a GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR — Size comparison between the adapted Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM to the Fujifilm GFX 50R and the GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR.

Autofocus performance was okay but also a hit-and-miss at times. For the majority of the photos in this review, I had no issues (single shot mode) but when the autofocus was missed it would often go through the entire focus range and cause a delay before I could refocus.

My GFX 50R has contrast-detect autofocus only and Fringer states improvements should be seen using phase-detect autofocus on the GFX 100 and GFX 100S.

A street corner on East Pender and Gore Ave. in China Town Vancouver on a foggy morning. Sample image of a Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to Fujifilm GFX using the Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter — China Town, Vancouver, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fringer EF-GFX Pro Adapter, Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM @ f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/240s

Vignetting, EF 40mm f/2.8 STM on Fujifilm GFX

Vignetting is pronounced at f/2.8 and f/4 but it is a gradual transition which makes it less noticeable and easier to fix in post.

It covers the full 44 x 33mm sensor quite well and what I had read elsewhere holds true in this regard.

In some instances, even a minor crop will take care of the vignetting or you can, of course, make adjustments when you edit your photos. Using the EF 40mm in 35mm crop mode should completely alleviate this issue.

Please see the image below showing vignetting at different f-stops. At f/22 there is no visible vignetting.

Please click to view a larger image.

Vignetting chart for the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM when used on Fujifilm GFX with a Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter — Vignetting of the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8L STM on Fujifilm GFX using the Fringer EF-GFX Pro Adapter. f/2.8-16. There is no visible vignetting at f/22.

35mm Crop Mode and Focal Length on GFX

When I first used the EF 40mm f/2.8 I was not aware that the GFX 50R by default went to the 35mm crop mode. I took a few photos and found the field of view a bit tight. When I got home I had a good laugh and turned the 35mm crop mode off.

With the 40mm full-frame focal length you get a 32mm field of view on Fujifilm GFX. I like this for a variety of topics and it has sort of thrown a wrench into plans of which focal lengths I should pursue from here onward.

Fujifilm does not have a 40mm option but has the GF 30mm f/3.5 R WR which is wider or the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR which would give you a slightly tighter crop.

When we talk about wide-angle lenses, every millimeter of focal length makes a big difference and these options may or may not suit your style. The photo below was captured in the 35mm crop mode.

Swimming pool in the sky. Vancouver condo building. Sample image of a Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to Fujifilm GFX using the Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter — Yaletown, Vancouver, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fringer EF-GFX Pro Adapter, Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM @ f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/80s (35mm crop mode)

Image Quality

I am positively surprised by the performance of the EF 40mm and admit that it exceeded expectations. I have no hesitations in taking this out for a photo walk. Images are soft in the corners but it gradually improves as you stop the lens down. Corners are still slightly soft even an f/8 but only in the extreme corners.

The vast majority of the frame looks great and I am referring to performance covering the entire 44 x 33mm sensor. If shooting in 35mm crop mode you get rid of most of these optical flaws.

Initially, I was hesitant to shoot the EF 40mm f/2.8 wide open but have done this more so lately and I like the character of the images.

Would I use this for pro gigs? Perhaps, but I would not rely on it entirely. The above-mentioned corner softness and lack of consistent autofocus performance would have me second-guessing the performance from time to time.

Check the sample images in this article which can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide depending on the size of your monitor.

Pedestrians on West Georgia Street in Vancouver. Sample image of a Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to Fujifilm GFX using the Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter — West Georgia Street, Vancouver, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fringer EF-GFX Pro Adapter, Canon EF 40 f/2.8L STM @ f/2.8, ISO 5000, 1/60s

Conclusion

At a margin of the cost of native Fujifilm G lenses, the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM offers a viable alternative at this moderate wide-angle focal length which otherwise is only covered by zoom lenses in the Fujifilm G lineup. It also offers a super compact option for your GFX camera.

It gets a bit tricky when you count in the cost of the Fringer adapter, $499.00 and if you can live without a smart adapter and do not mind manually focusing the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, you can easily find more affordable adapters.

Having the Fringer smart adapter, however, makes the experience more enjoyable and if you already own several Canon EF lenses it is certainly worth considering.

Pedestrians with an umbrella walk beneath the Cambie Bridge in Vancouver. Sample image of a Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM adapted to Fujifilm GFX using the Fringer EF-GFX Pro adapter — Cambie Bridge, Vancouver, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fringer EF-GFX Pro Adapter, Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM @ f/4.5, ISO 200, 1/15s

With a smart adapter, you get autofocus and EXIF information in your files. The aperture value chosen is also viewable in real-time and you avoid a darker viewfinder as you stop the lens down.

Optically the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs performed better, especially when it comes to corner sharpness but the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM provided a more seamless experience giving you autofocus, and vignetting was less pronounced.

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Adapted to the Fujifilm GFX 50R - Sample Images

Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos. Some of the images are cropped slightly.

Please click to view larger images.