Fuji GF 63mm f2.8 Review

The Fujifilm GFX Medium Format Standard Lens

Thanks to Leo’s Camera Supply for making the Fujifilm GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR available to me for my review. I was able to test it for a couple of days leading up to a four and half month's trip.

Fujifilm GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR - Introduction

The GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR was introduced alongside the GFX 50S in the fall of 2016. The other two lenses were the GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR zoom and GF 120mm f/4 Macro R LM OIS WR.

The GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR was the fastest, lightest, and most affordable option giving the GFX photographer a standard 50mm full-frame equivalent option.

Early reviews were skeptical of the max f-stop limited to f/2.8 but many photographers picked this lens as an entry option into medium format nonetheless.

The Standard Lens for a GFX Camera

When I did my review of the Fujifilm GFX 50R, the first two lenses I requested were the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR along with the GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR. This would give me a moderately wide and short telephoto option.

After a day of testing it dawned on me that I also wanted to try the GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR and much to my luck, Leo’s had one I could use for a couple of days.

The 50mm full-frame equivalent has become one of my favorite focal lengths, especially after using Fujifilm’s XF 35mm f/1.4 R on my Fujifilm X-Pro2.

Handling and Build Quality

The GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR looks great and is a good fit for the GFX 50R. It is also well-balanced on the 50R and certainly a nice and compact option. In the current GF lens lineup, only the GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR is more compact. The lens hood is just the right size and does a fine job.

The lens weighs in at 14.2 oz / 405 g, is weather-sealed, and has a filter size of 62mm. Unlike the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR, the lens does not have internal focusing and will change length depending on the focus distance.

At the time this review was written the GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR retailed for $1,499.00. Watch out for Fujifilm rebates.

My tester had an audible sound when focusing. I got used to it, but after testing the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR at the same time this was a bit of a letdown. Comparing the two lenses it seems the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR, at $1,699.00, is more of a premium product.

It is more so a premium than the $200.00 price difference would indicate. I am sure Fujifilm has had some time to refine the GF lens production. The GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR was released about a year after the GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR.

Fujifilm GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR in Action

The 63mm focal length is wonderful in the GFX medium format. I felt right at home shooting with this lens and although I mainly did street photography it was easy to envision how versatile this lens would be for a variety of topics. Autofocus speed was okay, not lightning-fast, but I never felt hampered by it.

Fujifilm GF 63mm f/2.8 R LM WR - Image Quality

As I was testing three lenses with the GFX 50R simultaneously it was interesting to see how they would compare. All three were new to me so inevitably I ended up ranking them.

Although this is not entirely fair as you would have to use lenses for much longer than I did to make a final verdict. Your personal style of shooting will also play into how you would favor one lens over another.

My first pick and the biggest surprise was the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR. I like how it rendered images at the standard documentary-style focal length. Add to this a good build quality with internal focus and a reasonable price. You can read my review here:

Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR - Review

Second, the GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR is undeniably a great lens, sharp with convincing quality bokeh, albeit hefty price tag. You can see my review here:

Fujifilm GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR - Review

Third, in this batch was the GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR. With that said, the GF 63mm is not a bad lens. I really enjoyed the life-like images coming out of the larger-than-full-frame format GFX and 63mm focal length combination.

Images were sharp but in my limited test, I thought bokeh looked slightly stressed and perhaps not as smooth as I could have hoped for.

Conclusion

Although I currently do not own a GFX camera one of the important lenses which could possibly sway me over, would be an excellent 63mm option. It has happened before, where a lens more so than a camera swayed me to make a switch. This is how Fujifilm lured me in with the excellent XF 35mm f/1.4 R.

I am sure that if I used the current GF 63mm for a longer period of time I would learn to love it despite a few quirks. The XF 35mm f/1.4 R has a few quirks of its own coming to think of it.

If we look at the GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR and the upcoming GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR it becomes clearer what a really nice 63mm option might look like. An f/2 version with internal focus, and better-built quality, may hit a sweet spot for performance, compactness, and affordability.

Pros Cons

Compact lens for the GFX format
Weather resistant
Creates wonderful natural-looking images

Cons

Lack of internal focusing
Buzzy autofocus

Please see more sample images below.

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Fujifilm GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR - B&H Photo

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