Billy Luong, Fuji Guys, is testing the new Fujifilm GFX100RF — The new Fujifilm GFX100RF, black, and Billy Luong in Vancouver

Fujifilm GFX100RF First Look

Fujifilm Canada and Beau Photo hosted a first-look event for the Fujifilm GFX100RF at Granville Island in Vancouver this past Sunday.

Everything was well set up; each participant had a GFX100RF for about an hour. After a brief introduction, we could join a photo walk or were free to roam Granville Island for a few first impressions of the new fixed-lens GFX camera.

I will be the first to admit that an hour is not enough to pass a final judgment on a camera, and I hope to be able to do this at a later point. But for now, first impressions are also important, as they may further result in you (or me) pursuing a GFX100RF camera.

The top plate of a black Fujifilm GFX100RF — The new Fujifilm GFX100RF with the aspect ratio dial, ISO/Shutter speed dial, and exposure compensation dial

Background Info, GFX100RF Introduction

I have tried all GFX cameras at some point, except the GFX100, and I used the GFX 50R extensively for about a year. I have also tested almost every available Fujifilm GF lens.

I have used many X-Series cameras, especially the X-Pro1, X-Pro2, and X-Pro3. I have used these for everything from pro gigs to landscapes, but mainly for travel and street photography.

The Fujifilm GFX100RF appeals to me from a size perspective, weighing only 735 g. That is almost exactly the same as my X-Pro2 and XF 35mm f/1.4 R camera/lens combination, which I took to nearly all fifty countries for our travel project.

In this first look, I will have three sections: The Exciting, The Less Than Exciting, and The Concerns. I am on the list to get a GFX100RF for a longer period and fully intend to update this page later with reflections on the camera after longer use.

A boat is being prepared for the summer season at the Granville Island shipyard — Granville Island, Fujifilm GFX100RF @ f/5.6, minor crop when straigtening

The Exciting

Looking at the GFX100RF, I am most excited about the instant familiarity and similarity to my X-Pro cameras. I will get to the larger sensor later.

I don’t like cameras that are too small, nor do I want them to be too heavy or bulky. Ever since I first held the X-Pro1, I have found this line of cameras to be the perfect size and weight.

I realize the X-Pro cameras are interchangeable lens cameras. Still, as mentioned above, the GFX100RF is similar in size and weight, which is incredible for a camera featuring a sensor four times the size of the APS-C sensors found in the X-Pro cameras. And the GFX100RF includes a lens!

I was concerned that the handling would differ from the X-Pro cameras, as the body is taller and slightly thicker, but there was no need for worry. The camera feels great in the hand, and the grip helps you get a good handle on things.

The GFX100RF gets the newer, larger NP-W235 battery, which is rated for 820 shots. It makes for a slightly thicker body but doesn’t feel vastly different from my X-Pro2.

The GFX100RF has two SD card slots, which is important if you use the camera for professional gigs where backup can be crucial. In comparison, the Leica Q3 only has one card slot.

The EVF is great! It’s sharp, vibrant, with adequate resolution. It is undoubtedly a highlight of the GFX100RF.

Fujifilm X-Pro2 and GFX100RF size comparison

Image Quality

In this first batch of photos from the GFX100RF, I am in awe of the image quality, especially the look of the uncropped images shot at 35mm (28mm full frame equivalent).

If you crave the ultimate image quality and appreciate the ability to crop, the GFX100RF is for you.

While the ability to crop is there, I would only use it when needed. You cannot compare it to using a variety of lenses, which will add different compression when using longer lenses, nor will the roll-off effect look the same.

Please check the two images below. First, a photo showing the crop, then the edited image cropped to roughly 20% of the original.

An example of a crop on the Fujifilm GFX100RF — An extensive crop, 20%, on the Fujifilm GFX100RF

Cropping to 20% on the GFX100RF, model, Granville Island

The Less Than Exciting

While some photographers will love the aspect ratio dial and digital crop function, I will put this in my category of what I am less excited about. I find the implementation nearly flawless with an easy-to-reach dial, but I am not sure I would use it much.

I see the benefit of being able to preview different aspect ratios, but after a novelty period, I think I would gradually do this in post-production. While the aspect ratio dial works well, I find it an eyesore on the back of the camera. I would have preferred a custom button for this.

The same could be said about the lever on the front for the digital zoom. Removing them would make for an even more streamlined-looking camera, which would be more important to some of us.

IBIS

I already addressed the lack of IBIS in my GFX100RF preview, and not overly concerned about its absence. That said, my minimum allowed shutter speed (auto ISO) was 1/40 for the first few shots of the day, resulting in some blur (could have been motion blur during the portrait session).

Boat rentals at Graville Island. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX100RF — Granville Island, Fujifilm GFX100RF @ f/11, no crop

Autofocus

While autofocus speed is more than adequate for the types of images you see in this review, if you use a single point and recompose, the eye-detect AF still feels a bit average and is faster on my Nikon Z6 III and, dare I say, my Leica SL2-S with its contrast detect AF.

It works okay on the GFX100RF, but only sort of. There are noticeable delays, and some hunting is going on.

Blackout Time

I will also mention the blackout time in the list of things I am less excited about. While the leaf shutter is stealthy and quiet, there is still noticeable blackout time between frames. It reminds me somewhat of my GFX 50R, but not as pronounced and way more silent.

I was using a Sandisk Extreme Pro 300 XC II card, which is pretty fast, but shooting and saving RAW and JPEG to the same card.

This may have slowed things down a bit. I am looking forward to trying the camera again, and I want to shoot RAW lossless compressed files only to see if it improves the speed of operation.

A model at Granville Island. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX100RF. — Granville Island, Fujifilm GFX100RF @ f/5.6, cropped to 37%

The Concerns

Bokeh

You can get a decent amount of bokeh at f/4 (the maximum f-stop of the GFX100RF), but my concern is its appearance. If you share photos, a client or your best friend may never notice this, but if you have tried other camera/lens combinations, you may see what I see.

Of course, the look of bokeh is subjective, but at lower f-stops, the bokeh is not pleasingly soft but sometimes a bit coarse or just mushy-looking. Otherwise, the lens is stunningly sharp.

Flimsy

With a $4,899.00 camera, I expect nothing but a top-notch feel throughout the camera. While the camera feels good in the hand overall, a few details didn’t impress me. The door to the SD card slots feels somewhat flimsy and hollow, and I got a bit of that same vibe when removing and reattaching the lens hood.

I am being nitpicky about the lens, but somehow it did not feel as solid as expected. The other buttons, joystick, shutter button, on/off dial, and other dials feel just fine, just to be clear.

Ergonomics

The exposure compensation dial is too tight for my taste. I wish I had tried other cameras at the demo event to see if they were the same. It was to the point where my fingers started slipping slightly. I can see this being an issue if wearing gloves or in hot and humid conditions. My X-Pro2 is perfect in this regard.

My second ergonomic gripe is the aperture ring. It has two small levers sticking out from the ring. I found them hard to find and would prefer a standard grooved aperture ring that is easy to grip, regardless of the camera's orientation. I would probably get used to this design after a while, after my motor skills are adjusted.

Also, the aperture ring’s close placement to the camera body makes it harder to adjust. I prefer an aperture ring further out on the lens barrel, as on the Leica Q3, or my Voigtländer lenses.

Film Simulations

One of my favorite film simulations is the Nostalgic Neg. It appears to be missing in the Lightroom presets. I hope they bring it back in an update.

People gather outside on a spring day on Granville Island by Cambie Bridge. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX100RF. — Granville Island, Fujifilm GFX100RF @ f/11, minor crop

File Sizes

The uncompressed RAW file sizes hover around 120 MB per photo captured with the GFX100RF, which caused my M1 MacBook Pro to slow down when scrolling through photos. I also had to deal with the spinning disc, which is annoying and slows down the editing process.

Speaking of file sizes, this will increase the demand on SD card sizes, hard disk space, and backup routines. I look forward to trying lossless compressed files later to see if this will help slightly. I will report back on this.

My Leica SL2-S files are about 45 MB, Nikon Z6 III files are 18 MB, and Fujifilm X-Pro2 files are 25 MB. None of these cameras causes a slowdown in post-production with my current laptop.

The rear LCD on the Fujifilm GFX100RF — The rear LCD on the GFX100RF. I should have tilted it :)

Final Thoughts

Despite my concerns in this first impressions review, I see the appeal of the Fujifilm GFX100RF. It mostly boils down to the excellent image quality you can bring home with such a small camera. The GFX100RF is stealthy, weighs little, and you don’t have to worry about which lenses to bring.

I wrote that last sentence half sarcastically, but travel photographers often consider several scenarios and have grave concerns before a trip when deciding which lenses to bring. With a GFX100RF, you will have other things to worry about, such as which lenses you can sell to pay for it.

Remember, the GFX100RF is not the only option for the medium-format experience. The GFX100S II is only $100.00 more. It is heavier and bulkier, but you have a vast selection of Fujifilm GF lenses. You can also adapt many lenses, many of which are small, making for a fairly compact setup.

A singer song writer guitar player at Granville Island in Vancouver. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX100RF — Granville Island, Fujifilm GFX100RF @ f/4.5, cropped to about a 35mm full-frame equivalent

If you can find a used GFX 50R, this is also a good option, as it will save you considerable cash compared to a new GFX100RF. It has smaller file sizes with its 50-megapixel vs. 102 for the GFX100RF. However, it is not as stealthy or sleek as this new GFX100RF.

I had plenty of light for the photos in the first look review, and only time will tell if the f/4 maximum f-stop will feel limiting as I try more challenging lighting conditions.

I will wrap this up by saying that I am quite smitten by the overall concept of the GFX100RF, but as you can read, I also have an ounce of scepticism mixed in there.

The camera reminds me of glorious and carefree travel times with my X-Pro2 while dramatically exceeding it in terms of image quality. At this point, I'm unsure whether that’s enough to live with the few quirks, limitations, and a relatively high price point.

I look forward to further testing the GFX100RF.

You can also check my preview, where I share more thoughts on the GFX100RF.

Fujifilm GFX100RF - Preview

Please see more sample images below.

Colorful buildings at Granville Island in Vancouver. Sample image from a Fujifilm GFX100RF — Granville Island, Fujifilm GFX100RF @ f/8

Fujifilm GFX100RF Key Specs

Larger-than-full-frame, 44 x 33 mm 102-megapixel sensor
Smallest and lightest GFX camera with a fixed lens
35mm (28mm equivalent f/4 with leaf shutter
5.76M dot OLED EVF
3.2" 2.1m-Dot 3-way tilting touchscreen
Weather sealed when using the included filter ring and filter
Aspect ratio dial and digital teleconverter
4K video up to 30fps
Built-in 4-stop ND filter
20 film simulations

The Fujifilm GFX100RF with the included artisan strap and lens hood

Price and Availability

Thank you for reading my preview. 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.

Price: $4899.00

Check availability at B&H Photo

Fujifilm GFX100RF - B&H Photo

See all of my reviews at a glance: Camera Reviews - Archives

Fujifilm GFX100RF Sample Images

The photos are processed from RAW files in Lightroom. Some images are slightly cropped, and if the crop is significant, I will indicate the percentage by which it has been cropped.