Fujinon Review
The Fujinon GF55mm F1.7 offers a great f/1.7 aperture for GFX cameras, but its disappointing build quality and missing features make its $2600 price hard to justify.
The 30-Second Version
The Fujinon GF55mm F1.7 has a great aperture but fails everywhere else. Its build quality is poor, it lacks stabilization, and it's not versatile. At $2600, it's a hard pass unless you're a GFX user with a very specific need for f/1.7.
Overview
The Fujinon GF55mm F1.7 is Fujifilm's flagship standard prime for its GFX medium format cameras. It's designed to be the 'human eye' lens for the system, with a 44mm equivalent focal length and a fast f/1.7 aperture to pull in light and create smooth backgrounds. Fujifilm is pitching this as the versatile, go-everywhere lens for documentary and travel work, thanks to its weather sealing and a weight they call 'modest'.
Performance
The f/1.7 aperture is a standout feature, ranking well above average for its class. It's fast enough for low light and gives you solid bokeh performance. The optical quality is about average, and the autofocus is middle of the pack. The big letdowns are the lack of stabilization and the build quality, which ranks disappointingly low in our database. It's a lens that excels in one specific area (aperture) but feels a bit underwhelming elsewhere.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The f/1.7 aperture is genuinely fast and useful for low light. 81th
- Bokeh quality is solid and pleasing. 74th
- Weather-resistant design means you can take it out in bad conditions.
- The 44mm equivalent focal length is a natural, versatile field of view.
Cons
- No image stabilization at all, which is a major omission. 10th
- Build quality feels cheap for a $2600 lens. 22th
- It's not versatile at all, ranking poorly for travel or video work. 35th
- It's a heavy 780g prime, not the lightweight companion they claim.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Focal Length Min | 55 |
| Focal Length Max | 55 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.7 |
Build
| Weight | 0.8 kg / 1.7 lbs |
Value & Pricing
At $2600, this lens is not worth the money. You're paying flagship prices for a lens with mediocre build quality, no stabilization, and average optical performance outside of its aperture. For a lens that's supposed to be your everyday companion, it misses too many key features you'd expect at this price.
vs Competition
If you're looking for a standard prime on a GFX camera, you have to weigh this against more versatile options. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 for Z-mount, for example, is a fraction of the price and offers similar aperture performance. For Fujifilm shooters, the real competition might be sticking with a more versatile zoom like a Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 on a different system, which gives you stabilization and a wider range for less money. This Fujinon lens feels like a niche product for photographers who absolutely need f/1.7 on a GFX body and don't care about anything else.
| Spec | Fujinon | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for | Viltrox Air VILTROX 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 Air AF Lens for Fuji X | Canon RF Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Nikon NIKKOR Z Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens (Nikon Z) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 55mm | 55mm | 17-70mm | 35mm | 24mm | 24-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/1.7 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | - | Nikon Z | FUJIFILM X | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | Nikon Z |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 780 | 281 | 544 | 400 | 272 | 676 |
| AF Type | - | STM | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | - | - | Zoom | - | Wide-Angle | Wide-Angle Zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fujinon | 46.4 | 73.6 | 9.9 | 21.7 | 34.6 | 80.6 | 37.5 | 37.9 |
| Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF STM Compare | 95.6 | 81.8 | 81.1 | 89.1 | 67.5 | 88.1 | 37.5 | 87.8 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 -A VC RXD Compare | 46.4 | 59.2 | 64.4 | 77.7 | 90.8 | 54.6 | 92.5 | 87.8 |
| Viltrox Air 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Compare | 95.6 | 73.6 | 63.4 | 93.2 | 74 | 80.6 | 37.5 | 87.8 |
| Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Compare | 46.4 | 81.8 | 87.6 | 81 | 82.5 | 75.8 | 37.5 | 99.9 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Compare | 46.4 | 71.6 | 72.1 | 72.5 | 97 | 54.6 | 85.4 | 87.8 |
Common Questions
Q: Is this lens good for video?
No, it scores very low for video and cinema work in our tests, mainly because it has no stabilization, which is crucial for handheld shooting.
Q: How does the 'human eye' focal length work?
On a GFX medium format sensor, the 55mm lens gives a field of view equivalent to a 44mm lens on a standard camera, which is a natural, slightly wide perspective.
Q: Is it really lightweight?
Not really. At 780g (1.72 lbs), it's a heavy prime lens. Their 'lightweight' claim seems to be relative to other medium format glass, but it's still a chunk to carry.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this lens if you shoot travel or video. It scores dead last in our travel category and poorly for video. Also, if you value build quality or need stabilization, look elsewhere because this lens is a real letdown in both areas.
Verdict
Buy this only if you're a dedicated Fujifilm GFX shooter who specifically needs a fast f/1.7 aperture for portraits or low-light work and you're willing to overlook its significant shortcomings. For almost everyone else, especially travelers or video shooters, there are better and more affordable options out there.