Fujifilm Fujifilm - GF45-100mmF4 R LM WR Lens - Black Review
The Fujifilm GF45-100mm f/4 is a costly, heavy zoom lens that doesn't live up to its price tag. Its build and performance are mediocre, making it a poor choice for GFX shooters.
The 30-Second Version
A heavy, expensive, mediocre zoom for Fujifilm's premium GFX system. The build quality is bad, the f/4 aperture is slow, and it's not sharp enough to justify the price. Don't buy it.
Overview
This Fujifilm GF45-100mm lens is a weird one. It's a big, heavy, expensive zoom for Fuji's GFX medium format cameras, but it doesn't really excel at anything. The one thing to know is that this lens is a jack of all trades, and a master of none. It covers a useful range from wide-angle to portrait telephoto, but its f/4 aperture is underwhelming, its build quality is surprisingly poor, and its performance across our metrics is consistently middle-of-the-pack or worse. If you're buying into a premium medium format system, you expect premium lenses. This one doesn't feel like it.
Performance
What surprised us was how mediocre the scores are across the board. For a lens costing over $2,500, we expected it to be a standout. Instead, its optical performance is about average, its autofocus is middle of the pack, and it lacks stabilization. Its versatility score is well above average, which is the one bright spot, but that's just because the zoom range is handy. Everything else feels like a compromise.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The zoom range is genuinely useful, covering wide-angle to portrait lengths. 79th
- It's weather-sealed, which is a must for outdoor photography.
- The lens is sharp enough for most work.
- It's a native Fujifilm GFX lens, so it integrates seamlessly.
Cons
- The build quality is one of the worst we've seen in this price bracket. 5th
- The constant f/4 aperture is a real letdown for low light or creative control. 27th
- No image stabilization means you're relying on your camera body. 30th
- It's a beast at over 1000 grams, making your kit heavy and cumbersome.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Standard Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 36 |
| Focal Length Max | 79 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/32 |
| Constant | Yes |
Build
| Mount | Fujifilm G-Mount |
| Weight | 1.0 kg / 2.2 lbs |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 650 |
Value & Pricing
Not worth it. At this price, you're paying for medium format performance. This lens doesn't deliver it. You can get sharper, better-built, faster-aperture lenses for other systems at half this cost. For Fujifilm GFX users, there are better options in the lineup.
vs Competition
This lens sits in a strange spot. For GFX users needing a zoom, it's an option, but you should compare it to primes like the GF 50mm f/3.5 or the GF 80mm f/1.7, which offer better optical performance and faster apertures, even if you lose the zoom. Looking outside the system, it's not competitive. A Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II is sharper, better built, has a faster aperture, and costs less, albeit for a full-frame camera. The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 for Sony APS-C is a fraction of the price and offers a faster aperture and stabilization. This Fuji lens is outclassed by cheaper lenses from other brands.
| Spec | Fujifilm Fujifilm - GF45-100mmF4 R LM WR Lens - Black | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Sony Sony G Master Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM Full-Frame Large-Aperture | Canon Canon L Canon - RF35mm F1.4 L VCM Wide-Angle Lens for EOS | Viltrox VILTROX 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 Air AF Lens for Fuji X | Nikon Nikon S-Line Nikon - NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Wide-angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 36-79mm | 55mm | 35mm | 35mm | 35mm | 24-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/1.4 | f/1.4 | f/1.4 | f/1.7 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Fujifilm G-Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E-Mount, Sony E-Mount (Full-Frame) | Canon RF | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | true | true | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 1007 | 281 | 522 | 544 | 400 | 676 |
| AF Type | - | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Standard Zoom | - | Wide-Angle | Wide-Angle | - | Wide-Angle Zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
Common Questions
Q: Is this a good travel lens for my GFX camera?
No. It's too heavy and the f/4 aperture isn't great for indoor or evening shots without a tripod. You'd be better with a couple of lighter primes.
Q: Can I use this for portrait photography?
You can, but it's not ideal. The f/4 aperture means you get less background blur (bokeh) than a faster lens. For portraits on GFX, a prime like the 80mm f/1.7 or 110mm f/2 is a much better choice.
Q: Why is it so expensive?
It's for a medium format camera system, which generally commands higher prices. However, in this case, the price doesn't match the performance. You're paying for the mount and the zoom range, not for top-tier optics.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a sharp, well-built, fast lens that justifies the cost of a medium format system, this isn't it. Go get a Fujifilm GF prime lens instead, or consider a different camera system altogether. This lens is a compromise in a world where you shouldn't have to compromise.
Verdict
We can't recommend buying this lens. It's the most expensive option in our comparison, and it delivers the least compelling performance. Its only real advantage is the native GFX mount and the zoom range. For GFX shooters, we'd suggest building a kit with two or three prime lenses instead. You'll get better image quality, faster apertures, and a lighter bag. Skip this one.