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Digital Camera World
Digital Camera World
Matthew Richards

Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR review: A pimped-up prime with a classic effective focal length

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR.

For street photography and general shooting, a classic 35mm focal length is one of my favorites, at least with a full-frame camera. The medium format Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR is as close as makes no difference, having an ‘effective’ focal length of 36mm due to the larger image sensors in Fujifilm GFX bodies, which are among the all-time best Fujifilm cameras. I’ve tested and reviewed nearly all of Fujifilm’s GF lenses and have been universally impressed. This 45mm prime is pretty mid-range in terms of size, weight and price but is a definite contender for taking up residence in the best Fujifilm GF lenses hall of fame.

Reasonably compact for a medium format prime lens and weighing in at 490g, the GF 45mm isn’t too much of a handful. (Image credit: Matthew Richards)

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR: Specifications

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR: Price & Availability

In terms of size, weight, aperture rating, and purchase price, the GF 45mm sits between the slimline Fujifilm GF 50mm F3.5 R LM WR ($999 / £949 / AU$1,649) and the epic bokehlicious Fujifilm GF 55mm F1.7 R WR ($2,299 / £2,249 / AU$3,899).

Naturally, the GF 45mm has a slightly shorter focal length than both of these lenses so gives a little extra viewing width. It’s priced at $1,699 / £1,579 / AU$1,999. If you want to go wider still, prime options include the ultra-wide Fujifilm GF 23mm F4 R LM WR ($2,599 / £2,389 / AU$3,999).

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR: Design & Handling

There’s no getting away from the fact that medium format lenses tend to be quite bulky. It’s only natural, as they need to deliver a significantly larger image circle than lenses for full-frame cameras. Even so, I like that the GF 45mm is reasonably compact and lightweight for its class, measuring 84x88mm and weighing an easily manageable 490g. It’s certainly no burden, even when pounding city streets for hours on end, looking for photo opportunities. And the effective 36m focal length (in full-frame terms) is perfect for street photography.

The aperture ring towards the rear works in one-third f/stop click steps. (Image credit: Matthew Richards)

I’m a sucker for the usual Fujifilm GF trappings. Typical of the breed, the lens features the usual aperture control ring, which enables hands-on adjustment in one-third f/stop clicks from f/2.8 right down to f/32. It’s often easy to nudge the aperture ring out of place accidentally, so I also like the inclusion of a ring lock release button, which operates in A or C settings. Auto enables the aperture value to be set automatically by the camera body, whereas Command allows aperture adjustment from the camera’s command dial. 

There’s no de-click option for the aperture ring, which would be useful for shooting video. Even so, Fujifilm’s GFX cameras haven’t historically been particularly well suited to video capture, although the Fujifilm GFX 100 II has changed that with strong video performance.

Typical of Fujifilm GF lenses, the aperture ring has a lock release button for A and C positions. (Image credit: Matthew Richards)

The optical path is based on 11 elements in 8 groups, with a well-rounded 9-blade aperture diaphragm. There’s an aspherical element and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements in the line-up, aiming to enhance clarity and reduce unwanted aberrations. 

Fujifilm’s Nano GI coating is on hand to minimize ghosting and flare. (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
Weather-seals include a rubber gasket on the metal mounting plate. (Image credit: Matthew Richards)

Although fairly lightweight for a medium format lens, the GF 45mm feels sturdy and very well-engineered. Like other GF lenses, it’s extensively weather-sealed and has an ambient temperature rating that extends down to -10 degrees Celsius (14F).

The lens comes complete with a reversible, bayonet-fit, petal shaped hood. The pinch-release front cap is easy to fit and remove with the hood in its forward-facing orientation. (Image credit: Matthew Richards)

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR: Photo Performance

I enjoyed testing the GF 45mm with a Fujifilm GFX 100 II camera body. The 102 megapixel image sensor of this camera certainly places great demands on the resolving power of lenses. The GF 45mm came through with flying colors, delivering exceptional sharpness and clarity even when shooting wide-open at f/2.8. Color quality is similarly impressive, and there’s good resistance to ghosting and flare.

There’s virtually nothing to see in terms of color fringing and distortion so, all things considered, the lens is stellar performer. Autofocus is very snappy and quick to lock on, making it hard to miss a shot even in rapidly changing street photography scenarios. The GF 45mm is simply a superb lens.

Compared with full-frame outfits, medium format cameras enable a tighter depth of field, as shown in this close-up shot. Bokeh is soft and there’s a natural roll-off between focused and defocused areas, with negligible axial chromatic aberration or ‘bokeh fringing’. EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR  (1/420 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR: Sample Images

The example images in the following gallery were taken in sunny conditions at Bristol Docks in the UK, using the lens with a Fujifilm GFX 100 II camera body.

EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/4000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/160 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/280 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/350 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/640 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/480 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/600 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/640 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/550 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
EXIF: Fujifilm GFX 100 II + Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR (1/550 sec, f/8, ISO 200) (Image credit: Matthew Richards)

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR: Lab Results

We run a range of lab tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.

We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the center of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths. The tests also measure distortion and color fringing (chromatic aberration).

Sharpness:

(Image credit: Future)

Levels of sharpness are spectacular across the whole image frame when shooting wide-open at f/2.8, and become even better when stopping down a little to f/4.

Fringing:

(Image credit: Future)

Color fringing is very negligible and generally impossible to spot even out at the edges and corners of the image frame.

Distortion: -1.49

There’s a little barrel distortion but it’s not generally noticeable and is of a very uniform nature, making it easy to correct.

Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR: Verdict

The Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR is one of my outright favorite GF lenses, and that’s really saying something because I’ve been highly impressed with all of them. I find the ‘effective’ 36mm focal length in full-frame terms makes the lens very versatile for street photography and walkabout shooting, the lens is relatively compact and lightweight, and image quality is superb. It’s a definite keeper.

(Image credit: Matthew Richards)

Should you buy the Fujifilm GF 45mm F2.8 R WR?

✅ Buy this...

  • You like the 35mm ‘effective’ focal length
  • You don’t need a faster aperture
  • You demand great image quality

🚫 Don't buy this...

  • You’d like a smaller, lighter lens
  • You prefer zoom versatility
  • You need a faster lens

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