When Apple Introduced the iPhone 15 Pro, Greg Joswiak, the Company’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Said the Device’s Three Rear Cameras Would Give Consumers "the Equivalent of Seven Camera Lenses in Their Pocket."
We could spend multiple podcasts debating the technical validity of that statement, but what Joswiak was trying to imply was that the iPhone now had sensors with a resolution that was big and high enough that it could crop in to emulate various focal lengths.
Fujifilm’s New Approach
Now, Fujifilm is trying the same thing.
With a 35mm lens stuck to a body shockingly similar to the super-popular X100VI, it would be easy to assume Fuji’s new GFX100RF is the company’s attempt to take a winning strategy and scale it up to medium format.
A Camera with Flexibility and Intentionality
But while most fixed-lens cameras like the X100VI create intentional limitations and encourage you to shoot more than you think, the GFX100RF is all about flexibility and intentionality. Using its high-resolution 102MP sensor, an all-new aspect ratio dial, and four different digital "zoom" modes, Fujifilm aims to replace nine cameras and four lenses with one relatively compact body.
The Camera’s Design
A Marketing Photo of Fujifilm’s GFX100RF Camera.
A Sample Image Taken on the GFX 100RF.
The Lens’s Design
But what perplexes me the most about the camera is the decision to use an f/4 aperture. Taken alone, the lens is shockingly small — smaller than every dedicated GF lens that Fujifilm sells by a long shot. But Fuji also includes a lens hood and filter adapter ring in the box, and, added together, these accessories just about triple the overall footprint of the lens to the point where it’s about as big as the lens on the Leica Q3. And at that point, why not just make a bigger, faster lens?
Comparison to the Leica Q3
There’s no doubt the GFX100RF will be consistently compared to Leica’s full-frame Q3 — primarily because, until recently, if you wanted an even remotely new fixed-lens camera with a large sensor, the Q3 was pretty much your only option. And while Fujifilm has Leica beat with its new versatile aspect ratio dial and ultra-high resolution, Leica trades those features for a much faster f/1.7 lens and optical image stabilization. Which features matter to you is probably going to depend on what kind of photographer you are. And, at the very least, I’m glad there’s finally another option available on the market.
Conclusion
I really loved my time with this camera. Composing nearly every aspect of your final image in-camera is a real joy, and I have a soft spot in my heart for physical dials. But for a camera that aspires to do it all with one lens, you’re going to need a tripod to make that a reality.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the GFX100RF?
A: The GFX100RF is a new camera system that aims to replace multiple cameras and lenses with one compact body.
Q: How does it achieve this?
A: The camera uses a high-resolution 102MP sensor, an all-new aspect ratio dial, and four different digital "zoom" modes to achieve this.
Q: How does it compare to the Leica Q3?
A: The GFX100RF has a higher resolution and a more versatile aspect ratio dial, but the Leica Q3 has a faster f/1.7 lens and optical image stabilization.
Q: Is the camera suitable for beginners or professionals?
A: The camera is suitable for both beginners and professionals, as it offers a range of features and settings that can be adjusted to suit individual needs.
