Not Just Leica: Fujifilm Unveils $4,900 GFX100RF Compact Medium Format Camera

Fujifilm has unveiled the GFX100RF, its first medium format camera with a fixed lens and a versatile 35mm focal length (equivalent to 28mm in full frame). It is also the lightest and most compact model in the GFX series, closer in size to a point-and-shoot camera. However, its modest dimensions do not have a negative impact on the specifications, which fully justify the $4,900 price tag. It looks like the GFX100RF will be a direct competitor to the Leica Q3.

Image source: Fujifilm

The Fujifilm GFX100RF features a 102-megapixel sensor that the manufacturer claims delivers “incredible levels of detail.” As expected from a medium-format Fujifilm camera, the sensor measures 43.8 x 32.9 mm (crop factor Kf = 0.79×), and its area is 1.7 times larger than that of a full-frame camera’s sensor measuring 36 x 24 mm.

It is worth noting that the sensor area of ​​medium format Leica cameras with a 45 × 30 mm matrix is ​​1350 mm², which is close to the sensor area of ​​the GFX100RF (1437 mm²). The only significant difference between the Leica and Fujifilm sensors is the aspect ratio: in the first case it is 4:3, and in the second – the classic 3:2.

The fixed ƒ/4 lens provides a minimum focusing distance of 20 cm, allowing for expressive close-ups. The focal length can be extended digitally (by cropping) to 45, 63 and 80 mm. In order to reduce the size, the camera does not have a built-in image stabilizer – but what professional leaves home without a tripod!

The leaf shutter allowed the manufacturer to further reduce the camera’s size. “By using the space freed up by this and optimizing the placement of the lens and camera components, it was possible to achieve a significant reduction in size,” the press release says. Another advantage of the leaf shutter is the ability to synchronize the flash at any shutter speed.

The camera is equipped with a built-in four-stop Neutral Density Filter, another first for the GFX series. Another interesting feature of the Fujifilm GFX100RF is the additional control dial, which allows you to quickly change the aspect ratio of the frame. It allows you to instantly switch between nine options, including 3:2, 16:9, 1:1 and 17:6.

On the back of the camera is a 3.15-inch touchscreen LCD with a resolution of 2.1 million dots. Alternatively, there is an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 5.76 million pixels. The camera weighs 735 grams, which is quite light by medium format standards – many full-frame cameras have a similar weight.

The Fujifilm GFX100RF is expected to go on sale in April for $4,900.