Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR is World's Fastest Medium-format Autofocus Lens

January 27, 2021 | Mark Goldstein | Compact System Camera | Comment |

The Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR is the world’s first F1.7 interchangeable lens with autofocus designed for a medium format camera system.

The weather-resistant GF 80mm F1.7 has a standard focal length of 80mm (a 35mm equivalent of 63mm), measures 99.2mm (3.9in) long and weighs in at just 795g.

The Fuji 80mm F1.7 will be available from 4 March 2021 priced at £2099 / $2299.

Fujifilm Press Release

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) is pleased to announce the Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR lens, the world’s first*1 F1.7 interchangeable lens with autofocus designed for a Large Format system.

The Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR has a standard focal length of 80mm (a 35mm equivalent of 63mm). Its large-diameter autofocus (AF) prime lens features a maximum aperture of F1.7, which also makes it the fastest lens among Fujifilm’s G Mount lenses.

Portrait photographers using GFX System cameras can now choose FUJINON GF 110mm F2 R WR for when they want images with a tighter angle of view or pick the Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR for when they want something slightly wider. This choice will certainly give photographers more options creatively, especially since the highly anticipated bokeh produced from the Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR ’s wide aperture is sure to provide an incredible aesthetic quality to any image.

*1: Among interchangeable lenses for mirrorless digital cameras equipped with an image sensor measuring 55mm diagonally (43.8mm x 32.9mm), according to Fujifilm as of January 27, 2021

Optically designed for limitless creativity

The Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR features nine rounded diaphragm blades that can be stopped down to provide edge-to-edge sharpness or opened up to produce images with beautifully smooth bokeh, with astounding separation between a subject and its background, from any GFX System camera. Comprising 12 lens elements in nine groups, including one aspherical element and two Super ED elements, this lens is optimally balanced to control spherical aberration and deliver a quality of bokeh so aesthetically pleasing that it most likely cannot be reproduced by any other Large Format lens.

The use of ultra high-precision glass molding technology means both surfaces of the aspherical lens element can be manufactured to within a tolerance of 1/100,000th of a millimeter. This is five times more accurate than regular molding and reduces the onion-ring effect that can oftentimes negate the effect bokeh can have on the out-of-focus sections of an image.

The world’s first F1.7 lens with autofocus for a large format digital system

The Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR features a powerful DC motor that has enough torque to drive the focus group of six lens elements - which includes the aspherical element - to deliver accurate and reliable autofocus, even when the lens is wide-open at F1.7 and depth of field is extremely shallow. The lens also supports the Face / Eye AF function, which uses an advanced focusing algorithm to accurately acquire focus on a subject’s face or eye even when they are moving within the frame.

The Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR brings a half-a-stop of improvement to GFX100’s AF scene luminance limit. Moving from EV-5.0 to EV-5.5, GFX100’s autofocus is now even more capable in low-light.

Compact and practical size

Measuring at 99.2mm (3.9in) long and weighing just 795g (1.75lb), with a filter thread size of 77mm, the Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR is practically sized and suited for both on-location and in-studio applications.

Weather-resistant seals have been applied to the lens barrel at 10 locations on the lens to protect it against dust and water, while also providing it with the ability to operate at temperatures of down to -10°C (14°F). The front lens element is also coated with fluorine to repel dirt for an added layer of protection.