Review: Fujifilm GFX100RF
Forget the idea of Fujifilm's newest camera just being a bigger X100VI, instead, the GFX100RF brings something fresh to the table with its unique take on flexibility.
Yes, this isn’t just a scaled-up version of its smaller counterparts; instead it’s the most compact medium-format camera Fuji (or anyone for that matter) has ever made, packing the big sensor of the GFX100 II into a much more manageable body.
Fujifilm cameras have been a key part of my photographic journey, starting with my first X-series camera during a trip to India. Its compact size, film-like colors, and intuitive controls transformed my approach to photography, especially in documentary, travel, and street work.
The X100 series became a trusted companion over the years, always ready to capture moments in my unique style.
So, when I first heard about the Fujifilm GFX100RF, I was immediately intrigued. A medium format camera with a 102MP sensor, a 35mm f/4 lens (28mm full-frame equivalent), and features like a leaf shutter and built-in ND filter, it promised a blend of big detail and portability.
And now, after a few weeks with one, the GFX100RF has really challenged everything I thought I knew about medium format, all the while packing impressive tech into a surprisingly compact form.
So, let’s take a closer look.
The body
The Fujifilm GFX100RF is an interesting new direction for the GFX lineup, offering a medium format experience in a compact, fixed-lens design.
However unlike previous GFX models, which prioritised interchangeable lens flexibility, the GFX100RF embraces a more streamlined approach, delivering the signature depth, detail, and dynamic range of a 102MP sensor with a permanently attached 35mm f/4 lens (equivalent to 28mm in full-frame terms).
Fujifilm has managed to fit this large sensor into a body measuring approximately 144 x 87 x 75mm, making it the most compact medium format camera on the market - a pretty remarkable achievement from a design perspective.
This was achieved by utilising a leaf shutter, which eliminates the need for a large focal-plane shutter mechanism, and removing in-body image stabilization (IBIS) to reduce size and weight.
While some may lament the absence of IBIS, experienced photographers who have honed their hand-holding technique or use a tripod won’t find it too limiting.
On the rear of the camera, the prominent dial positioned above the screen immediately draws attention. This dial is dedicated solely to adjusting the aspect ratio (crop) of your image, offering nine different options, from traditional ratios like 5:4 and 3:2 to unique Fujifilm signatures such as 17:6 and 65:24.
Also, for cinematic shots, the 16:9 ratio delivers that widescreen vibe, while the 65:24 ratio, inspired by the TX-1 and TX-2, gives a subtle panoramic look that’s lots of fun to shoot.
Previewing your chosen aspect ratio is simple - black borders, a bounding box, or highlighting cropped areas by increasing their opacity. There’s also a "C" mode that lets you adjust the aspect ratio via the command dials or camera menus.
And if you change your mind later, the in-camera RAW reprocessing feature allows you to tweak the crop, as long as you’re shooting RAW + JPEG. The full RAW file is preserved, with the crop data saved as metadata.
While experimenting with these options was fun, I eventually set the aspect to 4:3. It’s my “set and forget” choice, knowing I’m making full use of the sensor.
In terms of handling, the GFX100RF follows a minimalist design philosophy. The top plate features a simple and very Fujifilm design with dedicated physical dials for shutter speed and ISO, as well an aspect ratio dial, a nod to Fujifilm’s heritage in film cameras like the TX-1.
The physical controls are well thought out, with custom function buttons that allow quick adjustments to essential settings. I’m very familiar with the X100VI, and the GFX100RF was an easy transition for my muscle memory.
A noticeable thing missing from the GFX100RF that the X100 series features is the OVF (optical viewfinder). At times I did find myself missing the OVF, as I have a habit of raising the OVF of the X100VI to my eye to view my composition before powering on the camera, thus saving battery life.
It would have been nice to have an OVF in the GFX100RF, though, understandably Fujifilm prioritised the EVF for other reasons. Luckily this is a very nice EVF with an 0.84x magnification, 5.76 million-dot OLED display, which is the same as what’s on the GFX100S II.
The GFX100RF also features an articulating LCD screen, which allows it to tilt past 90°. Some might be disappointed that it doesn’t fully rotate for selfies or vlogging, but really, are those people even looking at medium format cameras?
Instead, it feels like a wise choice for the target market for a camera like this - photographers specialising in stills who need quick adjustments, rather than for full on video use like the GFX100 II.
Overall, the GFX100RF is a really unique evolution in Fujifilm’s medium format journey. It strips away excess features in favour of a purist approach to image-making, one that prioritises simplicity, portability, and image quality. And on that, let's talk about that image quality!
Image quality
As you'd expect, the GFX100RF delivers impressive IQ thanks to it sharing the same sensor as the GFX100S II. Combine the sensor with 20 of Fujifilm’s iconic Film Simulation modes at your disposal, plus the ability to shoot 16-bit RAW files, and you’ve got one powerful beast.
The fixed 35mm f/4 lens delivers exceptional sharpness, even wide open, and provides a natural perspective well-suited for street photography, travel, and environmental portraiture. Its minimum focusing distance of 20cm adds flexibility for close-up shots, though the f/4 aperture may be limiting in low-light conditions.
I really enjoyed shooting landscapes at the base ISO of 80, with images packed with detail. It's probably a slightly unusual focal length for landscapes, but with such a low base ISO and the wide dynamic range with 14+ stops, its very easy to recover highlights and shadows.
Even shooting at higher ISOs, I found the noise acceptable because it looks almost film-like in comparison to a lot of other digital sensors at high ISO. And, thanks to 16-bit RAW files being supported, you have the freedom in post to push or pull images in post easily.
The lens
The GFX100RF’s 35mm f/4 lens offers excellent performance. But what's especially interesting about it is its compact size - despite covering a massive 44x33mm sensor, the lens barely protrudes 3cm and uses a 49mm filter size, the same as the X100VI.
Fujifilm have used a 10-element design with two aspherical elements and the aforementioned built-in leaf shutter to create a lens that produces crisp, sharp shots with speeds from a whopping 60 minutes in bulb mode to 1/4000s.
The sharpness is impressive too, especially at f/4. Stopped further down, I found the lens remained sharp from edge-to-edge without being too clinical. Natural textures, like foliage, look lifelike, which is pleasing.
The lens operation is smooth, with a well-tempered focusing ring and aperture tabs for a secure grip, plus the stylish square lens hood that adds to both its look and weather-sealing abilities.
The addition of a built-in four-stop ND filter is a welcome addition. To use it, you simply enable the ND in the menu and away you go. When you’re finished with the ND, simply switch it off and you’re back to normal shooting.
If I was to make one criticism of the lens, its that its a little slow, especially when you don't have the crutch of IBIS to rely on. At a maximum aperture of f4 it means you probably won't be using this camera for sports photography or wildlife, but then again most buyers of a product like this will already be aware of its limitations.
Autofocus
Medium format cameras are not known for their speed, but the GFX100RF still holds its own in this regard, with a few caveats.
I found the AI-powered autofocus performed well with detecting people, animals, birds, and vehicles. The focus is snappier than previous GFX models in low light, and the leaf shutter makes silent shooting possible as well.
That said, it's important to recognise that the GFX100RF is not designed as a run-and-gun camera despite its compact form factor. And, as its burst mode maxes out at a relatively slow 6fps, you likely won't be pulling this out for fast moving subjects.
I did find myself relying on single-point AF when shooting with the GFX100RF for accuracy, which I also use with my X100VI.
Like all Fujifilm cameras I’ve shot with, tracking autofocus has a tendency to hunt and miss frames, and while the AI-powered subject detection sounds promising on paper, it doesn’t quite match the speed and accuracy of competitors like Canon, Nikon, or Sony.
But for a camera like this there's something quite nice about using single-point AF, allowing for a more intentional and precise focus.
One area I did see a noticeable improvement on other Fujifilm models I've used is its autofocus performance in low light. Whether shooting in dark rainforests or at a petrol station at night, the autofocus worked well.
By selecting a midtone area in the scene, I could lock focus almost instantly in dark scenes, showcasing how far single-point AF has come, even in more challenging conditions.
As for manual focus, not much has changed compared to other Fujifilm cameras. It’s perfectly functional, and that's not a bad thing.
Crop modes
Crop modes are a feature Fujifilm has explored before, especially in the X100 series, where the X100V offered a cropped JPEG-only option with interpolated resolution but no RAW crop.
With the X100VI and its 40MP X-Trans sensor, both JPEG and RAW crops were introduced, and now, the GFX100RF takes it even further by offering crop modes at 35mm, 45mm, 63mm, and 80mm, giving greater flexibility.
These crop modes essentially give you four virtual focal lengths; about 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 63mm in full-frame terms by cropping into the center of the 102MP sensor. While the 80mm crop mode outputs a 9MP image in a 65:24 aspect ratio, it offers a powerful way to adapt to different scenes without changing lenses.
The flexibility provided by these crop modes is fantastic, almost like carrying four lenses in one camera without the need to constantly swap them.
Like the aspect ratio function, the crop modes are easily adjusted via a dedicated lever below the shutter button, making it simple to change your crop without having to take your eye from the EVF.
Video
Although it’s not something I specialise in, video specs of the GFX100RF are solid.
There's 4K recording in 17x9 (or 16x9) at up to 30p. You can also choose between recording internally in H.264 or H.265 at 4:2:2, 10-bit, 720Mbps on the two SD card slots.
For higher-quality recording, an external SSD can be connected via the USB-C port, allowing you to shoot in ProRes HQ, 422, or LT. In a way, the relatively simple video settings could be liberating with a less fuss, more focus on shooting attitude.
Again, the built-in ND filter will help with outdoor filming, though it might not be strong enough for extremely bright conditions where you'd need a lower shutter speed like 50 or 60. But really, for a camera like the GFX100RF, video capabilities are unlikely to be the main draw.
The wrap up
The Fujifilm GFX100RF feels like a step forward in the medium-format world, blending excellent image quality with surprising portability.
The compact body, combined with the 102MP sensor, provides plenty of detail and dynamic range, while the fixed 35mm f/4 lens offers sharp, somehow 'better than life' images.
And while the fixed lens won't suit every photographer, especially those who require more flexibility with focal lengths, it’s more than enough for many applications like street, documentary, and landscape photography.
Of course, there’s no such thing as the perfect camera, but Fujifilm has certainly created something special with the GFX100RF.
As a photographer passionate about traveling light, I can see myself easily tossing the GFX100RF into my bag on a hike or when out and about on the street, paired with my X100VI for a lightweight, versatile kit.
For those who specialise in portraiture or fashion, however, the GFX100S II with its interchangeable lenses is likely a better fit, and at an RRP of $8,799, this is an expensive piece of kit.
That said, the GFX100RF is a fantastic choice for anyone who needs or simply appreciates the highest image quality in a stylish, compact form. I recommend it highly.
The results
Handling ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
An superb design, and excellent one hand use, with all the buttons and dials right where you would expect. Few do it better than Fujifilm when it comes to handling.
Features ★ ★ ★ ★
Excellent, with a lot of features packed in, although the aspect ratio dial did feel a tad gimmicky after a while. The lack of IBIS might bother some photographers,
Autofocus ★ ★ ★
Solid, although as someone well-versed in Fujifilm’s autofocus system, I believe the GFX100RF still has room for improvement in reliability.
Image quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Stunning image quality, with loads of detail and contrast, producing breathtaking shots with incredible dynamic range. This is as good as it gets.
Value for money ★ ★ ★ 1/2
While it’s not the cheapest, the GFX100RF offers excellent value for photographers who need the highest image quality in a compact body, but it may struggle to justify its high price tag for more casual users.