Fujifilm’s GFX100RF made an immediate impact in the photography world. A medium-format camera with a fixed lens, a sleek, compact body, and a rangefinder-inspired design—just a few years ago, such a combination might have seemed impossible. After hands-on testing and real-world shooting, the GFX100RF proves that bold engineering and thoughtful design can coexist beautifully.
Medium format cameras were once considered lumbering studio beasts, ideal for landscapes or professional work where mobility was secondary. The Fujifilm GFX100RF flips that expectation entirely. Weighing just 735 grams—roughly the same as a Leica Q3—it packs a sensor about 70% larger than a full-frame camera, making true medium format quality portable enough for street photography, travel, and everyday use.
The GFX100RF’s design is a perfect blend of premium craftsmanship and functionality. Its aluminum body is milled from a single block, giving it sharp, precise edges and a solid, high-quality feel. All dials, from shutter speed to the new aspect ratio selector, are tactile and thoughtfully placed. Even smaller elements like the battery door and hot shoe cover are aluminum, reinforcing the sense of durability. The 4:3 sensor mirrors the camera’s near-square form factor, giving it a utilitarian yet distinctive look. Accessories, including the strap, 49mm filter, and lens hood, are equally well-designed, and with weather sealing on the adapter ring and filter, the GFX100RF is ready for outdoor work straight out of the box.
Handling the camera is intuitive, particularly for Fujifilm X100 series users. It feels balanced in the hand, with comfortable controls. The 3.1-inch tilting LCD is sharp, and the large, bright electronic viewfinder makes composing shots a pleasure. Minor annoyances, like the easily nudged extending power switch, are negligible compared to the overall experience.
At the heart of the GFX100RF is a 44x33mm, 102-megapixel CMOS II sensor paired with Fujifilm’s X-Processor 5. Image quality is breathtaking: wide dynamic range, low noise, and rich, accurate colors. The sensor’s 16-bit depth delivers smooth tonal transitions and outstanding shadow detail, even at higher ISOs. The fixed 35mm f/4 lens—equivalent to 28mm on full-frame—is exceptionally sharp across the frame. It includes a leaf shutter for flash sync at any shutter speed and a built-in four-stop neutral density filter, offering great flexibility in bright conditions. While the f/4 aperture and lack of in-body stabilization are trade-offs for portability, in good light, image quality is spectacular, and careful technique or a tripod compensates in low light.
The GFX100RF encourages creativity in-camera. With 102 megapixels, cropping to 45mm, 63mm, or even 80mm equivalents still retains incredible detail. The aspect ratio dial makes experimenting with square, cinematic, or panoramic compositions easy. Fujifilm’s 20 film simulations, including classics like Velvia and Acros, allow photographers to achieve their desired look straight from the camera, often reducing the need for post-processing.
In real-world use, the GFX100RF shines. It excels in landscape, architecture, and street photography. The nearly silent leaf shutter is perfect for candid shots, autofocus is fast and reliable, and face and eye detection are sophisticated. Battery life is strong, and dual SD card slots provide extra security for storage. While low-light shooting requires attention due to the lack of stabilization andan f/4 lens, the camera performs impressively overall.
The GFX100RF is ideal for photographers who want the pinnacle of image quality in a small, portable body. It’s perfect for travel, street photography, or as a lighter second body for pros who already use larger GFX models. Priced below the Leica Q3 yet offering a bigger sensor and more megapixels, the GFX100RF may become one of Fujifilm’s most popular medium format cameras. It proves that bold engineering and innovative design can turn what once seemed impossible into something not only achievable but genuinely enjoyable to use.
