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Fujifilm GFX100RF: Quick Review
The Fujifilm GFX100RF marks the brand’s inaugural compact camera featuring a medium-format sensor, combining the impressive image quality of the 102MP GFX100S II with a remarkably small body reminiscent of the Fujifilm X100 VI rangefinder design.
Calling it ‘compact’ might be a bit of a stretch, yet this high-end camera is classified as such thanks to its integrated lens, a remarkably sharp 35mm f/4 lens equivalent to a 28mm focal length.
Fujifilm chose to emphasize the small size of the lens at the expense of aperture flexibility. The maximum f/4 aperture and absence of optical stabilization could deter some users. However, for those obsessed with pixel quality and high resolution, the GFX100RF sets a standard that even surpasses the Leica Q3.
Apart from its outstanding image quality, the GFX100RF exudes luxury throughout. The top plate, crafted from a solid 500g block of aluminum, offers a satisfying feel and is filled with handy controls—some of which are distinctive, like the aspect ratio dial.
Fujifilm has skillfully added numerous external controls without making the camera feel cluttered. It’s straightforward and versatile while using, boasting a bright tilt touchscreen that seamlessly folds into the body.
Equipped with Fujifilm’s latest X Processor 5 chip and impressive autofocus capabilities, the GFX100RF performs admirably, although this medium-format camera may not match the speed of its smaller-format competitors.
In conclusion, this camera makes sense for many, even if its high-quality features might be excessive for the average user, as is its price (though it represents good value for deliverables). Professional photographers, especially those who love street and landscape photography, will find no finer compact camera than the unique GFX100RF.
Fujifilm GFX100RF: Pricing and Availability
- Retail price is $4,899 / £4,699 / AU$8,799
- Available from early April 2025 in two styles: silver or black top plate
- Includes a premium strap, lens filter, lens hood, and lens adapter
The GFX100RF comes as a high-end medium-format compact camera with a corresponding price tag of $4,899 / £4,699 / AU$8,799. However, this still undercuts the full-frame Leica Q3, and you receive a suite of accessories with your purchase: a premium strap, a protective filter for the lens, a lens hood, and an adapter.
Considering it’s an all-in-one medium-format setup with a built-in lens, the GFX100RF offers decent value—other GFX models without a lens can cost more. For instance, the GFX100S II, sharing the same sensor, was launched at $4,999 / £4,999 / AU$8,699. However, the GFX100RF is priced three times higher than the APS-C Fujifilm X100VI compact camera.
The GFX100RF will launch in early April 2025, available in a silver version or an all-black finish.
Fujifilm GFX100RF: Specifications
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Sensor: |
102MP medium-format |
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Video: |
4K 30p 4:2:2 10-bit All-Intra |
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Continuous shooting |
6 frames per second with continuous autofocus, capturing up to 296 JPEGs or 40 raw files |
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Viewfinder: |
5.76 million dots |
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LCD: |
3.2-inch tilting touchscreen with 2.1 million dots |
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Battery (CIPA rating): |
820 shots |
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Weight: |
26oz / 735g (including battery and memory card) |
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Dimensions: |
5.3 x 3.6 x 3 inches / 133.5 x 90.4 x 76.5mm |
Fujifilm GFX100RF: Design and Handling
- The top plate is crafted from a 500g aluminum ingot
- A new aspect ratio dial features popular formats from classic analog cameras, including 65:24
- Rangefinder-style design with a 5.76 million dot electronic viewfinder and a tilting touchscreen
Cameras made from a single block of aluminum are quite rare; you might wait a long time before you see one, and then two show up together. We had the Sigma BF before, and now the Fujifilm GFX100RF follows – I truly can’t emphasize enough how premium this compact feels in your hands.
Essentially, it resembles a high-end Fujifilm X100VI, and the size difference is minimal, making it easy to carry around. You can get it in black, with options for a silver or black top plate. I had an initial look at the black model and later a detailed review with the silver version, and I prefer the black-and-silver combination.
Considering that the GFX100RF is a medium-format camera, it’s impressive how lightweight and compact it is. It weighs only 26oz / 735g with the battery and card included – lighter than any other Fujifilm GFX body without a lens attached, which, of course, includes the built-in lens.
Fujifilm seems to have focused on making the lenses compact rather than varying the aperture. The lens is quite small and incredibly sharp (more on image quality later), but it has a maximum aperture of f/4 and lacks stabilization. To ensure the GFX100RF is fully weather-resistant and minimizes lens flare, you’ll need to purchase protective filters and hoods separately, which will add some bulk.
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Fujifilm has incorporated some distinctive design features, like a dedicated dial for aspect ratios, which may initially seem unusual, but they function very well and logically align with the camera’s technology. This can significantly influence your approach to composition.
The front switch on the X100VI camera, which allows users to toggle between the optical (OVF) and electronic viewfinder (EVF), instead lets you switch between different aspect ratios and digital teleconverter displays. This includes options for displaying your selected crop ratio as a frame line over the entire 4:3 image area, showing the greyed-out cropped area while still keeping it visible, or making the cropped area black so you only see the selected aspect ratio image.
Personally, I would have preferred the hybrid viewfinder found in the X100 series, but this model solely uses an EVF.
Many users of the X100VI exclusively utilize the EVF, but I favor the optical viewfinder, as it provides a bit of visibility beyond the frame, which is particularly useful for snapping street photography as subjects enter the shot.
Nonetheless, the 5.76 million-dot, 0.5-inch EVF performs excellently, and I genuinely value the aspect ratio and digital crop options. Additionally, the beautifully crafted 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen is seamlessly integrated into the body yet is easy to pull out, offering a bright and clear display – a quality that Leica could learn from.
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Next, we encounter a set of stacked controls featuring a cropping lever, a command dial, and an on/off switch—this thoughtful design also includes the shutter speed/ISO dial.
A joystick simplifies navigating the menu and selecting autofocus. Each control is crafted for durability, while a raised bump on the front of the camera gives some grip, though it isn’t exactly what you’d call a highly grippy camera.
On the connectivity side, the left side of the camera (as you hold it) has ports for a mic input and headphone output, along with USB-C and micro HDMI. Meanwhile, the right side features two SD card slots. There’s…
The camera features a hotshoe at the top, allowing the attachment of accessories like an external flash.
All in all, the control layout for this camera is well thought out and user-friendly, avoiding an overload of features that might clutter its exterior. I found it easy to make quick adjustments, and throughout my testing phase, I didn’t encounter any significant issues.
Fujifilm GFX100RF: features and performance
- 6fps continuous shooting with autofocus, capable of up to 1,000 JPEGs
- Outstanding battery life of 820 shots
- Fujifilm’s top-tier autofocus capability
- Electronic stabilization for video, with no optical or in-body image stabilization
It’s accurate to say that the Fujifilm GFX100RF emphasizes image quality over sheer speed, which is a common trade-off for high-resolution medium-format cameras.
Nonetheless, the GFX100RF stands out as one of the quicker medium-format options available, offering 6fps burst shooting that can handle up to 296 JPEGs or 40 RAW files—quite impressive considering the large file sizes. To optimize performance, it’s advisable to use a UHS-II V90 SD card.
Additionally, the camera is equipped with Fujifilm’s newest autofocus system, featuring subject-detection modes that identify people, various animals, and vehicles. Although Fujifilm’s autofocus isn’t yet on par with the speed and precision of Sony and Canon, it’s quite competitive, especially for a compact camera with a fixed wide-angle lens.
I was pleased to discover that, while framing portraits, the focus on the subject’s eyes was extremely sharp.
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Initially, I was surprised when Fujifilm quoted a battery life of 820 shots for the GFX100RF; that’s typically 2 to 2.5 times what you might expect from similar cameras, making it seem unlikely.
To my delight, I learned that Fujifilm’s count was accurate. This impressive battery life can be attributed to the camera’s leaf shutter, which generally consumes less power than the shutters found in most other cameras—it’s designed to last throughout an entire day of shooting.
I’ve previously mentioned that the maximum f/4 aperture is, in my view, the primary drawback of the GFX100RF. The absence of optical stabilization is a close second. As a predominantly handheld shooter who prefers to avoid tripods, I find optical stabilization crucial for ensuring sharp image quality, especially with such high-resolution output.
There’s also a lack of in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which makes sense for a camera like this; however, the absence of optical stabilization is a significant downside for photographers. If you are interested in video, the camera does offer digital stabilization, which effectively minimizes camera shake.
- Features and performance rating: 4/5
Fujifilm GFX100RF: image and video quality
- 102MP sensor paired with a 35mm f/4 lens delivers exceptional edge-to-edge clarity
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The f/4 maximum aperture may pose a challenge for some users
- Complete range of Fujifilm Film Simulations; video resolution is capped at 4K
If high image quality and sharpness across the entire frame are your top priorities, then the Fujifilm GFX100RF is unmatched. Featuring a top-tier 102MP medium-format sensor paired with an incredibly sharp lens, I’ve closely examined various images and can confirm that the details remain impressively crisp from the image center to the edges.
My observations were made while directly comparing the GFX100RF to the Leica Q3, which is an even more expensive 61MP full-frame compact camera that previously set the standard for image excellence.
This exceptional quality makes the GFX100RF perfect for street and landscape photography, particularly with its 28mm full-frame equivalent focal length. Additionally, the 102MP sensor provides unparalleled cropping flexibility; even though its dedicated digital crop options of 36mm, 50mm, and 63mm don’t extend as far as the Leica Q3’s offerings of 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm, each option delivers more pixels.
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