Fujifilm GFX100RF: When Bigger Means Smaller (102 mp @ 735 grams!)

When Fujifilm invited Luminous Landscape to a pre-release briefing about their latest camera, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  But what they revealed has me really excited: the GFX100RF—a fixed-lens, medium format rangefinder that aims to redefine the relationship between sensor size and camera portability.

Scheduled for official announcement at X Summit in Prague, the GFX100RF represents the culmination of Fujifilm’s nearly 80-year rangefinder heritage, from the 1948 Fujica 6 1a through the legendary “Texas Leicas” and modern digital offerings like the X100 series.

Small Camera, Big Pictures—Literally

The GFX100RF achieves something many photographers thought impossible: packing a 102-megapixel medium format sensor into a body you can actually fit in your jacket pocket. At just 735 grams (1.62 pounds) with battery and SD card installed, it’s lighter than an X-T5 with a zoom lens attached.

For perspective, this camera is roughly the same size as an X-Pro3 with a 23mm F2 lens—but houses a sensor with 1.7 times the surface area of full-frame. Every design decision prioritized minimizing size and weight while maximizing image quality.

“We wanted to return to the ‘small camera, big pictures’ philosophy that made the original X100 so revolutionary,” explained Justin Stailey, Senior Manager of Product Development at Fujifilm. “But this time with medium format.”

The milled aluminum top plate (a first for Fujifilm) contributes to both the premium feel and the structural rigidity without adding unnecessary weight.

The Technical Rundown

Let’s get into the specifications that make this camera special:

• Sensor: 102MP BSI CMOS II (same as GFX100S II) 
• Lens: Fixed 35mm F4 (28mm equivalent in 35mm terms, with depth of field similar to f/3.2 on full-frame) 
• Built-in Features: 4-stop ND filter, leaf shutter design 
• Viewfinder: 5.76M-dot EVF (0.84x magnification, 100fps refresh rate)
• Display: 3.15-inch 2.1M-dot two-way tilt touch LCD 
• ISO Range: Base ISO 80
• File Options: 16-bit RAW / 10-bit HEIF 
• Battery Life: 820 shots per charge (NP-W235) 
• Media: Dual UHS-II SD card slots
• Weight: 735g with battery and SD card 
• Weather Resistance: Yes (when using included filter) 
• Price: $4,899 
• Availability: Sales begin April 24, 2025
• Colors: Black or silver (the first GFX camera available in silver) 
• Mechanical Shutter Speed: Up to 1/4000 second with flash sync at all speeds
• Electronic Shutter Speed: Up to 1/16000 second 
• Continuous Shooting: 6fps for 40 RAWs or 296 JPEGs 
• Minimum Focus Distance: 20cm from sensor plane
• Filter Size: 49mm

Surprisingly Versatile Fixed Lens

At first glance, a fixed lens might seem limiting, but Fujifilm has transformed this potential constraint into a creative advantage. The 35mm F4 lens (28mm equivalent) features 10 elements in 8 groups and accepts 49mm filters. What makes it special is how Fujifilm has implemented digital cropping options.

The dedicated digital teleconverter lever allows instant cropping to equivalent focal lengths of 35mm, 45mm, 63mm, and 80mm. At 45mm equivalent, you’re still working with approximately 62 megapixels—comparable to high-resolution full-frame cameras with prime lenses.

“It’s like carrying multiple GFX lenses in one compact package,” Stailey noted during the presentation.

The camera also features a dedicated aspect ratio dial for quick switching between multiple formats: • 4:3 (native) • 3:2 • 16:9 • 1:1 • 65:24 • 6:17 (new to this camera) • 3:4 (vertical)

You can visualize these crops with black surrounds, greyed-out surrounds, or frame lines, giving photographers flexible ways to compose shots. As Stailey explained, “If you’re more of a 35mm equivalent person, you can put it into 35mm mode and have a nice frame line to use. You’ll still have about 62 megapixels of capture information.”

The aspect ratio dial includes a C position that lets you use a command dial to cycle through the different aspect ratios quickly. Additionally, Adobe Camera Raw/Lightroom already supports the camera and respects the metadata for these crops, so while the RAW file always contains the entire sensor data, the crop information is preserved when importing files.

Leaf Shutter & Built-in ND: Creative Freedom

Unlike most modern cameras with focal plane shutters, the GFX100RF uses a leaf shutter that allows flash synchronization at all shutter speeds—up to 1/4000th second. For photographers working with strobes, this eliminates the need for high-speed sync workarounds and opens up creative possibilities that simply don’t exist with conventional shutters.

The leaf shutter also produces less vibration than a focal plane shutter, potentially contributing to sharper images, especially at slower shutter speeds.

Paired with the built-in 4-stop ND filter, you can shoot wide open at f/4 (equivalent to about f/3.2 in full-frame terms) in bright conditions or use slower shutter speeds for creative motion effects without carrying separate filters.

Image Quality & Creative Options

The 102MP sensor delivers files with incredible detail and dynamic range (extended by 30% compared to previous GFX models). The larger photosites on this medium format sensor mean better light-gathering capability and superior noise performance.

“I shoot 3,200 ISO without even thinking about it,” Stailey mentioned. “With the GFX, it’s a different world because of the size of the pixel pitch and how much light that sensor can gather.”

All 20 of Fujifilm’s beloved film simulations are included—from Classic Chrome to Classic Neg, Eterna to every variation of Acros for stunning black and white images. You get 16-bit RAW files for maximum post-processing flexibility or 10-bit HEIF for efficient high-quality files.

The camera includes seven custom preset positions (C1-C7) that can be quickly accessed through the Q menu, letting you save your favorite film simulation recipes and even give them custom names.

Enhanced Controls and Customization

The GFX100RF builds upon the interface innovations first introduced with the X100 series. The view lever on the front of the camera now offers expanded functionality with five possible functions. It features both short-pull and long-pull actions, giving photographers quick access to multiple settings without adding extra buttons to the compact body.

For connectivity, the camera includes: • USB-C port (10 Gbps transfer speed) with power delivery • Full-size 3.5mm headphone jack • 3.5mm microphone/remote release port • Micro HDMI

The camera also offers expanded zone AF customization settings, allowing photographers to adjust the ratio of zone AF focus areas to better suit their shooting style. Combined with the updated autofocus algorithms and subject detection capabilities inherited from the GFX100S II, the GFX100RF promises responsive performance despite its fixed wide-angle lens.

The Complete Package Experience

Unlike many premium cameras where accessories are sold separately, the GFX100RF comes fully equipped out of the box with:

• Lens hood and adapter ring 
• Filter adapter ring
• 49mm protective filter
• Two lens caps
• Shoulder strap

When the included 49mm filter is attached, the entire package becomes weather-resistant—similar to the X100 series.

The battery life is impressive—820 shots per charge, which is substantially more than the GFX100S II with a 63mm lens (about 625 frames). The dual UHS-II card slots give you backup options, and the USB-C port (10 Gbps) supports power delivery and external SSDs.

Video Capabilities: Surprisingly Robust

While primarily designed for stills, the GFX100RF offers respectable video capabilities:

• 4K up to 30p (4:2:2 10-bit)
• DCI (17:9) and UHD (16:9) formats 
• ProRes HQ output via USB-C to external recorders/SSDs 
• F-Log2 for extended dynamic range (ISO 400 base in F-Log2) 
• Digital image stabilization (1.32x crop) for video mode only 
• 90 minutes of Full HD recording time 
• Headphone and microphone/remote release ports (3.5mm)
• Compatibility with Tascam XLR microphone adapter 
• Frame.io compatibility 
• UVC webcam capability without additional software 
• Additional video features: waveform monitor, vector scope, recording frame indicators, zebra patterns, and compatibility with AirGlue for timecode

A Couple of Small Limitations

If there’s one minor limitation, it’s the minimum focusing distance of 20cm from the sensor plane. For a 28mm equivalent lens, this is perfectly reasonable, and for street photography and landscapes, it’s more than adequate. However, given the incredible resolution, getting a bit closer would open up even more creative possibilities.

The standard 49mm filter thread should make aftermarket close-up solutions readily available once the camera hits the market.

Another nitpicky wish might be the absence of in-body image stabilization (IBIS). Without IBIS, the GFX100RF can’t offer pixel-shift imaging for even higher resolution captures—a feature that could have pushed resolution to truly insane levels. That said, this omission makes perfect sense given the size constraints and the primary street/documentary focus of this camera.

The lack of IBIS also contributes to the impressive battery life, compact dimensions, and reduced weight—trade-offs most photographers would likely accept and enjoy.

Who Is This Camera For?

The GFX100RF seems ideally suited for:

• Street photographers who want ultimate image quality 
• Landscape photographers seeking a lightweight, portable option 
• Studio photographers who want a capable backup/everyday camera 
• Photography enthusiasts who already own other systems but want the best possible everyday carry camera

Fujifilm’s research shows that the majority of X100 owners already own other camera systems. They choose the X100 as their everyday companion for its size, simplicity, and quality. The GFX100RF elevates this concept to a new level, offering medium format quality in a package you can carry everywhere.

As Stailey put it, “Last November, I was in Japan for 19 days. They handed me one on day two there and I shot with it for the following 18 days. I fell in love with the camera almost instantly because the way that it feels in the hand, the weight of it, the heft of it—it just became my constant companion.”

Final Thoughts

At $4,899, the GFX100RF sits at a premium price point, but it’s actually a compelling value proposition for anyone who’s considered medium format photography. A GFX100S II with a single lens would cost significantly more, making this an accessible entry point to medium format.

There’s something liberating about the constraints of a fixed lens camera. As Ansel Adams famously said, “If you have more than one lens, you always have the wrong lens. If you only have one lens, you always have the right lens.”

With its crop modes effectively giving you multiple focal lengths while maintaining extraordinary resolution, the GFX100RF gives you the best of both worlds—the simplicity of a fixed lens with the flexibility of a multi-lens kit.

The GFX100RF represents something special in today’s camera market—a perfect blend of Fujifilm’s rangefinder heritage with cutting-edge technology. It embraces creative constraints while giving you enough flexibility to handle almost any photographic situation.

We’ll be conducting a full hands-on review once we receive a production unit after the official launch. Stay tuned!

If this camera interests you, I suggest you put one on hold right away as it took many awhile to get the Fuji X100VI when it came out.  

The Fujifilm GFX100RF will be available starting April 24, 2025, with a retail price of $4,899. It will be offered in both black and silver finishes.