Fuji GF 110 f/2.0 Review - Beauty from this BEAST!

[@andrewbird8624]

I've switched from the Sony system to Fuji - couldn't be happier. It's like the joy returned to my work! One thing that no reviewer has mentioned is how scary it is when unpowered, the 110mm rattles like it's broken. When I first unboxed it, it would have been nice to hear that that's normal - instead of having to dive into those toxic photographer forums.

[@waveland]

I have used the 110mm in the past, and when paired with 100 or 100S in full 16bit capture, the dreamy falloff is something to die for, no doubt about it. Just keep in mind that the GFX system requires slowing down to a more deliberate working style. Autofocus will get you close, but it doesn’t read minds, so dropping the focal plain on exactly the right spot can require some tweaking and maybe even a manual focus rack of tiny increments through the subject to make sure everything lands the way you want-especially handheld. And when you hit focus with 101 megapixels the details are bottomless and worth every painstaking step. But if you miss it is soooo painfully obvious, especially at f2.0.

[@Clint_the_Audio-Photo_Guy]

With each generation of camera, autofocus gets better. The lenses even get firmware updates to work with the new AF systems. As Fuji said, this is their *best lens*, the no-compromise design. My GF110mm showed up yesterday, and I'm excited to get that beast out of its box tonight to see the magic for myself. My previous reference portrait lens was the Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2, another absolute stunner for portrait rendering, but manual focus only and designed for full frame. I'm also keen on seeing it's resolution for stitched panorama landscapes/cityscapes, as I do more of those than portraits, and this just looks like the absolute sharpest option in a short tele focal length.

[@JustZG]

Very indepth, Thank you Darren. I think this review sold me the 110mm over the 80mm to go with my new gfx100s. I hope you'll continue to review more/future GF lenses too!

[@jliang70]

I have tried this lens on Fujifilm. It is equivalent of 85mm on a full frame. I have tried a few full frame 85mm lenses. This is the best for this focal length.

[@andyvan5692]

at 14:30 you are almost right, this is what MF DIGITAL photographers are referring to, but US analogue photographers look for this, PLUS some acceptable film grain too, like shot with Kodak Ektar , Fujifilm Portra 160 etc. then these have a 1950's vibe, similar to those shot by Fred Cappa, and Vivian Mayer, it shows us what it was like "in the day" the nostalgic look we are going for.

[@Benjamin_Jehne]

I'am also happy, that the prices for crop medium format are coming closer to where FF is ending price wise. I do this for a living, too and I thought about crop MF more than onces but in the end it makes no sence to me. I see your pictures and think the whole time to myself, that is the same I do, but no one wants or needs a100mpix file. All the beautiful portraits ending up on websites to promote the business of the person or a print in a magazines and stuff like that and no one wants those files anymore. I also do a lot of product-photography and really no one ever really needed even the 42mpix of my A7RIII. In the last years it's more and more the opposite, most of them don't even want these files, so I use my older A7RI a lot of times. I know, we as photographers love this kind of gear that gives us not only good pictures, we enjoy the pleasure to work with these tools but if I'm honest to myself, this would be burned money as nobody will ever notice any difference if I'm shooting with an A7RIII/IV, R5, Z7 I/II or GFX. For me personal, I would like to have a nice MF camera with a nice 53,4mm x 40mm sensor, but as Fuji is just the 43.8mm x 32.9mm crop sensor, it isn't that appealing anymore. But in the end a nice review as always. :)

[@mortenthorpe]

Shot a sunlit smooth wall at around 25 meters distance (75 feet approx), using the GF250 f4, and even each speck of sand making up the smooth surfacing was visible in the final image. The GFX system is incredible with the large sensors.

[@pjf7943]

You really have outdone yourself with this video............ Nice work and I thank you for it..!!! BTW, from you I leaned a few new casual poses using just basic furniture...! Thanks again...

[@davidward4329]

Great to see a professional photographer point of this lens . Fujifilm have mail it. Fine work

[@andyvan5692]

Darren, there is one solution to the aperture ring clicking, that is, to set the ring to "C" or the Body dial position and use it like a dslr, with the silent body dials, Or using 'A' the auto mode, controlling the aperture via the control menu, or the quick menu via the touch screen on the rear lcd display.

[@MarcS4R]

I just upgraded from the 50s, switching to a 100s would eliminate most of the focusing issues, great review Darren.

[@DarrenMiles]

Not sure I can afford it, but man I REALLY want one!

[@iainstewart4092]

I was reading that for a few seconds... Misreading it as "I just upgraded from the fifties and switching to the hundreds" and I was trying to work out what camera you must have had if it was from the fifties lol

[@BackFocus11]

Darren, would love to see you review the GF 80mm f1.7!!!! Love mine for environmental portraits! Great review of the 110! Nice to see review from non sponsored reviewers!

[@DarrenMiles]

It's on my list! Thank you for the kind words!

[@tedtedsen269]

Hai Darren im also use fuji gfx i have 50r and 100s im using 32-64mm 100-200mm 110mm and 45mm love the art work of yours, i can tell you have done it before, many photagrefer wil look up to your work

[@Vinterloft]

I only had a GFX camera in my hands for like 25 minutes but in that time I got to try a few lenses, and this was the best one. It reminds me of the 135mm F2 Samyang on full frame. Not as sharp in the corners as the Samyang but a smidge more subject isolation and of course autofocus. And a more useful focal length (converted) for anything but concert.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

First of all, like for the dog 😁 That mixed bag of mine has also dachshund genome heritage. And in regards to this lens, it IS on my short list...

[@skipper4114]

I love how the Taylormade golf email popped up at 7:46.......lol . Cheers buddy from Japan but from Canada. Been following you since less than 1000 subscribers. I lived in Orlando on and off from 2003-2011. Damm I miss my golf. Loved the Canada comment. Trust me I live in -40 C or -40F as once it gets so cold it evens out....lol

[@Fleet42]

Great job on the review. This would be the perfect compliment to my Leica SL2S system.

[@KingStivan]

man the auto iso or exposure killed me :P love the video overall ^^ nice photos too ^^

[@andre1987eph]

Such a cute portrait of the child at beach.

[@AnandaGarden]

Wonderful. When I shot Canon I treasured the 135mm F/2. Was it strictly a "limited," "special-purpose" lens? Not at all. It was incredibly versatile due to its deep sharpness and that gorgeous lens mojo that transcends the "numbers." It gave me frames that I could crop drastically while maintaining beautiful image quality - for dance, theater, portraits, candids, etc. And of course that usefulness will be greatly amplified with the FujiFilm GFX cameras (or a high-pixel-count full-frame body).

[@KenTheoriaApophasis]

Woo man!

[@andre1987eph]

PS: 15:34 Unless you have ever used the 127mm Mamiya RB 6x7cm series RB/KL or the RZ 110mm lenses. Mamiya also made an 210 and 250 APO Flourite lenses for 6x7cm film which listed for $6800 in today’s dollars. Also the 210mm lens on 4x5 or 360 on 8x10 are classic portrait tools as well.

[@mavfan1]

Good news that Fuji just announced an improvement to AF for the GFX 100 and more to come in a June firmware update. It’ll bring it up to the AF level of the 100S.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

I tested it against the Leica APO SUMMICRON SL 90mm f/2 and I confirm it’s better than the Leica and for half the price by the way. The background is so well treated and smooth and elegant . And it was with the GFX100S which AF works very well. Overall I’ve been superlatively impressed by this big lens that delivers the best of all portrait lens I have used. Except maybe the Nikon 200mm f/2…

[@curtisb1824]

Or with Sigma's 135mm 1.4 Comparison with the GFX 110 mm lens . Thanks again ! BEV Photo

[@fredphoto6676]

Try the GF 80mm f1.7 too. Slightly cheaper and great too.

[@linleylaurencon3516]

Great review. I'm considering either the GF 110 f/2.0 or the GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS for my GFX 50R. This would be for portrait photography and can't weigh in the benefits. 45-100 has Image Stabilization while the 110 does not. Many say the 110 f/2.0 is better. Please help in my decision. Thanks

[@mortenthorpe]

Well, that depends majorly on what you get with f/2 vs f/4 … narrower depth of field - do you really need the f/2 here at the distances which you shoot at? lighting conditions vs. your purpose and level of acceptance of ISO-variation vs. raw image quality? in perfect or plenty of light and in a studio - the main issue is the distances in the depth of the scene, and how far away from the camera you can place your subject and scene elements. in poor lighting you’ll always be balancing shutter speed and iso to accommodate for higher aperture

[@curtisb1824]

Mr. Miles Although it's been a year , since this review . How about making a GFX 110mm 1.2 lens Comparison with the Sigma 105 mm 1.4 lens ! If there's any Advantages of going with a 3rd party lens other than the differences in aperture ! Thank you ! BEV Photo's

[@SÉBASTIEN-formateur-CSE]

will you carry it in your 10-15 weddings a year ??

[@mrz1342]

Hi, is it better than gf80mm on gf100s for better af and image quality?

[@natascorpus666]

Simply sublime...lov it

[@dankoons5577]

any comments on the 100-200mm f5.6?

[@ab-cx6bd]

Wow that spider! 👍👍

[@BenjaminKanarek]

Great lens and review!!! Love it. I have a question. I am using a Fujifilm $11.95 disposable camera with an f/11.0 plastic lens. Do you think I can get the same quality from my 400 iso film camera as your kit if I don't crop in too close? I mean, it is just for my instagram account...😙

[@DANVIIL]

If you are a portrait pro and you don't use this set up you are going to lose. Medium Format has always been the very best for high quality images in all of its formats, 6x9, 6x8, 6x7, 6x6 and 6.45.

[@raveemahadevan]

Newbie: So @ F2 (at 11 minute video run point), I see the dog's nose certainly beyond the depth control if you need the eyes. How bad is this with human portraits as the nose is not that longish. The permissible distance , as in the case of the baby (@ 12min37 secs point) for the entire face to be in focus.. Thanks

[@lumberjack3008]

Capture one would be better to look at Fujifilm files.

[@DarrenMiles]

I was told that applies to x-trans sensors on the xt crop series. But apparently not to the sensors on the gfx’s, honestly I don’t know- I’ve been using Lightroom forever...

[@ThorenTravels]

It captures the tiny hairs on top of the nose quite nicely

[@DarrenMiles]

Hah! It does!

[@4oKupila]

Wow👍like 👍

[@mortenthorpe]

i think that your portrait customers are probably people with the same photographic apprecaition of the avergae person... the average person has no clue what to look for in an image, what makes it great or lousy... so i think the responses you’ve been getting are reflections of your excitement, and that any other full frame lens and camera could’ve fotten the same responses

[@huyongquan6554]

FUJI Lens render too dry. don't like it.