Fujifilm unveiled its first medium format expert compact camera during a X-Summit in Prague. A spiritual child of the X100VI and the GFX 100S II, the Fujifilm GFX 100RF is impressive in many ways. We had the chance to test it over two days in the streets of the Czech capital—here are our first impressions.
Sommaire
- Fujifilm GFX 100RF: GFX 100S II Technology in a Compact Expert Body
- Design & Finish: A Subtle, Stylish Body
- Fujifilm GFX 100RF Ergonomics: Thoughtful Manual Controls & Comfortable Viewfinder
- First Impressions: Fujifilm GFX 100RF Image Quality
- Autofocus: Nearly Flawless
- Price & Availability
- Our Verdict on the Fujifilm GFX 100RF
Fujifilm GFX 100RF: GFX 100S II Technology in a Compact Expert Body
After largely popularizing fixed-lens expert compact camera, Fujifilm now aims to make medium format accessible to almost any photographer, whether for daily use or travel. Enter the GFX 100RF, the first expert compact to feature a 44 x 33 mm sensor and a fixed focal length (non-interchangeable) lens, as highlighted by the “RF” label (Rangefinder Fixed lens).
With the GFX 100RF, Fujifilm clearly wants to recreate the magic of the X100V and X100VI. But this time, there’s no APS-C sensor—only a much larger medium format sensor. That makes miniaturization, especially on the lens side, quite a feat. More on that later.
If you’re looking for more details on the technical specs of the Fujifilm GFX 100RF, check out our announcement article. For now, just know that it uses the same sensor and processor combo as the GFX 100S II, released nine months earlier.
So, we have a highly detailed 102 MP sensor paired with the X-Processor 5 for better speed and image quality. The Fujinon 35mm f/4 Super EBC lens offers a full-frame equivalent of 28 mm, perfect for street, landscape, urbex, and architecture photography. Uniquely for a GFX body, it features a leaf shutter borrowed from the X100VI.
Design & Finish: A Subtle, Stylish Body
From the first hands-on moments with the GFX 100RF, three things stand out:
- Its build quality and high-end finish
- Its compactness and portability
- The number and layout of manual controls
In terms of finish, Fujifilm clearly plays in the premium league—taking aim at Leica. The camera, fully made in Japan, features a metal body. The top and bottom plates, dials, and control knobs are made from precisely machined aluminum. The leatherette grip offers excellent handling.
The overall look is very clean, with a vintage vibe reminiscent of the X100 series—and the GFX 50R. We loved the silver accents around the lens and top plate. A fully black version is also available. Either way, the body feels extremely premium. In terms of design, the GFX 100RF really impresses.
Despite housing a large sensor, the camera is surprisingly compact: just 13 cm wide, 9 cm tall, and about 3.5 cm deep. Add the Fujinon 35mm f/4 lens and the depth reaches 7.7 cm. That’s barely more than an Instax Mini Evo.
At first, its 735 g weight (including battery and memory card) might seem a bit much. But then you remember that a GFX 50R with an equivalent lens (like the GF 30mm f/3.5 R WR) goes well over 1.2 kg. For reference, a Leica Q3 weighs 788 g. Still, both cameras offer great balance and fit easily into any camera bag.
Out in the field, the Fujifilm GFX 100RF offers excellent handling, and it’s genuinely enjoyable to use. We really liked its slightly rounded sides and small grip. It never feels like it might slip out of your hand.
Fujifilm also includes a good range of accessories. The GFX 100RF comes with a stylish braided strap, a sleek rectangular aluminum lens hood with its own adapter ring, and a protective filter (PRF-49). Equipped like this, the body offers weather resistance—perfect for shooting in or after the rain.
Fujifilm GFX 100RF Ergonomics: Thoughtful Manual Controls & Comfortable Viewfinder
In terms of manual controls and viewfinding, the Fujifilm GFX 100RF is also a pleasure to use. It features a 3.15-inch LCD (2.1M dots), offering excellent viewability even in bright sunlight. It’s mounted on a dual-tilt hinge, making it easy to shoot from the waist, overhead, or low angles—similar to the X100 series and the Leica Q3.
The GFX 100RF also features the same electronic viewfinder as the GFX 100S II. It’s built around a 5.76M dot OLED panel, making it very comfortable. Some users may wish for a hybrid viewfinder like the one on the X100 or X-Pro series, but Fujifilm explained that such a viewfinder would have a lower magnification—making it less enjoyable to use in the field.
The manual controls are also well-executed. The rear layout is very similar to the X100VI, so long-time Fujifilm users will feel right at home. There’s a joystick (thankfully taken from the GFX and X-H series), a Quick Menu (Q) button, and all the usual controls.
The GFX 100RF also brings the focus mode selector (Single, Continuous, MF) to the rear and introduces a new image ratio dial—a great way to push photographers out of their comfort zones. You can easily switch between 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 65:24 (X-Pan), 17:6, 3:4, 1:1, 7:6, 5:4, and Custom formats.
On the top plate, you’ll find the classic manual dials. Like the X100 and X-Pro, there’s a large dial combining shutter speed and ISO, a second one for exposure compensation, and a customizable button next to the shutter release—by default, it controls automatic eye detection.
On the lens, a thin aperture ring (not de-clickable) lets you choose from f/4 to f/22 (with Auto mode). A second linear ring is used for manual focus (MF mode) by default.
Best of all, you’ll find on the front, just below the shutter button, a control wheel and a dedicated lever for selecting crop modes (digital teleconverter—more on this later). These three controls are super accessible and add to the camera’s elegant look.
Finally, there’s a viewfinder switch—borrowed from the X100 series, at least in appearance. Since there’s no hybrid viewfinder, this switch lets you toggle between the LCD and EVF. It also lets you choose how crops are displayed. By default, the camera “zooms in” normally, but you can also opt to show a framing box around the cropped area—helpful for keeping an eye on elements outside the frame.
The various connectors are located on the left side (2x 3.5mm jacks, USB-C, micro HDMI). On the right, you get dual UHS-II SD card slots. No CFexpress here—likely to avoid overheating and save space. However, you can connect an external SSD! Power-wise, the body uses the NP-W235 battery, shared with most other Fujifilm cameras.
The only real downside: the menus are still dense and not very user-friendly. But aside from that, the Fujifilm GFX 100RF is a well-designed and very enjoyable camera to use. Fujifilm has struck a nice balance between elegance and efficiency.
First Impressions: Fujifilm GFX 100RF Image Quality
During this (rather short) hands-on session, we were able to appreciate the image quality delivered by the GFX 100RF and its 102MP medium format sensor, in both daylight and nighttime conditions.
Click on the images to view them in full resolution
Fujifilm’s beloved Film Simulations are back. Black-and-white fans will love the Acros and Monochrome modes, while those who prefer cooler tones will go for Reala Ace or Classic Chrome.
Exposure and white balance metering are spot on. Most of all, the level of detail is astonishing. Architectural or product photographers will be thrilled. That’s even more impressive given the lens’s compact form.
The ultra-high resolution of the sensor shines in crop modes. You can crop aggressively and still retain great detail and high resolution.
You can go far beyond the native 28 mm focal length thanks to 3 “virtual” focal lengths via cropping: 45 mm, 63 mm, and 80 mm (equivalent to 36, 50, and 63 mm in 35mm terms). Even with the 80 mm crop, you still get 19.3 MP files:
- 35 mm: 102 MP
- 45 mm: 61.5 MP
- 63 mm: 31.2 MP
- 80 mm: 19.3 MP
The camera naturally encourages the use of different aspect ratios. We found ourselves taking a lot of square snapshots… or panoramic images in the X-Pan format!
Thanks to the medium format sensor, subject separation is clearly pronounced, with smooth background blur. The 20 cm minimum focusing distance (from the front element) is quite handy. Of course, many would have preferred a faster lens, but Fujifilm told us that doing so would have required the rear lens element to be as tall as the body!
However, the f/4 aperture does mean you’ll need to increase ISO in low light. Also, the lack of stabilization—both in the lens and sensor—requires some care with shutter speed. Again, this trade-off was made to preserve compactness.
Autofocus: Nearly Flawless
Fortunately, the autofocus is very responsive. Focus acquisition is quick and reliable, with very few missed shots. Subject and eye detection is fast and accurate—although the camera can get a bit confused when multiple subjects are in the frame.
Autofocus also performs well in low light. Even with moving subjects, it locks focus without hesitation. The X-Processor 5 certainly plays a key role here.
Here’s a gallery of photos taken with the Fujifilm GFX 100RF:
Price & Availability
The Fujifilm GFX 100RF is available for pre-order at a price of $4,899. Deliveries will begin on April 7, 2025. Two finishes are available: black and black with a silver top.
Its price is cheaper to that of the GFX 100S II—while featuring a built-in fixed focal length.
Our Verdict on the Fujifilm GFX 100RF
After this hands-on experience, the Fujifilm GFX 100RF is clearly a very compelling camera. Fujifilm delivers a stylish, retro-inspired expert compact with excellent handling and well-designed manual controls.
Its compactness—including the lens—is truly remarkable for a medium format sensor. The manageable weight makes it easy to slip into a bag—or carry it across the shoulder. It’s genuinely fun to use in all kinds of shooting scenarios. Street photographers, especially, will love it.
Autofocus is solid and the image quality is truly outstanding. The 102 MP sensor works great with the crop modes, letting you go far beyond the native 28mm while keeping highly detailed files.
In the end, only two drawbacks stand out: the lack of stabilization (optical or sensor-based) and the f/4 aperture, which can be limiting in low light. Both were intentional choices by Fujifilm to maintain the body and lens as compact as possible.
Still, Fujifilm has crafted a very appealing package. Despite some compromises, the brand seems to have pulled off the (ambitious) goal of combining compactness with a medium format sensor. This sleek, travel-ready camera will undoubtedly attract photographers looking to make no compromise on image quality.
