Fujifilm GFX100RF Review – Impressive Medium Format Quality in a Surprisingly Compact Package

After 25 years as a working photographer, I’m used to hauling around a camera bag that tips the scale at over 15kg and houses several Canon EOS R series bodies, lenses, and lighting gear—basically a I’m walking studio. So when Fujifilm loaned me the GFX100RF during a six-week trip through Europe, the relief was real. A 102 MP medium-format camera, with a built-in 35 mm f/4 lens (28 mm full-frame equivalent), leaf shutter, and 4-stop ND filter—all packed into a body you can actually carry around. It sounded too good to be true. 

After a few weeks on the road, my back thanked me and I came home with some amazing images. 

EDITOR NOTE: Images displayed on this page are downscaled for display on the web and are only representative of Sam’s creative eye, not the raw quality of the images produced

GFX100RF Design & Ergonomics

Fujifilm have turned their GFX medium-format experience into a fixed-lens format, ditching interchangeable lenses entirely. The result is a body measuring around 144 × 87 × 75 mm, making it one of the most compact digital medium-format cameras available. 

No IBIS (in-body image stabilization) and no focal-plane shutter kept the design lean. Lack of IBIS is not for everyone—but if you’re confident hand‑holding at slower shutter speeds, it’s hardly a deal‑breaker. I regularly shot hand held at 15th/sec with excellent results. 

Right above the LCD sits a dedicated aspect-ratio dial. You get nine crop options—everything from standard 3:2 and 5:4 to Fuji’s own cinematic and panoramic ratios like 17:6 or 65:24. You can preview crops with overlays and shoot RAW + JPEG so you can adjust them later in my metadata export. I frequently used the 4:3 ratio which made use of every pixel in the sensor but also had some fun with the 17:6 for panoramic images and 1:1 for some classic looking medium format frames. On a side note, I found the aspect-ratio dial rather stiff and difficult to turn sometimes. My thumb would often slip off without it turning. I’d have to stop composing my image and use my thumb and forefinger instead. A small gripe but something I definitely noticed. Instead, I ended up making use of the rear command dial to alter aspect-ratio, via the custom settings. I found this far more ergonomic and easier to use. 

Controls & Display

This feels like Fuji’s X100VI got given a heavyweight sensor—but kept that delightful, retro feel. You’ve got physical dials for ISO and shutter, plus the aspect-ratio control. Customisable buttons fall naturally under my hand. The GFX100RF looks like an unassuming retro camera which is even nicer for discerning street photography in foreign cities. 

Missing is the optical viewfinder, something X100 shooters may not welcome. Instead, there’s a 0.5 inch 5.76M-dot OLED EVF at 0.84× magnification—identical to the one in the GFX100S II. It’s crisp, quick, and I loved using it. 

The tilting LCD, hinged past 90°, doesn’t flip for self-shooting or video—but that’s on purpose. This camera is built for still photographers who want fast, accurate framing—not vloggers. 

I wasn’t bothered by the lack OVF as I much prefer the EVF, although battery life was diminished quicker by constant EVF use, even with the LCD turned off. I would definitely recommend carrying an extra battery (or portable charger) for a hassle free day of shooting. I ran out of battery only a couple of times over the 6 weeks but I was working with a single battery and shooting loads of images. I used EVF with the eye sensor on so the viewfinder only turned on when raised to my face. This prolonged battery life by a significant amount. 

Fujifilm GFX100RF Image Quality

Let’s cut to the chase: the image quality is jaw-dropping. The same 102 MP medium-format CMOS II sensor found in higher-end GFX bodies comes with 16‑bit RAW support and 20 Film Simulations. It’s a huge amount of resolution and tonal richness. 

The fixed 35 mm f/4 lens is amazingly sharp across the entire image, even when shooting wide open at f/4, which I did often. Its 20 cm minimum focus takes you surprisingly close, great for detailed close ups. Though I would have loved to see a wider aperture, the f/4 does a fine job for low-light situations when you boost the ISO. The larger sensor allows higher ISO use and the grain appears film-like and natural—not like often seen digital pixelation. Shooting at lower ISO yielded files loaded with texture and tonality. Dynamic range exceeds 14 stops, making highlight and shadow recovery effortless. 

Lens & Mechanics

Despite covering that expansive 44 × 33 mm sensor, the lens is compact – protruding just under 3 cm from the body and uses a 49 mm filter thread (same as X100VI). Internally, it’s a 10-element design with two aspherical elements and a built-in leaf shutter capable of exposures from 60 minutes in bulb setting, to 1/4000sec or 16000sec when using electronic shutter. It’s quiet, fast, and elegant. 

The lens hood and filter adapter add size but help with flare control and seal protection. The focus ring and aperture tabs feel solid and well built. Yes, the f/4 aperture means slower speed—but this camera wasn’t built for speed; it’s built for precision. The f/4 aperture produces pleasing enough separation and bokeh (roughly f/3 in full frame comparison) but I’m used to using f/2.8 and even f/1.4 lenses in my day to day assignments. Oh, how I would have loved to see the GFX100RF with a f/2.8 lens. 

The in-built Neutral Density filter was a nice touch and although I didn’t use it extensively (as I didn’t pack a tripod), I shot some long exposure beach scenes at dusk with the camera resting on some rocks and 20sec exposures. Results were fantastic and I was beginning to wish I’d packed my small tripod. 

Autofocus on the Fujifilm GFX100RF

The GFX100RF was a solid autofocus performer. Its AI-powered system tracks people, animals, and vehicles reasonably well. While it doesn’t match my Canon tracking speed or facial recognition, single-point AF was consistently accurate in my usage. 

Locking focus in dim conditions was fairly quick by targeting mid-tone contrast zones. Manual focus is fully supported with peaking and magnification assistance. I often used the manual “zone” focus technique for candid street images of people on my travels. 

Crop Modes

The GFX100RF lets you choose digital crop modes at 35mm, 45mm, 63mm, and 80mm—ideal for “zooming in” without a lens change. Essentially though, the user is just utilizing an in-camera digital crop into the 102MP sensor. It took a little getting used to before 

I found myself using it often. Having said that, when I did use it, I was pining for a longer lens, not digital cropping. The JPEG files will give you the crop straight out of camera and if you are shooting in RAW + JPEG the RAW image will save the original, uncopped image for future post production on your computer. This is great when wanting to utilize JPEGS for online social use like I did daily. I would transfer the selected JPEG to my phone wirelessly via the Fujifilm X app and post to Instagram instantly. With the reduced size JPEG going straight online, the RAW and large JPEG files were saved to my hard drive. 

Video Features

While stills are the priority, video here is solid: 4K up to 30p in both 17:9 and 16:9, recorded internally as 10-bit 4:2:2 H.264/H.265, or externally in ProRes. Dual card slots, external SSD support, and the built-in ND filter make it decent for filming. It’s not for cinema production—but for travel video? More than serviceable. Realistically, this camera is not targeted at those with video in mind and I can’t comment too much more as it didn’t get a whole lot of video usage. 

The Final Verdict on the Fujifilm GFX100RF

The Fujifilm GFX100RF changes the media-format conversation. It offers flagship-level image quality with a body you can actually carry around all day. Yes, there’s no IBIS, and f/4 feels limiting—but those trade-offs make the form factor possible and still maintain amazing image quality and versatility. 

It’s unlikely to fly on some specific assignments where longer focal lengths are needed – but if you’re shooting street, documentary, landscapes or editorial work where you are close to the subjects – and value resolution over zoom flexibility, I can’t think of a better choice in 2025. The GFX100RF brought me back to the basics of travel and street photography and I thoroughly enjoyed using this little pocket rocket across Europe. 

At AU$8,799 RRP, it’s not cheap—but you’re paying for engineering, polish, and pixel-level excellence. For pros who want uncompromising IQ in a travel-ready, street smart, beautifully built package, this camera delivers.