Best Fujifilm Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

The Fujinon GF63 mmF2.8 R WR lens has been specially designed for the G mount suitable for the large medium format sensor with which the GFX 50S and GFX 50R are notably provided. Equivalent to 50 mm in 24×36, the GF63mm has the heavy task of securing its place as standard optics.

Presentation

While the battle is raging around the 24×36 reference sensor on the hybrid market, Fujifilm has chosen another development axis for its cameras. To support its compact boxes equipped with APS-C sensor, the company is building a range of medium format cameras with a large 43.8 x 32.9 mm sensor. The G mount was created for the occasion to accommodate the optics of these new series. 

Among them, the Fujinon GF63 mmF2.8 R WR is a 50 mm equivalent, one of the great standards of photography. It allows you to easily try out a good number of disciplines, which makes it attractive for the neophyte who wants to get their hands on, but also for the more expert user who will appreciate their Swiss knife side.

The objective consists of 10 elements divided into 8 groups including an ED (extra-low dispersion) lens. The minimum focusing distance is 50 cm and the filter diameter is 62 mm. The circular diaphragm has nine blades. The optics have an all-weather finish.

At the time of this test, we can acquire the Fujinon GF63 mmF2.8 R WR for around 1,500 €.

Best Fujifilm Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

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Ergonomics

Fujifilm wants to get the medium format sensors out of the studios. If we look at the overall measurements, it is rather successful. The objective is only 71 mm long by 84 mm in diameter. The weight – without the cap – slightly exceeds 400 g. A very good point, especially when compared to one of its competitors, the Hasselblad XCD 65mm f / 2.8 which weighs almost 730 g. The Japanese brand wants to drive the point home in terms of compactness by offering in 2019 the Fujinon GF50mmF3.5 R LM WR equivalent 40 mm which takes on the appearance of a pancake lens .

On the other hand, the overall design of the lens lacks finesse and elegance. Large rubbers or streaks on the rings will appeal to some, but they undoubtedly allow good handling of the rings. The finish and construction are however satisfactory.

The focus ring is slightly too firm for our taste for perfectly comfortable use in manual focus. When handling, it also feels like a little scratching inside the lens, surely due to the operation of the motors which drive the different lenses. In addition, the presence of a diaphragm adjustment ring is a real plus. 

It is notched at the third of IL and can be adjusted in automatic mode (A) or in adjustment mode by wheel (C). Each mode is locked with a well-thought-out button, thus avoiding unexpected switching from one mode to another. Note that there is no command to switch to manual focus on the lens barrel.

Sharpness

The measurements in our laboratory are made in partnership with Imatest. Software, tools or charts, Imatest offers complete and tailor-made solutions to analyze and test the quality of cameras and photographic lenses.

The notion of dive is quite delicate to deal with. This is what we can assimilate to the “feeling of sharpness” or to the “precision” that we observe on an image. It can be very different from one lens to another, from one focal to another and from one aperture to another. It can also vary between the center and the edges of the photograph.

We tested the lens with the Fujifilm GFX 50R with a medium format sensor measuring 43.8 x 32.9 mm with 51.4 Mpx. The definition is 8 256 x 6 192 px. Each pixel therefore measures 5.31 µm on the side.

At full aperture, the measurements show an overall quality that is behind other measurements, which is the case with most objectives. If we were able to confirm this behavior during our tests, it should however be weighed. The center at f / 2.8 presents a better substance than what suggests the raw results obtained using our target. The center improves as soon as the diaphragm is closed a little, to reach its best values ​​from f / 5.6. It is also at this last setting that the edges and corners begin to improve. The most favorable behavior of the lens is unsurprisingly at f / 11, where the image is then shown to be very detailed on all areas.

More

The Fujifilm Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR has the particularity of having a minimum aperture at f / 32. A nice specificity when you are used to the more classic f / 22 and f / 16 often used as limits on very wide aperture lenses with cameras with full format. The smallest aperture (f / 32) should however be avoided. The diffraction is too large and the rendering too undermined. On the other hand, closing up to f / 22 is possible if you do not need a completely flawless image. At this value, we can observe a loss of detail due to the diffraction which begins to appear, but the rendering remains generally good.

Distortion / vignetting

The distortions are well controlled by the Fujinon GF63 mmF2.8 R WR. By default, no deformation is to be deplored.

The vignetting is rather returning at full opening, but it remains contained. It starts to fade from f / 4 and is finally reduced and muzzled in the corners from f / 5.6. In all cases, the effect is not bothersome and can be easily corrected by software if the need arises.

Bokeh

The aperture of f / 2.8 is not necessarily impressive in comparison to what can be found on the 35mm market, but it remains rather open for an optic intended for medium format cameras. When combined with the GFX 50R or the GFX 50S , the depth of field is shallow. Quickly creating a background blur is easy.

We take several images to assess the quality of the bokeh , including our test scene lit with LEDs. By playing with the focus, we can produce a beautiful blur at full aperture. Full opening vignetting quickly generates a cat eye effect and becomes relatively accentuated at the periphery. The blur is soft and progressive. The optical construction here shows all of its attributes, the effect is devoid of onion-rings , those unsightly marks that can appear in bubbles of light. 

Autofocus

The Fujifilm Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR autofocus is quite responsive. Between the GFX 50R with its contrast detection focus and the lens, it is not necessarily the latter that is in default. However, when the point is made, you can feel and hear the system that itches, which is unpleasant. Even if during the test of the GFX 50R we had noticed that the video part and the continuous autofocus are not its strong points, we regret this too important noise which will not fail to be recorded by the case.

STRONG POINTS

  • Overall image quality.
  • Diaphragm ring with lock.
  • Minimum aperture at f / 32.
  • Compact lens.
  • All weather finish.

WEAK POINTS

  • No stabilization.
  • Noisy autofocus.
  • Sensation of scratching due to the motorization.
  • Lack of uniformity at large openings.
  • No stabilization.

CONCLUSION

The Fujinon GF63 mmF2.8 R WR from Fujifilm does not have the most beautiful dress on the market, but its ergonomics are nevertheless very effective. We can also regret a noisy autofocus and a motor whose scratching is felt when gripping. However, the image quality is very good and easily controls the medium format sensor.

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