Can This Cheap Lens Keep Up With the Demands of Medium Format Cameras?

Medium format lenses tend to be pricier than their full frame or APS-C counterparts; after all, a bigger sensor requires bigger glass to match it. A sub-$1,000 medium format lens is a rarity; even rarer is a sub-$1,000 zoom lens. Fujifilm's GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR fits the bill, though, and this great video review takes a look at the lens and how it holds up on the GFX 50S II. 

Coming to you from Dylan Goldby, this excellent video takes a look at the new Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR lens paired with the GFX 50S II medium format mirrorless camera. With a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 28-55mm, this particular lens offers a useful reach suitable for anything from landscape to street work, and at $999 alone or $500 as part of a kit with the GFX 50S II, it is very affordable for a medium format zoom lens with autofocus. Of course, at that price, you should not expect sterling image quality, but that being said, the 35-70mm is a surprisingly capable performer, and it is rather portable as well, making it an intriguing option. Check out the video above for Goldby's full thoughts. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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7 Comments

for the same price as a med-form fuji and a thousand dollar slow, limited zoom, you can get a sony a7rIV and a a solid prime or two along with a tamron 24-70 zoom with 2 stops advantage

if you really need med format, then face it - trying to save on the glass is just wasting your time 7 money

Does that involve owning a Sony?

If so then no thanks.

Because Sony is somehow evil??
I didn't know that qanon had invaded the world of mirrorless camera

I never said that, I just have zero interest in owning one, and I’d pick a GFX over a Sony camera until the cows come home.

I really don't understand this lens. It's range is almost the same as the 32-64. Granted, the 32-64 is more than twice the cost, but when you are buying into medium format you should expect higher costs. I have both the Fuji GFX 100S and the Nikon Z7, so I understand the differences in format and workflow between a full-frame mirrorless and a medium format mirrorless (I use them side by side, but not interchangeably).

Its been made to compete in the full frame market space, you can buy the camera and lens for £4000, thats 2 different points to consider, one is thats firmly in the price point of 'enthusiast' level full frame cameras so anyone considering medium format for their work now has a bigger reason to choose it. The other point is, who else is putting out cameras with these sensors anywhere near this price point? Hasselblad and Pentax certainly aren't.

I shoot APS-C but if I ever felt the need to go up a sensor, I wouldn't be choosing full frame for my landscape work, id get a GFX, and this lens would also be on my radar.

I love it! It's a great starter lens to tide you over until you can move up the ladder :)

IG: Mattodomphoto