Offering a bright maximum aperture and a versatile 43mm equivalent focal length, the Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7R WR is designed for creating sharp, dynamic images with beautifully blurred backgrounds.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this comprehensive video review highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7R WR lens. At first glance, the lens impresses with its build quality and features, including weather-sealing and a smooth aperture control ring. Its f/1.7 aperture makes it one of the brightest options in Fujifilm's medium format lineup, perfect for low-light situations and achieving shallow depth of field. However, the autofocus system lags behind competitors, with jerky movements and average speed. Frost notes that while it’s adequate for most uses, it struggles with fast-moving subjects.
The lens performs well in sharpness, especially in the center of the frame at f/1.7, but it requires stopping down to at least f/2.8 for sharper corners. The video demonstrates how the lens handles challenges like fringing and ghosting at wider apertures. By f/4, image quality is excellent across the frame. Against bright light, the lens shows some flaring and coma, which might disappoint those shooting night scenes or backlit subjects. Despite these issues, it delivers smooth, pleasing bokeh and virtually no chromatic aberration, adding to its appeal for portrait and fine art photography.
Key Specs
- Focal Length: 55mm (35mm equivalent: 43mm)
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.7
- Minimum Aperture: f/22
- Image Stabilization: No
- Filter Size: 77mm
- Angle of View: 52.9°
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.6' / 50 cm
- Maximum Magnification: 0.17x
- Optical Design: 14 elements in 10 groups
- Diaphragm Blades: 11, rounded
- Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.9" / 94.7 x 99.3 mm
- Weight: 1.7 lb / 780 g
Frost also highlights how the lens handles real-world challenges, such as distortion and vignetting. Barrel distortion is minimal, and while vignetting is strong at f/1.7, it improves significantly by f/4. For close-up shots, the lens offers decent sharpness and contrast at wide apertures, making it versatile for various shooting styles. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
Im biased. I own it. Is good. Yes. Should you buy it for portraits and general photography. Yes if you can afford it. Its not slow focussing as Chris Frost in video makes out. Its heavy. Pretty much all gfx lines are heavy! Bar a couple.