Meet the Fujinon GF 100-200 f/5.6 R LM OIS WR - Lightweight workhorse zoom

Fujifilm is rapidly releasing new lens for their medium format G-mount. The latest one is the GF 100-200 f/5.6 that weighs only 2.31 lbs or 1.05 kg!

The GF 100-200 f/5.6

Set to release within 2019, the Fujifilm GF 100-200 f/5.6 R LM OIS WR lens will fill the gap of a workhorse telephoto zoom with a 35mm equivalent field of view of 79 to 158mm.

Let's look at it now!

Meet Fujinon GF 100-200 f/5.6 zoom lens

The GF 100-200 attached to the GFX 50R

Let's first have a recap of the terminologies in the lens name. R means it has an aperture ring. LM means that it uses frictionless, non-contact and silent Linear motors for autofocus. WR means it is engineered and designed to be weather resistant and lastly OIS means Optical Image Stabilization.

We received the copy of the lens only without the box. It came with the top and bottom lens caps, the lens itself and the tripod collar.

Bottom side

The lens comes in black with white and red text and information engraved in all over tghe lens. The exterior is mostly made of metal except for the two focus and zoom rings, the lens hood and the lens element. Even the Tripod collar is made of metal.

The lens hood is made of thick but lightweight polycarbonate.

Mount side

The front glass element is recessed which allows for screw-on filters without issues. Focusing and zooming is done internally which means there is no extension or protruding parts of the lens as you zoom in or out or as you focus in and out.

Like the rest of the GF lenses, the metal mount is weather resistant because of the weather sealing gaskets that can be found everywhere in the lens. It is rated to work down to -10 degrees Celsius.

Front element!

The aperture ring has hard clicks that makes it more difficult to accidentally change the aperture while the zoom ring is well dampened that it just enough resistance to rotate it without being too easy.

The focus and zoom rings on our review unit had just enough resistance and dampening that allows it to stay at our chosen focus plane and focal length without it being easily changed by random movements.

What impressed us the most about this lens is how light it is! It is lighter than it looks at 1,050 grams! It is even lighter than my XF 50-140 f/2.8 WR lens at 1,093 grams.

Don't let the f/5.6 aperture fool you though, because of the larger sensor that results in a larger pixel per square inch, the images are brighter and the bokeh is absolutely beautiful. You can look at the images below to see for yourself.

Disclaimer: These images were resized and compressed for quicker website load times. We can provide full size images if requested.

Camera Samples

Full size portrait

100 percent crop portrait

100 percent crop - Pier Pigeon

Full size - Pier Pigeon

100 percent crop - Fisherman's Wharf seagull

Full size - Fisherman's Wharf seagull

Beautiful colors

Street photography with telephoto zooms are possible!

Fujinon GF 100-200 f/5.6 R LM WR Specs

Lens configuration: 20 elements 13 groups (1 aspherical element and 2 Super ED element)
Focal length: F = 100-200mm (79-158mm)
Angle of view: 30.6 degrees to 15.6degrees

Maximum Aperture: f/5.6

Minimum Aperture: f/32
Minimum Focus Distance: 60cm or 23.62 inches
Filter Thread: 67mm

Aperture blades: 9 rounded

Focus Range: 0.6m-Infinity (Wide) 1.6m-Infinity (Telephoto)

Maximum Magnification: 0.2x

Box inclusions: Lens cap FLCP-67II Lens rear cap RLCP-002 Lens hood Tripod collar foot Lens pouch

Diameter and Length: 89.5mm x 183mm

Weight: 1,050g

Price: PHP 159,990

Quick thoughts

The new Fujinon GF 100-200 f/5.6 R LM WR Lens for the Fujifilm G-Mount digital medium format cameras is a great addition because of its versatile focal range of 100 to 200 (79-158 mm in 35mm equivalence), weather sealing, fast and silent magnetic linear autofocus motors and 1,050 gram weight.

Even at the maximum aperture of f/5.6 bokeh is dreamy and beautiful because of the shallow depth of field across the focal range which makes it capable for varying applications.

It is priced at PHP 159,990 (tax inclusive) which is on par with its competitor, the Mamiya Leaf Sekor Zoom AF ULD 105-210mm f/4.5 Lens at USD 2,390 without tax.

Lastly, like any medium format camera or lens that was designed for ultimate image quality, it wasn't built for fast moving subjects like in sports, action and wild life but more slow methodical photography.

What do you guys think? Will you be getting one?