The new Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR is a Super-Fast ‘Normal’ GFX Lens

Sep 12, 2023

Over two years after appearing in a Fujifilm GFX System lens roadmap, the Fujinon GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR lens is finally coming.

Thanks to the GFX System’s 0.79x crop factor, the GF 55mm f/1.7 lens offers a “normal” focal length equivalent to a 43mm lens on a full-frame camera. With the fast f/1.7 aperture, the lens promises soft, creamy bokeh and should be well-suited to portraiture. The natural field of view is also a good option for travel, street, and documentary photography.

The GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR is the second f/1.7 lens in the GFX System, joining the Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR. Alongside the GF 80mm prime, the GF 55mm f/1.7 is the fastest GFX System lens.

Incorporating 14 elements in 10 groups, including aspherical and extra-low dispersion (ED) elements, the GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR promises “remarkable, image-resolving performance.” The lens includes 11 aperture diaphragm blades.

Fujinon GF 50mm f/1.7 R WR sample image shot at f/1.7, 1/60s, ISO 800 on a Fujifilm GFX100S. | © Anushka Menon, courtesy of Fujifilm

Autofocus is provided via a powerful direct current (DC) motor, which Fujifilm says delivers quick, precise, and “near silent” autofocus.

Weighing just 1.72 pounds (780 grams) and measuring only 3.9 inches (99.3 millimeters) long, the GF 55mm f/1.7 is a relatively compact addition to the GFX System lineup. Compared to the GF 80mm f/1.7 lens, the new 55mm prime is 15g lighter and 0.1mm longer. As evidenced by the “WR” in the model name, the GF 55mm f/1.7 is weather resistant and includes seals in nine places to prevent dust and water from entering the lens and affecting operation.

“GF 55mm f/1.7 R WR is designed to give image makers a versatile solution that lets them creatively shape that make the most of our GFX System’s incredible dynamic range and unsurpassed image quality,” says Victor Ha, vice president, Fujifilm North America Corporation, Electronic Imaging and Optical Devices Divisions.

“Being able to make images on a GFX System digital camera at f/1.7 is incredibly special — bringing an unmatched quality to the images that are created, especially when it comes to the quality of the bokeh in the image’s out-of-focus areas. It’s truly a lens made for any GFX System user and one we believe should find a permanent place in every photographer’s camera bag,” Ha continues.