Fujifilm Launches Pair Medium-Format Tilt-Shift Lenses

2023.09.12

Today, Fujifilm launched the very first Tilt-Shift lenses for their Medium-Format Digital Mirrorless platform. These are two G-mount prime lenses with both shift and tilt capabilities. Only Canon and Nikon currently make Tilt-Shift lenses for their respective Full-Frame DSLR systems, making Fujifilm the only manufacturer with such lenses for a mirrorless system.

The widest of the two new lenses is the Fujinon GF30mm F/5.5 T/S. This ultra-wide lens is equivalent to a 24mm Full-Frame lens and captures an 84° angle-of-view. The apparently dim aperture is common for Tilt-Shift lenses which are used for perspective control. With an imaging circle which is larger than Medium-Format, even F/5.6 is bright enough to produce a shallow depth-of-field. This is a premium specialty lens for a high-level system and so it is expected to render images of outstanding quality with enough resolution to capture 102 megapixels. With its wide angle-of-view and complex mechanisms, the GF30mm F/5.6 T/S is the second heaviest GFX lens so far. It weighs 1.3kg.

Both new lens share the same versatile Tilt-Shift mechanism. Towards the front of each lens, there is a tilt gear that angles the barrel ±8½° to produce a focus plan that is angled compared to the sensor. At the back of these lenses, there is a shift gear which offsets the front and rear of the barrel. On the GF30mm F/5.6 TS, this allows for a huge 15mm of movement. On the other lens, which is a 110mm model, shift motion spans ±10°. A rotating ring between the tilt and shift mechanisms allow them to be rotated in relation to each other.

The Fujinon GF110mm F/5.6 T/S Macro is externally similar only with a longer focal-length. Together with its relatively close minimum focus distance, the 110mm can capture subjects at 0.5X magnification. This is not true macro yet given the huge resolution of Medium Format cameras is virtually equivalent. Both these new lenses are weatherproof and freezeproof down to -10C, making them the most rugged Tilt-Shift lenses ever built. At over 1.2kg, the GF110mm lens is among the heaviest in an already heftly lineup.

Along with the two Tilt-Shift lenses, Fujifilm released the Fujinon GF55mm F/1.7R WR. This normal prime lens comes with an exceptionally bright aperture for Medium-Format. It is quite compact yet just as rugged as the two other lenses announced today. At 780g, this is not a light lens but it is significantly less than either T/S lens. Unlike those previous lenses, this one is fully capable of autofocus, something that no T/S lens can do.

All three lenses unveiled today serve very different purposes with prices to match:

• The Fujifilm GF30mm F/5.6 T/S is ideal for capturing architecture and monuments. Fujifilm plans to release it in the fall for $4000 USD or $5400 CAD.
• The Fujifilm GF110mm F/5.6 T/S Macro will be used primarily for product photography along with some more cretive uses. It is also coming this fall for $3500 USD or $4725 CAD.
• Finally, the Fujinon GF55mm F/1.7R WR is a general purpose lens used for daily life as it provides a natural perspective. Its uses includes interiors and group portraits. This lens is expected earlier this fall for $2300 USD or $3100 CAD.

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