Fujifilm 32-64mm
f/4 GF 25-50mm eq., R LM WR
Sample Images Introduction Specifications
Fujifilm Fujinon GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR (metal 77mm filter thread, 30.8 oz./874g, 1.8'/0.55m close focus, $2,299 new or about $1,500 used if you know How to Win at eBay). bigger.
I'd get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
Janaury 2020 Better Pictures Fuji GFX System GF Lenses Sony LEICA Zeiss Nikon Canon All
Sample Images
Inside a Barn, Yosemite National Park, 3:25 ~ 3:29 P.M., 09 May 2019. Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 32mm, f/16 for four minutes at ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.7. bigger or full-resolution or camera-original © JPG file.
La Preciosa Market, Delano, California, 12:06 P.M, 07 May 2019. Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 32mm, f/22 hand-held at 1/125 at Auto ISO 250, Perfectly Clear v3.7. bigger or full-resolution or camera-original © JPG file.
Fern Springs, Yosemite Valley, 3:43 P.M., 08 May 2019. Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 58.6mm, f/32 at 3 seconds at ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.7, split-toned print. bigger.
Yosemite Valley at Sunrise with Fallen Tree in Foreground, 7:05 A.M., 09 May 2019. Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 32mm, f/32 at 1/12 at Dynamic Range 400% at ISO 400, Perfectly Clear v3.7. bigger, full-resolution or awful camera-original © JPG file.
Fallen Tree, Yosemite Valley, 7:24 A.M., 09 May 2019. Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 37.6 mm, f/18 at 1/2 at ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.7, split-toned print. bigger.
More at Springtime in Yosemite, May 2019.
Introduction
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This 32-64mm (25-50mm equivalent) lens is a jumbo-sized wide to normal lens for Fujifilm's GFX medium format system.
As we'd expect for a premium lens with such a limited (2:1) zoom range and moderate (f/4) speed, its optical performance is flawless. A narrow zoom range makes it easy to set precise framing, especially during careful tripod use.
It's big, but weighs only a little more than Canon's pro-standard 24-70mm f/2.8 L II (30.8 oz./874g vs 28.4 oz./804g), and this Fujinon lens actually weighs much less than Nikon's behemoth 24-70mm f/2.8E VR (30.8 oz./874g vs 37.7 oz./1,070g).
Considering that this is a medium-format lens with much higher aspirations than those full-frame lenses, this is quite a feat.
This lens is also easy to zoom. While it's a handful, moderate pressure from just a fingertip is all you need to glide the zoom ring, even if pointed up or down.
I'd get my Fujifilm 32-64mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm. bigger.
New
Fujifilm's first midrange zoom for its digital medium-format GFX system.
A (AUTO) and C (Command-dial-controlled) positions of aperture ring now lock.
Good
Flawless optics.
Smooth zooming.
Metal filter threads.
Stops down to f/32.
Made domestically in Japan.
Weather gasketed:
Fujifilm 32-64mm weather gaskets.
Bad
Electronic manual-focus ring, not a real mechanical one.
Missing
No focus scales, which could have been used for computing optimum apertures.
No depth-of-field scales.
Specifications
I'd get my Fujifilm 32-64mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
Name
Fujifilm calls this the Fujinon GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR:
Fujinon is Fujifilm's brand name for their lenses.
GF means it works with Fujifilm's GFX medium format system.
R means it has an aperture ring.
LM means Linear (autofocus) Motor.
WR means weather resistant.
Fujifilm's model number is GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR.
Also has:
∅ 77: Takes 77mm filters.
Aspherical: Uses aspherically-shaped lens elements for sharper pictures.
Super EBC: Fujinon's brand of multicoating, standing for Super Electron-Beam Coated.
Optics
Fujinon internal optical construction. Aspherical and ED and Super ED elements.
14 elements in 11 groups.
One ED extra-low dispersion element, which helps reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
One Super ED extra-low dispersion element, which helps reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
Three aspherical elements.
Super Electron-Beam Coating (EBC).
"Pumper" zoom; front section moves out as zoomed longer.
Coverage
33 × 44mm Medium-Format (55mm image circle).
Diaphragm
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm (diaphragm not seen). bigger.
9 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/32 in 1/3-stop clicks.
Focal Length
32~62mm.
When used on Fuji's 33 × 44mm Medium-Format system it sees the same angle of view as a 25-50mm lens sees when used on a full-frame (24 × 36mm) camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View
81º ～ 46.3º diagonal on 33 × 44mm Medium-Format.
Autofocus
No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus Scale
No.
Infinity Focus Stop
No.
Depth of Field Scale
No.
Reproduction Ratio Scale
No.
Infrared Focus Index
No.
Close Focus
1.6 feet (0.5 meters) at 32mm; 2 feet (0.6 meters) at 64mm.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:8.3 (0.12×).
Image Stabilizer
None.
Caps
FLCP-77 77mm front lens cap (p/n BU04910-100).
RLCP-002 G-mount rear cap (p/n 16539730).
Filters
Metal 77 mm filter thread.
Hood
Included hood for Fujifilm GF 32-64mm. bigger.
Included hood for Fujifilm GF 32-64mm. bigger.
Nice plastic hood with plastic bayonet mount and lock included.
Case
Black fuzzy sack included.
Size
3.65" Ø maximum diameter × 4.57" extension from flange (5.73" extension at 64mm focal length).
92.6 mm Ø maximum diameter × 116 mm extension from flange (145.5mm extension at 64mm focal length).
Weight
30.840 oz. (874.2 g) actual measured weight.
Rated 30.9 oz. (875 g).
Quality
Made in Japan.
Environment
Rated to work down to -10º C (+14º F).
Announced
Development Announcement at Photokina, 19 September 2016.
Actual product announced 19 January 2017.
Promised for
Included
Lens, caps, hood and cloth sack.
Packaging
Box, Fujifilm GF 32-64mm. bigger.
Microcurrugated box with microcorrugated inserts with lens in pulp-formed cradle.
Fujifilm's Model Number
Fujifilm's model number is GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR.
Price, USA
January 2020
$2,299 new or about $1,500 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
May 2019
$1,799 new or about $1,440 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
January 2017
$2,299.00 at introduction.
Performance
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing Bokeh
Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts
Lateral Color Fringes Macro Mechanics Sharpness
Spherochromatism Stabilization Sunstars
I'd get my Fujifilm 32-64mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
Overall
This is a big lens with big performance. Optics are flawless and operation is excellent, too.
Autofocus
Autofocus speed is moderate.
It makes just a tiny bit of humming as it focuses.
Manual Focus
Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
Manual focus speed is dynamic: it focuses more quickly or more precisely based on how fast you turn the ring. It's easy to get from one end of the range to the next, and then to get precise magnified focus.
Focus Breathing
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The image from the 32-64mm gets somewhat smaller as focussed more closely.
Bokeh
Bokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is neutral. It's usually nice and soft, but you can get some false resolution at smaller apertures.
Here are photos from headshot distance wide-open:
Davis 6250 weather station, 04 May 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
Davis 6250 weather station, 04 May 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/4 at 64mm and get as close as possible.
Distortion
The Fujinon 32~64mm has no visible distortion, at least as shot on a GFX 50R which is probably correcting any that's there in its default Digital Lens Modulation Optimizer.
Feel free to use these factors in Photoshop's lens correction filter for more critical scientific use, but I wouldn't bother.
These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.
On 33 × 44mm at 10' (3m) |
Correction factor with Digital Lens Optimizer ON |
32mm |
-0.25 |
44mm |
-0.25 |
64mm |
±0.00 |
© 2019 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Ergonomics
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Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 32mm. bigger. |
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 64mm. bigger. |
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Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 32mm. bigger. |
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm at 64mm. bigger. |
This is a big lens that handles well.
The focus ring is only electronic, so who knows when it's working or not depending on how you have the camera set.
Zooming works great; it's smooth and one moderately firm finger is all it takes to zoom, even pointed straight up or down.
Falloff
Falloff is invisible, at least with the GFX 50R's default Lens Modulation Optimizer ON.
I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Fujinon GF 32~64mm f/4 falloff at infinity.
© 2019 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Filters, use with
There's no need for thin filters. I can stack about three regular 77mm filters without any vignetting.
Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.
Flare & Ghosts
Flare and ghosts aren't a problem.
See Sunstars for samples.
Lateral Color Fringes
There are no color fringes as shot on Fujifilm's cameras, which by default correct for any that may be there with the Digital Lens Optimizer.
Macro Performance
This lens doesn't get very close; it's among the worst I've used for macro. Just grab your iPhone for closeups, or use a dedicated macro lens like the GF 120mm Macro, or use it on a bellows with a 4x5 camera with the Fujifilm View Camera Adapter G or the more functional FotodioX Multi-Position Stitching Adapter.
Wide-open at f/4
It doesn't get very close, but at least it's still pretty sharp even wide-open at this distance:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance at 64mm, 04 May 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
Here's a crop from this image:
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 14-1/2 × 21-3/4" (1.2 × 1.8 feet or 37 × 55 cm).
If this crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 29 × 43" (2.4 × 3.6 feet or 0.75 × 1.1 meters).
If this crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same insane level of magnification would be about 58 × 87" (4.8 × 7.2 feet or 1.5 × 2.2 meters).
At f/16
Stopped down it gets even sharper:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance at 64mm, 04 May 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
Here's a crop from this image:
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 14-1/2 × 21-3/4" (1.2 × 1.8 feet or 37 × 55 cm).
If this crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 29 × 43" (2.4 × 3.6 feet or 0.75 × 1.1 meters).
If this crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same insane level of magnification would be about 58 × 87" (4.8 × 7.2 feet or 1.5 × 2.2 meters).
Mechanical Quality
Fujifilm GF 32-64mm. bigger.
As we hope, this is a pretty well made lens with plenty of metal.
Hood
Plastic bayonet hood with locking pawl.
Front Bumper
None.
Filter Threads
Metal.
Hood Bayonet Mount
Metal.
Front Barrel Exterior
Plastic.
Focus Ring
Rubbery.
Zoom Ring
Rubber-covered metal.
Aperture Ring
Metal.
Rear Barrel Exterior
Metal.
Identity
Engraved and filled with paint around front of lens and on top of barrel near mount.
Internals
Seem like mostly metal!
Dust Gasket at Mount
Yes.
Mount
Chromed brass.
Markings
All engraved and filled with paint (major markings), or laser-engraved (minor markings).
Serial Number
Laser engraved on side of barrel, near mount.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Mild clunking from the focus groups.
Made in
Japan.
Sharpness
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you still care, this lens is flawlessly sharp at every aperture from center to corner. The only thing you can do wrong is stop down too much, because the laws of physics are such that it's supposed to be soft at f/22 and f/32 due to diffraction. Only use f/32 if you really need it.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/22 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, avoid shooting across long distances over land which can lead to atmospheric heat shimmer, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/32 at ISO 102,400 at default sharpening in daylight through heat shimmer of rapidly moving subjects at differing distances in the same image.
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MTF at 32mm at 10 cyc/mm. |
MTF at 32mm at 40 cyc/mm. |
MTF at 32mm at 40 cyc/mm. |
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MTF at 64mm at 10 cyc/mm. |
MTF at 64mm at 40 cyc/mm. |
MTF at 64mm at 40 cyc/mm. |
Spherochromatism
Spherochromatism, also called "color bokeh" by laymen, is an advanced form of chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral color. It can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
I don't see any spherochromatism with this lens, it's not that fast.
Image Stabilization
This lens has no Optical Image Stabilization (OIS, IS or VR (Vibration Reduction)), and neither do any of Fuji's GFX cameras as of this 2019 writing.
"Percent Perfectly Sharp Shots" are the percentage of frames with 100% perfect tripod-equivalent sharpness I get when I'm shooting hand-held while standing with no support. Hand tremor is a random occurrence, so at marginal speeds some frames will be perfectly sharp while others will be in various stages of blur — all at the same shutter speed. This rates what percentage of shots are perfectly sharp, not how sharp all the frames are:
| % Perfectly Sharp Shots (no stabilization) | 1 |
1/2 |
1/4 |
1/8 |
1/15 |
1/30 |
1/60 |
1/125 |
1/250 |
1/500 |
| at 32mm | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| at 64mm | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
40 |
83 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Sunstars
With a 9-bladed rounded diaphragm at large apertures that becomes nonagonal at the smallest apertures, I get 18-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light only at the smallest apertures.
Ignore the vertical smear at f/4; it's a sensor artifact called interline transfer smear and not a lens defect.
Compared
I'd get my Fujifilm 32-64mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
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|
82mm filters |
77mm filters |
5.7" (144mm) long |
4.6" (116mm) long |
Optical Stabilization. |
No Stabilization. |
2.1' (0.65m) close focus |
1.8' (0.55m) close focus |
1:7.7 (0.13 ×) max. repro. ratio |
1:8.3 (0.12×) max. repro. ratio |
35.5 oz. (1,005g) |
30.8 oz. (874g) |
$2,299 (01/2020) |
$2,299 (01/2020) |
These are very similar lenses, with a small difference in focal length range, size and weight.
Fujifilm GFX 50R with Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 (25-50mm eq.) and Nikon F2AS with 25-50mm f/4 AI. bigger.
Recommendations
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear, otherwise I leave a clear protective filter on my lens at all times instead of a cap so I'm ready to shoot instantly.
The best protective filter is the 77mm Hoya multicoated HD3 UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the B+W 77mm 010 is an excellent filter, as is the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters or the 77mm Nikon Clear (NC - UV), but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt, and will outlast this lens.
I'd get my Fujifilm 32-64mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Fujifilm does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. Especially with an exotic lens like this, I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
More Information
I'd get my Fujifilm 32-64mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
Fujifilm's product pages for the 32-64mm.
Fujifilm's GFX system (and 32-64mm) product announcement, 19 January 2017
Fujifilm's GFX system (and 32-64mm) development announcement 20 September 2016
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
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