Fujinon GF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Review: Super Telephoto Lens For Medium Format Cameras

Medium format photography does not typically lend itself to extremely long focal lengths, but the Fujifilm Fujinon GF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR in conjunction with Fujifilm's latest generation of medium format cameras challenges the preconceived notions of such cameras in an audacious manner. Where before the longest lens photographers using Fujifilm's GFX system could make use of was the GF 250mm f/4 R LM OIS WR, the GF 500mm f/5.6 doubles that focal range and makes wildlife or sports photography feasible for a system which previously was far from ideal for capturing such subjects.

However, it's important to note that a 500mm f/5.6 lens is not really the same effective focal length as if you were shooting with this lens on a full frame sensor camera. Due to the larger medium format sensor, it's necessary to multiply the focal length and aperture by 0.79 to find that the effective focal length and depth of field of this lens is actually 395mm f/4.424. That puts it very close to Nikon's recent Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens in practical application, though it's important to note that the f4.424 effective aperture only applies to depth of field and not to light gathering capabilities.

The upshot is that Fujifilm has made what appears to be a truly groundbreaking lens, though it's necessary to see if it lives up to expectations when put to the test in the field.

Fujifilm provided a sample of the Fujifilm Fujinon GF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens for this review.

At 9.4-inches long and just 3.03lbs, the Fujinon 500mm f/5.6 is quite portable, and is both ergonomic to use and tough enough to put up with some fairly wild conditions. It's weather resistant, a fact I put to the test during particularly stormy June weather. I had it out snapping shots in the mist and light rain without ill effect.

Andy Zahn/SlashGear

For controls, there's quite a wide range on the lens itself. It has customizable buttons, autofocus controls, a focus limiter, and stabilization selector switch, plus a manual aperture ring. The included lens hood is decent, with a window underneath so that variable filters may be easily adjusted, and I particularly appreciated the tripod foot with its integrated Arca-Swiss compatible grooves. This means you don't need to attach an extra tripod plate, and it's a feature I believe should be included on all lenses with tripod feet.

While $3,499 is certainly a lot of money to the average individual, it's only a few hundred more than Nikon's Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S. When you consider that the Fujinon 500mm f/5.6 has to do a lot more heavy lifting to perform as it does on a medium format camera, that similarity of MSRP is surprising. Also consider that this lens is practically unique, which makes the relatively affordable price tag all the more unusual.

It's worth taking a moment to consider some of your other options with camera/lens systems capable of similar results. A Fujifilm GFX 100S ii will set you back $4,999 on its own, which is significantly more than a Nikon Z8 which currently retails for around $3500. You could pick a Z8 and a 400mm f/4.5 up for quite a bit less than a GFX 100S ii and Fujinon 500mm f/5.6. Alternatively, the Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports Lens costs just $2,999, while a 61 megapixel Sigma FP L camera is only $2,499, making for a highly attractive budget-oriented option.

However, the Nikon option lacks the flexibility of a sensor with twice its pixel count, and the Sigma is not as robust when it comes to modern features, and isn't as ergonomic. While I certainly love my Z8 and Z9 cameras, particularly in combination with my Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens, the versatility of the GFX 100S ii and Fujinon 500mm f/5.6 offers distinct advantages over any full frame system, despite the caveats.