Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR

Summary

The Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR is a strong optical performer — a standard prime (36mm equivalent) with f/2.8 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$1250 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Landscape, Architecture, Sport, Wildlife
  • Adequate for: Street, Travel, Portrait
  • Avoid for: Macro

Strengths

  • Good overall sharpness
  • Well-controlled aberrations
  • Negligible distortion
  • Weather-sealed construction

Weaknesses

  • Low macro capability (0.14x magnification)

Specifications 20/20

Optical construction 11 elements in 8 groups (1 aspherical, 2 ED)
Coating Super EBC, Nano-GI
Focal length45mm
Max aperturef/2.8
Sweet spot f/5.6
Aperture blades 9 (circular)
Sunstar points 18 (soft — circular blades)
Max magnification 0.14x
Min focus distance450mm
AF motorDC
OISNo
Weather sealedYes
Aperture ringYes
Clickless apertureNo
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireNo
Distance scaleYes
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight490g
Diameter84mm
Length88.3mm
Filter thread62mm
Year2017

Optical Quality 11/14

Center (wide open)
1.5
Corner (wide open)
1.5
Center (stopped)
2.0
Corner (stopped)
2.0
Longitudinal CA
1.5
Lateral CA
2.0
Distortion
2.0
Vignetting (wide open)
1.5
Vignetting (stopped)
2.0
Bokeh
1.0
Flare resistance
1.0

Sharpness

  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good corner performance wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

Rendering

  • Acceptable bokeh rendering
  • Mild vignetting wide open
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings

Distortion

  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight

All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.

Genre Fit

Landscape Photography 4.5/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings

Architecture Photography 5/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings

~ Street Photography 3/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
Secondary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA

~ Travel Photography 3/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Heavy at 490g
Secondary
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA

~ Portrait Photography 3/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Acceptable bokeh rendering
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Mild vignetting wide open

Sport Photography 4/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

Wildlife Photography 4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

Macro Photography 1/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.14x)
Secondary
  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Acceptable bokeh rendering

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