Fujifilm GF 20-35mmF4 R WR Initial Impressions
I like zoom lenses for most of my work, and I use the primes for fun and other specific tasks such as portraiture. I have the GF 32-64, GF 45-100mmF4, and GF 100-200mmF5.6. The GF 45-100mmF4 was one of the most used round lenses until I switched my landscape photography to farmlands. Since then, the GF 100-200mmF5.6 has been my go-to lens allowing me to photograph unique structures in farmlands without trespassing on the land.
Disclaimer: This is the first impression of the lens right out of the box, with no field experience. Wait for my field experience review for the next three months if you come here expecting one.
The GF 32-64 is my specialty lens for photographing vistas. However, the GF 32-64 has limitations in photographing subjects in a tight spot, such as the following image.
The Niagara falls photographed using the GF 32-64mm Lens
I visited Niagara falls three mornings and got this beautiful light once. Photographing this scene, I figured I could use a wider field of view from where I stood. The GF 23mmF4 would have been a perfect choice for the scene. There is one problem getting that lens and using it consistently.
Being a father of three and my photography as a hobby, has a limited amount of time. When we travel to places, I need to pack all my gear in the PeakDesign Everyday Backpack 30L. Then the question becomes which lens to pack. I like the GF 45-100mmF4 for its all-around versatility and the GF 32-64 for its slightly wider perspective. Still, it falls short of becoming wide enough to capture a scene like the above or the one below (I had to stitch two photographs finally to get that wide from where I was standing, and thankfully it worked for this image).
Athabasca Falls: Photographed using the GF 32-64mm lens, stitched two photographs to provide the wide-angle view
Naturally, I was happy to hear the announcement of the GF 20-35mmF4 lens. It is a perfect lens that gives a wider FOV within a tight space but also has enough zoom to cover other focal distances, putting close to the GF 45-100mmF4. The wide angle is also perfect for architecture photography which I rarely do (but it is good to have that option available when I come across a beautiful building like the one below).
The lens is discussed extensively in the DP Review Medium Format discussions, and I decided to go for it.
First impression
This is why you are here — the first impression. I will publish my experience based on using the lens in about three to four months. This article is merely the first experience before photographing anything, right after removing the package.
The lens is surprisingly light compared with the GF 32-64mm — about 136 grams. The GF 20-35mmF4 and the GF 45-100mmF4 make an ideal hiking lens.
The GF 20-35mmF4 may not have all the features of other Fuji lenses, but it does have a weather-sealed design and aperture control ring. It is well-protected with 12 seal points and a fluorine coating on the front element.
The GF 20-35mm Lens Up Close
The big relief is that the lens front does not bulge out, making it difficult to mount your filters. If you have traditional screw-in filters and an 82-mm adapter, you can use it without buying another adapter.
The GF 32-64mm Lens
The GF 20-35mmF4 lens has three rings (similar to the other GF lenses); the first is an aperture ring that ranges from F4 to F22, less than the GF 32-64 lens, which ranges from F4 to F32. The next ring is the zoom ring, which has a rubberized texture, deep ribbing, and smoothly zooms in and out. The focus ring is narrower and located near the front of the lens, it also has a similar texture, but the focus feels a little disconnected.
The full view of the GF 20-35 lens
The lens comes with a wide, shallow lens hood that has a locking mechanism to keep it securely in place. The hood can protect the lens during inclement weather (or during a fall), allowing extra photography time before the lens front gets wet.
The minimum focus distance of the GF 20-35mmF4 lens is 35cm (13.8 inches) with a resulting magnification level of only 0.14x, giving a decent close-up performance. However, you need to back up further if you need better contrast in your images (of course, you can fix it in the post-processing).
This lens does not have Fuji's OIS system, which could be an issue if you use it with the original GFX-50S or the GFX-50R. Still, the GFX100S body has excellent in-camera stabilization, allowing effective handholding results. The lens is comfortable in the field, and the build quality is consistent with other Fujinon GF lenses.
The GF 20-35mmF4 lens is equipped with Fuji's stepping motor for focusing, rather than the more premium Linear Motor system. This makes it less precise when focusing on moving subjects, but it is still suitable for landscape photography. The lens does not extend externally, like the GF 45-100mmF4 or GF 32-64, which gives it a more compact feel. I prefer an internal focusing design as opposed to an external focusing one.
However, based on the GF 100-200mm F5.6 R LM OIS WR output, which also has internal focusing, I assume that the image quality is expected to be similar to the GF 100-200 mmF5.6 or somewhere between the GF 32-64 and GF 100-200mmF5.6. The GF 100-200mmF5.6 lens IQ is nothing to complain about, and it is my go-to lens these days to photograph rural areas in Alberta. I have yet to write a review on the GF 100-200mmF5.6. I believe now that I use it extensively, I should be in a position to write a review this summer.
Note: I plan to write a technical review in a couple of weeks and then test the lens on an upcoming trip to Montreal before giving a final verdict (hence, do not rely on my ‘feel’ about the IQ). In the meantime, check out other gear reviewers to determine the IQ if you are on the fence about buying this lens.