Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4: Gotta Have One
Related: Eastern Sierra, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR, Fujifilm GFX100S, Fujifilm Lenses, Fujifilm medium format, Fujifilm mirrorless, medium format, Mt Dana area, panorama, peak bagging
High-grade wide angle lenses has been tough to come by on medium format, or even 35mm. They always have various issues. My favored Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM has ridiculous field curvature for example. Not so the Fujifilm GF 20-35mm, a wonder in itself.
Fujifilm has hit a home run with the Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4. Really superb in the 20-28mm range or so, and still quite good (at f/8) at the long end.
As discussed, I am actively seeking an especially good sample, having sent the one back which I used on this trip. It was remarkably good across the range (rare for zooms), but I could detect shortcomings that suggest an even better sample is possible. I am hoping the new sample coming tomorrow might be better, but it might be worse. If not, I’ll keep trying because it is a must-have lens for the system.
You have to see such images on a 6K display to fully appreciate just what this golden age of photography is gifting us. 5K is pretty good, but 6K is a big step up (21 megapixels vs 14)—that difference is subjectively compelling to an extent I have not before sensed.
But don’t even think you can get away with single-shot exposures. Yeah that’s pretty good for some things at distance, but If you really want to nail-down the full deal, you must do focus stacking. And the 20-35mm is a very friendly lens for it, a crucial consideration. I suppose I should teach some kind of webinar on focus stacking, but if you want a 1:1 field experience, contact me.
Images below can be found in:
Fujifilm GF 20-35mm f/4 Examples: a Hike up and Down Glacier Canyon (Dana Canyon)
Fujifilm GFX100S + GF20-35mmF4 R WR @ 16.5mm equiv (20mm)
ENV: Dana Canyon, altitude 10900 ft / 3322 m, 70°F / 21°C
RAW: Camera ASTIA, Enhance Details, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, WB 5200°K tint 21, push 1 stops, +50 Shadows, -100 Highlights, +40 Whites, +40 Dehaze, +10 Clarity, +10 Vibrance
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Fujifilm GFX100S + GF20-35mmF4 R WR @ 16.5mm equiv (20mm)
ENV: Dana Canyon, altitude 10700 ft / 3261 m, 70°F / 21°C
RAW: Camera ASTIA, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, WB 5200°K tint 21, push 0.66 stops, +50 Shadows, -100 Highlights, +40 Whites, +40 Dehaze, +10 Clarity, SmartSharpen{25,0.7,0}, diffraction mitigating sharpening, +10 Vibrance
[low-res image for bot]
Fujifilm GFX100S + GF20-35mmF4 R WR @ 16.5mm equiv (20mm)
ENV: Dana Canyon, altitude 11200 ft / 3414 m, 58°F / 14°C
RAW: Camera ASTIA, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, WB 5200°K tint 21, push 1 stops, +30 Shadows, -100 Highlights, +40 Whites, +40 Dehaze, +10 Clarity, USM {8,50,0}, diffraction mitigating sharpening
[low-res image for bot]
Fujifilm GFX100S + GF20-35mmF4 R WR @ 24.6mm equiv (29.9mm)
ENV: Dana Canyon, altitude 10500 ft / 3200 m, 68°F / 20°C
RAW: Camera ASTIA, Enhance Details, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected, WB 5500°K tint 20, +83 Shadows, +40 Whites, +40 Dehaze, +10 Clarity, +10 Vibrance
[low-res image for bot]
