FUJINON GF500mm F5.6 Lens Announced – Large Format, Super-telephoto Lens

Lens News

by Alexandra ThompsonMay 16^th, 2024

FUJIFILM enthusiasts have something to celebrate today! Not only has the new GFX100S II camera been revealed, but the latest lens in their GFX System line has also been announced – the FUJINON GF500mm F5.6 R LM OIS WR (GF500mm). It has some pretty spectacular specs, so let’s take a look!

At the FUJIFILM-X Summit in Sydney, FUJIFILM announced the release of four new items, one of which is the GF500mm, a large format, super-telephoto lens specifically designed for photographers who shoot distant, moving subjects – anything from sports to wildlife to landscape to street.

The FUJINON GF500mm F5.6 – in a nutshell

The lens captures images at up to 500mm, equivalent to 396mm in 35mm format. The lens configuration consists of 21 elements in 14 groups, each designed to maximize resolution and support the demands of a 102-megapixel sensor. To reduce aberrations and optical flaws, the configuration includes five (ED) lenses and two Super ED lenses.

Tackling the great outdoors

Notably, the FUJINON GF500mm lens is lighter than most other lenses in its category at 1375g/3.03lb, and it measures only 24.7cm/9.14in. The camera’s build is weather-resistant, it can be used in temperatures as low as -10C/14F, and the lens’s front element is coated with fluorine protecting it against moisture and smudges. The 6.0-stop Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) should let you tackle even hand-held shots without much problem and could be an excellent choice for shooting outdoors.

The autofocus is quiet…

The lens has an inner focus system powered by a linear motor, allowing for quiet auto-focusing with a delay of only about 0.31 seconds. Additionally, there is a focus pre-set button. This ‘instant recall’ of a preset would be especially useful where focus speed is critical – I’m thinking of skittish wildlife in particular, but also sports events, etc. The lens also features a Focus Limiter function that lets users restrict the autofocus range, shortening the AF time when photographing subjects at a distance of typically at least 5m/16.4ft.

The specifications

• Focal Length: 500mm (396mm – 35mm format equivalent)
• Construction: 21 elements in 14 groups (includes 2 super ED and 5 ED elements)
• Close focusing distance: 2.75m/9ft
• Maximum aperture: F5.6
• Minimum aperture: F32
• Diaphragm blades:  9 (rounded diaphragm opening)
• Angle of view: 6.3°
• Filter size: Φ95mm
• Dimensions (DxL): Φ104.5mm x 246.5mm (4.11in x 9.4in)
• Weight: 1375g/3.03lb
  

Add a teleconverter and go even further

The zoom can be increased with the optional FUJINON GF1.4X TC WR teleconverter, which pushes the lens’s effective focal length to 700mm (a 35mm equivalent of 554mm.) If you don’t use the teleconverter, you can still reach a 500mm equivalent by cropping the GF sensor to a 35mm frame. For the longest reach, combine the teleconverter with the sensor crop to achieve a maximum of 700mm, great for catching shots of subjects in the distance.

Price and availability

The FUJINON GF500mm F5.6 R LM OIS WR lens will be priced at $3,499.95 and should be available in June 2024. The FUJINON GF1.4X TC WR teleconverter is sold separately and is priced at $849.

What do you think about this lens? Are you a wildlife photographer who would find a place for it in your kit? Let us know in the comments!