Best Lens For Editorial and Fashion On GFX100

Introduction

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Fujifilm is one of the leading brands when it comes to photography and imaging technologies. They have been pushing their technology to take photography to the next level. 

With that vision in mind, they released one of their most unique cameras the GFX 100 back in 2019. This camera was an ambitious offering from Fuji, to say the least. 

The Fujifilm GFX 100 is a medium-format mirrorless system that far surpasses its predecessors. It is a versatile camera that performs great in any type of photography. From landscapes, and portraits to professional studio work it can do it all. 

In this article, I’ll be looking at and recommending the best lens for editorial and fashion on GFX100. 

Fujifilm GFX 100

The Fujifilm GFX 100 took the market by storm especially the medium-format market with all the possibilities of a large format camera packed into it. It was the first of its class to introduce features like IBIS, AF using face detection and even 4k video. 

This was unique for its format. It is a 102 Megapixel camera meaning images taken with it will be almost pixel perfect. It has a back-illuminated design that is supposed to reduce noise and compensate for the intense pixel density of the sensor. 

This sensor allows users to take their photos to the next level. Cropping or zooming in will reveal more and more details. 

The most important thing about this camera is image quality. That is why it is a go-to for studio work or fashion work and even editorial images for publication. 

Lens compatibility

The Fuji GFX 100 is equipped with a Fujifilm G lens mount. The number of lenses that are available or compatible with this is very slim. Only 14 lenses are currently available that are native to this camera. 

The camera has a focal length multiplier of 0.79x. So keep in mind that the lens will perform according to the multiplier and shift its focal length to an equivalent focal length when mounted on the camera. 

Lens Recommendations for Fashion and Editorial Work

First of all, in fashion photography, most photographers are hired based on their distinct photography style and that style dictates the type of lens they prefer to bring out a consistent level of proficiency. 

There are also two schools of thought when it comes to glamour products and wearables. Glamour products showcase the model and how it accentuates the model. On the other hand, for wearables, the models are nothing more than coat hangers. So the emphasis can also play a tricky part in choosing the style. 

The difference in the lenses is mainly the focal range or length of the lens. Editorial and Fashion are two similar types of photography. They both influence each other and so the lens for one can be used for the other. 

The best focal lengths for this type of work are some of the prime lenses. As prime lenses offer more clarity in images it is the best lens category in this case. 

The focal lengths and their best use case that are most suitable for editorial and fashion work are mentioned below. 

• 50mm prime lens.
• 80mm prime lens.
• 100mm prime lens.
• Honorable mentions – 24-70mm & 70-200mm.

The 50mm prime lens is most suitable for model shoots in a set location and full-length fashion. I.e. New car showcases are usually held outdoors near the beach or on a cliff to then be printed on a magazine along with the view. 

• The Fujifilm equivalent of 50mm is the Fujifilm GF 63mm F2.8 R WR. 

The 80mm prime lens is recommended for use indoors and inside a studio. The tight focal length of the lens creates the right amount of subject and depth of field. From a model’s waist to all of their upper body or lower body depending on what to showcase (i.e. shirts or pants or a combo of both pants and shoes). 

• The 80mm equivalent lens for medium-format is the Fujifilm GF 110mm F2. 

For photographers that prefer to have more of a one size fits all kind of option a standard zoom lens with a focal range of 35- 80mm would be the best choice. Although, it has to be kept in mind that zoom lenses sometimes lose quality because of the differing altering focal lengths. 

• The fuji equivalent standard zoom lens of choice is the Fujifilm 45-100mm F4 R LM OIS WR. 

The 100mm prime lens is used for glamour products showcased on a model or jewellery. The tight field of view of this focal length emphasizes even the smallest of details in the images and accentuates the product even more. 

• The 100mm equivalent lens for the GFX 100 is the Fujifilm GF 120mm F4 R LM OIS WR Macro. 

For runway photography, however, a 70-200mm equivalent lens would be the more preferred choice as sometimes there are multiple models on the runway at the same time and the runway somewhat needs to be showcased as well. 

• For this, the Fuji equivalent lens is the Fujifilm GF 100-200mm F5.6 R LM OIS WR. 

The use case scenario and the style of the photographer play a crucial part in how the photos in a magazine or fashion images turn out. 

But overall these are the best lenses for editorial work for publications and fashion photography.

Best lens for Editorial and Fashion on GFX 100

As we know, for Fashion and Editorial publication photography prime lenses are the way to go. So the number of compatible lenses for this type of work drops down to only the prime lenses. 

The overall best prime lens for all of the tasks mentioned above would be the 50mm equivalent Fujifilm GF 63mm F2.8 R WR. It has a wide angle of view and it can be paired with a Teleconverter to replicate the 80mm and 100mm focal lengths. 

The 50mm is a good basic option for editorial photographs as well. With little optical distortion, this lens creates a good balance of sharpness between the subject and the background.

The 50mm lens is often referred to as the ‘fifty nifty’ by the pros because it is hands down the best all-around lens for this type of work.

The possibilities with the 50mm focal length are endless. And mounted on the powerful 102-megapixel monster that is the GFX 100 it will not lose any of the image quality, sharpness or contrast and will deliver mind-blowing images for editorial and fashion photography. 

So, the winner is the Fujifilm GF63mm. 

FAQs

Conclusion

The world of fashion photography is a very hard one. Without the proper tools, a photographer will never make it in this scene.

So it is important to choose the right style and pieces of equipment for the purpose. I hope this article helped you in choosing the right lens for your Fujifilm GFX 100.

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