Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 R WR
Lenses, what a thing. They consume my thoughts, these layers of glass, with so much trial and error, so much knowledge, so much engineering making their way to us photographers in order to create something so fragile, so intangible, as a frozen moment in time.
The more years I practice photography, the more I am bewildered by them, and the more I fall in love with certain aspects of the lenses I own. And I can say that I truly fell for the GF 80mm. While there are countless “reviews” out there going over technical specs, sharpness, bokeh, etc., I want to share with you the images I was able to create, what it enables in me, and why I feel this lens was almost made for me.
When I decided to make the shift from Nikon and my dear lenses and D800E to the GF system, my biggest worry was parting with the then love of my life: the Nikon 58mm f/1.4G. A modern lens with such character ‘the gorgonzola of lenses’ an acquired taste and something that modern lenses almost strive not to be.
So you can imagine I was very, very excited (and a little anxious) to see that not only was my whole setup available in Fuji, but that they also had the 80mm f/1.7 (a 63mm equivalent). It felt close to the Nikon 58mm and, much like it, was a lens people either praised or hated.
Naturally, I could smell a gorgonzola lens.
It was the first lens I put on my new camera, and with it I took the very first photo with this whole new system. I felt it instantly, it was so close to what I was used to that I felt at ease, a layer of stress lifted instantly.
In the following years, this has been my most often used lens. Due to its weight and size I usually don’t take it on personal trips with family, but when working it’s certainly my go-to. There is something about the focal length alone, never mind the other characteristics, that just feels natural to my eye. It’s more opinionated than a 50mm (full frame), but wide enough to feel free and unrestricted compared to a traditional 80mm (full frame).
I don’t feel like I’ll lose an image when I have it on.
I could easily photograph a whole project with it. And its ability to frame at f/1.7 (on this sensor) is utterly insane, at that aperture it renders things outside the focus area in such a beautiful way, like warm butter spread on fresh bread. I can’t even explain… well, I can, I mean I can show you (and I should probably stop with these weird analogies, ahah).
Stopped down, it renders the world beautifully and with such three-dimensionality. Landscapes come to life in a glorious way, especially when put to the real test: printing. Oh my sandwich, you cannot fathom the experience of seeing a large print from this lens.
And, out of left field, it has also become my most “successful” lens with my recent work for my next book on the Pafos Forest, a project shot entirely in the Xpan ratio. I don’t know why, but the panoramic view feels natural to this focal length, a wide view of an intimate moment. I think that line describes this lens best.
With that note I leave you. Hope you enjoyed the images, below are images taken with the GF80mm from the Pafos Forest project.
