Well, I did it, I sold off my GFX 50S II to buy the GFX 100RF.  Only the GF 63mm “standard” lens is left in my now empty-ish dry cabinet.  I’ve listed it on Carousell but probably won’t sell it.  It is too good a lens vis-a-vis what it’s fetching on the second-hand market.

I’ve talked myself into getting the 100RF as an absolute necessity.  For the two-weeks bike packing trip, it was too much, to lug around a GFX system, even if I can pare it down to one lens.  We are packing very light for the bike trip.  Don’t wanna be climbing up mountains with 4kg worth of camera gear alone.

100RF is light enough.  About 700g, which is about the same as n X-series body and lens combo.  Quite miraculous.  My back and shoulder will thank me.  So will my quads.

The two main issues is the aperture, which only gets as wide as F/4 and the 35mm fullframe equivalent.

The fixed lens is a 35mm full-frame equivalent which is actually perfect for me.  I always thought that the 28mm FOV on the X100 series is a bit awkward.  I’d go for 21mm or 18mm even for my wide angle shots.  35mm has a comfortable look.  If I need “normal” 50mm equivalent, I can crop in.  There’s more than enough pixels.

The F/4 max aperture, I have to change my thinking.  So this camera will not be my bokeh monster.  But then again, I’m thinking what is my use case?  If I do close up portraiture, or headshots, then i’d need the razor thin plane of focus look.  But I’m looking at environmental portraits which is more of a 35mm HCB look.

I see myself mostly between 35mm to 50mm range.  There’s gonna be some spectacular scenery along the route.  28mm and wider will be too wide.  And no need for telephoto.

On the off chance i get to shoot some portraits, I’ll do a 50mm or 35mm type.

Last minute I decided to pack a strobe.  Because I’m a strobist…