When one buys into a medium format system, even the relatively inexpensive ones like Fuji’s GFX series, one knows that it’s going to be an expensive ride. It’s not much of a surprise. Even though the bodies are a similar size to a high-end DSLR, they contain much larger (and more expensive) sensors, and the lenses need bigger and heavier glass than lenses designed for full-frame systems. AstrHori, though, has announced a new low-budget option for Fuji GFX shooters who want something on the wide end and don’t want to pay a fortune for it. Today, they’ve announced the new AstrHori 40mm f/5.6 manual focus lens for Fuji GFX, which offers a field of view equivalent to around 31mm on full-frame. As well as being light on price, it’s also light on weight, coming in at only 333g.
The AstrHori 40mm f/5.6 features both focus and aperture rings with a stepped design to make it easy to figure out which one you’re turning by feel. It also prevents accidentally changing one while adjusting the other. It’s listed as being compatible with the Fuji GFX 50S, GFX 50S II, GFX 50R, GFX 100, GFX 100S and GFX 100 IR, but as it’s a manual focus lens and there doesn’t appear to be any electronic communication, it should be compatible with just about every GFX camera past, present and future. That last point is the one downside to this lens, and probably one of the reasons it’s so inexpensive. There’s no electronic communication. So, you’ve no idea what aperture you’re shooting by looking through the viewfinder and it’s not recorded in the EXIF metadata. Still, depending on your needs, that may not be a concern. AstrHori says the lens is ideally suited to landscape photography, particularly night time shots, as well as architecture and even portrait photography – I expect they mean environmental portraits on that last one and not headshots. The lens presents a pentagonal starburst effect at an aperture of f/8 when shooting portraits or landscapes at night. The AstroHori 40mm f/5.6 for Fuji GFX is available to buy now for $289 and is expected to start shipping late October/early November.
