Development Story vol.02: Large Format + Compact and Lightweight
There is a phenomenon often referred to as the dilemma of photography enthusiasts. As you begin to photograph casually, your love for photography grows in time, leading to an increasing desire for a camera with higher image quality. However, as image quality improves, the camera typically becomes larger and heavier. Consequently, this makes it challenging to carry the camera everywhere, resulting in fewer pictures taken.
To capture great photos, especially in genres such as snapshots or street photography that involve familiar subjects, the more time you spend with a camera in hand, the more opportunities you will have. Therefore, we aimed to create a large format camera that allows you to spend as much time as possible with it. To accomplish this, reducing its size and weight was essential.
At the time, the lens design team proposed a very compact lens, making this the first large-format camera with a fixed lens. This lens would be slim enough to hold in hand, nearly as thin as those found on compact cameras, resulting in a dramatic size reduction compared to previous GFX series models.
The remaining question was: how small could the entire body be made? Even with the experience and successes of the X series, this was uncharted territory.
Could it simply involve making the X100VI larger? If only it were that straightforward. The lens mechanism design was thoroughly re-evaluated, resulting in the development of a new lens unit structure. To fit a high-quality mechanism into the rangefinder-style body—already constrained in space without protrusions from the grip and viewfinder—the internal design of the camera was overhauled from scratch. This included everything from the lens unit to the battery compartment, with the layout being optimized. The lens design team, mechanical design team, and the entire project team collaborated to achieve an unprecedented level of compactness and lightweight performance.
Miniaturizing precision equipment is not akin to dieting; it resembles the weight loss top athletes undergo to push their limits. Through numerous small adjustments, we accomplished a remarkable reduction in size for a large format camera. It is light enough for fans of the X100 and X-Pro series to feel comfortable holding it, and light enough to be worn around your neck or shoulder all day without becoming a burden. Its size also enables it to fit easily in an everyday bag rather than requiring a special camera bag.
Conversely, compared to the X100VI, the GFX100RF had to be designed to withstand impacts, such as drops, due to its weight. A new shock-resistant structure was incorporated into the mechanical design, which is a critical aspect that discreetly supports users in carrying the camera casually at all times. Like the X100VI, the GFX100RF is also dust- and weather-resistant when used with a protective filter and adapter.
The GFX100RF is not merely a larger version of the X100VI. Its concept is built upon realizing the outstanding image quality of large format photography within a compact and lightweight body that is user-friendly.
