Fujifilm confirms major GFX100RF feature will remain unique to compact fixed-lens camera line-up

Fujifilm recently launched the GFX100RF, a fixed-lens rangefinder-style camera with a medium format sensor and high resolution sensor. Possibly the most interesting feature it inherited from its X100VI counterpart, though, is the leaf shutter, which also features on cameras like the Ricoh (curr. $996.95 on Amazon).

Given the adoption of the leaf shutter in a GFX body, it's only natural to ask whether Fujifilm would bring that same tech and all its advantages to a standalone GFX lens in the future. According to PetaPixel, who spoke to Fujfilm Product Planning Manager, Makoto Oishi, technical limitations prevent Fujifilm from making a leaf shutter GF lens. 

"No, unfortunately, from a distance and optical design point of view, it would be quite difficult."

He adds that Fujifilm has long discussed leaf shutter lenses for its GFX line internally, but has refrained from making one due to size and durability considerations. 

"Even back at the beginning of the GFX system, we used to discuss leaf shutter. So medium format leaf shutter lenses are huge. They are huge and really heavy and really noisy. And fragile."

Fujifilm says that, for the time being, at least, it is not willing to make the trade-offs necessary to bring a standalone GF lens with a leaf shutter to market. Instead, it opted to launch the Fujifilm H Mount Adaptor G, which adapts Hasselblad's leaf shutter lenses to the GF mount for studio photographers who want the high flash sync speeds and low-vibration operation granted by a leaf shutter lens.