The Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7 vs GF 110mm F2.0 | Lens Comparison

There hasn't been a battle this big since Ali vs. Liston. Okay, that's an exaggeration, and I may have just insulted every boxing historian, but I assure you, there are worse ways to start this article. The Fujifilm 80mm F1.7 and 110mm F2.0 sit in that S-tier for their family of lenses. If you're capturing humans, fashion, and portraits for a living or a high-end hobby, you'll wonder which of these two lenses are for you. Or, at the very least, wonder which one you'll buy first. This article should help over insights that will help you come to a more definitive answer.

Fujifilm GF 80mm F1.7

Fujifilm GF 110mm F2.0

First Impressions

Let's just get the easy stuff out of the way. The 80mm F1.7 comes in at just under 800g and gives you roughly 63mm F1.3 in the full-frame perspective. Contrast this with the 110mm F2.0 that is noticeably taller, over a kilogram in weight, or 2.2 lbs, and an 87mm F1.6 full-frame perspective. They both share a 77mm filter size, but a crucial difference sets them apart within their weather-resistant housings. The 110mm has 4 extra-low dispersion elements compared to the 2 super extra-low dispersion elements. These unique pieces of glasswork improve how light travels through a lens, and while I can't give you an advanced lesson on morning and physics, the 110mm definitely has more pop to it.

Key Differences

Beyond the focal length and compression, the glass inside the 110mm F2.0 has a way of really bringing your subject forward, and while challenging, you can see this, especially in contrasting parts of an image. Now, add to the conversation the tighter focal length and the compression it brings; the 110mm F2.0 is positively the best portrait lens Fujifilm makes. Period.

While noticeable, the image quality difference is marginal. And it may not be nearly enough to justify the price difference and, more importantly, usability. The 80mm is more versatile in terms of how it's utilized. You can play it tighter for humans or wider for environments. There is a sense of fluidness that this lens brings, which makes it more capable amongst varying conditions, and if we were to abstract that into some arbitrary cost to value ratio, the 80mm F1.7 wins out by a landslide. This lens is also considerably smaller, lighter, and more affordable. So with all of this said, which lens is the better buy? Which one should you get if you're narrowing your list to just one?

Picking One

If you're a professional photographer making an income shooting on the GFX system, especially capturing portraits, you're gonna find a way to add both to your collection. The 80mm is the wiser choice, whereas the 110mm is a specialty tool meant for a specific set of image creation. I found the 110mm the one I'd reach for tighter compositions and, if the space allowed, even some full-body shots. While the 110mm is what I'd make space for when it counts, if I could only pick one, the 80 wins out for me. It can simply do more, and as the environment you shoot in becomes more dynamic, the GF 80mm F1.7 will adapt better, allowing you to get the shot. At the end of the day, that's what matters most.