It's the first medium format lens from Irix and redefines what we thought was possible or even affordable for Fujifilm GFX lenses
(Image credit: Irix)
Two things are remarkable about the Irix 45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly. The first is. the f/1.4 maximum aperture, which is a real bolt from the blue, and the fastest lens ever for a Fujifilm GFX medium format camera.
The second is the price, which is just $1022.45/£769.91 in the Irix online shop. We say 'only', but that's not a bad price for any medium format lens, let alone an f/1.4. The US price is a little higher it seems, but even then only the Fujinon GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR pancake lens is cheaper, and even then not by much.
The Irix 45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly corresponds roughly to a 36mm prime in full frame camera terms, so it's an ideal semi-wide 'walkaround' standard zoom – though with a length of 144mm and a weight of 1120g, you might not want to walk very far.
Like other Irix lenses, this one is manual focus only, so you will have to be pretty precise with your focusing, especially at f/1.4. There is a focus lock feature to fix the focus at your chosen point, though – a feature we would like to see on a lot more lenses.
Image size: FujiFilm GFX Sensor Focal Length: 45mm Max Aperture: F1.4 Field of view: 62.64°( diagonally) Focusing: Manual Focus Ring Throw: 140º Minimal Focusing Distance: 0.4m Aperture Range: f/1.4– F22 Aperture Control: By Aperture Ring Number of diaphragm blades: 9 rounded blades Lens construction: 11 elements arranged in 9 groups (1 ASP element) Filter size: 77mm Mount: FujiFilm G Dimensions (width x length): 87 x 144mm Weight: 1120 g Weather-sealing: In 4 key areas
Apart from its amazing f/1.4 maximum aperture, the Irix 45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly has a number of other interesting features.
It has its own smooth (declicked) aperture ring ideal for videography, internal focus so that the length of the lens doesn't change during focusing, weather seals and a round 9-bladed diaphragm for smooth bokeh.
Get the Digital Camera World Newsletter
The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!
The 'Dragonfly' name comes from combining Irix's previous two lens styles – its 'Firefly' design for lightness and 'Blackstone' for durability.
Fujifilm has done a good job of filling out its medium format GFX lens range, but although the Fujinon GF lenses are extremely good, they are also (mostly) extremely expensive, so the arrival of third party alternatives is sure to grab the attention of GFX fans.
The only other independent lens maker to produce lenses for the GFX mount is Venus Optics, with its rather remarkable Laowa 17mm f/4 GFX Zero-D lens.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
