Packing the Fujifilm GFX 100 RF for Travel | Accessories, Setup and Tips
Akihabara, Japan - GFX 100 RF | 35 f4 - Edited with the Natural Films Preset (Coming Soon)
Medium Format Meets Minimal Travel
I know what you’re thinking: medium format for travel? It sounds a little wild… but after a few trips to Japan bouncing from my Fujifilm X-S20 to my X-T5, I’ve found myself reaching for the GFX 100 RF as my go-to travel setup. It’s compact, powerful, and somehow brings that medium format look into a size that actually makes sense when you’re living out of one bag.
When I travel, I don’t want to haul a full kit or swap lenses every few minutes. I want a camera that lets me explore, shoot freely, and still deliver amazing photos. The GFX 100 RF checks every box. It fits easily in my bag, handles long shooting days, and gives me enough flexibility to crop, reframe, and experiment without compromise.
In this post, I’m breaking down how I’ve packed the GFX 100 RF for travel, the accessories that make it even more practical, and the tips that keep my setup light and my focus where it should be — on creating.
Why Bring the GFX 100 RF for Travel Photography
Compact power that doesn’t slow you down
The GFX 100 RF feels shockingly close in size and weight to the X-T5, which means you get all the benefits of medium format without the bulk. For me, that’s huge. When you’re spending a lot of hours on your feet, every ounce counts. This setup gives you the quality of a full GFX system while staying nimble enough to carry all day.
Built-in lens, built for simplicity
I’ve always loved one-lens travel. It keeps you focused on storytelling rather than options overload. The RF’s fixed lens means no bulky zoom barrels, and no fiddling when inspiration hits. If you remove the hood, the camera’s footprint gets even smaller, which is great for packing light.
Internal crop lever that changes the game
This feature is easily one of my favorites. The crop lever gives you quick access to different framing options and aspect ratios right in camera. You can shoot in 16:9 for cinematic street scenes or 4:3 for more traditional compositions — and your RAW files still save the full image. It’s like having a set of primes inside one lens.
100 megapixels of freedom
With 100MP files, you can shoot wide and recompose later without losing quality. For travel photography, that’s gold. You never know when a subject will move or when you’ll need a quick crop to balance a frame. The extra resolution gives you freedom to shoot intuitively without worrying about perfection in the moment.
Perfect balance for one-bag travel
I’m a big believer in one-bag travel. The GFX 100 RF fits right in — it slides easily between clothes in my backpack, feels comfortable on a strap all day, and doesn’t draw much attention. It’s as close to a “take anywhere” medium format camera as you can get.
The Accessories That Make It Travel-Ready
SmallRig Hand Grip
The GFX 100 RF’s grip feels fine on its own, but the SmallRig hand grip adds that extra bit of comfort for long shooting days. It gives a more secure hold, adds a tripod plate, and includes a soft shutter release that feels smooth and tactile. It’s minimal, functional, and doesn’t add bulk.
Urth Black Mist Filter
When I travel, I like my photos to have a little extra character. The Urth Black Mist filter adds just the right amount of bloom to highlights and softens the digital edge, giving photos a slightly filmic look. I pair it with my in-camera settings — grain turned up, sharpness pulled down — for that organic, travel-journal feel.
Godox IT30 Pro Flash
I don’t always need a flash while traveling, but when I do, the Godox IT30 Pro is perfect. It’s tiny, reliable, and strong enough for quick portraits at night or in low light cafés. I like that it blends into the camera body and can trigger off-camera flashes too. It’s one of those “nice to have” accessories that earns its place in the bag.
Batteries and Storage
The GFX 100 RF has great battery life, so I bring just two: one in the camera, one spare. For storage, I rely on dual 1TB SD cards — one for RAWs, one for JPEGs. That way, I can shoot for days without worrying about space. A small USB-C battery bank keeps me covered for top-ups on the go, and it saves me from carrying extra chargers.
HoldFast Leather Strap
The strap might seem like a small detail, but when you’re shooting all day, comfort matters. I use a HoldFast Gear leather strap that can go around my neck or across my body. It’s secure in crowds and soft enough for long walks. Plus, it just looks great with the camera.
Tokyo - Fujifilm GFX 100 RF | 35 f4 - Edited with the Natural Films Preset (Coming Soon)
How I Shoot When Traveling
The way I shoot on the road is all about flexibility. I start wide and crop with intent later. I change aspect ratios often, switching between 3:2 for classic stills and 16:9 for cinematic storytelling. I shoot JPEG + RAW so I can use my in-camera crops for quick edits and still have the full file for detailed post work later.
Most of all, I try not to overthink it. The GFX 100 RF lets me stay in the moment and focus on the story — whether that’s a quiet side street, a late-night ramen shop, or a sunrise over Tokyo Bay. I’m using the RF mainly because it takes away a lot of the technical distraction and lets me just have fun capturing the moments as they happen.
GFX 100 RF and the X-T5 Size Comparison
Why Not Just Bring an X-Series Camera?
I’ve done plenty of trips with the X-S20 and X-T5, and I love those cameras. But the GFX 100 RF gives me something different:
The depth, color, and texture of medium format.
The creative control of 100MP files.
The simplicity of a compact body that still feels premium.
For this trip, it’s the perfect balance. It’s still light, still practical, and delivers that extra “wow” factor I love seeing in my edits. The Fujifilm GFX 100 RF has completely changed how I approach travel photography.
Bonus Tips for Traveling Light as a Photographer
A few quick lessons I’ve picked up after years of travel:
Stick to one bag. It forces you to prioritize what really matters.
Keep a microfiber cloth and small ND filter handy for any lighting situation.
Back up your photos each night, even if it’s just to a small SSD or the cloud.
Keep your camera accessible. If it’s buried in your bag, you won’t shoot as much.
Only pack what you actually use. If it’s “just in case,” it probably stays home.
Japan Travel with my light & compact GFX 100 RF Setup
See the GFX 100 RF in Action in Japan
If you want to see exactly how the GFX 100 RF held up during my Japan travels and hear my takeaways after shooting with it nonstop — check out the full video.
Watch the full Japan travel video here
And if you loved the look from my Japan trip, you’re going to want this. Join the waitlist for the Natural Films Preset which is a new film-esque take on Natural Feels with the same foundation but a completely different mood. Be the first to get updates and early access.
