Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
p.1 #1Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
FOR ALL MEMBERS THAT KNOW THIS ALREADY>>>JUST IGNORE MY IGNORANCE>>>>
I did NOT know this and learned the "hard" way about the lens.
It IS an excellent lens BUT....I admit upfront when I used the lens about 1-2 months prior to "my experience", mentally or audibly, I did NOT take notice that the lens "makes sounds" when powered OFF.
AND all the "IS/OIS" lenses I have never made the loud sound that the Fuji GF makes...that aside......
I was going to a photo shoot and had a near fatality in my van when the driver in front of me pulled into the right lane of a 2 lane road, then proceeded to make a "U" turn right in front of me!
I avoided an accident by staying behind her a bit further than normal, BUT when I slammed on my brakes, my camera bag with the GFX100s II and GF120 went-a-flyin from the back to the front of the vehicle...When I used the lens at the shoot, when I turned OFF the camera, the lens made sounds. When lens, alone or attached to body, placed in the palm of your hand and just rotated a bit, you hear what sounds like a "mechanism" shifting within the lens..
I called FUJI..Send it in they replied...
I did....A couple of hundred dollars later I learned that this is NORMAL for this lens! No Fuji NEVER informed me of this fact nor did I do a good "search" for this...
"The sound typically comes from the internal floating lens elements adjusting or the stabilization mechanism active"..
Just FYI to those who DONT know this...about ANY "OIS/IS" lens. Yes my Canon EF lenses do make a very small sound but I really never realized it.
I DO KNOW NOW!
! Can I blame age? 
PLACE ALL GEAR ON THE FLOOR!
Dan
I did NOT know this and learned the "hard" way about the lens.
It IS an excellent lens BUT....I admit upfront when I used the lens about 1-2 months prior to "my experience", mentally or audibly, I did NOT take notice that the lens "makes sounds" when powered OFF.
AND all the "IS/OIS" lenses I have never made the loud sound that the Fuji GF makes...that aside......
I was going to a photo shoot and had a near fatality in my van when the driver in front of me pulled into the right lane of a 2 lane road, then proceeded to make a "U" turn right in front of me!
I avoided an accident by staying behind her a bit further than normal, BUT when I slammed on my brakes, my camera bag with the GFX100s II and GF120 went-a-flyin from the back to the front of the vehicle...When I used the lens at the shoot, when I turned OFF the camera, the lens made sounds. When lens, alone or attached to body, placed in the palm of your hand and just rotated a bit, you hear what sounds like a "mechanism" shifting within the lens..I called FUJI..Send it in they replied...
I did....A couple of hundred dollars later I learned that this is NORMAL for this lens! No Fuji NEVER informed me of this fact nor did I do a good "search" for this...
"The sound typically comes from the internal floating lens elements adjusting or the stabilization mechanism active"..
Just FYI to those who DONT know this...about ANY "OIS/IS" lens. Yes my Canon EF lenses do make a very small sound but I really never realized it.
I DO KNOW NOW!
! Can I blame age? PLACE ALL GEAR ON THE FLOOR!
Dan
May 05, 2026 at 12:15 PM
p.1 #2Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
Glad the accident was avoided at least. I don't have the GF120 but I do have the XF80 for X system. It has the floating element clunk in a pretty extreme way. I've heard of people selling the lens thinking it would ultimately wear something out. But its a stellar lens and I'm used to it now. But I find I get used to whatever noise lenses make and it no longer bothers me. Maybe it is a age thing!
May 05, 2026 at 01:35 PM
p.1 #3Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
SGinNorcal wrote:
Glad the accident was avoided at least. I don't have the GF120 but I do have the XF80 for X system. It has the floating element clunk in a pretty extreme way. I've heard of people selling the lens thinking it would ultimately wear something out. But its a stellar lens and I'm used to it now. But I find I get used to whatever noise lenses make and it no longer bothers me. Maybe it is a age thing!
That is my point. Had I realized it was "inherit" in the build..no harm no foul! I am NOT a fan of "AI"! But in this case it gave me the answer to my dilemma. Albiet $200+ dollars and 2 weeks of frustration later.
Fuji provides each GFX/GF owner with an hour of free "techsupport". "My bad" as the kids say.
But heh..I'm olde!
Dan
Glad the accident was avoided at least. I don't have the GF120 but I do have the XF80 for X system. It has the floating element clunk in a pretty extreme way. I've heard of people selling the lens thinking it would ultimately wear something out. But its a stellar lens and I'm used to it now. But I find I get used to whatever noise lenses make and it no longer bothers me. Maybe it is a age thing!
That is my point. Had I realized it was "inherit" in the build..no harm no foul! I am NOT a fan of "AI"! But in this case it gave me the answer to my dilemma. Albiet $200+ dollars and 2 weeks of frustration later.
Fuji provides each GFX/GF owner with an hour of free "techsupport". "My bad" as the kids say.
But heh..I'm olde!
Dan
May 05, 2026 at 02:40 PM
p.1 #4Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
Yeah, the LM lenses are clunky, for real. Some are way louder and seem to "slam" harder than other LM ones. Like SG said, the XF 80mm is a big loud clunker, but I think my 90mm is more so...
May 05, 2026 at 06:19 PM
p.1 #5Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
RWNPhoto wrote:
Yeah, the LM lenses are clunky, for real. Some are way louder and seem to "slam" harder than other LM ones. Like SG said, the XF 80mm is a big loud clunker, but I think my 90mm is more so...
Yes I try to "listen" to my equiptment Craig but at 79, it don't work 2 gud!
Thanks!
Dan
Yeah, the LM lenses are clunky, for real. Some are way louder and seem to "slam" harder than other LM ones. Like SG said, the XF 80mm is a big loud clunker, but I think my 90mm is more so...
Yes I try to "listen" to my equiptment Craig but at 79, it don't work 2 gud!
Thanks!
Dan
May 06, 2026 at 09:43 AM
p.1 #6Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
I had the same panic years ago but it's good to post it for the newer system users. This applies to a lot of modern big element linear motor lenses from any brand.
May 06, 2026 at 11:54 AM
p.1 #7Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
ftllens wrote:
I had the same panic years ago but it's good to post it for the newer system users. This applies to a lot of modern big element linear motor lenses from any brand.
Thanks David!
My Canon EF lenses, IS, do make a sound but not like the Fuji. I am glad I sent it in just in case.
Dan
I had the same panic years ago but it's good to post it for the newer system users. This applies to a lot of modern big element linear motor lenses from any brand.
Thanks David!
My Canon EF lenses, IS, do make a sound but not like the Fuji. I am glad I sent it in just in case.
Dan
May 09, 2026 at 07:56 AM
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p.1 #8Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
I assume it's similar to many other lenses with linear motors. With no power applied, the focus group(s) are just sitting on rails with nothing other than friction (I believe) to keep them from moving.
May 09, 2026 at 07:51 PM
p.1 #9Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
tsdevine wrote:
I assume it's similar to many other lenses with linear motors. With no power applied, the focus group(s) are just sitting on rails with nothing other than friction (I believe) to keep them from moving.
It probably is Tim, I just failed to "recognize" that when I first bought the lens.
I have been out numerous days testing it and it is fine...the problem was "operator error"!
When I called Fuji, they failed to mention this even after direct questions about the mechanism.
Thanks!
Dan
I assume it's similar to many other lenses with linear motors. With no power applied, the focus group(s) are just sitting on rails with nothing other than friction (I believe) to keep them from moving.
It probably is Tim, I just failed to "recognize" that when I first bought the lens.
I have been out numerous days testing it and it is fine...the problem was "operator error"!
When I called Fuji, they failed to mention this even after direct questions about the mechanism.
Thanks!
Dan
May 10, 2026 at 08:07 AM
p.1 #10Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
Yeah, unfortunately this is a common question when people start using lenses with these types of motors, but not something you intuitively think might be normal. It does seem like Fuji should have guided a bit before going through all that rigmarole.
May 10, 2026 at 08:39 AM
p.1 #11Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
tsdevine wrote:
Yeah, unfortunately this is a common question when people start using lenses with these types of motors, but not something you intuitively think might be normal. It does seem like Fuji should have guided a bit before going through all that rigmarole.
That would have been the proper thing to do. I did ask them twice directly about any "noise".... Since I was scared that when my camera bag ,containing the 100s ii and GF120mm Macro, became airborne to avoid a collision, damage may have been done.
Thanks Tim!
Dan
Yeah, unfortunately this is a common question when people start using lenses with these types of motors, but not something you intuitively think might be normal. It does seem like Fuji should have guided a bit before going through all that rigmarole.
That would have been the proper thing to do. I did ask them twice directly about any "noise".... Since I was scared that when my camera bag ,containing the 100s ii and GF120mm Macro, became airborne to avoid a collision, damage may have been done.
Thanks Tim!
Dan
May 10, 2026 at 10:07 AM
p.1 #12Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
Yes, Dan, you can ALWAYS blame age. I do every day. I suffer from CRS, CSS, and WDS, It's the only legal excuse that a wife must acknowledge as true!
May 12, 2026 at 04:58 PM
p.1 #13Fujinon GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro - FYI
I suffer heavily from GAS and it is definitely old age!
May 13, 2026 at 01:38 AM