diff --git a/src/scippnexus/base.py b/src/scippnexus/base.py
index b3dd218a..ae7142f7 100644
--- a/src/scippnexus/base.py
+++ b/src/scippnexus/base.py
@@ -41,45 +41,12 @@ def is_dataset(obj: H5Group | H5Dataset) -> bool:
     return hasattr(obj, 'shape')
 
 
-_scipp_dtype = {
-    np.dtype('int8'): sc.DType.int32,
-    np.dtype('int16'): sc.DType.int32,
-    np.dtype('uint8'): sc.DType.int32,
-    np.dtype('uint16'): sc.DType.int32,
-    np.dtype('uint32'): sc.DType.int32,
-    np.dtype('uint64'): sc.DType.int64,
-    np.dtype('int32'): sc.DType.int32,
-    np.dtype('int64'): sc.DType.int64,
-    np.dtype('float32'): sc.DType.float32,
-    np.dtype('float64'): sc.DType.float64,
-    np.dtype('bool'): sc.DType.bool,
-}
-
-
-def _dtype_fromdataset(dataset: H5Dataset) -> sc.DType:
-    return _scipp_dtype.get(dataset.dtype, sc.DType.string)
-
-
-def _squeezed_field_sizes(dataset: H5Dataset) -> dict[str, int]:
-    if (shape := dataset.shape) == (1,):
-        return {}
-    return {f'dim_{i}': size for i, size in enumerate(shape)}
-
-
 class NXobject:
-    def _init_field(self, field: Field):
-        if field.sizes is None:
-            field.sizes = _squeezed_field_sizes(field.dataset)
-        field.dtype = _dtype_fromdataset(field.dataset)
-
     def __init__(self, attrs: dict[str, Any], children: dict[str, Field | Group]):
         """Subclasses should call this in their __init__ method, or ensure that they
         initialize the fields in `children` with the correct sizes and dtypes."""
         self._attrs = attrs
         self._children = children
-        for field in children.values():
-            if isinstance(field, Field):
-                self._init_field(field)
 
     @property
     def unit(self) -> None | sc.Unit:
@@ -222,7 +189,7 @@ def nx_class(self) -> type | None:
             return NXroot
 
     @cached_property
-    def attrs(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def attrs(self) -> MappingProxyType[str, Any]:
         """The attributes of the group.
 
         Cannot be used for writing attributes, since they are cached for performance."""
@@ -479,6 +446,16 @@ def dims(self) -> tuple[str, ...]:
     def shape(self) -> tuple[int, ...]:
         return tuple(self.sizes.values())
 
+    @property
+    def definitions(self) -> MappingProxyType[str, str | type] | None:
+        return (
+            None if self._definitions is None else MappingProxyType(self._definitions)
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def underlying(self) -> H5Group:
+        return self._group
+
 
 def _create_field_params_numpy(data: np.ndarray):
     return data, None, {}
diff --git a/src/scippnexus/field.py b/src/scippnexus/field.py
index 395d2280..d0e65d6d 100644
--- a/src/scippnexus/field.py
+++ b/src/scippnexus/field.py
@@ -81,6 +81,31 @@ def _as_datetime(obj: Any):
     return None
 
 
+_scipp_dtype = {
+    np.dtype('int8'): sc.DType.int32,
+    np.dtype('int16'): sc.DType.int32,
+    np.dtype('uint8'): sc.DType.int32,
+    np.dtype('uint16'): sc.DType.int32,
+    np.dtype('uint32'): sc.DType.int32,
+    np.dtype('uint64'): sc.DType.int64,
+    np.dtype('int32'): sc.DType.int32,
+    np.dtype('int64'): sc.DType.int64,
+    np.dtype('float32'): sc.DType.float32,
+    np.dtype('float64'): sc.DType.float64,
+    np.dtype('bool'): sc.DType.bool,
+}
+
+
+def _dtype_fromdataset(dataset: H5Dataset) -> sc.DType:
+    return _scipp_dtype.get(dataset.dtype, sc.DType.string)
+
+
+def _squeezed_field_sizes(dataset: H5Dataset) -> dict[str, int]:
+    if (shape := dataset.shape) == (1,):
+        return {}
+    return {f'dim_{i}': size for i, size in enumerate(shape)}
+
+
 @dataclass
 class Field:
     """NeXus field.
@@ -93,6 +118,12 @@ class Field:
     dtype: sc.DType | None = None
     errors: H5Dataset | None = None
 
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        if self.sizes is None:
+            self.sizes = _squeezed_field_sizes(self.dataset)
+        if self.dtype is None:
+            self.dtype = _dtype_fromdataset(self.dataset)
+
     @cached_property
     def attrs(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """The attributes of the dataset.
diff --git a/src/scippnexus/nxdata.py b/src/scippnexus/nxdata.py
index 37352483..5d97e621 100644
--- a/src/scippnexus/nxdata.py
+++ b/src/scippnexus/nxdata.py
@@ -481,7 +481,6 @@ def __init__(self, attrs: dict[str, Any], children: dict[str, Field | Group]):
             for k in list(children):
                 if k.startswith(name):
                     field = children.pop(k)
-                    self._init_field(field)
                     field.sizes = {
                         'time' if i == 0 else f'dim_{i}': size
                         for i, size in enumerate(field.dataset.shape)
diff --git a/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py b/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py
index ac18deb4..ff0cc6a4 100644
--- a/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py
+++ b/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py
@@ -35,15 +35,24 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import posixpath
 import warnings
+from collections.abc import Mapping
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field, replace
 from typing import Literal
 
+import h5py
 import numpy as np
 import scipp as sc
 from scipp.scipy import interpolate
 
-from .base import Group, NexusStructureError, NXobject, base_definitions_dict
+from .base import (
+    Group,
+    NexusStructureError,
+    NXobject,
+    base_definitions_dict,
+    is_dataset,
+)
 from .field import DependsOn, Field
 
 
@@ -266,17 +275,45 @@ def compute(self) -> sc.Variable | sc.DataArray:
             return transform
 
 
+def _locate_depends_on_target(
+    file: h5py.File,
+    depends_on: DependsOn,
+    definitions: Mapping[str, type] | None,
+) -> tuple[Field | Group, str]:
+    """Find the target of a depends_on link.
+
+    The returned object is equivalent to calling ``parent[depends_on]``
+    in the context of transformations.
+    This function does not work in general because it does not process any attributes
+    of parents which is required to fully load some groups.
+    """
+    target_path = depends_on.absolute_path()
+    target = file[target_path]
+
+    if is_dataset(target):
+        res = Field(
+            target,
+            parent=Group(target.parent, definitions=definitions),
+        )
+    else:
+        res = Group(target, definitions=definitions)
+    return res, posixpath.dirname(target_path)
+
+
 def parse_depends_on_chain(
     parent: Field | Group, depends_on: DependsOn
 ) -> TransformationChain | None:
     """Follow a depends_on chain and return the transformations."""
     chain = TransformationChain(depends_on.parent, depends_on.value)
-    depends_on = depends_on.value
+    # Use raw h5py objects to follow the chain because that avoids constructing
+    # expensive intermediate snx.Group objects.
+    file = parent.underlying.file
     try:
-        while depends_on != '.':
-            transform = parent[depends_on]
-            parent = transform.parent
-            depends_on = transform.attrs['depends_on']
+        while depends_on.value != '.':
+            transform, base = _locate_depends_on_target(
+                file, depends_on, parent.definitions
+            )
+            depends_on = DependsOn(parent=base, value=transform.attrs['depends_on'])
             chain.transformations[transform.name] = transform[()]
     except KeyError as e:
         warnings.warn(
diff --git a/src/scippnexus/typing.py b/src/scippnexus/typing.py
index 339071c7..75286cab 100644
--- a/src/scippnexus/typing.py
+++ b/src/scippnexus/typing.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def name(self) -> str:
         """Name of dataset or group"""
 
     @property
-    def file(self) -> list[int]:
+    def file(self) -> Any:
         """File of dataset or group"""
 
     @property