Contents
Conclusion
Pros
- Extremely small, lightweight and well-built
- Quite sharp over the majority of the frame right from f/2.8 and very good across the frame at all apertures.
- Excellent control of chromatic aberration
- Good distortion control
- Manual focus throw is well calibrated
Cons
- Autofocus is a bit loud, average in speed and can fail to find focus sometimes in low light
- No aperture ring
- Relatively long minimum focus distance
- A little expensive given the modest maximum aperture
Overall, the Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 is a pleasant lens to use and a great option when you want the smallest possible package for your Fuji X camera. It pairs especially well with the tiny X-M1, creating a very portable package capable of very good image quality.
The 27mm f/2.8 is sharp at most any aperture, and while the edges are a little softer than the center, they are plenty sharp enough for most any use. This little pancake controls chromatic aberrations and fringing extremely well, and I feel that overall image quality is quite good, though bokeh is rather unremarkable.
Ultimately, if you want a very small lens with very good image quality in a nice all-purpose focal length, the XF 27mm f/2.8 will fit the bill quite nicely. I was left wanting for a few things, however. For the $450 asking price, I would have much rather seen a faster aperture, as an f/2.8 prime lens isn’t exactly a speed demon. I would have much preferred this to be an f/2.0 or even f/2.4 lens given the price. I also lament the loss of the aperture ring on the lens, though I somewhat understand its removal due to the limited space on the lens barrel. I also ran into the lens’ minimum focus distance fairly regularly.
I think for most users, the 35mm f/1.4 is a more useful lens, given the two full stops faster aperture, better bokeh and aperture ring, but if you prefer a little wider view and need the smallest lens you can get for the Fuji X system, then the 27mm is your lens.
Image Samples
Click to enlarge
Doubt I will be getting either the camera or lens. However I gaad ot write to compliment you on the text and accompanying images.
really nice review with plenty of information. the boat on the peer picture is awesome, love it.
Excellent, straight forward and comprehensive review. The image quality and size seem quite nice. I will probably get one, after the price on the used market comes down to a more realistic price. Thanks for the review, great pictures too.
I think that I make more images with this little pancake than any other lens. I’ve got a pretty good assortment, including the Touits and I don’t feel that I’m giving up optical performance when this is on the camera. It makes for a nice, all-around focal length which is part of the reason I tend to grab it and run so many times, I suppose.
I tend to agree with Craig Schroeder’s opinion of this lens. I own or have owned the XF 23mm, XF 27mm, XF 35mm F1.4, XF 60mm and the Zeiss Touit 32mm.
In terms of sharpness, color, contrast and micro contrast, the XF 27mm seems to be the closest to the Zeiss Touit 32mm in its ability to make images “pop”.
Although the XF 23mm is supposed to be the better lens, I find the XF 27mm renders colors more realistically and seems to render images more realistically. The colors and tones on the XF 23mm seem to ever so slightly “veiled”.
I think you should try this lens with the Xt-2… A big surprise…
I have the xt-2, xf35mm, xf23mm, 56mm and 90mm primes and 18-55,50-200mm zooms…
itching to get this lens and wondering what you meant by that… does this mean a good surprise or a bad surprise?