The Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8: The Predictable Lens

The Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 is one of the two official so-call "Pancake" lenses available from the Fujifilm X-Mount line-up (The other one is the Fujinon XF 18mm F2 R lens). Designed firstly to be paired with smaller APS-C ILC bodies of the X-Series such as X-M1 or X-A1/2 it never prevent many X-enthusiasms to match the model with larger camera bodies.

One of the biggest advantage of the XF 27mm is its angle of view equivalent to a 40mm in 24X36mm film or digital format. Although its maximum aperture of F2.8 remains modest it can be assimilated as an everyday lens.

On assignation

The Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 lens is a very small and you may be felt a bit uncomfortable at your first sight and touch with the model. It add almost no weight to the body of the camera in fact less than 80g (less than 3 ounces). It is also a very contracted design for people who are used to hold the bottom of the taking lens with the palm of their left hand to get more stability. 

Using a generic lens hood (sorry no official lens hood available from Fujifilm) can help a bit for the handling.

Autofocus is  quick (but not fully silent on my unit). Manual focusing is accurate with good simulated travel of the ring for fine focusing. This is not a macro lens so close focusing is limited if you working with very small subjects.No aperture ring for that model and you have to rely on the adjusting dial on camera which is an option present on every model. No optical stabilization system (OIS) like the standard zoom lenses. So you have to be more aware about the shutter speed selected by the camera or by yourself. You may choose to upper your minimum shutter speed limit before increasing the ISO used by the camera (Auto ISO Setting into the menu). As already mentioned no Fujifilm dedicated lens hood is available and the filter accessory diameter is  39mm.

Picture quality

The color reddition of the Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 doesn't differ from the other lens models of the X-Mount Series. So the continuity in term of results can be observed with the others Fujinon X-Mount lenses of the Series. For sure automatic in-board calibration and correction are part of the advantages of the modern digital photography. Focus accuracy between left and right side and up and down seems to be adequate.

The Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 is not really a substitute for standard zoom lenses such as the XF 18-55mm R or the XC 16-50mm that have a much larger focal length versatility and are doted with an efficient optical stabilization system (OIS). Like many fix focal prime lens it is more a creative lens that is forcing the photographer to anticipate and preselect how to manage the subject and the context of the picture to produce.

The angle of view of the Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 is similar of the one who can experiment with your own eyes considering only the sharp area. It results that lens rendering can be easily anticipated even without looking into the viewfinder or on the back screen of the camera.

"The Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 is may be one of the most predictable lens of the X-Mount line-up. "