Fujifilm 27mm f2.8 Review
I’ve been on the hunt for the Fuji 27mm f2.8 for a long time and finally after over a year I managed to get my hands on this lens. I’ve been now using it for a month in Japan and have a good enough understanding to share this review.
Why 27mm?
Two of my favourite focal lengths are the 35mm and the 50mm in full frame terms. In the Fuji world it’s 23mm and 33mm. However there some times where I wish the 23mm was a little tighter and there are also plenty of times where I wish I had a bit more room on the 50mm. This is where this 27mm lens comes in. 27mm squares to 40mm in full frame terms and I think it’s the perfect walkabout focal length. It gives a natural look very similar to how your eyes see while allowing you to capture subjects within the environment. 35mm and wider are great for capturing the scene. 50mm is amazing for subjects. 40mm seems to be ideal for both.
Why Pancake?
The main reason for getting this specific lens isn’t the focal length, it’s the size. This lens is tiny. I knew it would be small but I didn’t quite expect it to be this small and this light. It really can turn almost any fuji camera into something that can fit into your coat pocket. I’m also on the lookout for a compact system that I can throw in my gym bag or take with me on non photography days. As much as I love my XH2s and f1.4 primes, they are not exactly small.
Build & Ergonomics
The build is high quality all metal with solid weather sealing. I’ve used it in the rain and not had any issues although I haven’t used it in any crazy downpour or dirty environment yet nor have I dropped it. As for ergonomics, this lens feels at home on all Fuji bodies. On an XE4, XT30 or XT5 this lens makes the camera almost pocketable (assuming it’s a large coat pocket). On the XH2, it makes the camera more comfortable when on a strap or in hand. As for balance, this lens balances better on smaller bodies while on the XH it feels a little strange. The aperture lock is useful while the aperture ring is easy to reach and feels nice.
Image Quality
This lens is on the softer side when shooting wide open however not worse than the f2 prime offerings. Unless you’re always pixel peeping or shooting everything at f2.8 and assessing edge sharpness, you will be more than happy with the results. Once you stop down to anywhere between f4 and f11, the lens cleans up and the results are great both on the 26 and 40mp cameras. Some other cheaper alternatives fall apart when wide open and have haloes, low contrast and general muddiness. This lens doesn’t suffer from any of that. With all that said the deciding factor for choosing this lens isn’t image quality, it’s the compactness and the freedom it brings. One final word on image quality… if you look at an image and the first thing you comment on is that the edge sharpness is a little soft, then perhaps the image isn’t that interesting in the first place. To summarise, the image quality is good.
Autofocus
The autofocus on this lens is old, clunky, loud and has visible moving elements. With that said you will get a different review depending on what you are using the lens for. When it comes to general photography, the autofocus is fine. Unless you’re shooting F1 or anything that requires super fast focusing, this system is good enough for most cases such as travel, street and documenting your life. When it comes to video, it’s doable in an emergency but I’d stick it in manual focus. On the subject of noise, you can hear the motors focus in a quiet room however when you’re out and about, you don’t really pay attention to it. This is very much a slow walk about lens and isn’t designed for fast action, tracking or anything on those lines.
Summary
To summarise this is an amazing little lens if your main priority is to keep the size and weight down or create a pocketable system. The image quality is great, the autofocus is acceptable and the build quality is top notch. I’m not yet sure if I will keep this lens. I will spend more time with it especially on the XT5 and decide later in the year.
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Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Warm
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
Do I actually use these?
Yes. This is the same pack I use right now for all my editing. This isn’t a pack made just to sell.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be differences due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
10 in the main pack and 24 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits and is kept small to reduce wasted time scrolling through presets. The extras pack is everything I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work.
Thank you!