TT Artisan 27mm f2.8 Review
I will be honest and say that the only reason I picked this lens up is because the Fujifilm 27mm f2.8 pancake is sold out everywhere and is back ordered till next decade. I’ve heard mixed things about it but considering it was only £160 I decided to give it a go. The idea was to marry this lens to the XT5 and have it as my X100v on steroids. After using it for a couple months though, I wasn’t sure and decided to let it go. In this blog I will share my thoughts after 2 months of use.
Build Quality
The build quality is rather cheap which can be expected for the price. The body is made from plastic however the lens mount is metal which is a very welcome surprise. The metal lens mount simply means it will be more durable and won’t wear out after years of taking it on & off. The aperture ring however leaves a lot to be desired. It feels very plasticky and has a fair amount of resistance. When moving it, it does feel like you’re grinding plastic on plastic. It’s still 100% usable, just something I noticed straight away. The lens is not weather sealed however at this price level I doubt any lens is. Other than that it seems pretty good.
Ergonomics
The lens really is tiny. When mounted to something like an XT5, it makes the entire package pocketable (if you have a big coat). This lens will feel at home on any body from an XE-4 to an XH2, although on the bigger camera it might look a little silly. The rear lens cap also doubles as a firmware update dock. There is a USB C port in the cap and once on, you can update the lens. This is actually a very neat and clever idea. The aperture ring works fine although I wish the markings were a little more visible like on the Fuji lenses. Also the grip to turn the aperture dial can sometimes be hard to find if you’re wearing gloves.
Image Quality
This is where this lens falls apart a little. At f2.8 this lens is all over the place and I don’t just mean sharpness. When shooting wide open, light sources get this weird halo effect, a bit like using a mist filter. Not sure if this is done on purpose, but I can’t imagine that’s an actual feature. You need to stop the lens down to around f5.6 to get rid of the halo effect. The lens isn’t the sharpest by any stretch but it’s also not the softest I’ve used however if you’re into pixel peeping, I might avoid it. Finally the colour rendering just seems a bit off. I can’t quite explain it and I had the same issue with another TT Artisan lens, the colours just seem strange. They are less rich, less accurate and there is weird contrast thing going on. Either way the photos from this lens needed more editing than usual.
Autofocus
The AF system is actually pretty good. I never had any major issues with focusing or hunting. It locked on quick and didn’t really cause many problems either in single or continuous mode. For what 99.9% of people will use this lens for, it’s more than enough.
Summary
This is a weird one I must say. For the price it’s not bad at all, however if you can deal with a tighter frame then the Fuji XC 35 f2 is a much better option. I can’t comment on how this stacks up to the Fuji 27mm as I never used it however the Fuji is expensive. There aren’t many other 27mm pancake options on the market so for many people this might be the only choice. If you’re planning to shoot only in good light at f5.6 and above, then it will be ok but if you plan to stop down to f4 and below, be prepared to deal with funky halos. Personally this lens isn’t for me so I sold mine on.
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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
- Minimal
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
What do these presets look like?
These presets 100% reflect my current editing style. Please see examples of work below.
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 subtle colour changes 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?
15 in the main pack and 20 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits. The extras pack is random test presets, one-off looks, and looks 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
- Short video of me editing using these presets
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 thus allowing me to make more videos / photos / tutorials for you.
Thank you for your support!