Viltrox 27mm f1.2 Pro - Impressions, Thoughts and Image Samples
I have never really dabbled with 40mm photography as I always saw it as a bit of an awkward step between 50mm and a wider 35mm. Traditionally I have always gravitated to 35mm for capturing scenes and 50mm for capturing subjects. So when Viltrox sent me out the 27mm f1.2, I decided to finally give this focal length a go. To be clear 27mm f1.2 is in Fuji APSC language. Full frame you’re looking at a 40mm f1.8.
First I want to start by saying that Viltrox gave me this lens in exchange for writing this blog and sending them back some sample photos. Although I get to keep the lens no money was changed hands, they have no input regarding the talking points and they will not see this blog until after it has gone live. All opinions are my own with no influence by anyone else.
Using 27mm (40mm) Focal Length
Let’s first start with my experience using this focal length. Although I briefly tried this before, this is the first time I actually used it in anger so to speak. Overall I really liked it. It felt like my 50mm with some breathing room that allowed for cropping and geometry adjustment later. I didn’t experience a sharp difference in focal length and it felt very familiar coming from the 50mm. Having shot around London, I found this focal length to be almost perfect for that environment. I found it to be just right in most scenarios and whenever it was too wide or tight, the 50mm would have felt the same.
Build Quality
Initial impressions are very good. This lens feels like a high quality product and is built like a tank. The entire lens is metal with what feels like a durable finish. The aperture dial has a smooth damped feel with nice audible clicks. The focus dial is smooth too. The lens appears to have solid weather sealing around the mount that is no different to native Fuji glass.
The only part of this lens that feels cheap is the lens cap. It feels like it’s made from the cheapest available plastic and wouldn’t be out of place on a product that is worth 10 times less. It’s a shame because it really lets the whole package down. Personally I would get rid of this lens cap and replace it with a metal magnetic solution from Urth.
For now I can’t comment on what this lens is like over the long term as typically I would need a minimum of 6 months. However while in London over the winter, I plan to use it a fair bit and report back later.
Ergonomics
This is a heavy lens. In part due to the metal build but also because it’s f1.2 thus will naturally have more glass. Although this lens is rather large, I would say it’s just about acceptable for an APSC lens. In my opinion this lens is best suited for larger XH style bodies and even though it would still be fine on an XT, it will certainly feel front heavy. For anything smaller than an XT, I would not really recommend this. One thing to keep in mind is that to update this lens, you will need to connect it to your laptop using a USB C cable. This is not a problem, just an observation.
Image Quality
Image quality is great. I been shooting it on the XH2 and even when pixel peeping, the image stands up. Sure, if you really start analysing, you will find this lens a fair bit softer than the f1.4 Fuji primes, however this is not a deal breaker. I would say this lens sits about the same as the 23mm f2 Fuji prime in terms of overall sharpness. As for colour rendering, it’s also good with accurate colours and no weirdness to report.
Autofocus
The autofocus is good and accurate for still subjects. However I found that for moving subjects, it was noticeably slower than my 33mm f1.4 Fuji. For most people this lens is more than good enough. However if you’re shooting any fast paced subject with a lot of movement, you might find that this lens is a little slower especially when shooting wide open. In low light I found the lens was a bit slower compared to the 33 f1.4 however there was no hunting and no issues acquiring focus at any point. Overall the AF is good.
Value For Money
In short, yes. Currently on Viltrox UK website it is listed for £410. For reference the Fuji 33mm f1.4 is £700. Is the 33 f1.4 worth £290 more than the Viltrox? Honestly… for most people… probably not. Sure it’s smaller, sharper and has better AF. However £290 is also a lot of money. Personally I would still go for the 33mm due to the size and better AF performance especially for video. However if I was starting from scratch, wasn’t making videos for a living and it wasn’t a business expense, then I would find it harder to justify the extra spend. With all that in mind, if you can get this lens for a good price, in my opinion it’s worth it if you’re happy to sacrifice size and the best AF performance.
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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!