First test
PRICE: £419
FUJIFILM.EU/UK
Fujifilm took its original XF27mm f/2.8 lens and added weatherproofing and an aperture ring – without increasing the size. Give a big, warm welcome to the new and improved version FujifilmXF27mmf/2.8RWR
THE ORIGINAL FUJIFILMXF27mm f/2.8 came out in 2013. For system owners, this ultra-compact pancake lens (with the equivalent view of a 40mm lens in the 35mm format) was a great option when you were looking to travel light or shoot super discreetly. It was a popular lens for those reasons – and on an X-E camera, for example, made for a powerful, almost pocketable picture-taking combination that suited general photography. But its design deterred a few, too, and the lack of aperture ring was a negative to some – probably more so than the lack of weatherproofing. Fujifilm has tackled those shortcomings with the XF27mm f/2.8
RWR, a lens with the same optical formula, but nowwith weather resistance and an aperture ring. Detail freaks will notice a 1mm increase in diameter and weight gain of 6g, but this is nothing in the real world. The aperture ring – clicked in 0.3EV steps – also has a lockable A setting. To be accurate, pushing in the small lock allows the aperture ring to be moved from the f/numbers to A, but there’s no lock to keep it there. Most Fujifilm lenses with aperture rings don’t have a lock, but I think they’re a benefit, so this is a positive point. Autofocusing – like in the original lens – is handled by a micro motor, meaning a little noise during focusing,
but this isn’t significant. Focusing was swift and accurate on the X-E4 and X-S10 bodies I used, so no issues in this regard. The same goes for optical performance, with the lens delivering quality images at the most used apertures. Wide open, the centre was nice and crisp, with the edges only slightly behind, but they caught up with stopping down and reached a par by f/8. Adding some unsharp mask in Photoshop helped. The least effective aperture was f/16, where diffraction softened the overall image. Distortion and fringing were minimal and there was no issue with flare or ghosting on my outdoor test shots. WC
SPOTTHE DIFFERENCE The new lens (above left) has an aperture ring and weather resistance, and is optically identical to its predecessor (right) LOVELY BOKEH Get in close and shoot wide open at f/2.8, and you’ll enjoy smooth background bokeh (left). Taken on a Fujifilm X-E4 with an exposure of 1/850sec at f/2.8, ISO 160. Raw processed in Lightroom using the Velvia Vivid profile
TESTPICTURES The chart test pictures were taken on a Fujifilm X-S10 body, mounted on a Leofoto LS-324C tripod. Raws were processed through Adobe Lightroom with default settings
SPECS
Verdict The XF27mm f/2.8 R WR is a lovely little lens and makes a wonderful partner for any X Series camera. This applies even more to the smaller cameras, such as the X-E4 and X-S10. It’s great to use, handles well and performs with huge credit, plus it’s nicely priced. PROS Optical performance, size, weather resistance, aperture ring with lock, useful focal length CONS Diffraction at f/16 softened the image
› Price £419 › In the box Lens, front and back caps, 1x LH-XF27 hood, 1x LHCP-27 hood cap › Format APS-C › Compatibility Fujifilm X Series › Filter size 39mm › Construction Seven elements in five groups › Special lens elements 1x aspherical lens › Aperture range F/2.8-16, A setting with lock › Diaphragm Seven blades › Magnification 0.1x › Autofocus Yes, micro motor › Manual focusing ring Yes › Coating Super EBC › Minimum focus 34cm › Weather-sealed Yes › Dimensions (dxl) 62x23mm › Weight 84g › Contact fujifilm.eu/uk
F/4
F/2.8
F/2.8
F/4
F/11
F/16
F/5.6
F/8
F/11
F/16
F/5.6
F/8
Issue 90 | Photography News 37
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