First Shot With 27mm Fuji

<p>I couldn't resist with the current $200 price drop. It changes the whole nature of the XE1, changing it into a camera not much bigger or heavier than a Lumix GF1 with a 14mm. The Lumix combination focuses much much faster though. The 27mm hunts for focus on every shot although it hunts faster than the 18-55mm zoom. I really hope the newer Fuji cameras have resolved the focus issues of the XE1. 27mm (41mm equiv.) isn't a particularly interesting focal length for me but sharpness shouldn't be a concern.</p>

<div></div>

<p>I'm not a fuji guy. I'm a Sony mirrorless aps-c guy, but I think we can still speak the same language. I prefer a 35mm (equiv.) probably as my go-to all around lens. I've heard speculation that Fuji doesn't make a nice 23 f2 x lens because they don't want to compete with their x100 camera. That seems lousy. The 23 1.4 R looks too big to me, and with sensors able to do what they can in low light, I would never again want to pay a premium for 1.4 speed. Heck, even with film I had already decided that summicrons were fine for me instead of summilux. Sony has the 24 1.8 Zeiss for about $1,000. I say forget that too. So I'm stuck using the Sigma 19 and 30 2.8 lenses, equiv 28 and 45, and frankly, it's a very fine pair. Sony offers the 20 2.8 at a reasonable price, but it doesn't review that great. Why can't Sony just make a really good 24 2.8 or 2.2 or whatever for $400 and be done with it? They offer a 28 f2 for about $450 FULL FRAME, so don't tell me they can't do an aps-c 24 f2.5 for $500. I just get sick of the games, and it totally breaks down any sort of brand loyalty I might toy with in my thinking. <br>

So regarding your new 27 2.8, I say good for you. You say the equiv 41mm isn't particularly interesting, but I'll tell you what I find particularly interesting to me. I'm interested in an economical high quality build lens with excellent optical quality that is very small and covers a very versatile focal length. <br>

Recently I used an illustration computer program to show rectangles on a photo/image so I could study what the actual cropped difference was for an image at equiv 24, 28, 35, 40, 42, etc...A 42mm equiv focal length is really only slightly cropped from a 35. I would say that the Leica CL and the 40 summicron-C is an amazing one lens camera. Back a few years ago, I would have stuck with that except that the quality and my confidence of the M6 was so much better than the CL that of course I got into the compulsion of having to get a 35 cron to feel better about the frame lines. Also, with film, it wasn't as easy to directly compare what you would get with one lens vs. another. You could do it with your processed prints and careful notes, but the feedback was a little less immediate.<br>

So I'm saying, if "they" want to play games and offer a 27 2.8 for a cheap price instead of a 23 f 2 for a slightly more expensive but affordable price, then I'm glad to see you call their bluff. If I go to the store to buy strip steak, and they've got rib eye on sale, I'm buying rib eyes. </p>

<p>My X-E1 doesn't hunt all that much. Do you have the latest firmware?</p>

<p>The GF1 with the Panny 20mm f1.7 would be the M4/3 equivalent: the Panny 20mm is a lovely lens, which unfortunately I can't afford at the moment. The 40-ish mm (equivalent) FL is surprisingly versatile - I used an Olympus 35RC with the Zuiko 42mm for some years and was very happy with the FOV.<br>

The AF issues are a pity, but I hope there is firmware solution.</p>

<p>congrats sanford! yeah, the 27 is an interesting lens. as you say it makes the Fujis into stealth shooters. the surprise here isnt the compact length but just how sharp the lens is, even at the corners. at f/8 almost everything will be in focus so you can use zone shooting. i wouldnt say the lens hunts all that much on an XE1, it's quicker to acquire focus than the 35/1.4, but the XE1 will never be a speed demon.</p>

<p>I think I skipped last update as I didn't think it pertained to anything I was using but I better do it now. Updating camera software always causes me anxiety but its gotta be done.</p>

<p>I did the firmware update for the camera to 2.40 and the lens was already current. Not too much drama this time. Nothing seems faster but I did use the lens earlier today and seem to be getting more used to it. The difference between 35mm and 41mm is two steps back. KR calls the 27mm autofocus "super fast"! I don't know how he sees it that way.</p>

<p>My 2 cents for the 40mm focal length equivalent. I use a 40mm Voigtlander Ultron with my Nikon film camera's, and at first I had wondered what I got myself into. Then by the most pleasant surprise after being diligent with the lens for a whole day of shooting with it exclusively, I fell for it. Stick with the 27mm, or 41mm equivalent, its a valuable tool in the box. Again in elementary terms, its the matter of positioning your point of focus, seeing like the lens, and not so much the lens seeing like we do. In essence, it's a 35mm cropped.</p>

<p>shot a bit of street with the 27 last night. this is 1/250, ISO 3200, f/2.8.</p><div></div>

<p>here's one from a painting workshop which hints at the sharpness a little bit better, as well as what kind of framing you need with this focal length. im used to wider-angle lenses so 41mm is a squeench tight for me, but it can work. this is 1/125, 2.8, ISO 2000.</p><div></div>

<p>last one... i may have switched to the velvia film sim mode for this colorful piece of street art. 1/15, f/4, ISO 3200</p><div></div>

<p>What Jpeg settings are you Fuji shooters using. I have everything at "0" except the sharpness at +1. I like Pro Neg Hi (its like Velvia with better white balance), and B&W with the red filter effect.</p>

<p>a personal choice, but i do +1 color, +1 sharpness, +1 highlight and -1 shadow.</p>

<p>I too picked up a silver 27 recently due to the reduced price tip I read about here.<br /> I am quite pleased with the autofocus using this lens on my XE1. It sort of hits and locks. I have not experienced hunting issues at all.</p>

<p>I'm quite a fan of the 27mm lens. Although I'd prefer the 23mm focal length the 27mm was on sale for $250AUD compared to around $1000 for the 23 so it was a no brainer. It focuses fast and I have been using it to shoot low light gigs recently with a fair amount of success.</p>

<p><a title="Mr White" href=" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/712/20423056470_cb55a8c3b0_n.jpg" alt="Mr White" width="320" height="213" /></a></p>

<p>Sanford, I hope this is not a dead thread but the truth is I don't visit PN much nowadays.<br /><br />I had an X-E1 which I found was quite erratic in focus in some situations. Setting the focus area to the largest size ameliorated the problem --somewhat. <br /><br />Some months ago I traded it towards an X-E2 and the problem is completely gone. I'm waiting for a 27/2.8 at the super reduced price to arrive tomorrow, so I don't yet have any experience with this lens, my experience applies exclusively to the kit 18~55/2.8-4 zoom, but for what I've heard from other owners of the pancake 27, it blazes!<br /><br />Keep in mind that the X-E2 has a superior hybrid focus system using contrast and phase detection, while the X-E1 relies solely on contrast. As soon as the new body was affixed to the 18~55 the hunting was gone, so the culprit was the body, not the lens. Also, the phase detection system is <em>a feature of the new sensor</em>, so no FW update is gonna correct that on the X-E1.<br /><br />With the ultra low prices of used X-E2's you might want to consider a trade up. I ended paying less then $150 for the upgrade. The body is very improved in a lot of ways, not only focusing.</p>

<p>I used it today and am starting to bond with it somewhat but still think the 18-55mm zoom makes more sense and offer more versatility. I also used a GF1 today with a 14mm and the old Panasonic runs circles around the Fuji for AF speed. The XM1 is also being offered at a very reasonable price right now. Post a few shots when you get it and let us know what you think of it. </p>

<p>Quick edit of one of today's photos with the 27mm.</p><div></div>