If you like this post, help us share it
Pancake lens as its name suggest is designed to be very compact and small profile. It is usually thinner than most prime lenses. Every mirrorless system has its own version of pancake lens; 17mm f/2.8 (Olympus), 14mm f/2.5 and 20mm f/1.7 (Panasonic), 16mm f/2.8 and 20mm f/2.8 (Sony) and 27mm f/2.8 (Fujifilm). I have a Fujifilm, so my pancake lens is the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8. The XF 27mm is not a very fast lens and it is not as wide as other pancake lenses, but it has a focal length 40.5mm (35mm equiv.) that is close to what the human eyes see. So it is a great lens for street photography and travel photography. Don’t let its size and weight fool you, the XF 27mm f/2.8’s build quality is very solid with a metal mount. It has 7 elements including 1 aspherical element all weighted at 78g only.
You can purchase the XF 27mm f/2.8 here
One of the reasons I like about the XF 27mm f/2.8 is its compactness, it is no taller than a SD card and it feels weightless on the Fujifilm X-E2. It is my go to lens if I want a very small camera setup.
My experience with the lens so far has been great, there are a couple of features that you need to be aware of. First there is no aperture ring on the lens due to its size, so aperture control is done via the dial similar to DSLRs and the focus ring does not physically change the focus on the lens, it acts as an encoder to tell the camera to adjust the focus. Other than that, the XF 27mm is a superb lens, its image quality is like any other Fujifilm X lenses with great sharpness and contrast. The AF is amazingly fast, unfortunately the AF motor is not silent so it is less suitable for videoing.
You can’t appreciate the compactness of the XF 27mm unless you have compared it with other XF lenses like the 18-55mm f/2.8-4. The 18-55mm kit lens is considered to be a small lens but it is still probably 5 times longer than the XF 27mm. Having said all the good things, I would only recommend this lens if you want a compact lens. The XF 27mm f/2.8 feels a bit ordinary being a f/2.8 lens with a standard focal length 40mm (35mm equiv.), yet it is fairly pricey and that’s the premium you have to pay for its convenience. Here is a tip, consider getting the twin lens kit if you want the XF 27mm as well, it provides some saving than buying the lens separately. Alternatively, you could locate a XF 27mm that is separated from a kit, you might be able to get it for a good price.
MTF Chart
Vertical axis : Contrast S : Sagittal M : Meridional
Spatial frequency 15 lines/mm Spatial frequency 45 lines/mm
Specification
| Type | XF27mmF2.8 |
|---|---|
| Lens configuration | 7 elements in 5 groups (includes 1 aspherical element) |
| Focal length (35mm format equivalent) |
f=27mm (41mm) |
| Angle of view | 55.5° |
| Max. aperture | F2.8 |
| Min. aperture | F16 |
| Aperture control |
|
| Focus range |
|
| Max. magnification | 0.1x |
| External dimensions : Diameter x Length* (approx.) *distance from camera lens mount flange |
ø61.2mm x 23mm |
| Weight* (approx.) *excluding caps and hoods |
78g |
| Filter size | ø39mm |
Where can I find the equipment seen on this site?
If you find this site useful and planning to purchase any of the equipment seen on this site, please show your support by purchasing your photo equipment at B&H Photo Video, or through any of the affiliate links seen on this site.
