One thing I would add is to make sure the lens firmware is up to date. When I got my TTartisan 27mm out the box and onto my fuji x-e1, the auto focus wasn’t hitting right with the firmware 1.0.2. I had to find a friend with a PC computer to update it to firmware 1.1.0. Now the 27mm focus is working great. Going to let a friend borrow it to use on his x-e4 and see if he likes it better than the fuji 23mm f/2 he says is too cumbersome.
I think TT artisan making AF lenses for fuji is a great move. The Fuji system lacks really cheap lenses, like you have for Canon (at least the EF mount) and Sony. I have been looking at these for a while, it is not much money but unfortunately I have more important stuff to spend the money on.
genuinely shocking how this review covered literally every question i had. like, honestly. having an x-h2 and x-a5 and was debating this lens for the exact purpose you described (walk around, easy) vs the fuji 27 and you just made my decision so clear and easy. and respect for keeping your opinions legit and not just going with the flow of what people say or do
I'm using this lens on my X-E3 and it is fantastic for the price. Yes, f2.8 is imperfect, but f4 to f8 is so good that my advice is treat this as an f4 lens and you will not be disappointed. The only weakness is flare: but I use the included mini lens hood and compose accordingly.
I have Fuji's original XF 27mm, the WR version and this TTartisan one. Yes I am ill, I am obsessed by the 40-45mm FF equivalent FOV having several lenses for my various film cameras in this range. However I do feel I can give an objective review of the XF mount lenses in 27mm. The WR version gets a lot of love online. I do not see why. Compared to the original it seems to be made quite flimsy and it basically has the same IQ and AF performance. Yes it does have an aperture ring, which is nice, but I don't find it very easy to use as there is not much to grab hold of. Yes it also has WR, but unless you are using it on a WR camera this is meaningless, and of course none of the smaller Fujifilm cameras, which it is ideally suited for, have WR. Comparing the WR and TTartisans, the TTartisans has very similar AF performance and IQ. The WR (and original XF) are slightly smaller but IMO the TTartsan looks better on the X-T1,2 etc line of cameras due to the slightly larger size. In addition, to protect the front element both the Fujifilm lenses you really do need a hood attached, but the larger body of the TTartisan means that this lens does not. The hood provided by the TTartisan lens is the biggest cause of vignetting and if you do not use it the problem goes more or less away. Despite what YT channels say the aperture ring on the TTartisans is better designed as it is easier to feel and has more positive clicks. What is more you can use a finger of your right hand to change aperture quite easily due to the raised nature of the ring. None of this means though that the WR lens is a bad lens. It is not, but it is hard to see why it was ever released as it is no better than the original, and if one is buying it because one wants a small pancake lens for one's Fujifilm camera it represents poor value for money unless one gets it as part of the X-E4 (another slight mis-step in the Fujifilm line) kit when it becomes killer value (is that option even available now though?). I would buy either the TTartisans (keep the hood in the box!) for a X-T1, 2,3 etc. or a used XF original for an X-E, X-S or X-T10,20,30 etc. I can see me selling my WR version and getting Voigtlander's f2 MF lens instead for my X-E3.
@@TheWarnack The physical footprint of the TTartisans is a bit bigger than the Fuji models. It seems to suit the larger bodies a bit better aesthetically IMO. Of course it will work just as well on any of the bodies. Since I made my comment I have used all three lenses quite a bit. I stand by what I say about the relative IQ of the lenses, but the TTartsans has appreciably quicker and quieter AF. The original XF 27 seems to have the best build quality. I am not sure but I think the Fuji lenses focus a bit closer.
Bought one of these off of B&H about a month ago. Updated the firmware and it works swell on my X-T3. I'm sure it's not as fast as the Fuji but I can't complain for the price. It works fine for me and makes the X-T3 a little easier to carry.
I love knowing that I’ll never have to look at a dang brick wall photo test when clicking your videos. Thank you, for giving no non sense useful content.
Nice! I also do like smaller "pancake" lenses. Looking for a used, good price 18mm f2 after your video on it. Also, I hope you will have the chance to take a look on Voigtlander 27 f2 whenever it comes out.
Years ago when i was choosing a camera and a new system to get into, I discarded Fuji because it didn't have cheap lenses from third party makers. Then Canon M was dying. So i went with Sony, but never really enjoyed shooting Sony. Now I'm trying to decide between keep with Sony, go to Fuji or Nikon. One thing is good about Nikon Z are the pancake and small lenses, the TTartisan 32mm f2.8, the Nikon 40mm f2, Nikon 26mm f2.8, Nikon 28mm f2.8, Sigma 56mm f 1.4 all relatively cheap and small. Sony have not full frame pancakes, maybe the Rokinon / Samyang 35mm alone.
I just got back into the fuji game. Used to have an xt3 sold it, bought a gh5. Now got a xh1. I like your reviews cus its straight up and no bull. Appreciate the videos brother
I really like TTartisan on my xt3. I have the 17mm 1.4 and the 50mm 1.2 and have been thinking about this focal length for a while! I agree with you totally, while chart and wall reviews can be interesting at times, it doesn't tell a whole story (unless your job is photographing charts and walls LOL).
I've got both yourself and Dorian on my subscription list already :-) good to see TTartisan moving into AF lens systems, wonder when they will do a zoom
Really enjoy the look of this lens, the light weight and form factor, the focal length etc. I really really like the look of the lens. It's contrasty and colorful and has a really nice look to it and I don't mind some vignetting, I am often adding some anyway with a lot of my photos. The biggest issue for me was the autofocus isn't as fast or accurate as the Fuji lenses...for taking photos of my dog. I also don't like the lack of close focus. For street photography etc I really enjoy it. I have a 39->58 step up and a 58->52 step down ring on the front of mine and love the way it blocks the text on front and gives this anonymous purely black look. I almost sent back my 23mm f/2 R WR because I was so happy with this but decided I still would keep that as well for the faster AF, closer focus, and for night shooting the cleaner image characteristics and stop brighter matter a lot. But whenever I walk out I am deciding which of those I want to pick up.
I just got TTartisans 50mm f/1.2 manual and it is great! For $100 it is amazing. Build quality is great and the aperture ring is so nice. The 27mm is next to go on my x-e4.
Excited to see someone have some good things to say about this lens. Been trying to figure out affordable fuji set up and have landed on getting this lens with the older fuji film xt-30
I am excited to see more 3rd party lenses putting out competitive lenses that are affordable and make it an easier entry for people to get into cameras. I need to check out the lens a bit more from other photographers for sure, haha. Thanks for the video, the information, and experience use on the lens! :3
Its fun shooting with cheap good quality image lenses. My wife and I have a lot of fun shooting on the Fujifilm 14-45mm on our Xe2s and Xe3. This looks fun without breaking the bank.
Question, I do not buy pre-sets but I love and look up your photos anyway you could do a full post processing video. I’m sure many of us would be interested to check that out.
I'm glad this is an option, really hoping that the third party lens companies make other compact/pancake lenses outside the 18 and 27 mm. Always appreciate your views on gear, thanks for the review!
I'm not sure about wet feet, but this lens looks like a winner to me. I'm going to get it for my trip! Thanks for a very practical (non-technical) review!
My only problem with this lens is that I got the silver one but should have gotten black. Is there a lot of cats eye in the bokeh and a heavy vignette? Yes, but that’s almost what I like about it. There’s a bit of charm and magic to the flaws of this lens. I hope TTArtisan follows it up with other “high character” AF lenses. I keep hoping they’ll do something like a 40/1.5 Biotar, to try to capture some of the look of a lens like a 58mm f/2 Helios 44, but with the convenience of a modern AF lens.
Love that lens. Picked one up off ebay, brand new, for $100 and shipping included. I find it renders a bit like my vintage lenses, and I really like it.
It's an excellent little lens. I used it on the XT5, and I thought it was pretty good. The only con I see to the lens is the vignetting, but for the price, you can't beat it.
I liked this lens, but updating it was a pain. It didn't recognize my Mac or my AMD-powered PC. Worked just fine on a borrowed Intel-based PC though. Other than that, was really into the lens itself!
I'm thinking about getting my 1st auto lens for my xpro1 and xt1. Yes I've never shot a with an auto focused lens on my fuji cameras. Xpro1 and xt1. All vintage lens. I wanted a pancake lens for my xpro1 because I wanted to be able to keep it on me and be able to keep it in my vest pockets. I'm not big on having the sharpest pics, just something that can artistically get the job done. So this seems like the lens. Thx ya for the video!
