Fuji 27mm f2.8 Sonnar?

[shawn]

Is the 27mm f2.8 a Sonnar design? It is 7 elements in 5 groups like a Sonnar and the lens layout on pg22 looks pretty close: http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/pdf/x-complete_guide_01.pdf

I have had Fuji X series since the XP1 but always ignored the 27mm due to the lack of an aperture ring. I was never impressed with the Panasonic 20mm on m4/3. On the flip side I really enjoy the 40mm Sonnar on the Rollei 35S and the 38mm on the Contax T.

Wanted to see if I could get an XE2 down to fitting in a belt pouch so I tried a used 27mm cheap. Only shot a little bit with it but it gives a feel similar to the Rollei and Contax sonnars. I do miss the aperture ring but am dealing with the dial as it is a tiny, light little lens.

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[back alley]

i use the xe2 and 27 combo as a daily carry camera...good combo...
i have never read or heard of the 27 being a sonnar design but now you have me curious. tomorrow i plan to look at my 27mm shots to see what i can see.

 

[gavinlg]

It's a really good lens indeed but the lack of an aperture ring and the slow aperture makes it a dud for me unfortunately. Sold mine after travelling round Europe with it - wish i had taken a 35mm f2 or either of the 23mm's instead.

To me it renders like a tessar. Contrasty and well corrected.

 

[back alley]

i don't understand the aperture thing...don't all dslr cameras use lenses with no aperture rings?
not having a ring is a pita in that all my other fuji lenses have them but it's not hard to shoot w/o one.

 

[DwF]

Sonnar or not.....

Sonnar or not.....

I have the 27mm f2.8 and find it useful for its size, and the quality is certainly there. While I have yet to make a real keeper image with it, I have seen some from other photographers.

I also had an issue about the lack of aperture ring but really it's not a big deal. It was a design decision and a good one to maintain a "pancake" profile.

I figure when I go out shooting, I have a sense in advance what sort of shooting I might be doing -shallow DOF or not, and then it is a matter of wide open f2.8 or f4 (usually the case) or just set it at f 5.6 or 8 and be done! It's like that 21 speed, how many gears does one typically use on a ride around the town?

 

[Archlich]

Although superficially resembles the pre-war Biogon which is Sonnar-derived, it's actually quite a sophisticated design. Similar to the 23/2 on the X100, but surely differs much from the 40/2.8 and 38/2.8 Sonnars on the Rollei and Contax - those were plain Ernostar/ Sonnar.

You never know what the combined power a doublet or group produces without first-hand data. I'd say if you are after that Sonnar look, get a genuine Sonnar. Modern lenses will give you sharp, contrasty modern results.

 

[gavinlg]

i don't understand the aperture thing...don't all dslr cameras use lenses with no aperture rings?
not having a ring is a pita in that all my other fuji lenses have them but it's not hard to shoot w/o one.

Well, one of the big reasons I got a fujifilm over DSLRs was the physical ring control system - I hate the eos style command dials on the body and feel that proper shutter and aperture rings are much more intuitive.

 

[shawn]

i don't understand the aperture thing...don't all dslr cameras use lenses with no aperture rings?
not having a ring is a pita in that all my other fuji lenses have them but it's not hard to shoot w/o one.

True, but one of the initial draws to Fuji, for me, was the traditional controls. Would be a neat trick if Fuji set it so that in AF modes the focus ring acted like the aperture dial on the 27mm.

Shawn

 

[shawn]

Although superficially resembles the pre-war Biogon which is Sonnar-derived, it's actually quite a sophisticated design. Similar to the 23/2 on the X100, but surely differs much from the 40/2.8 and 38/2.8 Sonnars on the Rollei and Contax - those were plain Ernostar/ Sonnar.

You never know what the combined power a doublet or group produces without first-hand data. I'd say if you are after that Sonnar look, get a genuine Sonnar. Modern lenses will give you sharp, contrasty modern results.

Yes, it is definitely a bit different than the Contax 38mm or the 35mm on the Nikon 35AF as shown in the attachments. But there is a fair amount of variation in a lot of the Sonnar lenses out there depending upon focal length and when the lens was built.

I have several Sonnar lenses including the 35AF adapted to Fuji, Contax 50mm 1.5, early Nikon 105 f2.5, Rollei 35S, Contax T.

Shawn

 

[twopointeight]

I had the 27mm on a XE2s body, which was very good. I liked using the wheel to focus that lens, a throwback to my Nikon SP. But I sold it. Perhaps if the XE3 gets here I'll set that up with the 27mm?

 

[dixeyk]

no aperture ring...

no aperture ring...

The combination of tiny, reasonably good AF (even on m y X-P1) and being insanely sharp around f4 or f5.6 makes up for the lack of aperture ring. I would definitely prefer that it has one but it's a mighty fine lens none the less.


damplock by kevin dixey, on Flickr