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Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

I was really interested in this thing last year when it was announced and released. Initial info online seemed to be positive all around. Had hoped to see more local user feedback, but that never really seemed to take off much. I saw that there were a couple of other threads that didn't really provide a whole lot of useful ongoing feedback or sample images, where they ultimately died. So figured I could add my two cents, even if a bit late to the party.

Several days ago, I was presented with the opportunity to get a nice used copy at a nice discount. Between my general photographic boredom and what amounts to the cost of a few memory cards, I knew it was the heavens letting me know I should just pick it up to play with.

When it was released, I had a lot of doubts regarding the AF performance, as I had already previously had some underwhelming experiences with the Viltrox 56 and 23 in that regard. IQ was plenty good, but the AF would just miss more often than was acceptable for my taste (especially in some easy scenarios where it definitely wasn't expected). After shooting a decent amount with the 27 over the last few days, I can happily report that it is way better than my other experiences with Viltrox/Fuji. It's still a linear motor design, which is not quite as fast as Fuji's more recent offerings, but it is plenty fast enough.

The part that really surprised me though, was how much I would like the IQ. It is incredibly sharp, probably sharper than almost every Fuji lens I've had (which is basically all of the primes from medium to premium grade). The look in general, is very much to my liking.

It also now comes with weather resistance gaskets where there were none before. Much appreciated. All in all, the feel and performance of the lens is quite a surprise. A few people online had also mentioned that this thing was gigantic. For me, it doesn't feel that way at all mounted on the X-T4. Yes, it is larger than any of Fuji's offerings in this general focal range. However, none of them brings to the table what the Viltrox 27 does. Also, I am admittedly someone who shoots a lot of fast primes on multiple platforms where I am very accustomed to some rather large and heavy lenses.

Knowing what I know now, I would've gladly paid retail for this thing. Here's to hopefully providing some ongoing insight to anyone who might still at least be mildly interested in the lens.

How I'm carrying it

Viltrox 27/1.2 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Some sample images from a couple days of shooting.

Viltrox 27/1.2 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Aug 02, 2024 at 10:21 PM

RWNPhoto
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Seems large. Wider aperture and a lot larger than the pancaker 27mm Fuji.

Aug 03, 2024 at 01:52 PM

gear-nut
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

I like the ethos of the Viltrox lenses, but especially at the wider ends they are overly large, as big or bigger than zooms in the ranges. Granted faster optically, but still large. I personally would like to see some compact f1.7 options at say 9 or 10mm, 17-18mm, 23mm and 30mm.

Aug 03, 2024 at 02:59 PM

gaopa
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

When I shot prime lenses I had several Viltrox lenses and liked them a lot. I think the Viltrox lens is good quality, a great value and delivers excellent images.

Aug 03, 2024 at 03:25 PM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

RWNPhoto wrote:
Seems large. Wider aperture and a lot larger than the pancaker 27mm Fuji.

Definitely a lot larger than the pancake. I suppose that's the whole point of having horses for different courses though.

For the times I want to be compact, I have the Fujicrons. But when I just want to be at the upper end of what I can get out of the rigs...

Just as a reference, this is what I was reaching for previously as my standard walk-around. The Viltrox with the X-T4 is definitely a size and weight savings for my use case.

Size Reference by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Aug 03, 2024 at 03:41 PM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

The lens seemed to perform fairly well with regard to flare in my initial use. After using it more against the sun yesterday, my initial impressions were reiterated. The 27 does surprisingly well with regard to control of flare and how it looks when it does appear.

Some samples against the sun along with some other random snaps from yesterday.

Side note - Shot it with only the Haoge square metal hood the first few days, and then decided to try out the hood that came with the lens yesterday to see if there was a noticeable difference in performance. There wasn't. So for now, I'll continue to run it with the Haoge, as it saves some girth and about an inch of length in the front.

DSCF0128 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0133 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0103 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0119 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0143 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0140 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0141 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Aug 04, 2024 at 02:31 PM

Geoff D F
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

While I really like the idea of a fastish 27mm prime, the problem I have with this lens is simply its size. I think of a 40mm equivalent as an alternative to a fast 50mm. That is, an all-purpose walk around lens that is good for subject photography and just a bit wider than a 50mm.

But the f1.2 and the design aiming for wide-open corner sharpness has led to a pretty big lens. The 35mm f1.4 will give the same or better subject separation and is tiny in comparison, so it is a better option for subject photography and isolating the subject, whereas I just don't think f1.2 is needed when you are necessarily showing a bit more of the environment.

The photos above are a good example. The subject is not as large in the frame as would be the case if shot with a 35mm, but at the same time the background is quite blurred such that there is not much of interest as one's eyes naturally scan the space.

Aug 06, 2024 at 12:25 AM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Geoff D F wrote:
While I really like the idea of a fastish 27mm prime, the problem I have with this lens is simply its size. I think of a 40mm equivalent as an alternative to a fast 50mm. That is, an all-purpose walk around lens that is good for subject photography and just a bit wider than a 50mm.

But the f1.2 and the design aiming for wide-open corner sharpness has led to a pretty big lens. The 35mm f1.4 will give the same or better subject separation and is tiny in comparison, so it is a better option for subject photography...Show more →

Definitely some valid points for some use cases. Personally, I was previously using the Voigtlander 40/1.2 on Sony, which I loved. Then because of the significantly improved capture rate of the Sigma 35/1.2, I transitioned to that as my main daily driver. I love both of those focal lengths better than 50, as my preference for walk-around has always been just wider than that. I suppose this is just one of those "different strokes for different folks" things.

With regard to its size, this is also very subjective. I've personally wielded much worse, and continue to do so, with lenses that actually don't perform nearly as well optically. The copy I have of this thing is shockingly good from edge to edge from wide open and stopped down. Distortion and flare control is better than other similar lenses I have that are larger. Aside from that, if Fuji were to be the only system I was invested in, I'd definitely appreciate having this available to me for when I'm not shooting the Fujicrons. As it stands, I'm just a bored hobbyist, so I like having them all.

On another note, did some shooting to induce flare to see the different ways it responds (both stopped down and wide open). Also including a few more non-flare samples.

5.6

Viltrox 27 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Viltrox 27 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

1.2

Viltrox 27 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Viltrox 27 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Random samples

Viltrox 27 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Aug 07, 2024 at 03:30 PM

Geoff D F
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

My dream lens for the Fuji system would be a 27mm f1.4 or f1.8 (though Fuji doesn't do f1.8 lenses) with similar optical performance and size to the XF 35mm f1.4. Sadly, IMO, Fuji has gone the way of other manufactures and released much bigger primes in the quest for optical perfection.

Edited on Aug 13, 2024 at 08:57 PM · View previous versions

Aug 07, 2024 at 07:38 PM

mdude85
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Aug 08, 2024 at 10:24 AM

Geoff D F
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

mdude85 wrote:
What about all the f2 primes? It's only a 1/3 stop difference from f1.8.

We'll see what happens as Fuji starts updating their older lenses, but people seem to want to criticize a lens when it's not optically excellent, and then they'll turn around and criticize an optically excellent lens for being too big. If anything, with Fuji's move toward higher resolution sensors and wanting to capture more of the higher-end market, I see no reason that it would start compromising its lenses to make them smaller. People seem to like the fact that the lenses are hefty and made of...Show more →

I'd be happy with a 27mm f2 prime if it were a pancake design or similar. I agree too many reviewers and youtubers criticize lenses for not being perfect wide open and/or for being too big. I'm guessing this is just because they need something to say.

I'm not sure who needs corner to corner sharpness wide open. So long as its sharp in the centre wide open and useable across the frame at f5.6-f8 that is good enough for me. I've never actually seen a photo shot wide open that has been ruined by lack of corner sharpness, though I suppose one could contrive something.

The Fuji 18mm f2 also has some character despite being less than optically perfect as does the 60mm f2.4.

There is a reason why zooms of any kind typically never rate as 'magical'. Multi-element complex designs can at best hope for smooth, i.e. characterless, bokeh but the cheaper ones often just look nervous. And zooms also struggle more to get shallow DoF.

I suppose Fuji has to go where the market goes and if that is big, hefty optically perfect lenses so be it. It's just not why I bought into Fuji.

Aug 08, 2024 at 10:38 PM

rsrsrs
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

there is a MF 27mm 2.0 prime.
the difference to the fuji 27 2.8 are so small that i kept the 2.8 Fuji because of the AF.
And the Viltrox of course.

Aug 09, 2024 at 03:24 AM

mdude85
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Geoff D F wrote

I'd be happy with a 27mm f2 prime if it were a pancake design or similar. I agree too many reviewers and youtubers criticize lenses for not being perfect wide open and/or for being too big. I'm guessing this is just because they need something to say.

I'm not sure who needs corner to corner sharpness wide open. So long as its sharp in the centre wide open and useable across the frame at f5.6-f8 that is good enough for me. I've never actually seen a photo shot wide open that has been ruined by lack of corner...Show more →

I would love a 27 f2 prime as well. It doesn't need to be a pancake lens, something around the size of the 23 f2 would sell well I think.

Aug 09, 2024 at 11:37 AM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Geoff D F wrote:
My dream lens for the Fuji system would be a 40mm f1.4 or f1.8 (though Fuji doesn't do f1.8 lenses) with similar optical performance and size to the XF 35mm f1.4. Sadly, IMO, Fuji has gone the way of other manufactures and released much bigger primes in the quest for optical perfection.

I did love that XF 35/1.4 when I had it back in the day.

With regard to the bigger primes in the quest for optical perfection issue, I actually like having the options that are the big statement lenses alongside the compact options like the Fujicrons that rely a bit on in camera profile corrections. For my preferences, I'd just rather have the maximum awesome everything lens, and then the light/compact compromise lens next to it, as opposed to two lenses that are both compromises in their respective classes.

A prime example of a big letdown for me recently, was the release of the Canon RF 35/1.4. The rumors for a good long while, were that it was going to be a 35/1.2. I even bought a placeholder body just to have something in the stable to be ready to shoot with it upon it's release. But instead of a statement lens with few compromises, they released a hybrid/much more video-centric lens that relies heavily on profile corrections that is just "good enough." Not saying there isn't a place for it, but it wasn't the big splash that many of us were hoping for.

On another note, I did some handheld night shooting this evening and found that I can get pretty consistently usable results at 1/15th shutter with the Viltrox 27. Apologies for the redundant subject matter of the sample photos. It's the only thing my son wants to do these last few days of summer vacation. So for now, it's either my son fishing, or pics of my daughter in front of her iPad.

These were all wide open at 1/15th, ISO between 1250-2500.

DSCF0321 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0338 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0326 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0318 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Aug 10, 2024 at 02:55 AM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

MFD test. Definitely not a macro. But pretty darn good at MFD anyhow.

DSCF0359 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Aug 10, 2024 at 11:06 PM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Had a chance to use a buddy's X-T5 with the Viltrox and found that I was not nearly as happy with the AF performance. While not bad, it just seemed to be a bit less accurate (both in AF-S and AF-C in various modes), which was odd. I was expecting it to be a step up from my X-T4, if anything. Admittedly, I haven't done much reading up on the X-T5, so maybe I'm missing something here. Any of you guys have any thoughts on this?

Aug 11, 2024 at 06:55 PM

BeatX
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

JohnDizzo15 wrote:
Had a chance to use a buddy's X-T5 with the Viltrox and found that I was not nearly as happy with the AF performance. While not bad, it just seemed to be a bit less accurate (both in AF-S and AF-C in various modes), which was odd. I was expecting it to be a step up from my X-T4, if anything. Admittedly, I haven't done much reading up on the X-T5, so maybe I'm missing something here. Any of you guys have any thoughts on this?

My copy of Viltrox 27/1.2 when I'm using it with X-H2 hits every time in AF-S and AF-C, if the subject is not moving fast

I use this lens for concert photography with great success, even with extreme stage lighting conditions it nails focus almost every time.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting such AF accuracy (again, if subject is not moving fast).
For fast moving subjects, AF accuracy drops significantly.

On my flickr.com page there are couple of examples pictures taken with Viltrox 27/1.2

Aug 12, 2024 at 07:48 AM

Joseph.
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Cool shots man. Where is that lake? It kinda looks familiar. Do you eat the fish you catch?

Aug 14, 2024 at 08:14 PM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

This thing seems to handle walking speed movement fine. No speed demon with the linear motor. So the big distance AF shifts are not super fast. But if in the general vicinity already, it does perfectly fine.

Some more samples.

DSCF0414 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0420 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

DSCF0438-RAF by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Viltrox 27 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Joseph. wrote:
Cool shots man. Where is that lake? It kinda looks familiar. Do you eat the fish you catch?

Thank you. Lake is up here in the Central Valley/Bakersfield. No, my son just catches and releases.

Aug 15, 2024 at 09:08 PM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Happenstance and Boredom - Viltrox 27/1.2

Some more low light, handheld samples from last night.

Viltrox 27 by John Dizzo, on Flickr

Aug 19, 2024 at 10:25 PM

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