7Artisans has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality, budget-friendly manual focus lenses, several of which I personally own and enjoy using. So, when I heard they were venturing into autofocus lenses for Fujifilm, I was excited to see how their first attempt would measure up. After spending some time with the new 7Artisans 27mm f/2.8 AF, here’s my take on its build, autofocus performance, image quality, and overall value.
Build & Design
One of the first things you’ll notice about this lens is its compact “pancake” design—a perfect match for Fujifilm’s lightweight, travel-friendly cameras. Its all-metal construction gives it a solid, premium feel, something I’ve always appreciated about 7Artisans lenses. Weighing in at just around 100g, it’s an excellent choice for street photographers, travelers, or anyone looking to keep their setup small and discreet.
While it doesn’t have weather sealing like some of Fujifilm’s native lenses, a bit of care in harsher conditions should keep it performing well. One notable design choice is the absence of a manual aperture ring, a common feature on many Fujifilm lenses. Initially, I missed having that tactile control, but using the cameras front function dial for aperture adjustment quickly became second nature in zipping between f2.8-f16.
The build quality, however, is where this lens truly shines. The metal construction feels solid, the manual focus ring is smooth and precise, and there’s zero play in its movement. Even the lens mount is polished metal—a detail that really stood out to me. In fact, when this lens arrived, I was in the middle of servicing a big-name 28mm lens that costs five times as much yet is entirely plastic, mount included! That contrast alone speaks volumes about the craftsmanship here.
Autofocus Performance
Autofocus is where things get interesting. As 7Artisans’ first autofocus lens for Fuji, I wasn’t sure what to expect—but I was pleasantly surprised. The autofocus performance is fast, quiet, and impressively comparable to Fujifilm’s 23mm, 35mm, and 50mm f/2 primes. It locks onto subjects quickly and accurately, delivering snappy results in a variety of conditions.
I put it through its paces in low light, expecting some AF “hunting,” but it never missed a beat—snapping to the subject every time with remarkable precision. Performance remained strong even in dim environments, with no noticeable slowdown.
What really impressed me, though, is just how silent this lens is. 7Artisans clearly worked some magic with the stepper motors because this isn’t just quiet—it’s the quietest AF lens I’ve ever used. You have to put your ear right up to the lens to hear anything at all. I always thought Fujifilm’s lenses were quiet, but this takes it to another level.
Image Quality
For a budget-friendly AF lens, the image quality is very good! Here’s a breakdown of its performance across different areas:
• Sharpness: The lens is very sharp. In my tests which were predominantly low light I was almost exclusively shooting wide open. The results were excellent.
• Contrast & Colors: Out of the box, images have an excellent contrast very similar to Fujifilm’s native lenses. Colors are virtually identical to my Fuji XF 23mm f2.
• Vignetting: Shooting wide open, I did notice a slight vignette, but it quickly disappears as you stop down. In bright scenes with a lot of open sky—like the one shown here—you can see a bit of darkening in the top right corner. That said, how often do we shoot wide open with a bright sky dominating the frame? In this case, I had to push the shutter speed to 1/4000 to make it happen. Had I used a more typical aperture like f/8 for this scene, the vignette wouldn’t have been an issue at all.
• Bokeh: The f/2.8 aperture provides a decent background blur, though it’s not as creamy as faster primes. The rendering is smooth enough for portraits and close-up shots, especially at near focusing distances.
How It Compares to the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2
I would have preferred to compare this lens to the Fuji 27mm but not having one available to me, I will compare it to the Fuji XF 23mm f/2. Here’s how they stack up:
• Build Quality: The 7Artisans is more compact and feels more solid in its construction.
• Autofocus: Both lenses focus rapidly with no discernible difference even in low light. I’m not saying there is no difference, just that in my use I could not detect any.
• Image Quality: The 7Artisan lens produces beautiful results very comparable to my Fuji 23
• Price: This is where 7Artisans shines. The 7Artisans lens is significantly more affordable. In fact at roughly 1/3 the cost of the Fuji version, it’s a very attractive option for those on a budget.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
For a first attempt at an autofocus lens, 7Artisans has done an amazing job. The 27mm f/2.8 is compact, lightweight, and delivers solid optical performance at a very reasonable price. While it is lacking the aperture ring and weather sealing, it’s more than a viable alternative for the budget-conscious photographer.
Pros:
• Compact and lightweight design
• Fast and ultra quiet autofocus
• Sharp images
• Well-built metal construction
• Very affordable
Cons:
• No aperture ring
• No weather sealing
• Very minor vignette wide open with bright scenes
If you’re looking for an affordable, everyday prime lens with autofocus, the 7Artisans 27mm f/2.8 is a great option. It’s a fantastic choice for street photography, travel, and casual shooting, offering excellent image quality without breaking the bank. For those who already love 7Artisans’ manual focus lenses—like I do—this is a promising step into the world of autofocus.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, compact prime for your Fujifilm system. I will not only keep this lens as part of my kit, I foresee using it often.
