The strange case of the 27mm

Just to share some thoughts about the experience I had with the Fujinon 27mm.

Being a 40mm (equiv.) fan, I always wanted an equivalent lens for the Fuji system, tried the 1st version of the 27mm but couldn't connect with it, the small size was nice but the lack of aperture ring was a killer for me.

So I kept using manual 28mm lenses and the excellent Pergear 25mm f/1.8 for that natural focal length. When the 2nd version of the 27mm came out I was immediately interested, equally small, with aperture ring and weather sealing, it was almost perfect! (only missing better AF motor and maybe an upgrade to f/2).

After some search I finally got one. Since I sold the original X100 and X100F I wanted to have a similar experience with the X-Pro2 but with a focal length I preferred, so this was perfect. Except it didn't turn out that way.

I discovered that I couldn't connect with it again, it wasn't about the aperture ring after all. My brain just won't "see" with the 27mm, it's either too close or too far away, just not natural to me.
I did try to insist and get used to it for some months, but I finally decided that it didn't made sense to force it anymore and trade it for a Fujinon 23mm f/2 WR. With the 23mm I feel at home again, my brain knows what to expect and it feels versatile for when I want to carry just one lens.

I really wanted to like the 27mm, the small size was so nice (I think the 23mm f/2 is oversized, just look at the excellent Canon 22mm f/2) and still not entirely sure why I didn't connect with it since as an example I really like (and use a lot) the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 for micro-four-thirds.

I know there's a lot of 27mm fans, but anyone also felt the same?

Having said all that, I did managed to get a few good shots with it: