Focus sound of the new XF 27 WR very loud?

As much as I loved the 35mm f1.4 lens, I couldn't live with the sounds it emitted when trying to acquire focus. Tried two copies and ended up selling both because of this.

I was wondering if anyone that owned both the 35/1.4 and the new 27/2.8 WR could comment on whether the 27mm is any quieter. Thinking about purchasing one but don't want to be returning it for reasons I could've avoided by doing some homework.

A couple of YouTube reviewers demonstrate the focusing sound, but it's difficult to determine how loud it really is because I don't know how close or sensitive their microphone was.

My local camera shop no longer carries the Fuji line of products in store so I can't check it out in person.

Yes I realize that whether something is noisy or not is  totally subjective and everyone has a different tolerance level so let's not get into that. I'm simply asking for a casual comparison.

Appreciate your thoughts.

I think it's same as old one. However, not many have their hands on it. I have it on update list for months from bh and adorama... still not available with the XE4 kit.

I think if the 35 1.4 bothered you, the 27 might also... I don't have the 35 anymore, but remember them being kind of similar...i'd rate the 27 slightly quieter though. The 35 and 60 were both quite noisy when I used them.

the 14 / 23 / 56 are quieter than those...

then the 16 23 35 50 f2 lenses, even more so.

jjz2 wrote:

I think it's same as old one. However, not many have their hands on it. I have it on update list for months from bh and adorama... still not available with the XE4 kit.

I think if the 35 1.4 bothered you, the 27 might also... I don't have the 35 anymore, but remember them being kind of similar...i'd rate the 27 slightly quieter though. The 35 and 60 were both quite noisy.

the 14 / 23 / 56 are quieter than those...

then the 16 23 35 50 f2 lenses, even more so.

Thanks jjz2.

You are probably right. I have been spoiled by the quick/quiet operation of the "crons" and my zooms.

Sometimes I think my X100V makes too many sounds when focusing.

Big Head Taco's YT video said the XF 27 is noticeably louder than the x100v.. ^

I looked at your gear list, I've had most of those at some point... 16/23/35 lenses, and the 18-55 (will prob get this again), 16-80. The 27 (at least the old one) is noisier than all of those.

I just got the new one this week. I used to have the previous one but sold it a while ago. As far as I can tell, it behaves exactly the same. Noisy and hunts a bit. On the X-E4 it’s pretty fast though. 
TLDR - make the assumption that it sounds, feels and is optically the same as the earlier version and you won’t be disappointed.

I have 27mm i like it though it is very loud. But this doesn't matter with me .it is my lens to go.

It's insanely noisy, much worse than the 35mm 1.4. I tried to live with it for a week then gave up and sent it back.

I have the new Fuji 27mm 2.8 WR and also the 35 1.4.

The 27mm is louder than the 35. It sounds really cheap and bad. The first time i heard the lens focusing i couldn't believe it. This lens sells for 450€! You could expect some decent technical quality from it.

There is although some hunting going on.

I like the image quality and the af seems to be accurate.

JohnnyP1 wrote:

I have the new Fuji 27mm 2.8 WR and also the 35 1.4.

The 27mm is louder than the 35. It sounds really cheap and bad. The first time i heard the lens focusing i couldn't believe it. This lens sells for 450€! You could expect some decent technical quality from it.

There is although some hunting going on.

I like the image quality and the af seems to be accurate.

Nothing wrong with the 'technical quality' of the 27mm. It's physics and simply a compromise to the size of the pancake lens. A more quiet motor technology would not have fit into the lens, without compromising its dimensions.

If you're valuing a fast(er) and silent focus, Fuji has other (larger/longer) lenses for that - the 23/2.0 and 35/2.0 being the nearest siblings.

FTOG wrote:

JohnnyP1 wrote:

I have the new Fuji 27mm 2.8 WR and also the 35 1.4.

The 27mm is louder than the 35. It sounds really cheap and bad. The first time i heard the lens focusing i couldn't believe it. This lens sells for 450€! You could expect some decent technical quality from it.

There is although some hunting going on.

I like the image quality and the af seems to be accurate.

Nothing wrong with the 'technical quality' of the 27mm. It's physics and simply a compromise to the size of the pancake lens. A more quiet motor technology would not have fit into the lens, without compromising its dimensions.

If you're valuing a fast(er) and silent focus, Fuji has other (larger/longer) lenses for that - the 23/2.0 and 35/2.0 being the nearest siblings.

Did you Design the lens? How do you know they couldn't fit a better motor? I think it is more a price question.

JohnnyP1 wrote:

FTOG wrote:

JohnnyP1 wrote:

I have the new Fuji 27mm 2.8 WR and also the 35 1.4.

The 27mm is louder than the 35. It sounds really cheap and bad. The first time i heard the lens focusing i couldn't believe it. This lens sells for 450€! You could expect some decent technical quality from it.

There is although some hunting going on.

I like the image quality and the af seems to be accurate.

Nothing wrong with the 'technical quality' of the 27mm. It's physics and simply a compromise to the size of the pancake lens. A more quiet motor technology would not have fit into the lens, without compromising its dimensions.

If you're valuing a fast(er) and silent focus, Fuji has other (larger/longer) lenses for that - the 23/2.0 and 35/2.0 being the nearest siblings.

Did you Design the lens? How do you know they couldn't fit a better motor? I think it is more a price question.

If you're buying a Smart, you won't fit into it a V8 engine.

Fuji has better AF motors (the Fujicron motors, or an LM motor). If it had been possible to fit it in one of its best selling pancake lenses, Fuji would have done so.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Too bad you cannot switch this lens to true manual focus and aperture control versus being forced to fly by wire. But I understand why it's the way it is. I suppose there's other 40mm (EQ) pancakes out there but by the time you add an adapter it isn't a pancake anymore.

Robmas4229 wrote:

I suppose there's other 40mm (EQ) pancakes out there but by the time you add an adapter it isn't a pancake anymore.

Exactly.  to quote Milton Friedman, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." That more true in engineering than economics.

The top three prime design criteria for this lens was small, small and high quality.  The pancake design puts constraints in other areas.   It's pretty simple.  Personally this lens is on my list to pick up as 40 mm (135) with that IQ and that small is a hard combination to pass up that is if one ever shows up in Amazon or B&H again.   I sincerely doubt that I would be willing to give up those advantages because of the sound focusing is.

Hell if it is that bad I put on competitive shooting headset.  It can't be any louder than my pistol.