Kamlan 28/1.4 APS-C review - The perfect focal length!

[@malfunkt]

This is actually one of my favourite lenses for shooting on Fuji. For manual shooting, I prefer the clickless aperture. I use the aperture ring as a fine control over the image quality and exposure. For other lenses, I'm okay with the stepped aperture (ie. Fuji zooms). I also had the Fuji pancake - a fine/fun lens - however, I preferred the KamLan overall for contrast, colour, and control.

[@tomscameras]

The Fuji 27/2.8 pancake now got a makeover and finally includes an aperture ring. I think it's a brilliant lens in its own right because it is so small ... but then, when I want to shoot, I also normally opt for the much faster f/1.4 lens instead! Thanks for your feedback! There don't seem to be thaaaat many folks using the Kamlan 28 ...?

[@malfunkt]

@@tomscameras definitely would love to have the new XF27mm. Seems the KamLan may be a bit popular in Asia judging by reviews. For Fuji having this focal length with such a bright aperture does give you a bit of a unique look. Also the KamLan can focus a lot closer than the Fuji 27mm so you can be quite creative with it in that regard.

[@tomscameras]

@@malfunkt Yes, close focus is really important! Every smartphone can do it these days so maybe that's why some lens manufacturers are now also paying attention to this!

[@tonymckeage1028]

Fantastic Camera Review, thanks for sharing

[@tomscameras]

Thanks Tony! Many regards to New Zealand!

[@ifeanyi_maduka]

It's an excellent lens. For colors and center sharpness, it's almost identical to the Sigma 30mm 1.4, and that's saying a lot. A clickless aperture ring is far more desirable for video work so you shouldn't call it a negative. It's subjective. Anyway, nice review, thanks for taking the time.

[@tomscameras]

Thanks for your feedback! I know the clickless aperture might be nice for video ... but for photography, it really is bad. Especially when you want to focus at open aperture and then stop down to let's say f/8 ... you can't do it without taking the camera off the eye after focusing. And focusing at f/8 is not very precise. I once made a video where I stated that they should make pre-set aperture rings again, like back in the 1950s. It would solve the whole problem. Video guys would have the clickless aperture and photographers could stop down in an instant and everyone would be happy :) Here's that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmmvcn6Ba8yGmLs

[@guspreasley2109]

I was the 1k sub!!!Great review as always Tom!

[@tomscameras]

Oh nice! Special thank you to you Gus! 🤠

[@techtt6213]

Congrats on the 1000 subs! Very deserved, great content.

[@tomscameras]

Many thanks! :)

[@kathdanophotography]

♥️♥️♥️

[@heshamabdulrahman2133]

congratulations and more power to you and we hope you'll reach the 100k in the near future.. watching you here in Matampay, Marawi City southern Philippines ;) I would like to ask you about the 28mm full frame vs the 28mm aps-c, which one would you prefer the most. thank you and best regards,

[@tomscameras]

Well, many many thanks for your support as well! I love that you're watching from all over the world! Photography is a universal power :)

[@25myma]

Thanks for the great review Tom!! I am looking for a new lens exactly in this range; the fuji 27mm is my favorite single-lens of choice but they should have made the mk.2 an f/2 because f/2.8 is too obsolete in some cases, both when you want to hide more backgeound by blurring and in low light. I am using the ttartisan 35mm in those cases but 27mm is almost 2x bigger frame, so I really miss it.

[@tomscameras]

Yes the difference betweeen 27/28mm and 35mm is surprising big! I have to admit I never used that Pentax 43 Limited myself, but I did use the 45/2 Contax G lens back in the day - also the Panasonic 20/1.7 on MFT - and I always loved that "a-little-bit-wider" field of view! The Fujinon 27/2.8 is a different beast. It is soooow small and also it's faster to shoot thanks for AF. Also a great choice but as you say, just a bit too limited in terms of aperture ...

[@25myma]

@@tomscameras Exactly! I love 27/28 because it's more comfortable indoors with people where a 35 is too tight but also good for closeup portraits where the 23mm distorts too much,... it really is the best walkaround focal and I was shocked when fuji kept it at f/2.8 on the second gen, who makes a f2.8 prime in 2021?!! 😐 I love this Kamlan, but it takes away the size advantage, so Ill keep looking😉

[@albertsmith9315]

I have had the new Fujifilm XF 27mm since March and it has been responsible for most of the photos that I've made in the last 4 months. I would love a fast aperture, but this lens is too big after using Fuji's little pancake. But yes, a 40mm-ish lens can be a great general use optic for many situations.

[@tomscameras]

@@albertsmith9315 … yes especially when paired with a small body like the X-E series, the pancake has its special merits! I can absolutely understand you even though I for myself prefer a more faster lens over a super compact one. Btw this makes me think if Nikon did the right thing in pairing a full-frame 28/2.8 with their new ZFC body … cause that means that their lens is neither fast nor really small …

[@MBFeniks]

My question is. Do you have plans to check out more KamLans lenses? Especially the 50 and 32mm f 1.1 mk2.

[@tomscameras]

If I get the opportunity, I will also check out more Kamlan lenses. But I don't have any samples available at the moment, unfortunately.

[@mrdogfight1]

Please do review the 50 1.1 and compare it to your other 50mm lens.

[@tomscameras]

I am currently checking out the Kamlan 21/1.8. And the Kamlan 50/1.1 II is on my shortlist. I think this brand is not as well-known (yet) compared to TT Artisan and 7Artisans, at least over here in Europe. But so far the Kamlan lenses have impressed me.

[@TwangThang57]

I had the 21mm version and shared the same dislikes as you.. I ended up returning the lens..

[@tomscameras]

Actually I'm really not decided yet if I sell it again (I bought it used, it was pretty cheap) or keep it for a while. I do really like the 28mm field of view and the imagees are good, but apart from that I prefer my TT Artisan lenses due to their better handling ...

[@TwangThang57]

@@tomscameras The images were fine, although colors seemed to lean toward green. I’ve tried a few Chinese lenses and still use the 7Artisan 35mm F2 Sonnar quite a bit. For all other focal lengths I prefer using adapted Nikon AI or AIS lenses.

[@tomscameras]

@@TwangThang57 Yes, many adapted lenses are fantastic. But if you're using an APS-C camera and want short focal length, it gets a bit more complicated. I had the Nikkor 28/2 AI on my Nikon D1x ... many years ago :) ... a gorgeous lens it was! But on a mirrorless camera (including the adapter) it would be a lot bigger and more heavy than a native 28mm lens like this Kamlan. That's one reason why I started using these new manual focus native lenses on my Fuji instead of old adapted full-frame ones. I only shoot RAW and find the color reproduction of the Kamlan 28/1.4 good, but I didn't shoot the Kamlan 21/1.8 yet ... maybe it's different/worse than the 28? I really wish TT Artisan or 7Artisans would add a modern 21-23mm lens to their offerings.

[@TwangThang57]

@@tomscameras For sure, the extra bulk and challenges of wider lenses is why I bought the Kamlan 21mm in the first place. I tend to live around the 50mm (full frame) focal length anyway, so the 35 Sonnar stays on my X-E3 most of the time. It’s a great lens!!