What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and XF 27mm F2.8 R WR?

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on a brighter f/2 maximum aperture, closer 0.22 m focusing, higher 0.13× magnification. The XF 27mm F2.8 R WR leads on a lighter 84 g body, a more compact 23 mm barrel.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or XF 27mm F2.8 R WR?

The XF 27mm F2.8 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 84 g and 23 mm long, versus 180 g for the XF 23mm F2 R WR.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR or XF 27mm F2.8 R WR?

The XF 23mm F2 R WR is the faster lens at f/2, against f/2.8 for the XF 27mm F2.8 R WR — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR vs XF 27mm F2.8 R WR: full comparison

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on more of the measurable specs, but the XF 27mm F2.8 R WR counters on a lighter 84 g body and a more compact 23 mm barrel.

Read the full XF 23mm F2 R WR review →Read the full XF 27mm F2.8 R WR review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR and Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8 R WR are two XF primes at different focal lengths — the XF 23mm F2 R WR (35mm equivalent) and the XF 27mm F2.8 R WR (41mm equivalent). The XF 27mm F2.8 R WR is the newer design, from 2021.

On the spec sheet the XF 23mm F2 R WR pulls ahead with a brighter f/2 maximum aperture, closer 0.22 m focusing, and higher 0.13× magnification, plus a couple of smaller edges.

The XF 27mm F2.8 R WR answers with a lighter 84 g body and a more compact 23 mm barrel.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 35mm-equivalent XF 23mm F2 R WR or the 41mm-equivalent XF 27mm F2.8 R WR. Once that's settled, XF 23mm F2 R WR has the edge on the specs above.

Where the XF 23mm F2 R WR wins

+a brighter f/2 maximum aperture
+closer 0.22 m focusing
+higher 0.13× magnification
+an 9-blade diaphragm
+quicker, quieter stepping-motor autofocus

Where the XF 27mm F2.8 R WR wins

+a lighter 84 g body
+a more compact 23 mm barrel

Who should buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR or XF 27mm F2.8 R WR?

Buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR if…

Pick the XF 23mm F2 R WR if a brighter f/2 maximum aperture and closer 0.22 m focusing matter to you. Anyone who wants one dependable, fast-focusing 35 mm-equivalent prime for daylight and general-purpose work, and does not need f/1.4 for close portraits. Read the full XF 23mm F2 R WR review for the details.

Buy the XF 27mm F2.8 R WR if…

Pick the XF 27mm F2.8 R WR if a lighter 84 g body and a more compact 23 mm barrel matter to you. Photographers for whom size is the deciding feature — the lightest Fuji kit, a jacket-pocket travel setup, or a discreet street camera that behaves like an X100. Read the full XF 27mm F2.8 R WR review for the details.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs XF 27mm F2.8 R WR: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR	Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8 R WR
One of the best-value primes Fujifilm sells — Fujicron pricing, metal build. Fast, quiet, confident AF — the quickest-focusing of the small 23 mm options. Colour rendering owners rate the nicest of the f/2 trio. Weather sealed with an aperture ring; 43 mm filters shared with the 35/50 F2. Crisp across the frame once stopped down to f/2.8.	Smallest autofocus lens Fujifilm makes — 84 g, turns a small body into an X100-sized rig. Very sharp with rich colour and strong micro-contrast; excellent SOOC JPEGs. R WR update adds weather sealing and an aperture ring over the 2013 original. Beats the cheaper TTArtisan 27mm on corners, vignetting, and build.
Soft wide open within ~1 m — the close-portrait weakness that sends owners to the F1.4. One stop slower than the XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR, with older-generation AF. No optical image stabilization. A full barrel, not a pancake — the 27mm F2.8 is far smaller.	Autofocus is slow-ish and audible — the focus noise carries into in-camera video audio. f/2.8 is a stop slower than the Fujicron primes; 0.34 m minimum focus is the longest of them. 41 mm-equivalent is a divisive "no man's land" — optically fine, stylistically flat for some. Roughly 2.5× the price of the TTArtisan 27mm for a modest optical edge.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 23mm F2 R WR review and XF 27mm F2.8 R WR review.

XF 23mm F2 R WR vs XF 27mm F2.8 R WR: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F2 R WR 23 mm · f/2 · 180 g	XF 27mm F2.8 R WR 27 mm · f/2.8 · 84 g
Optical
Focal length	23 mm	27 mm
35mm equivalent	35 mm	41 mm
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/2.8
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction	10 elements in 6 groups	7 elements in 5 groups
Special elements	2 aspherical elements	1 aspherical element
Aperture blades	9	7
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.22 m	0.34 m
Max. magnification	0.13×	0.1×
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	DC coreless motor
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	43 mm	39 mm
Diameter × length	60 × 51.9 mm	61.2 × 23 mm
Weight	180 g	84 g
Weather sealing	Yes	Yes
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	-10 °C
General
Announced	2016-08-25	2021-01-27

Highlighted cells are best in class between these two. Specs sourced from public Fujifilm product pages.

In-depth reviews

For the full long-form review of each lens, see the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR review and the Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8 R WR review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the XF lineup.