Ulanzi, best known for its tripods and lights, has announced its debut lens for mirrorless cameras, the Ulanzi AF 27mm f/2.8 APS-C lens for Sony E-mount. The Ulanzi CL02 AF 27mm f/2.8 APS-C lens for Sony E-Mount (F169), to be precise, is a small, lightweight, and affordable prime lens designed for photography and video applications. On a Sony APS-C camera, like the Sony a6700 or ZV-E10, the Ulanzi 27mm f/2.8 is equivalent to a 40.5mm lens. The autofocus-equipped lens has an electronically controlled aperture and supports internal focus, meaning that the length of the lens doesn’t change with the focus distance. It has an aluminum alloy bayonet, a USB Type-C port for firmware updates, and is “convenient and lightweight.” The lens weighs 182 grams (6.4 ounces) and features six elements across five groups. It has a 52mm filter thread and a minimum focusing distance of 0.3 meters (just under one foot). The lens doesn’t appear to come with a lens hood, and the end of the lens doesn’t seem to have the means to support an optional one, either.
Speaking of its appearance, the new Ulanzi AF 27mm f/2.8 APS-C lens resembles another lens recently launched by a Chinese brand. In late April, 7Artisans released the 27mm f/2.8 STM autofocus lens for APS-C E-mount cameras, and although the two lenses sport a different focus ring design, the general size and shape of the two lenses is very similar. They also both have a USB-C port, the same close-focus distance, and have six elements in five groups. The Ulanzi lens weighs about 10 grams more, but Ulanzi doesn’t specify if the weight includes one or both lens caps — 7Artisans’ specs specifically omit the caps. Ulanzi has yet to publish an optical diagram, so there’s no way to be sure if the two lenses share more than some specs in common. The Ulanzi CL02 AF 27mm f/2.8 lens is available to order now directly from Ulanzi for $139.95. It should appear in the company’s dedicated Amazon store shortly, and a link will be added once it does. There is no shortage of 27mm f/2.8 lenses for APS-C E-mount cameras. Ulanzi’s new release makes three, including the 7Artisans 27mm f/2.8 AF lens for $129 and the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 for $149. Image credits: Ulanzi
