Pergear 25mm f/1.7

This Pergear 25mm f/1.7 is a compact manual-focus prime for everyday shooting. Versions exist for Fujifilm X, Sony E, Canon RF, Micro Four Thirds and Nikon Z, and the optical design covers APS-C. On these crop sensors, 25mm gives a near-normal view that suits street, travel and everyday photography.

The f/1.7 aperture lets in plenty of light for evening streets and dim interiors. That brightness also keeps the design compact. The main trade-off is focusing: you turn the ring yourself, with no autofocus to help.

Pergear released this lens in 2024, and it remains in production as a current model.

The Fujifilm X version weighs 5.8 oz (165 g) and measures 1.81 in (46 mm) wide. Every version runs 1.46 in (37 mm) long, so it adds little bulk on a compact body. Screw-in filters must match the 37mm thread. Our physical score for this lens is 57/100.

A 25mm prime on APS-C frames scenes with a near-normal perspective. Streets, cafés, markets and indoor gatherings sit naturally in the frame. You can step closer to fill the composition or step back to include surroundings. Focus reaches as near as 0.7 ft (20 cm), so you can work close to small subjects without stepping back.

The f/1.7 maximum aperture is bright for a compact prime. It keeps shutter speeds usable after sunset or inside poorly lit rooms, where a slower lens would force higher ISO. Wide open, it also softens background clutter behind a subject, though a 25mm angle gives gentler separation than a portrait lens would.

Manual focusing at f/1.7 rewards care. The wide angle provides generous depth of field, so slight ring errors matter less than on a longer lens. For fast action, the lack of autofocus limits you to still or slow subjects. Ten aperture blades help keep out-of-focus highlights round when you stop down.

Our optics score for this lens is 75/100.

The feature list is short by design. There is no image stabilisation, so dim-light handheld work rests on the bright aperture and steady hands. At 25mm, small camera movements show less than on a telephoto, which reduces the impact for stills. Handheld video may still show walking movement. A tripod or a steady brace replaces the missing stabilisation.

The lens has no weather sealing. Keep it out of heavy rain and blowing dust, and carry protection in changeable weather. There is no fluorine coating either, so the front element cleans like ordinary glass, with a blower and a microfibre cloth.

Each mount version fits only its own camera system, so order the version made for your body before buying.

Seven elements in five groups form a simple optical path that suits a compact prime. The Fujifilm X version includes no aspherical or low-dispersion glass. Focusing works through a dedicated manual ring alone. That simple layout suits its short body.