Hey everyone! I recently bit the bullet and picked up the Fujifilm X-S20, and I am absolutely loving the film simulations and the overall handling of the camera. It’s my first step into the Fuji ecosystem, and while the 15-45mm kit lens is okay for starting out, I’m already feeling a bit limited by the aperture and sharpness. I’m really looking to expand my kit, but after dropping a good chunk of change on the body, my budget for glass is a bit tight—ideally under $300-$400 per lens.
I’ve been doing some research and I'm a little overwhelmed by the choices. Since the X-S20 has such great IBIS, I’m curious if I should stick with native Fujifilm 'XC' lenses or if third-party options like Viltrox or Sigma are the better way to go for a beginner. I’m mostly interested in street photography and taking some nice portraits of my family with that creamy bokeh. I’ve heard the Viltrox 23mm or 33mm f/1.4 primes are fantastic value, but I’ve also seen some super cheap manual focus lenses from TTArtisan that look tempting.
Does anyone have experience with these on the X-S20? For someone just starting out, what would you say are the top 2 or 3 'must-have' budget lenses that really let this sensor shine without breaking the bank?
I went through this last year and unfortunately found the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 was not as good as expected because the chromatic aberration was literally terrible on the X-S20 sensor. Quick tip: youre gonna want lenses with a better optical formula and ED glass to minimize fringing at f/1.4. Lowkey, I had issues with cheap coatings and finally swapped to the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 XF.
Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.
^ This. Also, honestly, I am in the exact same boat right now with my X-S20 and it is incredibly frustrating. I have been trying to figure this out for like three weeks and still havent made a decision because every brand seems to have a major trade-off.
- Comparing the build quality of the Fuji XC line vs the fast apertures of Sigma.
- Worries about Viltrox firmware stability compared to first-party lenses.
- Deciding if third-party coatings can actually match the Fuji film sims. I am really struggling to find a clear winner between the different brands and it feels like I am just going in circles at this point. I just want to start shooting but I am terrified of making a $400 mistake.
There's a great resource at the Fuji subreddit called the "Fujifilm Lens Chart"—it’s a life saver! Basically, third-party glass has caught up to native stuff lately. It matters cuz you get f/1.4 bokeh for half the price of XF lenses. I’d probably grab the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for portraits and the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 AF for street. Both are beasts for under $400!! gl!
Just saw this thread and figured id weigh in since ive spent way too much time staring at MTF charts and brick wall tests over the years. If you want that technical edge without the price tag of the high-end primes, the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR is a staple for a reason. Its super snappy and very sharp wide open, which is perfect for street photography. Tbh the autofocus consistency on native glass still usually beats out third-party options in tricky lighting. If you specifically want that creamy portrait look, the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is arguably the best value lens in the entire Fuji ecosystem. Its technically superior to almost anything else under 500 dollars when it comes to resolving power and minimizing chromatic aberration. I have found the micro-contrast to be excellent for family shots. Check out the reviews over at OpticalLimits if you want to see the raw data on vignetting and distortion for these sensors. Another sleeper pick is the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 AF... it isnt as optically perfect as the Sigma, but its tiny and makes the X-S20 feel like a pocket camera for street stuff. Ngl, I still prefer the rendering on the native Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2 for a pure budget choice since it uses the same glass as the XF version but costs way less.
