so Ive had my X-S10 for a few months now with just the kit zoom and Im really itching to get a proper prime lens for low light street stuff and maybe some casual portraits of my dog. budget is pretty tight though, trying to keep it under 300 bucks if possible. Ive been staring at the TTArtisan 27mm f2.8 cause its super cheap and tiny, but then everyone keeps raving about the XC 35mm f2 being sharper even if its plastic. my logic was the pancake would be fun for everyday pocketability but maybe 35mm is more versatile? torn between these two and cant decide which one to pull the trigger on...
Go for the Fujifilm XC 35mm f2 if you want sharper shots, but keep this in mind:
- The pancake is way more pocketable
- Autofocus on the Fuji is faster too Honestly cant go wrong with either tho.
^ This. Also, I have unfortunately had serious reliability issues with ultra-budget manual electronics in that price bracket, specifically regarding mount tolerance degradation over time. When looking at the Fujifilm XC 35mm f2 versus cheaper alternatives, the electronic communication pins and stepping motor consistency on official glass are simply superior for tracking moving subjects like pets. Budget pancakes often suffer from loose tolerances after a few months of daily pocket carry, leading to intermittent connection errors on the body. Save yourself the headache and stick with the official Fuji glass for long-term peace of mind.
Honestly both of those lenses are super solid choices for that budget! Not sure if the pancake is worth giving up that extra bit of sharpness tho. I think the 35mm focal length is just so much easier to work with when you are trying snap pics of a moving dog without getting right up in their face. Plus that extra stop of light really saves you when the sun starts going down. But hey if you want something you can literally throw in your coat pocket and forget about, the tiny pancake style wins hands down. Just trust your gut on what youll actually carry around everyday!
Agree with the previous advice. Personally, I found the focal length change really shifted how I see street scenes. Over the years, I learned:
- focal length > sharpness
- size dictates use