Just picked up a used X-T30 and the kit lens is fine but I really want that blurry background look for taking photos of my cat and street stuff around Chicago. Im on a super tight budget, like under 300 bucks max, and I cant decide between the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 or saving up a bit more for a used XC 35mm f/2. I know the XC is native and has autofocus which is nice but the manual one is so cheap and looks cool. Is the AF worth the extra cash or should I just go with the cheaper manual one and learn to live with it?
Man, congrats on the X-T30! Seriously such a fun camera. Ive been thinking about your dilemma all afternoon and honestly, get the autofocus lens. I tried going all manual when I started but it gets super frustrating when you are trying to catch a quick shot of a moving cat! That XC lens is a total lifesaver.
- The Fujifilm Fujinon XC 35mm f/2 is just way more practical for street stuff
- You will definitely appreciate the snappy AF when your cat starts zooming around
- Check out the forums on FujiRumors for some sample shots to see the sharpness difference Learning manual is cool but for your primary lens, having the ability to trust the camera is amazing. You can snag a used one for pretty close to your budget if you keep an eye on MPB or KEH!
Caught this earlier but just getting to my keyboard now. Look, I spent way too much time in the manual focus phase when I first got my X-T2. I thought I was being artsy, but honestly, I missed so many shots of my dog running around the park. It got old fast. If you go with a manual lens like the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4, you better be ready for the frustration of missing focus while your cat is mid-pounce. I eventually picked up a Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 AF and it changed everything for me. Having that eye-detect actually work on the X-T30 is a game changer for street portraits. Save the extra cash for the autofocus if you can, because manual glass is fun until you actually need to nail the shot.
Re: Man, congrats on the X-T30! Seriously such a fun camera. I have been thinking about your dilemma all afternoon and yeah, people here are split on the AF versus manual debate. Everyone agrees that the cat situation is the real killer for manual focus though! If you really want that creamy background blur, have you considered a few other things before dropping your cash?
- Do you actually mind if your hit rate drops when the cat is zooming around?
- Would you be open to a vintage lens with an adapter since you are on a tight budget anyway? Honestly, playing with vintage glass is super fun and usually way cheaper than native options. Since you are in Chicago, maybe hit up a local camera shop and see if you can handle a manual lens first? Just dont rush it!
Congrats on the X-T30, its a stellar little body for street work. Honestly, ive been shooting Fuji since the early days and have cycled through way too many lenses over the years. That manual focus versus autofocus debate really comes down to how you shoot. Manual glass has a certain feel that makes you slow down and actually engage with your subject. Its great for street, but trying to catch a cat moving around a living room with an f/1.4 manual lens? That can be a total nightmare unless you have superhuman reflexes. I remember spending weeks trying to nail focus on my pets with manual primes and eventually just giving up because I missed so many expressions. Before you drop the cash, id ask you two things to help narrow this down:
- How much patience do you really have when your cat is jumping around or doing something funny that only lasts for a second?
- Are you planning on doing more dedicated street photography where you can pre-focus at a certain distance, or is this primarily for candid shots of your pet where speed matters? If you really care about capturing those spontaneous moments, the native autofocus is usually a game changer. Let me know what you think and I can give you a bit more perspective on how those options handle in the real world.
