sorry if this is a total beginner question but im super confused about lenses. i just got a fuji xt30 for travel and want something small for street photography. dont have much cash left after buying the camera, maybe around 200-300 dollars?
- needs to be compact - cheap - good for travel. is there anything decent i can get?
Honestly, you should grab the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Autofocus Pancake Lens. I have used this one for travel and street stuff over the years and its basically glued to my camera. It is tiny, super cheap, and you wont even feel the weight in your bag. In my experience, its the best value for money if you want that compact street look without breaking the bank.
Late to the party, but do you want a wider look for landscapes too? In my experience, the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 XF is a beast for street work if you dont mind manual focus.
Building on the earlier suggestions, it sounds like you have a ton of great options already! Folks here have covered the tiny pancake autofocus routes, the fast manual focus glass, and some really sharp third-party budget primes. Before you drop any cash, I have a couple of questions to help narrow this down:
- Do you actually prefer the speed of autofocus for your street shots, or are you cool with learning zone focusing techniques to save some money?
- Are you leaning more towards a 23mm or 35mm field of view for your style? Honestly, comparing the build quality between the cheaper third-party manual options and the autofocus ones is super interesting if you look at the optical charts. You have some choices to make regarding size versus performance!
@Reply #2 - good point! Seriously tho, the cost of glass nowadays is such a scam, it drives me crazy! TL;DR: Budget gear is impossible to find without compromise, honestly its ridiculous.
Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!
Just saw this thread and honestly, stop stressing about the expensive glass. For your XT30, you need optics that match that tiny body without sacrificing IQ. In my experience, these two are absolute gems that punch way above their weight class:
- Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary. This thing is insanely sharp wide open. It is a bit bigger than a pancake, but the f/1.4 aperture gives you so much more light in dim city alleys than the kit lens ever could. The bokeh is super creamy too.
- Rokinon 12mm F2.0 NCS CS. If you want something wider for architecture or tight street shots, this is the gold standard. It is fully manual, but the infinity focus is easy to nail. I have used this for years and the build quality is surprisingly rugged for how cheap it is. Both are basically legendary in the Fuji community for a reason. Grab one of these and you're good for years, honestly. Just pick based on whether you want a 'normal' view or something wider for those big cityscapes.
Just catching up on this thread. If you want something super compact and sharp, check out the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 Manual Focus Lens. It is definitely a bit niche because of the manual focus, but for street work, you can just zone focus and leave it. It creates such a cool, moody look that kit lenses just cant touch. Another solid pick if you prefer something wider is the Meike 25mm f/1.8 Manual Focus Lens. Honestly, its dirt cheap and surprisingly rugged for the price. Just remember that without autofocus you have to practice your distance judging, but thats half the fun of learning street photography anyway. Hope you find something that fits your kit.