So I finally pulled the trigger on a silver X-T30 II and I am obsessed with the look but now I am stuck on what glass to actually use for street stuff. I am planning a trip to Chicago in a few weeks and really want to keep the kit tiny so I can just blend in while walking around the Loop. I have been doing some digging and the obvious choice seems to be the Fuji 27mm f2.8 pancake lens but honestly the price for a used one is still pretty steep for me right now - my budget is strictly around $250 max after buying the camera body.
I saw some reviews for that TTArtisan 27mm AF lens which is way cheaper and seems perfect on paper but then I read a few threads saying the corners are super soft and the autofocus hunting is a nightmare in lower light. My logic was that maybe I could just go manual with a 7Artisans lens for like $100 but I am worried I will miss all my shots because I am not fast enough at focusing yet. Then there is the XC 35mm f2 which is cheap and light but it is not a pancake so it kind of ruins the pocketable vibe I am going for... basically I am just going in circles. Should I just bite the bullet and save for the real Fuji pancake or are the cheap third party ones actually decent for quick street snaps?
Honestly, forget the manual stuff if you're hitting the Loop for the first time. You need AF for fast street work! Get the TTArtisan 27mm F2.8 AF Fuji X Mount right now. People complain about the AF but they usually havent updated the firmware. The v1.1.0 update literally transformed the STM motor performance! Its snappy and way better than people give it credit for. Heres why it wins for your $250 budget:
- Weight is basically nothing at 93g
- The 40.5mm filter thread is tiny for stealth
- Optical formula is actually super sharp in the center where it counts for street stuff Sure, the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR has better weather sealing, but for $150 brand new? The TTArtisan is an absolute steal! Just make sure you use the USB dock on the rear lens cap to update it immediately. The Fujifilm XC 35mm f2 is amazing glass but yeah, it sticks out way too much for that stealthy pocket look you want.
Quickly jumping in here since i saw the ttartisan mentioned. Totally agree about the firmware thing, it really does change the lens. But if you're really worried about the corners and want another cheap option, i've been super happy with the Meike 28mm f/2.8 AF Fuji X Mount. I picked one up recently for a trip to philly and honestly had no complaints for the price. It feels a bit more solid than the other cheap pancakes to me and the autofocus was plenty snappy for walking around downtown. It stays very low profile on my x-t30 ii... basically makes it feel like a point and shoot. I managed to snag mine for well under $200 brand new which left me plenty of beer money for the trip. Its definitely a better vibe than trying to mess with manual focus when you're just starting out imo.
> I saw some reviews for that TTArtisan 27mm AF lens which is way cheaper and seems perfect on paper but then I read a few threads saying the corners are super soft and the autofocus hunting is a nightmare in lower light. Omg i am literally in the exact same boat right now!! It is so stressful trying to find something that doesn't feel like a total gamble. To add to the point above: your worries about reliability and safety are so valid. I remember buying a super cheap generic lens for my Fujifilm X-T30 II last summer and the mount was so poorly machined it actually got stuck on the body! I was sweating bullets trying to wiggle it off without snapping the electronic pins. It was a total nightmare scenario!! Then my cousin had a similar issue where the front element of his budget lens just... fell out while he was walking? Talk about a safety hazard for the sensor! I am honestly terrified of ending up with a paperweight in the middle of a trip. I still havent pulled the trigger on anything because of it haha.
Just saw this pop up and gotta say, i went through the exact same struggle. I tried going the cheap manual route with a 7Artisans 25mm f1.8 Fuji X Mount for a trip and honestly it was a disaster. Fiddling with the focus ring caused me to miss so many candid shots while people just walked past. It taught me that for fast street stuff in busy places like the Loop, having AF is a lifesaver. Since your budget is $250, look for a used Fujifilm XF 18mm f2 R. Its a tiny pancake-ish lens and that wide field of view is classic for street. Its an older lens so the AF is a bit noisy, but the image quality is great for the price. Quick tip: if you do go manual, look up zone focusing. Set it to f8 and focus at 3 meters. Most things will stay sharp so you dont have to hunt for focus.
