Since you'll be shooting concerts with an X-T5, I'd recommend going with the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 lens. Here are a few reasons why:

The fast f/2.8 constant aperture will allow you to use faster shutter speeds to freeze the action on stage, even when the lighting is dimmer. It also enables nice background blur if you want to isolate a performer.

The 16-55mm zoom range gives you good flexibility - 16mm is quite wide for capturing the whole stage, while 55mm lets you zoom in tighter on individual artists.

This lens has stellar image quality and sharpness, even when shooting wide open at f/2.8. That's crucial for keeping details looking crisp.

The optical image stabilization provides up to 5 stops of stabilization, which really helps offset camera shake when you don't want to raise the ISO too high.

For autofocus, it locks on quickly and accurately thanks to the quiet linear motors. Useful for keeping pace with a fast-moving show.

Finally, the weather resistant construction offers more protection when shooting a sweaty, smoky gig!

It's not exactly cheap, but the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 is arguably the best concert lens for Fujifilm cameras.

For concert photography, if you want a zoom lens, you could buy Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS lens. This lens offers a versatile focal range and a fast maximum aperture, allowing for good low-light performance, which is often needed in concert settings.

Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R lens is an excellent prime lens for concert photography.

Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.

Man I wish I found this thread sooner. Would have saved me so much hassle.

For concert photography with a Fujifilm camera, you'll want a fast lens with a wide aperture to handle the low light conditions. A zoom lens is also very useful to capture a range of angles and compositions without having to change lenses. Based on that, here are my top recommendations:

1. Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR

• Versatile zoom range equivalent to 76-213mm
• Constant $f/2.8$ aperture throughout the zoom range
• Built-in optical image stabilization (OIS)
• Weather resistant (WR) build

2. Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR

• Standard zoom range equivalent to 24-84mm
• Constant $f/2.8$ maximum aperture
• Weather resistant construction
• Great for wider stage shots or in smaller venues

3. Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2 R

• 85mm equivalent focal length, ideal for tighter shots and portraits
• Very fast $f/1.2$ maximum aperture excels in low light
• Produces beautiful background blur and separation
• More specialized, but the speed and image quality are top notch

4. Fujinon XF 90mm F2 R LM WR

• 137mm equivalent telephoto
• $f/2$ maximum aperture
• Weather sealed
• Well suited for stage close-ups and detail shots

Those are my top picks that provide the speed, zoom versatility, and low light performance needed for concert photography with Fujifilm X series cameras. Pair any of these with a fast prime lens like the XF 35mm f/1.4 or XF 23mm f/1.4 and you'll be well equipped to capture some great shots!

Try the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8, if it is big, you may take a look at Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8.

The best Fujifilm lens for concert photography is the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR. As of now, the price is approximately $1,199.  

Regarding what #7 said about "Lol I was literally about to post the...", I have been looking into this as well but honestly its getting harder to justify the costs. The performance needs are real but the market prices are just ridiculous lately. It feels like a scam when you look at how much the entry price for pro gear has spiked while actual QC seems to be slipping. These companies just dont seem to prioritize the long-term reliability that used to be standard. It drives me crazy how much we have to pay just to keep up. Then you have the venue side of things where security treats anyone with a real camera like a threat. I spend more time arguing with gatekeepers than actually shooting because the gear looks too professional for their arbitrary rules. It is such a headache and honestly makes me want to leave the kit at home. Anyway... but yeah.

Saving this thread

Following

Commenting to find later

> The performance needs are real but the market prices are just ridiculous lately. I am right there with you on that. Unfortunately, I have found that sticking exclusively with the official Fujifilm lineup for concerts is not as good as expected when you actually look at the total bill. It is quite disappointing that a basic pro setup costs as much as it does now. I have had issues justifying the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR because the lack of stabilization at that price point is just frustrating for handheld stage shots. I had to look at other brands just to get decent results without going broke:

• Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Fuji X is usually around $700 and actually includes the stabilization Fuji left out.
• Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 AF Pro Fuji X is incredible for dark venues and costs way less than the native f/2.8 zooms.
• Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Fuji X is a much better value if you dont want to drop $1k on the Fuji 56mm. It is just a shame we have to look outside the brand to find gear that is actually priced reasonably... feels like we are being squeezed for every penny tho.

When it comes to concert photography with Fujifilm cameras, you'll want lenses that offer fast apertures, excellent optical quality, and versatility in low-light conditions:

1. Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R : A classic prime lens with a fast f/1.4 aperture, this lens excels in low-light situations, providing beautiful bokeh and sharp images. Its 35mm focal length (equivalent to 53mm on a full-frame camera) makes it ideal for capturing both portraits and wider shots of the stage.

2. Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R :Another fantastic prime option, the 23mm f/1.4 offers a wider perspective (equivalent to 35mm) while still maintaining excellent low-light performance. The sharpness and color rendition make it a favorite for many photographers in dynamic environments like concerts.

3. Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R :This portrait lens is perfect for capturing tight shots of performers, thanks to its flattering focal length (85mm equivalent) and ultra-fast f/1.2 aperture. It delivers stunning background blur and excellent subject isolation, making it a great choice for intimate concert settings.

4. Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR : For those who prefer zoom functionality, the XF 16-55mm offers versatility with a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. This lens is great for capturing a variety of scenes, from wide shots of the crowd to close-ups of artists, all while maintaining good low-light performance.

5. Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR : This telephoto zoom lens is particularly useful for larger venues where you might be further from the stage. With a constant f/2.8 aperture and excellent image stabilization, it allows for sharp images even at longer focal lengths, making it suitable for a range of concert photography scenarios.

Saved for later, ty!