ugh ok so ive been researching this for like three weeks now and honestly im just getting more confused every single day. need a good lens for my fuji xt5 for street photography cuz im taking a trip to chicago next month and my current setup is just way too bulky. my budget is around 800 bucks max. so i was thinking about the fujinon 27mm f2.8 pancake because its super tiny and basically turns the camera into a pocketable point and shoot. my logic was i wouldnt look like a creep holding a giant glass tube at people. but then i started reading forums and now people are saying the autofocus is loud and slow compared to newer glass. ugh. then i looked at the sigma 23mm f1.4 instead. its bigger, yeah, but i get that extra light for evening shots in the loop and everyone raves about the sharpness. but wait, is 23mm too wide? i usually like a tighter crop. or maybe the fuji 35mm f1.4 for that magic rendering people talk about even if its an older lens design? im so indecisive its driving me crazy. which one of these would actually make my life easier in chicago next month without making my neck hurt...
Chicago street shooting in winter or even early spring means you deal with the wind, cold hands, and changing light fast. Forget the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR pancake if you actually want reliable autofocus when it counts. That motor buzzes and hunts just enough to miss a candid moment, plus the weather sealing is minimal.
- Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4 R has insane magic rendering like people say, but the AF is ancient and it rattles constantly.
- Sigma 23mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is sharp and great for low light, but it defeats your goal of staying lightweight and low-profile. I would suggest looking closely at the Fujifilm XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR. It fits right around your budget if you hunt used, and it gives you a tighter crop than 23mm which you mentioned you prefer. The linear motor is silent and lightning fast, which matters way more than saving two millimeters of depth when you are walking down Michigan Avenue. Whatever you pick, make sure to grab a comfortable strap because walking the Loop all day destroys your neck regardless of lens size. Take the 33mm or stick to a true compact if size is really your top priority.
In my experience, overthinking street glass will ruin a trip faster than heavy gear. I used to lug around the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary and while the low light is nice in the Loop, it gets annoying to carry all day. Eventually I switched to the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2 R WR because its cheap, tiny, weather-sealed, and locks focus instantly. Save your cash for deep dish pizza instead.
Been using this for years, no complaints