need a street lens for my x t5 asap heading to nyc next wednesday and totally freaking out cause i still havent decided. ive been reading a ton of reviews online saying the 23mm f2 is the ultimate classic street setup but then others swear by the 27mm pancake for being super tiny and discrete. my budget is around 500 bucks max since i just bought the body. basically i need something compact enough to shoot from the hip without drawing weird looks in crowds, fast autofocus because people move quick obviously, and sharp enough for heavy cropping if needed. so between the 23 and the 27 or maybe even the sigma 30mm which one should i actually buy before my flight?
grab the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR right now and dont look back! seriously its an amazing little lens for nyc. i took mine down to manhattan last month and it totally transforms the xt5 into an absolute pocket rocket. you can literally walk around midtown looking like a tourist with a point and shoot instead of a scary street photographer with a huge rig. here is why it totally crushes it for your trip:
- super stealthy pancake design that practically disappears on the body so nobody will ever give you weird looks
- amazingly sharp center even when you crop way in later on your computer
- weather resistant build which is fantastic if you get caught in random east coast drizzle
- stays well under your 500 budget so you have cash left over for subway food he autofocus is plenty fast enough for quick street shots too. the 23mm is cool and all, but that extra little bit of flatness on the 27mm makes a massive difference when you are squeezing through crowded subway cars or busy sidewalks. have an epic time in the city!
Re: "grab the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR..." - totally agree that the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR is great for size, but honestly missing an aperture ring clutch and getting stuck at f2.8 can be annoying in dark NYC subways. If you want something around the same price that lets in more light, grab the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR. It balances way better on the X-T5 body too.
Over the years shooting all over Manhattan, I've learned that gear choice really comes down to how you actually move through a crowd. Are you planning to shoot mostly from the hip like you mentioned, or do you prefer bringing the camera up to your eye?
- How close do you usually like to get to your subjects?
- Do you shoot more in bright daylight or underground?
No way, I literally just dealt with this yesterday. Small world.