Story time: I went through this exact thing w/ an X-S10 + the kit zoom… indoor kid chaos is brutal lol.

- I tried the “one fast prime” route first. Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR (used around $250–$350) was honestly a huge upgrade vs the kit indoors. AF felt snappier, and f/2 let me stay at like 1/250 more often. But… 35mm (50ish equiv) sometimes felt tight in a living room, so I was backing into walls.

- What ended up living on my camera the most was wider: Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR (I paid ~$320 used, usually $300–$450). That focal length just “fits” family moments—couch, kitchen, birthday candles—without having to sprint backwards. f/2 isn’t magic, but it’s enough of a bump, and I got fewer missed shots because framing was easier.

- I also borrowed Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (Fujifilm X Mount) (saw it used ~$450–$550). Not as bright as f/2, but the constant f/2.8 + zoom flexibility was reaaaly helpful for parties.

- Budget tip: I’ve had the best luck buying used from reputable shops (rated “excellent”) vs random listings… fewer decentered lens surprises, you know?

Anyway, that’s what worked for me—curious if you lean more “close candids” or “whole room” shots?

Ok so… been there. I was missing SO many indoor kid shots til I switched to a small fast prime (not a zoom) and just leaned on higher shutter speeds. TL;DR: prioritize fast aperture + quick AF, then set a “safety” baseline (like 1/250 for running kids) and let ISO climb—noise is safer than blur. Also: use continuous AF + face/eye detect, and keep a simple strap/wrist strap so you dont drop it mid-chaos… lol. gl!

For your situation, I’d look at these 3, depending on how close you shoot:
- Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR: amazing indoors (wider = less blur), fast AF, tiny. Great “in the room” kid lens.
- Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR: seriously sharp + snappy, awesome for candid faces, but you’ll back up a lot inside.
- Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (Fujifilm X Mount): best value zoom… f/2.8 helps a ton vs kit, stays small. Also crank ISO + use 1/250s for kid chaos, right?

- For your situation, I’d suggest the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR as the “default kid lens” on the X-S10. I’ve used it indoors a ton and it’s fast to focus, sharp, small, and f/2 is a legit step up from the kit zoom for freezing chaos (at least thats what worked for me).
- If you want more “living room coverage,” the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR is awesome too—same vibe, just wider so you’re not constantly backing up into furniture lol. Just be careful with shutter speed indoors… I try to keep it at 1/250+ for kids, right?

Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.

To add to the point above: I’ve been using the X-S10 for family stuff for nearly two years now and it’s a solid little tank. Honestly, I agree that small primes are usually the way to go, but I’m much more satisfied with the results since I moved to a lens with a Linear Motor. I eventually picked up the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR used and it has basically lived on my camera ever since. The autofocus is way more reliable than the smaller f/2 designs when the kids are actually running around. Tbh it was worth the extra cash for the peace of mind and works well even when the lights are low. Quick tip: check your AF-C settings. I usually stick to Zone AF for the little ones instead of Single Point... gives the tracking more room to work. Also, dont be afraid to bump that shutter speed way up. I'd rather have a noisy shot at 1/500 than a blurry mess at 1/125 any day.

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

This ^

Same setup here, love it

Bump - same question here