I am leaving for a trip to Tokyo in literally ten days and I still havent settled on a prime lens for my new X-T5. I am freaking out a little bit because I want to make sure I get the most out of that 40mp sensor but I need to stay within my budget and keep things relatively light for walking around all day.
I am currently torn between the XF 23mm f2 R WR and the XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR. I really like the size of the 23mm f2 and the price is great but I keep hearing people say it’s a bit soft on the newer high-res sensors when you are shooting wide open. On the other hand the 33mm f1.4 looks like a beast for image quality but it’s heavier and honestly stretching my budget to the limit right now.
Heres what I am looking for:
- Budget: Trying to stay under $800 if possible
- Use case: Heavy street photography, lots of night shots in Shinjuku/Shibuya
- Must be weather resistant because I know it’s gonna rain
- Needs to handle the 40mp sensor well
I was also looking at the 27mm pancake but the slower autofocus makes me nervous for fast street scenes. Which one would you guys grab if you were in my shoes and had to order it like... today?
i totally get the pre-trip panic. honestly, if you want to actually see the benefit of that 40mp sensor, you gotta be careful with some of the older f2 primes. they are great lenses but the X-T5 really shows their age when you start peeping at pixels.
- Fujifilm XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR: this is the safest pick for image quality. it is pin-sharp and was basically made for the high-res X-T5 sensor. the linear motor is super fast for street stuff. it is a bit chunkier, but the results are worth it for night shots in Shinjuku where you really need that f1.4 to keep your ISO down.
- Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR: i love the size, but like you heard, it struggles wide open on the new sensors. its okay for casual snapshots, but if you are planning to crop into your photos later, you might be disappointed with the lack of bite.
- Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR: the pancake size is tempting but the AF is definitely the slowest of the bunch. for busy crossings like Shibuya, it might hunt more than you want when things are moving fast. i would probably just bite the bullet and go with the Fujifilm XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR. its right at the edge of your budget but it guarantees you will get the most out of your camera. Tokyo is a big trip, so better to have gear that handles the rain and the high res without any issues... just make sure you have a comfortable strap because of the extra weight.
