Finally picked up a used X-T30 and I am honestly so lost on which glass to get for street shots. I keep seeing people swear by the 23mm f/2 because of the classic focal length, but then others say the 35mm f/1.4 has some kind of magic character that the newer lenses lack. I am looking to spend maybe 400 bucks max, and I really want something compact for walking around downtown Seattle this summer. Im worried the 35mm might be too tight for tight alleyways but the 23mm might be too boring? Is the extra cash for the f/1.4 even worth it for a beginner like me...
Building on the earlier suggestion, I gotta push back on the obsession with the older 35mm. In my experience, people romanticize that lens way too much because of some nostalgic 'magic' that honestly doesn't matter if your shot is out of focus. That lens is notorious for its noisy, slow autofocus motor which is a nightmare for street candid stuff when you have a split second to grab the shot. Over the years, I have learned that reliability beats character every single time. If you want to actually capture downtown Seattle without fussing with missed focus, look at these instead:
- Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR is the gold standard for your X-T30. It focuses in a blink and the weather sealing gives me peace of mind when the clouds inevitably open up.
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is a sharper alternative if you decide 23mm is too wide. It handles low light brilliantly and the AF is rock solid compared to the older Fuji glass. Dont get me wrong, the 35mm f/1.4 has a look, but as a beginner, you want to build muscle memory and trust your gear. Don't waste money chasing bokeh signatures when you should be learning how to frame your street work. Save the extra cash for a good strap or an extra battery, trust me. You'll thank yourself when you aren't stuck waiting for the lens to hunt for focus.
Late to the party, but for street work in Seattle, you might want to consider the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 if you really want to save some cash and keep things tiny. Honestly, for the price, it is pretty wild. Just be careful with the build quality since it is not as rugged as the native Fuji glass. If you want something with a bit more character, look into the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS for those super wide alleyway shots, but make sure you are comfy with manual focus. Honestly, stick to the 23mm range if you are just starting out because 35mm can feel kinda claustrophobic when you are in a rush. Just watch your shutter speeds, man. Downtown can get pretty dark under those building shadows.
Honestly, stick to the compact primes from Fujifilm if you want to keep that X-T30 setup tiny for Seattle. I spent a long time testing different optics and really found that the native stuff just works well with the sensor.
- Stick to the native system
- Go for a fast aperture
- Look for weather sealing I am super satisfied with my choice for walkaround street work. Just grab any of the smaller, lighter primes from Fujifilm and you really cant go wrong.
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