Honestly im just so fed up with the fixed 23mm on my X100V. I love the camera for the form factor but man I feel like my shots are always missing that extra reach or personality. Everyone raves about this focal length but for the stuff I shoot in downtown Seattle I feel like I have to get way too close to people and half the time they notice me and the moment is totally ruined. Its super frustrating because I spent so much on this thing and I dont have another two grand to drop on a secondary body right now. I just want something that feels a bit more intimate maybe closer to a 50mm equivalent without having to do the digital crop thing which looks kinda soft anyway. Ive been looking at the TCL-X100 II teleconverter but is it even worth the bulk? I feel like adding that massive piece of glass defeats the point of having a compact camera in the first place. Has anyone actually found a decent way to get more reach or a different prime look on this specific camera without it feeling like a brick in my pocket? Should I just bite the bullet and sell this thing for an interchangeable lens setup or is there a way to make this work...
Honestly just crop to 50mm in post if you need the look. If you want real glass, maybe grab a Fujifilm X-T5 40.2MP APS-C and a Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
> I feel like I have to get way too close to people and half the time they notice me and the moment is totally ruined. Building on the earlier suggestion, honestly, have you thought about just learning to love the crop? It is way cheaper than selling your gear. If you really need that 50mm feel, grab a Fujifilm X-T30 II 26.1MP used. It is super light and works well with a Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR prime. No regrets here.
^ This. Also, honestly if you want more reach without buying a whole new body, you're basically stuck with the teleconverter or selling. Maybe try the Fujifilm X-E4 26.1MP APS-C if you can find one used. It is tiny and lets you use the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR which gives you that perfect reach.
- The 50mm f/2 is super sharp and small.
- X-E4 keeps that rangefinder vibe you like.
- Might be cheaper than swapping the whole ecosystem.
TL;DR: The teleconverter is actually kinda magical if you can get past the size, but honestly, you might just be ready for a change. I totally get your frustration! Shooting in a city like Seattle means you need some distance, and that 23mm gets real old when you feel like a paparazzi. I used the Fujifilm TCL-X100 II Teleconverter Lens for a whole season and honestly? The quality is fantastic. It turns that 23mm into a 50mm equivalent, which gives you that intimate look you crave without losing any resolution. Yeah, it makes the camera look a bit ridiculous, but the optics are super sharp. If you really cant stand the bulk, you might as well trade it in for a Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Camera Body and pick up a small prime lens. That way you keep the sensor love but get the flexibility you actually need!
