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Fujifilm night photography lens recommendations ?

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I'm looking to do more low light and night photography with my Fujifilm X-T4. Any recommendations on the best Fujifilm lenses for this type of shooting? I mostly photograph cityscapes and street scenes at night.


17 Answers
7

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR and  XF 23mm f/1.4 R are highly recommended for night and low light photography.


6

For night photography with Fujifilm mirrorless cameras, fast lenses are crucial. Recommended options include the XF 16mm f/1.4, XF 23mm f/1.4 and XF 35mm f/1.4.

All the fast lenses perform well in low-light conditions


4

For night photography with Fujifilm, I highly recommend the Fujinon XF 16mmF1.4 R WR lens. Some key advantages:

  • Wide f/1.4 aperture allows lots of light for low-light shooting
  • Sharp from corner to corner even wide open
  • Weather resistant construction
  • Compact size pairs well with Fuji bodies

This prime lens is my go-to for astrophotography and cityscapes at night. The wide field of view and fast aperture make it ideal for starry skies and night scenes.


4

Here are some lens recommendations for Fujifilm cameras to help with night and low light photography:

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR

  • Very fast wide angle prime lens, excellent for nightscapes and astrophotography
  • Bright f/1.4 aperture allows more light capture
  • Weather resistant

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R

  • Versatile wide angle prime, great as a walkaround lens for night photos
  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light situations
  • Fast autofocus capabilities

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R

  • Standard focal length prime, useful for street, documentary and environmental portraits at night
  • Bright f/1.4 maximum aperture
  • Delivers excellent image quality even when shooting wide open

Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R

  • Portrait prime lens with incredibly soft and creamy bokeh
  • Very fast f/1.2 aperture allows a lot of light for night time shoots
  • Useful for taking portraits with city lights or venues in the background

The fast apertures on these Fujifilm prime lenses allow significantly more light into the camera compared to slower lenses, which helps enable sharp, low noise images in dimly lit night time conditions.


4

Prime Lens Recommendation:

  • Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R: This fast prime lens has a wide aperture of f/1.4, which is excellent for low-light situations. The 35mm focal length (equivalent to 53mm in full-frame terms) is versatile for street photography, portraits, and general night scenes.

Zoom Lens Recommendation:

  • Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR (II): This standard zoom lens has a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range, making it suitable for night photography. With a focal length range equivalent to 24-82.5mm, it provides flexibility to capture wide-angle scenes as well as closer compositions.

4

If you are looking for night photography for your Fujifilm X-T4, here are some recommendations:

Prime Lenses

  1. Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R

  2. Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R

  3. Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR

Zoom Lenses

  1. Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR (II)

  2. Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR

Considerations for Night Photography:

  • Stabilization: Look for lenses with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) if shooting handheld.
  • Fast Apertures: Lenses with wider apertures (like f/1.4 or f/1.0) are preferable for low-light situations.
  • Tripod Usage: Even with fast lenses, using a tripod can help achieve better results, especially for longer exposures.

 


3

Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.


3

Just saw this pop up. Everyone has covered the usual suspects, but I'd suggest being careful about just looking at the f-stop. Reliability and autofocus speed in the dark matter just as much as light gathering, especially for street stuff. What's your actual budget looking like tho? And are you shooting handheld mostly? If you're trying to keep costs down, you might want to consider the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 Pro AF Fujifilm X-mount. It is an absolute beast for night scenes and honestly rivals the high-end Fuji primes for way less cash. Another solid budget-friendly pick is the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Fujifilm X-mount. It handles cityscapes beautifully and I've found it to be super reliable. Just make sure to look at some samples first since the colors are a tiny bit different from native Fuji glass. I'm happy to dig deeper into the used market options if you let me know what you're willing to spend.


3

Man, night photography on the X-T4 is just incredible! I absolutely love the way these sensors handle the dark, it is totally fantastic. Quick question tho before I give you my list... are you looking strictly at native Fujifilm glass or are you open to third-party brands too? Honestly, some of the newer stuff coming from companies like Sigma or Viltrox is amazing and gives the expensive Fuji stuff a real run for its money. Also, are you gonna be shooting handheld most of the time or are you bringing a tripod for those super clean cityscapes? Makes a massive difference in what kind of aperture and stabilization you actually need...


3

^ This. Honestly I am in the exact same boat and it is driving me crazy. Even after shooting for years, I still cant settle on a setup that feels right for late-night street walks with my Fujifilm X-T4. I spent three hours wandering downtown last weekend swapping gear back and forth and still wasnt happy. One night I am convinced I need a fast prime, then the next I am wishing I had a zoom for those tight alleyway compositions... its a constant struggle. I have tried so many different lens combos but nothing has really clicked yet and reading all these suggestions just makes me more indecisive tbh. I have been dealing with this for months now and its just so frustrating not having a clear answer yet.


2

If you're on a budget, don't overlook the XF 35mm f/2 R WR. While not as wide as some other options, its f/2 aperture still performs well in low light, and the 50mm equivalent focal length is versatile for various night scenes. It's compact, which makes it great for handheld shooting at night.


90223 31/08/2024 6:53 am

@gs-00w A great start lens for Fuji.


2

For night photography with your Fujifilm X-T4, you'll want lenses that perform well in low-light conditions, typically featuring wider apertures and good optical quality. Here are some recommended lenses:

Prime Lenses

  1. Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R A classic lens with a fast f/1.4 aperture, perfect for low-light situations and providing beautiful bokeh.

  2. Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R This wide-angle prime is excellent for astrophotography and street photography at night, thanks to its fast aperture.

  3. Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR  A specialized portrait lens that excels in low light, providing stunning image quality and impressive subject isolation.

  4. Fujinon XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR Perfect for capturing landscapes or urban scenes at night, its wide aperture and sharp optics make it a great choice for astrophotography as well.

Zoom Lenses

  1. Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR(II) While not as fast as primes, this standard zoom offers consistent f/2.8 throughout the focal range, making it useful for a variety of night photography scenarios.

  2. Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR A versatile wide-angle zoom lens that’s great for landscapes at night, though it has a slower maximum aperture of f/4, its image stabilization can help in low light.

  3. Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR This telephoto zoom offers f/2.8 aperture throughout its range and image stabilization, making it suitable for night shooting, particularly for wildlife or distant subjects.


2

👆 this


2

^ This. Everyone has summarized the big ones perfectly, basically the f/1.4 primes are the heavy hitters for low light. But in my experience, you dont always have to spend a fortune to get great results. I've tried many different setups over the years and I'm always a bit cautious about recommending the most expensive glass right away if you are just starting out. If you are looking to save some money, definitely check out the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Fujifilm X. It is a solid alternative to the native 16mm and handles night scenes beautifully for a fraction of the price. Also, if you are mostly doing cityscapes where you might have a tripod or a steady hand, dont overlook a used Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS. The OIS is actually incredibly helpful for street photography when you cant carry a tripod. It is usually a safer bet to start with something versatile before committing to a pricey prime. Honestly, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Fujifilm X is another great budget pick if you want that f/1.4 speed without the Fuji tax. Just my two cents after years of trying to balance gear lust with a realistic budget...


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