Leaving for Tokyo next week and I need a tiny lens for my X-E4 like right now. I read the 27mm pancake is the best fit but some people say the autofocus is slow and noisy for street. The 23mm f2 looks cool but is it too bulky for a pocket? Budget is 400, what should I get?
Honestly, I've been using the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR on my X-E4 for over a year now and I'm very satisfied with how it performs. I was actually in your shoes before a trip to Osaka last fall, worrying about the autofocus being slow or noisy like people say online. In reality, it works well enough that I never missed a shot. The noise is basically a non-issue outdoors in a city like Tokyo where there is constant ambient sound anyway. It makes the camera feel like a tiny point-and-shoot, which is exactly why I bought the E4 in the first place. I did try the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR for a bit, but it sticks out just enough to make it awkward in a jacket pocket. Its a great lens, no complaints on the glass quality, but the size kinda ruined the stealth factor for me. With the pancake lens, I could walk around all day without a strap and just slide it away when I went into a ramen shop or a crowded train. If you want reliability and that true compact experience, the 27mm is the safe bet. Quick tip: Grab a spare Fujifilm NP-W126S Li-Ion Battery because that small body means youll be swapping them often if you're out from morning till night.
