I finally pulled the trigger on a Fuji X-T5 last month and honestly im kinda freaking out about which lens to get first. I live in Seattle so the weather is pretty unpredictable and I need something that can handle a bit of moisture since I love doing street photography and hiking. My budget is around 800-900 bucks which is tight but I dont want to buy garbage glass that ruins the sensor resolution.
I keep seeing people rave about the 18-55mm kit lens because its small and sharp, but then others say the 16-80mm is way better for travel since it has more reach. Im just confused because one review said the 16-80 is soft at the long end and that totally kills the vibe for me since I want crisp shots of the mountains. Ive also looked at the 23mm prime but I worry that not having a zoom will be super annoying when I cant move around enough.
Im leaving for a trip to Japan in three weeks so I need to decide like now. Should I just save up for the 16-55mm f2.8 even though its huge and expensive or is there a middle ground I am missing that wont make me regret the purchase immediately?
TL;DR: Grab the Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR. Honestly, the weather resistance is a lifesaver for Seattle rain. I have used it for years hiking and it is plenty sharp enough for the X-T5 sensor. Don't worry about the soft-end rumors, it is totally fine for travel. Dealing with that massive 16-55mm lens is just a pain in the neck when you are walking around all day.
Honestly, have you considered the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS? It is way smaller and sharper than the 16-80mm. Do you really need the extra reach for Japan?
Facts.
To add to the point above: if you really want to make the most of that 40MP sensor without breaking the bank or your back, you should seriously look at the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR. I know you mentioned it feels big, but the image quality is leagues ahead of the kit zooms.
- It is weather sealed, so it handles PNW rain like a champ.
- The constant f/2.8 aperture is a game changer for low light in Japan.
- You wont regret the sharpness; it is basically a bag full of primes. If that feels like overkill for your budget, maybe grab the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS and put the extra cash toward a fast prime for those moody Tokyo nights. Just dont stress too much about the gear, the X-T5 is a beast either way.