^ This. Also, honestly, everyone has different priorities for Japan! Some say stick with the kit, others want faster glass for night shots. If you need something sharp and affordable, check out the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary. It is way smaller than the kit lens and gives you that consistent aperture. Seriously, it is a fantastic travel companion that wont drain your wallet before the trip!

Honestly, if you are stuck on a budget, dont bother with the kit lens. I regret wasting money on the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS because the aperture just wasnt fast enough for the dark izakayas in Tokyo. I had major issues with noise in my shots and the stabilization wasnt nearly as good as expected when shooting handheld at night. Save your cash and grab the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR Prime Lens. It is sharp, super compact for walking around, and the f/2 aperture is much better for low light. Just remember to pack a spare battery because the X-T5 sensors resolution really eats through power when you are pixel peeping. You will thank me later when you aren't carrying around heavy glass all day.

Finally someone says it. Ive been thinking this for a while but wasnt sure.

bump

Honestly, grab the kit lens first. When I started, it was versatile enough for everything. You can always upgrade later once you see what you actually shoot. Japan is gonna be awesome.

Adding my two cents, honestly, the kit lens is fine but I ended up swapping mine for a prime shortly after my first trip abroad because I really missed that wide aperture for low light in alleys. Are you planning on doing mostly street photography or are you more into landscape stuff? Knowing what you want to capture in Japan helps a lot before dropping cash on something else.

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