I just bought the Fujifilm X-T5 because everyone said the colors are amazing and I love the way the dials look on top but honestly I am so lost now that I have to actually pick a lens to go with it. I have this huge trip to Tokyo and Kyoto coming up in about three weeks and I really dont want to be that person carrying a massive bag of gear while I am trying to enjoy the shrines and stuff. I am a total beginner like I barely understand what the numbers on the side of the lens even do yet so please bear with me if this is a stupid question.
So I was thinking maybe I should just get one lens that does everything? Is that a thing? My logic was that if I have one lens I wont have to keep swapping them out and getting dust inside the camera which sounds scary. I saw people talking about the 18-55mm one because it comes in a kit but then I saw another one that is 16-80mm and I dont know if those extra numbers actually matter for someone like me who just wants nice photos of street food and temples. Then someone else online said I should get a prime lens which I think means it doesnt zoom at all? That sounds kind of annoying for travel but they said the pictures look way better and the lens is smaller which would be nice for my bag.
I have maybe $900 left in my budget after spending way too much on the camera body itself. I just want something that isnt too heavy because we are gonna be walking like 20,000 steps a day and I dont want my neck to hurt. Should I stick with a zoom or is there like a magic lens everyone uses for Fuji? I am really worried I am gonna buy the wrong thing and ruin my vacation photos because I couldnt get the whole building in the frame or something. What would you guys pick if you could only take one single lens for a whole trip?
Congrats on the X-T5! Its a monster of a camera but honestly, picking that first lens is a total minefield when you have a huge trip looming. Since you mentioned walking 20,000 steps, you really need to be careful with how much weight you put around your neck. My suggestion is to grab the Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR because it covers almost everything you will see in Japan. The 16mm end is wide enough for those massive temple gates in Kyoto, and the 80mm zoom is great for grabbing shots of far-off details. Tbh, make sure to watch out for the size tho. It is a bit chunkier than a basic kit lens. I would personally prioritize that extra zoom range for your first time, but maybe look at the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS if you want something lighter. To answer your question about the numbers, lower numbers like 16mm are wide (for buildings) and higher numbers like 80mm are for zooming in. Just a warning, going 'prime' (the ones that dont zoom) might be a mistake for your first big trip. Primes are beautiful, but in a crowded place like Tokyo, you cant always 'zoom with your feet' because there are people everywhere. You might end up missing the shot entirely because you couldnt back up far enough. Stick to a zoom so you can focus on the sights instead of technical headaches. You're gonna do fine, the X-T5 basically does the hard work for you!
