honestly i am just so fed up with swapping between my 23mm and 50mm primes all day. i missed a bunch of shots at my sisters graduation last week because i was fumbling with lens caps and my bag and its just driving me crazy. i need one lens that can just stay on my X-T5 for my trip to Tokyo next month.
i was thinking about the 16-80mm f4 because of the range but everyone online says its not sharp enough for the 40mp sensor. then i looked at the 16-55mm f2.8 but its like carrying a brick and i dont want my neck to die. my budget is around 900 bucks. what is the actual best all-rounder that wont make me regret my life choices...
I went through this exact same thing on a trip last year. I missed a cool street shot because I was fumbling with my 23mm... total nightmare. For Tokyo, you might want to be careful with weight.
- Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN Contemporary is tiny and sharp but lacks an aperture ring.
- Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f4 R OIS WR has great range but is noticeably softer. I would suggest the Sigma because it handles the 40mp sensor better.
^ This. Also, ive been through exactly what youre feeling and honestly, its frustrating how few zooms actually keep up with that 40mp sensor. I spent a fortune on the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f2.8 R LM WR and while its sharp, my shoulder was killing me after two days in Osaka. Its just not practical for travel. Unfortunately, I tried to settle for the Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f4 R OIS WR to save weight but the image quality was just not as good as expected... it felt like a waste of the X-T5s potential. If you want something that wont break your back but still handles the resolution, look at the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A VC RXD. Its around 800 bucks and gives you that f2.8 constant. Its a bit long, sure, but way more balanced than the Fuji brick. Just dont expect prime-level perfection from any zoom on that sensor. Youre always gonna sacrifice something.
Adding my two cents here because i had a pretty rough time trying to find a single lens for a similar trip. Honestly, the dream of a do-it-all lens usually ends in compromise. I went on a trip to Kyoto last spring and thought i could get away with one zoom to save my neck... unfortunately, it was a total letdown. The images were soft and just lacked that pop i get from my primes. I recall someone saying the newer sensors really show the flaws in older zoom designs, and they werent lying. I spent half my time worrying about the edges of my frame instead of enjoying the scenery. I think i actually lost money on that lens because i sold it as soon as i got back. Its a tough spot when you want convenience but dont want to ruin your memories. Not sure if i can even recommend going the zoom route...
Checked out this thread and figured id chime in on the technical side of that 40mp sensor. Youre right that the Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR has some edge softness, especially at the extremes of the zoom range, but its mostly noticeable if youre pixel peeping at 100 percent. For a trip to Tokyo, the OIS on that lens is actually insane, which helps a lot with handheld shots in Shinjuku at night. If you want better resolution without the weight of the red badge brick, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is worth looking at. Its about 525 grams vs the 655 grams of the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR, so your neck wont hate you as much. It covers a solid range and the constant f2.8 helps with subject separation that you might miss from your primes. It is technically sharp enough for the X-T5 sensor across most of the frame in the center, though you lose some character compared to Fuji glass. Another sleeper hit for travel is the Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. Its older tech but weather sealed and very versatile for a one-lens setup. The IQ is decent, though it wont match your 23mm or 50mm primes for pure clinical sharpness. For 900 bucks, you could easily grab the Tamron new or a used 16-80 and still have cash for extra batteries... just something to think about.
