Honestly, you cant go wrong with the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR! I love it because its super tiny and weather-sealed, which is fantastic for taking to the park. 23mm is wider than 35mm, so its way easier to fit your dog and the background in the shot. It fits your budget perfectly and is an amazing walk-around lens. Youre gonna love it!

@Reply #1 - good point! tbh i actually had a bit of a rough time starting out with those wider lenses. i thought 23mm would be perfect but i was kinda disappointed when i realized i couldnt get those soft, blurry backgrounds for my garden shots like i wanted. unfortunately, the wider you go, the harder it is to get that nice bokeh separation unless you spend a fortune. quick tip for the numbers: think of 23mm as your <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= iphone+camera+view&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">iphone camera view. 35mm is more zoomed in, like you're focusing on a specific subject. if youre doing plants, 35mm usually feels more natural so you arent literally touching the leaves with your glass. i ended up trying the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary because it fits that $500 budget way better than some high-end stuff, but i gotta be honest, the lack of weather sealing makes me super anxious when im at the park with my dog. if it even looks like rain i have to hide the camera in my bag. it is a total trade-off. also, that xt5 sensor is so high-res that some lenses just look soft and muddy, which was a huge letdown for me after spending so much on the body. definitely check if the lens can actually handle 40 megapixels before you pull the trigger... i learned that the hard way after a few blurry sessions.

Just saw this thread and felt like I should jump in. Over the years, I've swapped lenses more times than I can count, and honestly, the biggest mistake I made early on was ignoring the pancake lenses. If you're out at the park or in the yard, you want something that doesn't feel like a chore to carry. Its easy to get sucked into buying the biggest, fastest glass, but then you end up leaving the camera at home because its too heavy. In my experience, the best set it and forget it lens for a beginner on the X-T5 is the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR. I remember taking it on a hike where I just wanted to be present instead of fiddling with gear, and it stayed on my camera for three days straight.

• Reliability: That WR at the end stands for weather resistance. Since you're taking it to the park with a dog, you'll eventually deal with dust, mud, or a light drizzle. Protecting that expensive X-T5 sensor is non-negotiable for me, and some cheaper lenses just dont have the gaskets to keep the junk out.
• The Middle Ground: 27mm is basically right between the 23 and 35 numbers you keep seeing. It feels very natural, kinda like just looking through your own eyes.
• Portability: It makes the camera so small it's basically pocketable in a light jacket. If you really want more blur for your backyard plants, check out the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Fujifilm X. Its well under $500 and lets in tons of light, tho be warned it lacks weather sealing. Personally, I'd stick with the Fuji 27mm for the peace of mind when you're outdoors.