I finally bit the bullet and grabbed an X-T5 last week for my trip to Tokyo and Kyoto next month but now im stressing over glass. I been shooting with the 35mm f2 which is great but I really need a one-lens-does-it-all kind of zoom for when im walking 20k steps a day and dont wanna swap lenses every five minutes.
Ive been reading tons of threads and keep seeing people argue about the 18-55mm kit lens vs the 16-80mm f4. Some guys say the 18-55 is a classic but then others say it cant handle the 40 megapixel sensor on the T5 and looks all mushy if you crop in. Then there is the 16-80 which has great range but I saw some reviews saying it has weird edge softness at the wide end which kinda scares me for landscapes.
Im also looking at these:
- 16-55mm f2.8 Red Badge
- Tamron 17-70mm f2.8
- Sigma 18-50mm f2.8
The Red Badge seems like the best but is it way too heavy for travel? I dont want my neck to die by day three lol. My budget is around $900 and I dont mind buying used since I spent so much on the body already. If you had to pick just one zoom to live on your X-T5 for a three week trip what would it be...
I've been quite satisfied with the performance of the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary. It is a methodical choice for travel since it handles the 40MP sensor well without the bulk.
- Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR: Sharpest results but very heavy for long walks.
- Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary: Exceptional balance of portability and image quality. Its definitely the most logical option for your trip.
I'm gonna respectfully disagree with the Sigma recommendation. The Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS is a technical masterpiece for the price! You can find them used for $300, which is a fantastic deal. It handles the 40MP sensor well at the f/5.6 sweet spot and the linear motor autofocus is super fast. That saved cash pays for a lot of sushi! Its better to have more travel money than heavy glass.
^ This. Also, honestly, the whole one lens hunt is such a massive headache and ngl, it kinda takes the fun out of the trip prep. I have been through this exact loop so many times over the years and it never gets less stressful. You spend months saving up for a body like the Fujifilm X-T5 and then you realize the glass is gonna cost you another small fortune just to make that 40MP sensor worth it. Tbh it is super frustrating how much the prices have jumped lately, even for used gear. I always get so anxious taking expensive glass like the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f2.8 R LM WR on international trips. Japan is safe, sure, but I am constantly worried about the weight of a heavy lens damaging the mount if I am jostled in a crowd or just the sheer fear of dropping a $1000 piece of kit. It really ruins the vibe when you are constantly checking your shoulder or worrying if the weather sealing is actually gonna hold up during a Kyoto downpour. Even looking at alternatives like the Fujifilm XF 18-120mm f4 PZ WR, the prices are still pretty steep and then you gotta worry about the power zoom failing on you far from home. Its like you either pay through the nose for the high-end stuff or you settle for something that might not even keep up with the sensor. I hate that we have to make these trade-offs after already dropping two grand on a camera body... it is just exhausting and really kills the excitement of a new system sometimes.
👆 this
