Im honestly so fed up with this 18-55mm kit lens it is driving me crazy lately. I bought the X-T30 II thinking I could get those professional looking portraits with the blurry backgrounds but everything I take just looks like a slightly better iPhone photo and its really getting under my skin. My logic was that the kit lens would be a good all-rounder but the bokeh is just non-existent for what I want. So I was thinking about just biting the bullet and getting the 56mm f1.2 but then I see people saying the autofocus is slow and loud and I'm worried it wont keep up with my kids. Then I looked at the 50mm f2 because it's small and fast but will f2 actually give me that separation? I keep going back and forth between the Fuji glass and maybe the Sigma 56mm which is cheaper but does it have that same soul or whatever people call it. Im based in Seattle so most of my shooting is indoors right now because of the rain and the lighting is usually garbage so I need something fast. I have about 600 or maybe 700 dollars saved up from my birthday and I really need to make a decision before my sisters graduation next month. Is the Viltrox 75mm worth looking at or is that way too tight for indoor stuff on an APS-C sensor? I just want my photos to actually look like I used a real camera for once...
Honestly, I totally get why that 18-55mm is getting under your skin. It is a decent starter lens, but f/4 at the long end just isnt going to give you that professional separation you are looking for. If you are shooting indoors in Seattle light and trying to keep up with kids, you need something that is both fast and sharp. I would skip the original Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R if autofocus is a priority. It is definitely slow and loud, and you will probably miss half the shots of your kids. The Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR is snappy, but since you are already craving that bokeh, you might find f/2 a bit underwhelming for portraits. Your best bet is probably the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. It usually goes for around $430 to $480, which is well under your $700 limit. The autofocus is much faster than the old Fuji 56mm, and the f/1.4 aperture is exactly what you need for those blurry backgrounds and poor indoor lighting. Forget the soul debate... the Sigma is sharp as a tack and very practical. Also, definitely avoid that Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 AF for now. It is a killer lens but 75mm on APS-C is way too long for typical indoor shots unless you want a photo of just your sisters eyeball. Stick with the Sigma and save the rest of your cash for a good SD card or a spare battery. It does the job without the Fuji tax.
