So I finally pulled the trigger on the X-T5 after saving up for months and I'm currently just staring at it because I don't have a lens yet lol. I'm mainly gonna be using it for street stuff around London and then taking photos of my nephews when they're running around so autofocus speed is actually kinda important but I also love that fuji look everyone talks about.
I've narrowed it down to two or maybe three options. First is the old XF 35mm f1.4 because people swear by the character and the bokeh but I'm worried it's gonna be too slow or loud for the kids and might not keep up with that 40mp sensor. Then there is the new 33mm f1.4 which is technically better and weather sealed which is a huge plus for UK weather but it's more expensive and maybe a bit clinical? I'm also looking at the 23mm f2 just to save some cash and keep the kit small but I'm worried f2 wont give me enough background blur for portraits.
Budget is around 800 quid tops so the 33mm is pushing it a bit if I buy it new. I need to decide by next week before a trip I have planned. Should I go with the magic of the old 35mm or just get the modern 33mm to make sure I'm getting the most out of the high res sensor? Or is the 23mm just a better all-rounder for walking around all day...
In my experience, you really need modern glass for that 40MP sensor. The old 35mm is a classic but itll hunt like crazy with kids... kinda frustrating tbh.
- Get the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR
- Look for used deals online The weather sealing is a total lifesaver in the UK and its way faster. Give me a shout if you have more questions!
To add to the point above: Ive spent way too much time looking at technical reviews since picking up the Fujifilm X-T5 Body. That 40MP sensor is really demanding on the glass. Early on, I only used native glass, but eventually realized that some third-party brands are actually outperforming the legacy primes in terms of raw resolving power. Viltrox has been doing some incredible work lately. Their newer lenses usually have very fast stepping motors which are perfect for tracking kids or street shooting. If you want something modern that handles the high resolution without costing a fortune, definitely check out the stuff from Viltrox. Their f1.2 or f1.4 options are generally super sharp and punch way above their weight. Sigma is another great direction if you want that clean, clinical look. It boils down to which brand's rendering you prefer... both are gonna be way faster and quieter than the old 35mm f1.4.
Just catching up on this thread. Unfortunately, I had significant issues with my older primes on that 40MP sensor. The performance was not as good as expected and the autofocus often struggled with tracking fast subjects. It was quite disappointing to see. Honestly, look at the modern offerings from Sigma. You really cant go wrong with their newer glass for this mount. TLDR: Older lenses struggle with resolution; get Sigma glass to properly handle the new high-res sensors.
100% agree
Did this last week, worked perfectly
