Im honestly pulling my hair out trying to pick a lens for my Iceland trip in three weeks and I keep going in circles. Im shooting on an X-T4 and I really need something that can handle those massive landscapes but also maybe some astrophotography if I get lucky with the lights. My budget is capped at like 900 bucks max which is a bit tight for the really high end glass.
I looked at the 10-24mm f4 because everyone says it is the gold standard for versatility but then I read its not that sharp at the edges and f4 feels so slow for low light stuff. So then I was thinking okay maybe the 16mm f1.4? It is legendary for sharpness and the fast aperture is great but then I worry its just not wide enough for what I want to do. Like am I gonna regret not having that 10mm reach when I am standing in front of a massive glacier?
My logic was that maybe I should just get a prime but then Im stuck swapping lenses in the wind and rain which sounds like a nightmare. I even looked at the Viltrox 13mm but some people say the flares are bad and I dont want to ruin shots of the sun. I just want one lens that stays on the camera the whole time. Is the 10-24mm actually good enough or am I overthinking the sharpness thing?
Honestly, man, stop pulling your hair out. I did the exact same back-and-forth before my last big trip and eventually settled on the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary. I couldn't be happier with how it performed on my X-T4. You're right to worry about f/4 for astro stuff... trying to shoot the aurora at f/4 usually means your ISO is screaming and the stars get all smeary because of the long exposure. That extra stop you get with the f/2.8 Sigma is a total lifesaver for low light. The 10mm wide end is basically non-negotiable for those massive Icelandic waterfalls and glaciers. I tried using a 16mm for a bit but I kept having to back up into freezing rivers just to fit everything in the frame. The Sigma is way sharper than the older Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR in my experience, especially out at the corners. Plus, its so tiny it doesnt feel like a brick hanging off your neck while youre hiking. I know people love the Fuji glass, but for under 900 bucks, this Sigma is the sweet spot. It stays on my camera 90% of the time now. It handles flare way better than those cheaper third-party primes too. Just grab a good circular polarizer and you are golden for those glacier shots. Dont overthink the sharpness thing too much tho, most modern glass is plenty sharp if you stop it down a bit, but the Sigma really delivers wide open.
