So I just bought this Fujifilm X-Pro3 off eBay because it looks so cool and retro and I really want to get into street photography but I realized I literally have no idea what I am doing. My trip to New York is in like five days and I still dont have a lens for the camera!! I was looking online and everyone keeps saying to get a prime lens but I dont really get what that means compared to the ones that zoom? Is it just better quality or something? I feel so stupid asking this.
I have about 450 or maybe 500 dollars left to spend on this and I dont want to carry something heavy around the city all day. I saw some people talking about these specific ones but I dont know which one is better for taking pictures of people and buildings while I am walking around:
- the 23mm f2 one
- the 35mm f2 one
- something called a pancake lens?
If I get the wrong one am I gonna be stuck? I am sorry if this is like a super basic question but everything on YouTube is so confusing with all the numbers and apertures and stuff and I am kind of panicking. Should I just get the smallest one so it fits in my jacket pocket? I really need to order something by tomorrow so it gets here before my flight. Which one is actually the best for a total beginner who just wants those film look shots in NYC...
TL;DR: Buy the Fujifilm XC 35mm f2 Prime for the best value. Primes have fixed focal lengths, so they're technically sharper than zooms. Unfortunately, I had issues with the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR Pancake focus speed; it really disappointed me on a shoot in London. To save money, the XC 35mm is technically the same optics as the XF version but way cheaper and fits your budget perfectly.
In my experience, 35mm is way too tight for NYC. Before you buy tho, are you:
- shooting wide cityscapes
- or candid portraits? Defining your style avoids wasting cash...
Honestly, dont stress about being a beginner. We all started somewhere. A prime lens basically just means it doesnt zoom at all. You have to zoom with your feet by walking closer or further away. It sounds annoying but it actually makes you a better photographer cuz you learn exactly where to stand to get the shot without thinking. For NYC, you really want something wide enough to capture the skyscrapers but tight enough for candid people shots. In my experience over the years, the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR is the absolute gold standard for street work. I spent a week in Manhattan a few years back with just that lens and never felt limited. Its weather-sealed too, which is a big deal for reliability. NYC can be messy and rainy, and you dont want your gear dying because of a sudden drizzle or some city grime. The 35mm is nice for portraits but in those tight city streets, youll find yourself backing into traffic just to fit a building in the frame... not ideal. The pancake lens like the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR is tiny, sure, but the autofocus is kinda slow and loud compared to the f2 series. When youre trying to be discrete on a subway or a street corner, that mechanical sound of the lens focusing is the last thing you want. You might miss the shot while the motor is hunting. Plus, the 23mm f2 is just more reliable for fast-moving subjects. Just grab the 23mm f2 and youll be set. It fits your budget and gives you that classic 35mm equivalent field of view that basically every famous street photographer uses.
