stuck between getting the WCL wide converter or the TCL for my X100V before my Japan trip next week... i love the 23mm but i keep thinking i need more reach for street stuff? my logic was TCL for better bokeh but then the WCL is better for tight streets... i only have 300 bucks left and i'm stressing out.
Japan streets can get pretty tight, especially in places like Golden Gai or the narrow alleys in Kyoto. In my experience, having that wider field of view is way more valuable than the extra reach. I have spent years shooting different focal lengths and keep coming back to the 28mm equivalent. The Fujifilm WCL-X100 II Wide Conversion Lens uses a 0.8x magnification factor to turn that fixed 23mm into a 19mm. That is basically the gold standard for documentary work. You can stay close to the action and still get the environment in the frame without it looking distorted. While the Fujifilm TCL-X100 II Tele Conversion Lens uses a 1.4x factor to give you more compression and slightly better bokeh, it makes the camera feel front-heavy and kinda ruins the discrete nature of the X100V. Also, the TCL brings you to a 50mm equivalent. Its fine for some stuff, but if youre in a crowded market in Osaka, youll be backing into people constantly just to frame a shot. Plus, the optics on the WCL are incredibly sharp edge-to-edge even at f/2. Honestly, if you only have 300 bucks left, the wide converter is the smarter play. Its way more versatile for travel. I used to think I needed more reach too, but then I realized cropping the 26MP sensor on the V gets me close enough to a 50mm look if I really need it. You cant crop wider if you didnt capture the edges of the frame to begin with. Stick with the wide end, you wont regret it when youre staring down a neon-lit street at night...
