Honestly Im just about at my wits end with this 23mm f1.4, the older version anyway. I bought the X-Pro3 specifically for that sleek, rangefinder-style street experience but this lens is just so clunky. Its loud, the focus hunting is driving me insane when Im trying to catch a candid moment, and it is so big it blocks a massive chunk of my optical viewfinder which basically defeats the whole point of why I spent so much on this specific body in the first place.
Ive been trying to make it work for months while shooting around downtown but I just end up frustrated every single time. I want that invisible feeling you are supposed to get with a street setup. Right now I feel like Im carrying a brick that screams I am taking a photo of you every time the focus motor whirrs. I really need to swap this out for something better before my trip to Tokyo next month because I dont want to be fighting my gear the whole time I am traveling.
- Must be compact. I want to use the OVF without a huge black blob in the corner of my eye.
- Fast, silent autofocus is a non-negotiable. I am tired of missing the shot because the lens is hunting.
- Budget is around 700 or 800 dollars max, and I am totally fine with buying used if it gets me better glass.
- An aperture ring is a must because I hate using the command dials on this body.
I am looking at the 23mm f2 or maybe the 35mm f2 fujicrons but I keep hearing people complain about softness when you are close up at wider apertures. Then there is the 27mm pancake but is that actually fast enough for quick street stuff? I just want something that feels balanced on the Pro3 and doesnt make me want to leave the camera at home. Does anyone actually use the f2 primes for serious street work or am I going to regret the loss in character compared to the faster glass? Im seriously considering just selling the whole kit if I cant find a lens that actually makes the shooting experience fun again...
Grab the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR. Honestly, the close-up softness issue is super overblown for street stuff. It is tiny, silent, and works perfectly on the OVF.
^ This. Also, I've been using the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2 R WR on my Pro3 for years and honestly, I am so satisfied with how it handles. It is basically invisible in the OVF and the AF is snappy.
- Lightning fast motor
- Weather sealed for Tokyo rain
- Tapered design clears the OVF Softness at f2 is a non-issue for street stuff. You're almost never that close to your subject anyway.
Like someone mentioned, the build on these can be a letdown. I've had issues with the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR where the AF motor makes this weird clicking sound... doesn't feel safe for a trip.
- Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR: fast, but the ring feels cheap.
- Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR: smallest option, but reliability is questionable. Honestly not as good as expected tho.
Building on the earlier suggestion, I tried those smaller lenses too. Unfortunately, I had issues:
- ring felt flimsy
- lost cash on resale Build wasnt great... dont pay full price tho.
> Then there is the 27mm pancake but is that actually fast enough for quick street stuff? I've been shooting with the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR for years on my Pro bodies and honestly, I am super satisfied. It is the perfect balance of price and performance for street work. If you are worried about the 27mm, it is awesome for size but the AF is definitely slower than the f2 primes. For Tokyo street stuff, you want that snappy response. I picked mine up used for around 300 dollars, which is a total steal and leaves you more cash for the actual trip. Compared to the older 1.4 you've got or even third-party stuff like the Sigma 23mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary, the Fuji f2 series just feels right on an X-Pro. I dont really notice the close-up softness people talk about because for street, you arent usually shooting at minimum focus distance anyway. It is silent, tiny, and the aperture ring is great. You can find used copies of the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2 R WR for cheap too if you want more reach. Go used and dont look back, itll make the camera fun again.
Regarding what #5 said about "> Then there is the 27mm pancake but..." - it seems the general consensus is that the pancake is too slow for quick street work, leaving the f2 primes as the main options despite some complaints about their build. Having tinkered with my own setups to get the optical viewfinder working right, it really comes down to balancing these compromises. To help narrow this down, are you planning on doing a lot of night shooting where you absolutely need the light gathering of a faster lens, or is daytime autofocus speed your main priority? Also, how critical is weather sealing for your typical street walkabouts?
