Honestly I’m about at my wits end with my current setup and I need to figure this out before my trip to Chicago next month because right now my X-Pro3 is just sitting on a shelf gathering dust. I bought this camera because I wanted that tactile rangefinder experience but I’ve been trying to make the 18-55mm kit lens work for street stuff and it’s just... it’s not it. It feels so clunky and front-heavy and it totally blocks the optical viewfinder which was like the whole point of buying the Pro3 in the first place right??
I spent a whole afternoon last weekend trying to catch some candid moments downtown and I missed like half of them because I was fiddling with the zoom or the autofocus felt sluggish in the shadows. I’m just so frustrated because I spent a lot of money on this body and right now I feel like I’m not getting the "magic" everyone talks about. It makes me want to just leave the camera at home and use my phone which is a depressing thought considering what I paid for the Fuji.
I need to switch to a prime but there are too many options and I’m paralyzed. I’ve got about 600 bucks to spend maybe a bit more if I sell the zoom but I need something fast and small. My main criteria are:
- compact size for discretion
- fast autofocus so I dont miss people moving
- minimal OVF blockage
- weather resistance would be nice since Chicago is unpredictable in spring
I was looking at the 23mm f2 because people say it’s the classic focal length for street but then I see people swearing by the 35mm f2 or even the older f1.4 versions even though the focus is supposedly slower on those and I dont want to deal with hunting focus when someone is walking past. I just want something that makes the camera feel invisible again you know? I want to be able to use the OVF without a giant lens hood taking up half the frame and ruining the composition. Is the 23mm too wide for tight sidewalks or should I be looking at the 35mm or even that pancake 27mm? I'm worried the pancake might feel too cheap or be too slow. I really need to make a decision soon because I want to get some practice in before I head to the city. Which prime lens is actually the best for street photography on this specific body...
Just saw this. Im really satisfied with my setup now, no complaints. Quick question tho, do you like staying back a bit or getting right in there? These are very reliable options:
- Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR is tiny, has an aperture ring, and weather sealing.
- Fujifilm XF 50mm f2 R WR is super sharp with very snappy autofocus. Smaller lenses really change the whole experience.
Honestly, if reliability is your priority, dont overlook the Fujifilm XF 16mm f2.8 R WR. Ive tried many primes on the Pro3 and this one handles Chicago weather best. Its wider than a 23mm, which helps in those narrow downtown alleys. The autofocus is snappier than the older f1.4 glass, and it wont block your OVF view. Totally feels invisible compared to that bulky zoom.
I had the same issue with that zoom blocking the OVF. For your budget, the f2 primes are the most practical.
- Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f2 R WR: Works for wide street shots. Its fast and weather resistant.
- Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f2 R WR: Good for tighter portraits. Both are tiny and wont block the finder much. The 23mm is usually the best for city crowds tho.
Re: "Came here to say the same thing lol...." - honestly man, i feel your pain so much. i have been shooting with these bodies for a decade and that ovf blockage issue is the absolute bane of my existence. i remember taking my current setup to nyc last fall and i was so tilted by the lens hood taking up the corner of my frame that i wanted to chuck the whole thing into the east river. in my experience, the technical specs on paper never tell the whole story about how a kit actually feels when you are in the zone:
- the weight distribution usually feels slightly off even with smaller primes
- that feeling when you think you got the shot but the ovf patch was just... gone
- spending more time worrying about the lens profile than the actual street scene i actually tried switching to a fixed lens setup from a different brand for a bit, thinking it would solve the soul-crushing disappointment. but then i missed the fuji colors. it is like a toxic relationship where you keep coming back even though the hardware makes you want to scream. it really takes the wind out of your sails when you spend a fortune and it still feels clunky. i have definitely had those days where the camera stays in the bag and i just use my phone because i dont want to fight the gear. it is just plain frustrating.
> i was so tilted by the lens hood taking up the corner of my frame that i wanted to chuck the whole thing into the east river. @Reply #5 - good point! I know that feeling way too well! I remember being in Tokyo a few years back and missing an amazing shot because my lens hood was basically a brick in the corner of my vision. It was beyond frustrating! One thing i learned after years with these cameras is that you gotta be careful with the accessories. My biggest warning is dont fall into the trap of buying extra protection that ruins the rangefinder experience. I actually started making my own tiny vented hoods out of spare parts or even just going hoodless with a slim filter to keep the profile invisible. Also, a huge mistake people make is trying to bring too many options. If you carry two primes to Chicago, youll just be fiddling with your bag instead of the zoom ring. Just pick one focal length and commit! I literally use gaffers tape on my aperture rings sometimes so they dont budge while im walking. Making the gear work for you instead of the other way around is where the magic finally happens!
Came here to say the same thing lol. Great minds think alike I guess.
