honestly im so fed up with my 18-55mm kit lens. I went out to Soho yesterday and it just felt so clunky and slow to focus every time I saw a good moment and by the time it locked on the person had already walked away. its actually driving me crazy because the X-T4 is such a beast but this lens makes it feel like a toy.
I need something fast and discrete for a trip to New York next week so I dont have much time to decide. My budgets like 700 bucks max. Which prime lens is actually the best for street stuff on this body because I cant deal with this zoom anymore?
To add to the point above: honestly, I've been pretty disappointed by some pricey glass. I had issues with focus hunting in a busy terminal once and missed a perfect shot, which was honestly devastating. We've covered the kit lens lag and the Sigma 23mm so far.
- Viltrox AF 23mm f1.4 XF is snappy and stays way under your budget.
- Its discrete enough to not attract unwanted attention in NYC tho.
I've been really satisfied with the Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Fujifilm X-Mount lately. Honestly, its stepping motor is a massive upgrade over that kit lens for tracking subjects. It works well for street because it's compact and pretty discrete. No complaints about optics either. It handles the X-T4 sensor beautifully... itll definitely keep up with the NYC pace if you need fast AF tho.
I totally get why that 18-55mm is getting on your nerves for street stuff. Its a solid all-rounder but for fast-paced Soho or NYC streets, those variable apertures and older motors can definitely miss the shot. Since youre on an X-T4, you really want a lens that can actually keep up with its autofocus system. In my experience, you should look at the f/2 prime series, often called the Fujicrons. They use stepping motors which move smaller glass elements internally, making the focus nearly instant compared to the kit lens. Plus, they are weather-sealed (WR), which matches the sealing on your X-T4 perfectly for those rainy NYC days.
- Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR : This is the classic 35mm equivalent. It is wide enough to get the environment but tight enough for subjects. Its basically the gold standard for street photography.
- Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR : If you prefer a bit more reach or a 50mm equivalent look, this one is incredibly sharp and very discrete.
- Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR : This is the pancake lens. It makes your X-T4 almost pocketable and its super stealthy for candids, though it is a stop slower than the others. The 23mm f/2 is probably your best bet for New York because its so versatile. The focus is silent and fast, and it sits well within your 700 dollar budget. It really changes how the camera feels in your hand. Let me know if you want more info on how they handle low light tho.
I saw this earlier and honestly its just ridiculous how these manufacturers treat us lately! I love photography so much, it is such an amazing passion, but the gear landscape right now is a total scam. It drives me crazy that you can drop serious cash on a setup and still have it feel like a toy when you are actually in the field. I had a similar nightmare last year where my gear just wouldnt lock focus during a once-in-a-lifetime moment and I missed the shot completely... it was devastating! It is honestly so frustrating that reliability has gone out the window while prices keep skyrocketing. These companies just dont care about us once they have our money. I want to love every minute of shooting but it is so hard when the hardware is this unreliable. Its just complete garbage and we deserve better gear that actually works every single time!
