thinking about your night shot concern, i remember walking through shinjuku at 1am and being so happy i had the Viltrox AF 23mm f1.4 XF instead of an f2. that extra stop of light is crucial for keeping your iso low. for around 300 bucks, it fits your budget perfectly. the 35mm full frame equivalent focal length is basically perfect for busy sidewalks. honestly it just works well.

just saw this thread and wanted to jump in since gear reliability is a big deal when you're overseas. tokyo is awesome but can be pretty cramped and sometimes wet, so i totally get the stress about picking the right kit.

• maybe check out the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR. it's the perfect in-between focal length if you cant decide between 23 and 35. it's tiny, weather resistant, and very discreet for street shots so you wont stand out as a tourist.
• check out fujiview or the fujifilm x-series groups on flickr to see real samples of these focal lengths in city settings. it helps way more than just reading specs to see the actual field of view.
• since your x-s20 has ibis, the f/2 or f/2.8 aperture isn't a dealbreaker for night. the stabilization handles the low light stuff really well so you dont strictly need to carry a heavy f/1.4 lens to get clean shots. staying with native lenses is usually safer for autofocus consistency too. you dont want the lens hunting for focus while you're trying to capture a quick moment in shinjuku because of a firmware glitch...

Honestly, just get the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR and dont look back. In my experience, I've tried many different setups for travel and the 23mm is the safest bet for a beginner heading to a crowded city like Tokyo.

• Tokyo streets are tight. Like, really tight. If you take the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR, you'll constantly find yourself backing into walls or stepping into traffic just to fit a building or a shopfront in the frame. The 23mm gives you that breathing room.
• The f2 aperture is more than enough. Since you're using the Fujifilm X-S20 Body, you have great IBIS (stabilization). You can shoot at slower shutter speeds at night without blur, so you dont need to spend double on the f1.4 versions right now.
• Weather sealing and autofocus. These f2 Fujicrons are reliable. They focus instantly and can handle a bit of rain in the city. Over the years, I've seen people get frustrated with the 35mm because it feels too zoomed in for general snapshots. Tbh, the boring reputation of the 23mm just means it's versatile. It captures the world exactly how you see it. Save your money, buy the 23mm f2, and just focus on enjoying Japan. You wont regret having the extra width when you're in the middle of those narrow Shinjuku alleys...

Honestly, grabbing the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Fujifilm X made me so happy.

• fast aperture
• killer price Worked perfectly for those dim Shinjuku alleys... saved me cash too.

Tokyo is gonna be absolutely amazing! Ive spent a ton of time shooting there and trust me, those streets are way tighter than you think. If you're stressed about 35mm being too narrow, you're totally right... it is basically impossible for places like Shinjuku or Shibuya where you cant just step back. If you really want to smash those night shots without breaking the bank, you gotta check out the Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 AF Fuji X. It is ridiculously fast for the price and gives you that creamy background that the f2 lenses just cant touch. Its way more fun than the standard Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR in my opinion, especially for those neon night vibes. But if you want that classic Fuji character people talk about, the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18mm f/2 R is the real winner for travel. Its tiny, has a beautiful rendering, and the wider field of view is perfect for the scale of the city. Dont worry too much about f2 vs f1.4 for night shots on the X-S20 tho... the IBIS is so good you can shoot at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp shots. Just go wide and have fun!

^ This. Also, I would suggest being a bit cautious about going too heavy with the fast glass if you are gonna be walking all day. Tokyo is a marathon for your feet. I think I heard somewhere that the jump to the faster 1.4 lenses adds quite a bit of bulk that might make the X-S20 feel a bit front-heavy compared to the f2 stuff. Not sure if you have seen these, but check out these resources while you are deciding:

• CameraSize.com to see the actual footprint on your camera body
• YouTube POV street photography videos in Shinjuku... they usually show the focal length on screen
• Flickr groups dedicated to specific focal lengths to see the field of view IIRC there are some rental spots in Tokyo too, but honestly, you might want to consider doing a DIY test at home first. If you have a kit zoom, just tape it at 23mm for a day and then 35mm the next. It is the best way to see which one feels natural. Be careful not to let the GAS get to you right before a big trip tho... sometimes keeping it simple is better for actually enjoying the city.

👆 this