honestly fed up with this chunky 18-55 zoom its way too big and people in Chicago keep noticing me before i even take the shot... im finally ready to buy a dedicated prime today with my $600 budget so i can actually be stealthy. which prime should i grab for the x-pro3?
I started with that zoom too, but it felt clunky tbh. Ended up with the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2 R WR mostly for the internal focusing. Since the lens doesnt move externally, I dont worry about it breaking or sucking in dust during the winter.
- All-metal barrel is super sturdy
- Focus is very consistent
- Way under your $600 budget Its a safe, dependable pick for Chicago street work.
Regarding what #1 said about "I switched to the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8..." - it's a solid pancake! But for your budget, you should totally look at the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR. The technical performance is incredible and its a steal at $450!
- lightning fast stepping motor
- weather sealed for those Chicago winters
- super light weight Its way snappier in low light than the pancake tho! You'll love the focus speed!
Re: "Regarding what #1 said about "I switched to..." - that 27mm is stealthy, but I would suggest looking at the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2 R WR too. It is basically the same price as the 23mm #2 mentioned.
- 35mm: 53mm full-frame equivalent, better for subject isolation.
- 23mm: 35mm equivalent, better for environmental context. Be careful tho, the 35mm might be too narrow for crowded Chicago sidewalks. Make sure to check the AF noise... they are both dead silent tho.
I switched to the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR last year and it fits the X-Pro3 like a glove. For months i got weird looks in the loop with my zoom, but now nobody even glances my way.
- fits in a jacket pocket
- weather sealed for windy city rain
- aperture ring is super clicky Really satisfied with how stealthy this combo is for street work.
Saw this thread and wanted to mention that you should definitely look at third-party brands if you want the best specs for your $600. I've been really satisfied with how some of these newer lenses perform compared to native Fuji glass.
- Sigma 23mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Fujifilm X is my favorite for the X-Pro3 right now. It costs around $549 and the optics are incredible. It's actually sharper at the edges than the Fuji f2 primes and having that f1.4 aperture is a massive help when the sun goes down in Chicago.
- Viltrox 23mm f1.4 AF XF is a great choice if you wanna save cash. It's about $300 and is very compact, tho it's kinda soft wide open compared to the Sigma.
- Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR is what you want if weather sealing is the absolute priority. It's roughly $450 and the autofocus is technically a bit quieter than the Sigma, but the image quality isn't quite as punchy. The Sigma works well for me because it hits that sweet spot of speed and resolution. It's way more discreet than that 18-55mm monster you're carrying now... you'll definitely notice the difference in how people react when you're shooting.