Is the Fuji 10-24mm f/4 worth the extra cash over the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 or should I just go for the Samyang 12mm f/2 instead? Seriously, Ive been stressing over this for like three weeks now and Im about to lose my mind. I have a trip to Iceland coming up in exactly 22 days and my current kit just isnt cutting it for these massive landscapes.
I really want the flexibility of the zoom on the 10-24mm because I hate changing lenses when its windy or raining, which it always is there, but then I see the sharpness tests for the Viltrox and it just blows the Fuji out of the water for way cheaper. Plus that f/1.4 aperture is tempting for northern lights if I get lucky, but is manual focus actually a dealbreaker with the Samyang? My budget is sitting at around 800 bucks max, and honestly, the Fuji is pushing that limit pretty hard.
Im shooting on an X-T4 and I just feel like every time I watch a review I change my mind. One minute I think, yeah, just get the zoom and dont worry about the technical flaws, then I see a photo taken with the Viltrox and regret everything. Its so frustrating trying to balance versatility with image quality when you have a deadline creeping up. I live in a rural area so I cant exactly run to a shop to hold these in my hands before I commit. Does anyone have experience using these for travel? Im leaning toward the Viltrox because the price is right but I keep worrying that I will miss the 10mm end of the zoom when standing in front of a giant waterfall and realizing I cant back up any further. Im so torn...
@Reply #2 - good point! Honestly, I took the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR to Iceland once and had issues with the moisture getting into the zoom mechanism. It was super frustrating. If you need something rugged, consider the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary. It is way smaller and lighter. Unfortunately, none of these are perfect, but dont let the gear stress ruin your trip prep.
^ This. Also, be careful with condensation switching lenses. I would suggest the Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD instead. It hits that sweet spot for sharpness and aperture.
Look, I have lugged both the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR and the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 XF through some pretty gnarly weather in the Pacific Northwest, and honestly, the math on this is clearer than you think. Since you are going to Iceland, you need to prioritize environmental management over corner-to-corner sharpness. Changing lenses in a gale is a nightmare for your sensor, and I learned that the hard way when I got fine black sand inside my X-T4 housing.
- The Fuji zoom offers OIS which is a lifesaver for handheld shots if you are shooting waterfalls at dusk.
- The Viltrox is optically stunning, but it lacks the weather sealing that the newer Fuji versions provide.
- Manual focus with the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS is actually fine for landscapes since you just set to infinity, but it lacks the convenience of autofocus when you are trying to grab a quick shot of a moving subject. Basically, if you feel like you will miss the 10mm reach, you definitely will. The difference between 10mm and 13mm is massive when you are standing at the base of Skogafoss and cannot move backward. Get the zoom for the versatility. You wont notice the sharpness difference once you are printing those landscape shots or posting them online, but you will definitely notice if you miss the shot entirely because you were fumbling with a prime lens in the rain.
TL;DR: dont rush the decision. Iceland weather is brutal, so maybe prioritize weather sealing over raw sharpness. I personally struggle with manual focus in the cold too. Are you planning on doing long exposures for the aurora, and how much do you actually value the convenience of the zoom range versus the speed of a prime lens? Making sure you feel comfortable with your gear is key before you head out there.
