Im getting super excited because I have a trip to the Scottish Highlands coming up in about six weeks and my current kit just isnt cutting it for these massive landscape shots. The X-S10 has been an amazing little workhorse for street photography but the 18-55mm kit lens is just too tight for what I have in mind. I need something wider but I am honestly struggling to pick.
I spent all last night digging through forums and I keep seeing people swear by the Samyang 12mm f/2. It sounds perfect because its manual focus which I dont mind, plus the price is totally within my 500 dollar budget. But then I read a few threads where people say the corners are super soft on the newer sensors and now Im second-guessing everything. Is it really worth grabbing that or should I just bite the bullet and try to find a used Fujifilm 10-24mm? Im worried the 10-24 is way too big to lug around for a week of hiking. Has anyone actually used the Samyang for serious landscape work or am I gonna regret not having autofocus if I get lazy?
Building on the earlier suggestion, I totally get being worried about size and weight when you are hiking. Honestly, if you want something that stays sharp across the frame without breaking your back, I have been really happy with the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R. It is super compact and the sharpness is just night and day compared to some of the cheaper options.
- The 14mm focal length is great for landscapes because it is not so wide that it makes everything look tiny.
- It has a mechanical clutch for manual focus which is surprisingly satisfying to use when you want to lock in your infinity focus for big shots. If you really crave that extra width, you might wanna look at the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR if you can find a good deal used, but honestly, that lens is a brick. Stick to something smaller for the Highlands, you will be much happier after a long day on the trails.
^ This. Also, dont stress the autofocus part too much for landscapes, you will be fine with manual focus. I would suggest looking at the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 XF if you want that extra bit of versatility. It is super sharp and the AF is actually really solid for when you are tired from hiking and just want to point and shoot.
- Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 XF: Sharp, great light intake, decent size, though a bit heavier than the manual options.
- Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR: Much smaller and weather sealed, which you will definitely appreciate in the Highlands. Just make sure you are okay with 16mm instead of ultra-wide. Be careful with the weight of that zoom lens, itll wear you down after a few days. The prime lenses are way more manageable for long treks.
Oh man, the Scottish Highlands are gonna be absolutely epic! You are going to have a blast. Honestly, don't let the talk about soft corners scare you off too much. I used the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS for a trip to Iceland last year and for the price, it is pretty hard to beat. Sure, if you are pixel peeping at 200 percent, maybe the corners aren't perfect, but for landscape prints or posting online, it looks fantastic. The size is the biggest win for hiking too since it is tiny compared to the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR. I totally get your worry about manual focus, but with a 12mm wide angle, you are basically just setting your focus to infinity or using hyperfocal distance anyway. You'll find it super easy to use once you get the hang of it! If you really want the zoom versatility of the 10-24, go for it, but honestly, that extra weight adds up when you are trekking all day. If I were you, I would save the cash for more travel gear or maybe a solid K&F Concept Circular Polarizer filter which you will definitely want for those moody Scottish skies. You're gonna love the results regardless!
Stumbled upon this thread and honestly, for the Highlands, you really should check out the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR. It is tiny, weather-sealed, and seriously sharp! Having that weather resistance is a lifesaver when you are in Scotland, because the rain will definitely hit you at some point. If you really want to go wider, have you looked at the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D? It is incredible for landscapes since it has basically zero distortion. It is a manual lens, but for landscapes, you just set it to hyperfocal distance and everything is in focus anyway. My top tip for you: check out the lens comparison tool on the Optical Limits website if you want to see exactly how these lenses perform on the X-trans sensor. It helped me settle the debate between these smaller primes. Good luck with the trip, it is going to be absolutely legendary!
Honestly, the gear hunt drives me crazy. It feels like every time I look for a decent wide-angle glass, the prices are just absurd and the quality control is all over the place. Why do we have to pay a fortune for lenses that cant even handle edge-to-edge sharpness? It is honestly such a scam sometimes. I remember dragging a massive zoom up a mountain once and just thinking about how much lighter my pack could be if companies actually prioritized weight for hikers instead of making these bricks.
- The constant cycle of buying, testing, and losing money on resale sucks.
- Manufacturers really dont seem to care about the actual user experience in the field anymore.
- Finding that sweet spot between optical performance and portability feels impossible. I just ended up dealing with some mediocre corners on my last trip because I refused to carry another heavy piece of glass. It is so frustrating.