So I finally bit the bullet and got the Fujifilm X-S20 last week! Honestly, I am just so excited to get out there and start shooting, but I am feeling totally overwhelmed by the lens situation. I really want to try taking wide-angle shots, especially since I have a trip to Iceland coming up in about two months and I really want to capture those big dramatic landscapes without feeling like I am leaving half the view out.
I have been doing some googling but honestly it all sounds like gibberish to me, with all the numbers and focal lengths and stuff. My logic was that a smaller number means a wider view, but then someone mentioned crop factors and my head just started spinning. I have a budget of maybe 600 or 700 bucks max, though I could maybe stretch it if it is truly worth it since I dont want to buy another lens for a long time.
I was looking at the Fuji 10-24mm lens but its kinda pricey, and then I saw some third party stuff like Viltrox or Sigma but I have no idea if those are actually reliable or if the quality is worse. Is there something that is good for a complete beginner who just wants to point and shoot at cool mountains? I dont want to carry a million things either, just something that fits on the camera and works well. Should I go for a prime lens or a zoom one? I honestly have no clue. Sorry if this is a dumb question, I feel like I am in way over my head here but I just really wanna take good pictures on this trip. Is there any specific lens you guys think is the best one for someone like me?
Honestly, grab the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN instead. It is super compact, sharp, and perfect for landscapes. I used it last year and was genuinely impressed by the results.
Congrats on the new camera. Honestly, I would be really careful about jumping into third-party glass for a once-in-a-lifetime trip like Iceland. I have tried the Viltrox 13mm F1.4 before and unfortunately it was just not as sharp as I expected for landscape work, plus I had issues with some weird firmware bugs. You really do not want to deal with that when you are in the middle of nowhere. Since you are on a budget and want reliability, try looking for a used copy of the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR. It is a bit pricey new, but finding a clean one on the used market will keep you close to your budget. It is much more dependable than the cheaper options, and having that zoom range is honestly a lifesaver for mountains.
Been thinking about your setup since I saw your post earlier. Before you pull the trigger on anything, do you plan on shooting handheld or will you be using a tripod for those long exposures in Iceland? If you want something ultra-wide without breaking the bank, look at the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS. It is a manual focus prime lens, which sounds intimidating, but for landscapes, you basically just set it to infinity and everything stays sharp.
- It is super small and light, perfect for hiking.
- The focal length on your sensor is equivalent to 18mm, which is classic for those massive mountain shots.
- You save a ton of cash compared to the Fuji zooms. Since you are worried about gear weight, this prime is way easier to manage than those bulky zoom lenses.
Nice, didn't know that
