What are the best everyday prime lenses for the Fujifilm X-T5?

Question

So I finally jumped from the X-T3 to the X-T5 and honestly the 40 megapixel sensor is throwing me for a loop. I thought my old glass would be fine but everything looks a bit soft when I crop in even slightly which never used to happen. I primarily shoot street and architectural stuff while I'm out in Chicago and I really need a prime that is sharp enough to actually handle this resolution without being a total brick to carry around all day. Budget is roughly $800 and I definitely need weather sealing for the winter months. Do the newer f1.4 primes really make that big of a difference or is there a smaller gem I'm missing for an everyday carry?

mpftelixsm · Accepted Answer

> everything looks a bit soft when I crop in even slightly To add to the point above: be careful with the older f2 primes if you're planning to crop heavily. While the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR is small and weather sealed, it can struggle with spherical aberration at close focus distances, which the 40MP sensor highlights immediately. If you want to actually resolve that resolution without the bulk of the older lenses, I would suggest the Fujifilm XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR. It weighs about 360g which is heavier than the f2 but it is specifically engineered for that high res sensor. Honestly, you gotta check the MTF charts for any glass you buy now; the newer optical designs are necessary for the tighter tolerances required by that pixel density. Just watch out for the price on the wider options tho, they might blow your budget if you buy new.

latoyavick26783 · Answer

I transitioned to the X-T5 recently and I am very satisfied with how the newer glass handles that resolution. Honestly, the older lenses definitely show their age on the 40MP sensor. For your work in Chicago, you really need the linear motor (LM) versions to get the most out of your files.

The Fujifilm XF 23mm f1.4 R LM WR is my primary choice. It stays incredibly sharp across the frame and the weather sealing is reliable for winter.

If that feels too wide, I am quite happy with the Fujifilm XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR. It works well for architectural details and it isnt too heavy for all-day carry. The f2 Fujicron lenses are smaller, but the newer f1.4 primes are a significant leap in optical quality for this specific sensor. I have no complaints with the weight of these newer designs compared to the resolution you gain.

FableFjord · Answer

^ This. Also, I went through the exact same crisis when I got my X-T5 and felt like my photos were suddenly muddy. I spent weeks pixel peeping MTF charts because my old f2 primes just werent cutting it anymore! You absolutely need the new LM glass to feed that 40MP sensor or you are basically wasting those pixels.

Fujifilm XF 33mm f1.4 R LM WR: This is the gold standard imo. The resolving power is insane and it stays sharp corner-to-corner even wide open. Its basically glued to my camera for street stuff now.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f1.4 R LM WR: If you want wider for Chicago architecture, this thing is a beast. Zero distortion and the autofocus is lightning fast compared to the old 18mm. Ngl the price tag on these is high but finding them used can get you under that $800 mark easily. The 33mm completely changed how I felt about the 40MP files... the detail is just staggering!