Which Fujifilm lens is best for travel and street photography?

Seconding that! The Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR is better value cuz its sharper on the 40MP sensor than the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS zoom. Resolving power matters!!

Totally agree with the above! +1 for the Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR. honestly, since your traveling, the weather sealing is a huge safety feature if it rains. plus, you can grab one used for like $300-$350 which is a total bargain. I'd definitely add a Fujifilm PRF-43 Protector Filter just to be safe from scratches... better to be safe than sorry!!!

TL;DR: The 23mm f2 is cheaper, tougher, and safer for travel gear.

oh man, I've been shooting Fuji for a decade and honestly, for the X-T5, the prime is AMAZING!

* Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR is tiny and weather-sealed
* it's way more discrete for candid street shots

the zoom is okay but the 23mm makes you move and get creative... love it!! tbh you wont regret keeping it light and simple. good luck!

Sooo, I went through this last year. Honestly, I spent forever lugging around the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS cuz the flexibility felt like a total safety net... but then I started geeking out on technicals. I noticed the 40MP sensor on the Fujifilm X-T5 is lowkey demanding on glass - it literally shows every little flaw! While the zoom is super solid, I eventually tried the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR and it was a game changer for my back during long walks lol. It basically forces u to think about composition more... plus the autofocus is sooo snappy. I also messed around with the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR for a bit because I wanted that tighter street look. Looking back - after trying so many setups - I realized that for me, the primes just resolve those fine details on that high-res sensor way better. Does that even make sense? Anyway, it has been a fun journey seeing how different glass changes the travel vibe!

Honestly, if you are looking at the math for price-to-performance on that 40MP sensor, you should check out the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 AF. It is a total steal for budget-conscious travelers and handles the high resolution surprisingly well for the price. I am a big fan of the self-service aspect too; it has a built-in USB-C port on the rear lens cap for DIY firmware updates, so you never have to send it in for professional calibration or software tweaks, you know? For a technical DIY approach to travel prep:

• Perform a basic decentering test before you leave to ensure the optical axis is aligned
• Use a manual blower for sensor dust instead of paying for a professional cleaning service
• Keep your lens contacts clean with a quick wipe to prevent communication errors
• Study the MTF charts so you know exactly which apertures provide the highest resolving power Doing your own maintenance keeps your overhead low and your kit reliable. That 27mm is super thin, basically turning your setup into a pocketable powerhouse. It is way cheaper than the first-party glass and lets you spend that extra cash on the actual travel experience, lol.