Which prime lens is best for street photography on Fuji X-Series?

Question

honestly fed up with my chunky 18-55, it keeps getting in the way for my nyc trip next month and i need a prime. my logic was the 23mm f2 but then i read it is soft up close and now im just confused. i have $400 for a used lens, what should i actually get?

kujzpulrgw · Accepted Answer

Ive banged my gear against subway turnstiles for years. Just grab the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2 R WR. Its weather sealed for NYC rain and super reliable for a busy trip.

RainWolf23 · Answer

Ngl the 23mm softness is totally overblown for street shots... but for NYC, you really gotta look at the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR. It is so small it basically makes your camera pocketable. I love it so much! You can find them used for around $300 which is a total steal. It is fantastic for staying low profile. Youre gonna have a blast!

Dread_rsen · Answer

Honestly, I've tried many of these over the years, and people get way too caught up in the technical charts. In my experience, the softness you heard about with the Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR only really shows up if you're shooting macro-style at f/2. For street photography in NYC, you aren't going to be focusing on things three inches from your lens anyway. However, if you want something bulletproof and optically superior across the frame, you should look at the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2 R WR. It's my go-to for reliability because the autofocus is snappy and the weather sealing is a lifesaver when it starts drizzling in the city. The 35mm focal length (50mm full-frame equivalent) forces you to be a bit more intentional with your framing compared to a wide lens. If you feel like that's too narrow, the older Fujifilm XF 23mm f1.4 R can sometimes be found used for close to $400 if you're lucky. It's much sharper than the f/2 version wide open, though it is a bit heavier and definitely not as discreet. Street photography is all about speed and confidence in your gear... you dont want to be second-guessing your focus when you're in the middle of a crowd. Stick to the f/2 primes if you want to keep the weight down, but don't let the internet scare you off a lens that's been a workhorse for thousands of pros. One thing to watch out for is that the f/2 series lenses have some slight distortion that the camera fixes in-body, but for street stuff, you'll never notice it. Focus on getting something light that makes you actually want to pull the camera out of your bag.