Which prime lens is best for street photography on Fujifilm?

Question

So I just got my first real camera which is a Fujifilm X-T30 II and I am literally so excited to start taking photos but honestly I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to the lenses. I keep hearing about primes and how they are better for street photography but looking at all the numbers like 18mm and 23mm and 35mm just makes my head spin and I dont really get what the difference is going to be when I am actually out there walking around.

I am going on a trip to Tokyo next month and I really want to capture those cool street vibes and neon lights but I dont want to carry a huge heavy zoom thing that makes me look like a total tourist or a creep lol. I just want something small that fits in my jacket pocket if possible. I was looking at the 27mm pancake lens because it looks so tiny but then someone told me the 23mm is better for storytelling and now I am just totally lost. Like what does that even mean? Is one more zoomed in than the other or does it just look different?

Here is what I am looking for I guess:

Something under 500 dollars if possible because I spent all my money on the camera body

Needs to be small so I can hide it easily

Good for night time because I want to see the city lights

Not too zoomed in because I want to see the buildings too

Fast focus because I am slow and the people move fast

I am sorry if these are like really basic questions but every YouTube video I watch uses so many technical words like aperture and crop factor and I just want to know what to buy so I can start practicing before my flight. Should I just get the one that comes in the kit or is a prime lens really that much better for a beginner like me? I really want my photos to look like those cinematic ones you see on Instagram but I dont know if that is the lens or just me being bad at this. What would you guys pick if you only had one lens to walk around a big city with for a week...

PetitPierre · Accepted Answer

> Something under 500 dollars I suggest looking at TTArtisan 27mm F2.8 AF. I bought one to save cash for travel and its tiny, but you might want to make sure you update the firmware first...

ScarletBreeze · Answer

Tokyo is going to be amazing and that X-T30 II is the perfect choice! I love that camera so much! For your trip, you really need a lens that wont let you down when the light gets low or things get hectic. Honestly, skip the kit zoom and go for a prime for those cinematic vibes.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR is the most reliable pick. It focuses like lightning and it is weather-sealed so if it rains in Shibuya you dont have to worry about the gear! The f/2 aperture is fantastic for those neon nights.

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR is so tiny it makes the camera basically pocketable. It is great for hiding but the f/2.8 means it lets in less light than the 23mm for night shots. I would definitely grab the 23mm for the safest street results. It is wide enough for the skyscrapers but looks incredible for people too!

Davidjed · Answer

Adding my two cents... I remember my first big trip to Tokyo and I was so worried about gear that I almost forgot to watch where I was walking. Be careful in those crowded stations tho, people move fast and you dont want to bump your new camera. I found that just grabbing any compact f2 prime from Fujifilm is the safest bet. Theyre reliable and small enough to keep hidden.