Which prime lens is best for street photography on Fujifilm cameras?

Question

i am seriously losing my mind with my 18-55 kit lens for street shots. its just so clunky and i feel like everyone sees me coming a mile away and the focus is just... not hitting when i need it to. i have a trip to chicago in literally ten days and im panicking because i dont have a solid prime. i want that invisible feeling where i can just snap and move on without looking like a tourist. honestly i might just sell this zoom if i can find something better.

budget is max 500 bucks maybe 600 if i stretch it

need something tiny like really small

fast af is a must cuz i shoot fast

23mm or 35mm? i cant decide

help me out before i just give up on this x-t30 entirely...

dzjggzosgz · Accepted Answer

> i want that invisible feeling where i can just snap and move on without looking like a tourist. Just saw this thread and felt like I had to chime in because I've made every mistake in the book with Fuji gear over the last eight years. Be careful with the hype around the older f/1.4 lenses. While they look pretty, they use older motors that are loud and slow... definitely not what you want for a fast-paced city like Chicago. If you buy one of those, you'll still be hunting for focus while the moment disappears. I remember my first big trip to NYC with the original 35mm. I felt like a total amateur because the lens was constantly whirring. It ruined the invisible vibe I wanted. I would suggest looking seriously at the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 R WR instead of just the 23 or 35. It is a true pancake lens. On your X-T30, it basically turns the camera into a point-and-shoot size. You might want to consider checking used sites to save some cash too. Since you have a strict budget, grabbing a used Fujifilm XF 23mm f2 R WR will leave you with like 300 bucks for your trip. Just make sure to test whatever you get the second it arrives. Chicago street photography is fast, and you dont want to be menu-diving or fighting a lens that isnt calibrated right. Stay away from the cheap third-party stuff for this trip... stick to native glass so the autofocus actually talks to your X-T30 properly.

Canoe99 · Answer

I totally get the frustration with zooms. In my experience, a tiny prime makes you feel way more invisible. Go 23mm, its much better for those narrow sidewalks.