> I sometimes feel it’s a bit too wide, and I find myself having to get uncomfortably close to strangers to get the framing I want. sooo i feel u on this one seriously. ngl, picking between these two is like trying to pick a favorite child, right? i actually started with the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR because everyone said it’s the "classic" street lens, but honestly?? i was kinda disappointed. i had issues with it being a bit soft when shooting wide open at close distances, which really sucked when i was trying to get those detailed environmental shots... it just wasnt as good as i expected for the price. plus, like you said, you gotta get REALLY close. if youre not super confident yet, it can feel awkward af, and unfortunately, i ended up missing shots cuz i was too scared to shove my camera in someone's face lol. it basically forced me to be a bolder photographer than i actually was at the time!! if youre looking at the budget side, the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR is actually a much better value. it's usually significantly cheaper than the 23mm, which basically pays for a nice lens hood or a fast SD card like a SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card. i found that having that extra reach lets you stay back just enough to keep the scene natural. sure, in narrow alleys it’s a bit cramped, but you can usually just take a step back right? basically, go with the 35mm first. its cheaper, sharper at f/2 in my experience, and way less intimidating for a beginner. if you find it way too tight later, you can always sell it without losing much money. but yeah for a day out in the city, the 35mm is the practical winner. peace!

Seconding the recommendation above for the wider focal length! I honestly had the same 50/50 dilemma when I first started out with Fuji. I actually went with the 35mm first because I thought it would be "safer" to keep my distance from people, but it was a bit of a letdown in narrow streets. I kept missing the context of the scene, which kinda defeats the purpose of street photography sometimes, right? I eventually swapped to the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR and it's definitely more versatile for a day out, but honestly, I've had some issues with it. The technical performance is okay, but the lens flare can be really distracting if you aren't careful with your framing near streetlights. Plus, even though it's WR, I still worry about the longevity of the seals during heavy downpours. To be safe, I always pair mine with a B+W 43mm XS-Pro Clear MRC-Nano 010M Filter just to add that extra layer of physical protection against the elements. If you're still feeling stuck, maybe consider the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 R? It’s even wider, though unfortunately it lacks the weather sealing of the "Fujicrons" which is a huge bummer for rainy day shoots. Basically, for street work, you really want that wider field of view to stay safe and capture the whole story without having to back into traffic! gl with the choice.

In my experience, the wider one is way more versatile. I found the tighter lens too cramped in crowds, so basically going wider saved my shots. I'd suggest that one! gl

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Can confirm

Building on the earlier suggestion about versatility, I would suggest being really careful with how much you carry. When I was starting out years ago, I was so paranoid about my gear that I actually tried to DIY my own custom padded inserts for a regular messenger bag using some old yoga mats and heavy-duty spray adhesive. I thought I was being so clever and saving money, but the fumes from that glue were so strong they actually ended up fogging the inside of my viewfinder. I spent a whole weekend in the garage with a hair dryer and some silica packets trying to fix it, which reminded me of the time I tried to fix our old toaster with a paperclip. My dad caught me doing it and nearly had a heart attack because he thought I was gonna get electrocuted. We ended up just going out for pancakes instead and I forgot all about the toaster for like a week. anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there