In my experience, moving from a bulky DSLR to the Fujifilm X-T5 is the best move you could've made, but yeah, the lens choice is where the real fun (and stress) starts lol. I've been shooting Fuji for over a decade and I've owned basically every prime they’ve put out, so I feel u on the decision paralysis.

If you're looking for that 'magic' and soul everyone talks about, you honestly cant skip the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R. Ngl, the autofocus is a bit noisy and slow compared to the newer stuff, but it has this glow and character that just works perfectly with film sims like Classic Neg. It’s the lens that basically defines the Fuji experience for me.

For street stuff, the choice between the 23mm and 35mm depends on how ur shooting. If you want a 'set it and forget it' street lens that isnt intimidating, the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR is a beast cuz it's so tiny and fast. But since you have that high-res 40MP sensor, you might actually wanna look at the newer Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR. It’s bigger, but it's optically perfect and way more versatile for environmental portraits than the f/2 version... literally handles everything you throw at it.

Regarding the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, it’s incredible for headshots, but it can feel a bit tight for general use. Tbh, if you get a 23mm and a 35mm, you're basically covered for 90% of street and portraits. If I had to pick two 'essential' primes? Definitely the 23mm f/1.4 LM WR for the technical quality and the 35mm f/1.4 for the pure vibes. You wont regret it. Cheers!

For street, I’d highkey suggest the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR—the weather sealing is a lifesaver for reliability when you're out in the elements. Since others mentioned that brand already, definitely check out the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Fujifilm X for portraits; it's a killer value choice that's way cheaper and safer for your budget than the f/1.2 glass tho!

Sooo I saw this earlier and had to jump in cuz I literally went through the exact same struggle last year. When I first switched, I was so obsessed with getting that "pro" look that I blew my entire budget on the biggest, fastest glass available from Fujifilm. Honestly? It was a mistake. I ended up with these heavy lenses that made my camera feel just as bulky as my old DSLR, which kinda defeated the whole purpose of switching to this system in the first place, lol.

I know the earlier replies mentioned the Fujinon f/2 versus f/1.4 debate, and they're totally right about the "character" thing, but from a cost-conscious perspective, it's a tough sell when you're just starting out. I eventually realized that for street photography, those smaller, weather-sealed primes are lowkey the way to go. They're way less intimidating when youre out in public, and the image quality is so sharp that I rarely missed the extra aperture.

I also found that looking into third-party brands like Sigma or Viltrox was a total game changer for my wallet. You can often get two solid lenses for the price of one high-end prime, and the quality is honestly incredible these days. My journey taught me that "prime magic" is more about the shooting experience than the price tag. Starting with the compact series kept my kit light and actually fun to carry around all day. If I ever felt like I needed more blur for portraits, I just looked at more budget-friendly fast glass later on. gl!

In my experience, the whole 'f/1.4 vs f/2' debate basically boils down to whether you prioritize lens character or clinical consistency. See, the older f/1.4 glass often uses a DC core motor—it is a bit louder and 'hunts' more, but that specific optical formula produces a soft transition from sharp to blurry that looks very 'filmic' and works so well with film sims. But for street stuff on an Fujifilm X-T5, you really want that snappy AF and weather sealing.

If you are looking to save some serious cash while building a killer kit, here is what I recommend:

* Fujifilm Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR: You can find these used for like $300. It is weather-sealed and tiny. Honestly, it is the best 'first prime' cuz it just works every time without weighing you down.
* Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR: Usually around $350 used. It is that classic 35mm equivalent field of view. Perfect for environmental shots where you want ur background to tell a story.
* Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 XF: If the Fuji 56mm is too pricey, this Viltrox is a total steal at around $280. It gives you 90% of that bokeh look for a fraction of the cost.

Don't feel like you MUST have the f/1.2 for portraits... tbh, the Viltrox or even the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR are more than enough. Plus, using the smaller f/2 lenses makes the camera feel way less intimidating in public. anyway, hope that helps! 👍

Did this last week, worked perfectly

👆 this