Best budget landscape lens for the Fujifilm X-T5 system?

Question

Im so fed up with my kit lens looking soft on this 40mp sensor its honestly driving me crazy. My logic was to get the 10-24mm but its too expensive for my $400 budget before my PNW hiking trip next month. I looked at the Samyang 12mm but idk if it handles the resolution... what actually stays sharp?

FormidableFred · Accepted Answer

TL;DR: Grab a used Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R or the TTArtisan 10mm f/2 ASPH for maximum sharpness on a budget. I went through the exact same crisis when I upgraded to the X-T5! I was looking at line pairs per millimeter like a crazy person because my old glass just looked like a blurry mess. Honestly, the technical requirements for that 40mp sensor are insane! I ended up testing a bunch of primes because the zooms just werent cutting it for me at the edges. You should definitely look for a used Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R. It is a total sleeper hit! Even though it is an older lens, the optical quality is fantastic and it handles the high resolution way better than people give it credit for. I used it for a coastal trip and the detail in the rock formations was just amazing! If you need even wider, the TTArtisan 10mm f/2 ASPH is surprisingly sharp for the price, though it is manual focus. Quick tips for your trip:

Watch your aperture. On the X-T5, diffraction starts hitting around f/6.4 or f/7.1. Try to stay between f/4 and f/5.6 for the absolute peak sharpness.

Double check your shutter speeds. 40mp is way more sensitive to micro-shake than the old sensors. Seriously, once you nail the focus on a sharp prime, you will never want to touch that kit lens again for landscapes! ngl, seeing those 40mp files actually look crisp for once is the best feeling!

Jackson Stone · Answer

Forget the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS. Go for the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF instead because it is absolutely incredible on the X-T5 sensor! It is way sharper than the older manual glass and handles the resolution perfectly. If thats too big, the Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is a fantastic alternative that stays sharp even at 40mp. Both blow the kit lens out of the water tho! You wont regret switching.

GeorgeBeday · Answer

I spent a lot of time looking at sensor data and line pairs per millimeter after I realized my 40mp shots looked like mush. The technical demands of that sensor are actually pretty high and my old stuff just didnt cut it...

I eventually moved over to Sigma for my landscape work.

Their modern glass is designed to resolve high pixel densities better tho.

Any of their newer wide-angle options should work fine.