What is the best landscape lens for Fujifilm X-T5?

Question

I finally upgraded to the X-T5 last month after shooting with an X-T2 for ages and I am absolutely stoked about that 40mp sensor but man it is really showing the flaws in my older glass. I've been in the Fuji ecosystem for like seven years now and I honestly thought my old 18-55mm kit lens was doing just fine on the older bodies but now everything looks a bit soft and muddy when I am pixel peeping those landscape shots. I am heading out to the North Cascades in about three weeks for a huge hiking trip and I really want to capture that crisp mountain detail properly without it looking like mush.

I have about 1200 dollars saved up for a dedicated landscape lens but I am totally torn on which way to go. I keep looking at the 10-24mm because the versatility is so nice for hiking but I have heard rumors the sharpness just isnt there for the new high-res sensor? Or maybe I should just bite the bullet and go for the 18mm f1.4 prime even though it is not as wide as I usually like? I need something that can handle the misty PNW weather too so WR is a must. My old 14mm is okay but the autofocus is so loud and clunky compared to the newer stuff. What are you guys using to actually get the most out of this sensor for wide vistas?

CartoonCool · Accepted Answer

I had a similar experience when I finally moved up to the X-T5. That high-res sensor really changed how I looked at my gear bag. Last summer I took the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR through some pretty rough weather in the PNW and it was basically the only lens I used the whole time. Since you are worried about the mushy look, I gotta say... it is not as surgical as the newest primes, but for a zoom, it holds its own if you stop it down to f/5.6 or f/8. The weather sealing is the real winner here tho. I was out in some serious drizzle near Mount Rainier and didnt have to worry about the internal electronics getting fried. I know people talk trash about the edge sharpness on the 40mp sensor, but for real-world hiking where you dont want to be swapping glass every five minutes, the trade-off is worth it. If you want the absolute crispest files possible, the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is technically better for that sensor, but I found myself missing the wide end too much when I tried it for landscapes. For your 1200 dollar budget, you could snag the 10-24mm and still have plenty left for a high-quality circular polarizer or some extra batteries. Personally, I would just stick with the zoom for the Cascades because the versatility usually beats out that tiny bit of extra sharpness when you are standing on a narrow ledge and need to frame a shot quickly.

Ethanwrine · Answer

Regarding what #1 said about "I had a similar experience", be careful as older zooms struggle at 40mp. Are you planning large prints?Try Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WROr Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR

Charlescoids · Answer

It is unfortunately true that the leap to 40mp exposes every little flaw. The older glass just isnt up to the task and it really soured my experience. Every corner looked soft and it felt like fighting the gear instead of shooting.

My old wide zoom was basically useless at the edges.

The cost of the new prime glass is just offensive compared to the kit price.

Even the newer weather sealing feels a bit like marketing fluff after my last outing. That last trip to the Cascades was actually a total mess because my tripod legs jammed with grit on the first morning. Spent more time fixing stuff than looking at the mountains. Tried using a simple tool for share Amazon cart to show a buddy what I was using so he could avoid my mistakes, but the whole gear hunt just feels like a money pit sometimes. But yeah.