so i finally upgraded to the x-t5 from my old x-t2 and honestly the resolution jump is kind of stressing me out. i've been shooting landscapes for like six years mostly with zooms but now that i have the 40mp sensor i feel like my old lenses just aren't resolving the detail properly especially in the corners. i have this trip to the dolomites coming up in about three weeks and i really want to commit to a high-end prime for those wide vistas but i'm stuck in a loop of indecision.
my logic was to go for the xf 18mm f1.4 because everyone says it's the sharpest thing out right now but is 18mm wide enough for big mountain ranges? then i look at the 14mm f2.8 and i worry it's too old to handle the new sensor. i've got about $900-1100 to spend so i could also look at the 16mm f1.4 but i've heard mixed things about its performance on the t5. i'm really trying to capture that tiny texture in the rocks and the grass without it looking like mush when i zoom in. some options i've been looking at:
am i overthinking the focal length vs the resolving power? i just dont want to get out there and realize i brought the wrong tool for such a huge bucket list trip...
Unfortunately, the Fujifilm XF 16mm f1.4 R WR was a total letdown on my T5.
> now that i have the 40mp sensor i feel like my old lenses just aren't resolving the detail properly especially in the corners. You are 100% right to be worried about this. That 40MP sensor is totally unforgiving and it basically demands the newer optics fuji has been putting out lately. Between your choices, the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is the clear winner for technical performance. I have run side-by-side tests and the MTF charts dont lie - the 18mm was designed specifically with this high-res sensor in mind while the older glass struggles. The Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is a classic, but its starting to show its age in the corners on the T5. Same goes for the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R. If you're worried about 18mm being too narrow for the Dolomites, just shoot a vertical panorama. Better to have a sharp 18mm frame than a mushy 14mm one. The rendering on that 18mm is clinical in the best way possible for textures like rock and grass. Grab it and dont stress.