When it comes to choosing a lens, can be a real challenge. It was SO hard for me to decide which lens was best for me when I finally decided to upgrade my kit lens. Aperture was one of the terms I had never dealt with before.
When you are a beginner looking for information, it can be difficult to know what to choose.
The cost of lenses is another factor to consider. The best lens for Fujifilm X t30 is another lens to capture HD photos.
Buying a lens and then not liking it is the last thing you want to happen!
All lenses in this guide have been purchased by me (except one, which I borrowed), and I can provide you with samples of photographs taken with each lens to assist you in making your choice!
Discover my top pick if you have to pick just one Fujifilm lens for travel, including how to pick a lens based on what kind of photos you want to take and how to select the right Fujifilm lens for your needs.
How do you choose a great travel lens?
When picking lenses for travel, I consider a few key factors. Three criteria must be met by any lens:
The weight of your gear shouldn’t be so heavy that you have pain in your shoulders after hauling it around for hours on end.
In this guide, you won’t find ultra-specialized lenses designed for a single purpose. There are a few ways in which every lens can help me.
A special situation, such as photographing wildlife, may require me to pack a lens.
Therefore, I’ve included lenses with at least two of these, and hopefully all three!
What made Fujifilm the right choice for me?
I was unquestionably recommended to start my photography journey with Fujifilm back when I was shopping for a camera.
Its focus on mirrorless cameras makes it more appealing than bulky DSLRs since it is smaller and lighter. It does not matter if the Fujifilm X-T2 takes 24 megapixels or the $3,000 Canon 5D Mark IV takes 30 megapixels when my images will end up on this blog, not a billboard.
Thanks for the extra $2,000! I’ll keep it!
My day bag doesn’t notice the weight of the camera since it’s light.
As long as you don’t leave your heavy camera behind when you travel, you won’t have to worry about it weighing you down.
For street photography, here are the best Fujifilm lenses
1. Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R
Pros
- The quality and sharpness of the images are outstanding
- The bokeh is beautiful
- Aperture maximum of f/1.4
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Low-light autofocus can be slow
- It is not weatherproof
In 2012, Fujifilm released the XF 35mm f/1.4 R, which competes with more modern lenses.
An ASP-C sensor will give you the equivalent focal length of around 50mm with this 35mm lens. This is a great focal length for street photography because it lends itself so well to general-purpose use. His Leica rangefinder camera was equipped with a 50mm lens, which made him one of the most talented street photographers of all time.
In spite of its wide apertures, the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 offers razor-sharp images. This lens is so versatile that it can be used at f/16 in bright sunlight or at f/1.4 in dim light. With its vivid colors and smooth, creamy bokeh, the overall picture quality is stunning. Bokeh remains smooth despite busy backgrounds (like foliage).
Despite not being the cheapest lens, the Fuji 35mm f/1.4 is an excellent flagship lens at a reasonable price. In my opinion, the 35mm f/1.4 is an outstanding buy for those who aren’t concerned with having the latest and most technologically advanced lenses.
2. Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R
Pros
- Maximum aperture of f/1.4
- Accurate and fast autofocus
- Quality and sharpness of the images are outstanding
- Viewing angle is wide
Cons
- Stabilization is not available
- A bit pricey
A Fujifilm prime lens that has a wide aperture, the XF 23mm f/1.4 R may be one of the best for street photography. The build quality is fantastic, even though it’s not weatherproof. As a result of the lens’ all-metal barrel, it can withstand constant traveling and shooting.
You can change between AF and MF simply by pulling the focusing ring toward you – it’s simple and convenient, and you don’t have to mess around with switches. There is a less expensive f/2 version of this lens (below), but the wide aperture facilitates faster shutter speeds in low-light conditions. Due to the lack of image stabilization in this lens, this is very useful.
A focal length of 35mm is achieved with the Fuji 23mm f/1.4, making the lens ideal for street photography. In addition to its outstanding sharpness, the lens produces excellent images as well. It renders colors beautifully and has beautiful bokeh between f/1.4 and f/2.8.
Taking street photos with this lens is easy due to its fast autofocus. If you plan to shoot in the rain or snow, you might want to steer clear of the Fuji 23mm f/1.4 because it is not weather-sealed. The Fujifilm lens isn’t cheap, but it’s perfect for street photography.
3. Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR
Pros
- Sharp as a razor
- A weatherproof seal
- Compact and lightweight
- Autofocus is extremely fast
Cons
- In AF mode, there is no manual focus
In light of the fact that it has an equivalent focal length of 76mm, which isn’t commonly used for street photography, you might think that the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR is here by chance.
However, I need your patience. You can get up close with 76mm without getting in people’s faces. The shy street photographer and those who love to take candid pictures of everyday life will appreciate this feature. This longer focal length allows you to capture a different perspective by getting closer to the action with wider lenses.
This Fuji 50mm lens comes with a bargain price tag, making it a great deal. Using this lens for capturing movement is easy because of its quick autofocus. Manual focusing is not available during AF operation, but most street photographers won’t have a problem with that.
The lightweight and compact lens is weather and dust-resistant, so it can be used in rain, snow, and other weather conditions.
It has the excellent image quality and lovely bokeh. Between f/2 and f/4, the sharpness is excellent across the aperture range. Considering the price, this is an excellent lens.
4. Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR
Pros
- Easily transportable
- A weatherproof seal
- Autofocus is fast
Cons
- Stabilization is not available
You should choose the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR if you need a wider street photography lens. Street scenes will be more compelling if you use the 24mm equivalent focal length, and you’ll enjoy the expansive field of view if you need to shoot in a tight space.
In spite of its small size and weight, this lens holds up like a tank. The body and lens mount are made of metal, and it is weather-sealed. When shooting on the streets, you don’t have to worry about getting knocked down by bumps and knocks when carrying this lens.
Even in difficult lighting conditions, the AF on the Fuji 16mm is very accurate and fast. It does not have image stabilization, but that shouldn’t be a major concern. You can grab this lens for a great price and use it to tell the stories of the streets.
5. Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R
Pros
- Sharp as a razor
- In low light, excellent
- Bokeh is beautiful
- High-quality images
Cons
- Focus is slow
- Not weatherproof
In terms of night street photography, the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R holds its own against other Fuji lenses thanks to its monstrous f/1.2 maximum aperture. Even though the lens does not have image stabilization, you can still take sharp photographs in low-light conditions.
Despite its effective 85mm focal length, some street photographers might find it challenging. But for me, long focal lengths shake things up, allowing for some highly creative portraits. The advantage of shooting from a distance is that you can avoid getting in the way of your subjects while making your shots. Street portraits are also perfect with this focal length.
Night street scenes are captured beautifully with this lens. It has rich colors and impressive sharpness. With f/1.2, the lens produces superb bokeh, making it one of the best Fuji lenses for backgrounds.
Despite its well-built construction, this lens is not weatherproof. The camera can also be frustratingly slow to focus, so fast-moving subjects aren’t ideal. Regardless of its shortcomings, the 56mm f/1.2 has a lot to offer, including stunning low-light performance.
6. Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR
Pros
- It costs about half as much as the 23mm f/1.4
- Autofocus that is fast and silent
- Lightweight and compact
- Seals against the elements
Cons
- Stabilization is not available
- Low-light conditions are not ideal
It might not be the most flashy lens on the market, and it won’t have the wide maximum aperture as its 23mm f/1.4 sibling (discussed above). However, this f/2 lens has a few advantages over its f/1.4 counterpart.
The price difference between the f/1.4 and this f/2.8 version is enormous. As well as being weather-resistant, it is also durable. Due to its small size and lightweight, this lens is perfect for traveling and won’t weigh you down. In addition, street photography is especially suited to fast and silent autofocus, especially when shooting action in a quiet setting.
You get a nice bokeh when you open up wider apertures, however, you don’t get an extremely shallow depth of field as you can with a lens that opens up to f/1.4. Professional testing has shown that the 23mm f/1.4 actually has a bit more sharpness than the f/2.
As a result of the narrower maximum aperture and the absence of image stabilization, the f/2 lens is less suitable for low-light shooting, but it’s still a great little lens. The (much cheaper) f/2 version might be a better option if you do not need that extra stop of light.
7. Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR
Pros
- Sharpness and image quality are excellent
- Autofocus that is fast and accurate
- Focusing range of a wide range
- Seals against the weather
Cons
- Heavy and big
- Stabilization is not available
Do Fuji lenses have to have a fixed focal length to be the best for street photography? It has an effective focal length of 24-84mm and is an excellent zoom lens at a reasonable price.
Without having to be physically near your subject, you are able to capture wide-angle street scenes or close-ups. Additionally, you will not need to purchase and carry around multiple prime lenses for different situations.
There is a weather seal on the Fuji 16-55mm f/2.8 lens, and it is extremely well-built. Compared to other Fuji lenses, it’s amazing from an optical standpoint. There are some Fuji prime lenses out there that are sharper than this one!
Unfortunately, the weight of this optical superiority comes at a cost: the lens is heavy and bulky, and it can feel unbalanced on some cameras. As a professional-spec lens, it is also pricey, but it is durable and will last for years.
Its autofocus system is exceptionally fast. Even in low light, it doesn’t hunt for focus and performs well in all kinds of light conditions. You might want to consider this Fuji zoom lens if you are looking for versatility and quality.
Photography’s “Rule of Thirds”: what is it?
Every image is composed of this basic structure. The image could be divided into nine different segments three verticals and three horizontals.
Your image’s key aspects or points of interest should intersect at least two lines that intersect with each other. This is called the rule of thirds.
When you photograph a person, you’d use one vertical line and one or more horizontal lines to intersect the subject. Two-thirds of the frame is negative space, which gives the subject room to look.
You might not be able to use this rule in all situations. Consider this rule a guideline, an awesome way to make a photo more visually appealing. A photo doesn’t depend on it.
When taking pictures of people outside, do I need a permit?
There are a number of factors that determine whether you need a permit for street photography, but generally, you do not need one unless you are doing a full-scale photo shoot. Generally, you will be able to take photos in public spaces without the consent of objects if you are on official property.
A photograph taken in a place where someone has an expectation of privacy is illegal, as everyone has the right to privacy.
It is a good practice to ask your subject’s permission before taking their photo if you can speak with them beforehand.
Conclusion:
This concludes our discussion of today’s lenses, guys.
How are these lenses? Do you have any experience with them? Can you tell me what you think of them?
How do you choose the best Fujifilm lens for street photography?
Do you have a favorite street photography lens I did not mention in this article?
Let us know what you think in the comments section below.