The Best Fujifilm Lenses After 4 Years of Trial & Error

After nearly 5 years of using Fujifilm gear and trying almost all the lenses, I have shared what I believe is the best kit to do everything you need.

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:32 - Scope
01:53 - Lenses
09:20 - Street
10:46 - Minimal Travel
11:54 - Landscape / Cityscape
12:38 - Video
13:33 - Accessories
14:13 - Cheaper Alternatives

[MikePGuitars]

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate this guy not always pushing every new body and every new lens or switching systems twice a year just for the clicks…

[bryannguyen]

just got my 16-80 f4 couple weeks ago, and that lens has been my main one for basically everything. street, portrait, etc. contant f4 (not the widest but it does the job), wide range for focal, it basically fit in everything, and not that heavy so i can carry it everywhere. cant express how much im loving it

[Beliroz]

I recently went to England and at first I only had the 35 f1.4, which really made me think outside of the box when walking around in the tight churches and streets. Then I bought a 10-24 to make it easier to document, which it absolutely did. I used the 10-24 for most of the trip, but in hindsight I enjoyed using the 35 more than the 10-24, and I personally think the 35 images was better, they’re more interesting.

[youssefhamidi]

My fav one has been the original 23mm 1.4. Every portrait Ive done has such beautiful sharpness and bokeh. Its not sterile sharp but just the right amount that creates some magic in my pictures.

[felixdachhauser]

Dear Roman, I just want you to know that I really enjoy your informative, relaxed and honest videos. I am a real perfectionist and I do care about the smallest details. However, there is something special about your chilled style and your overall approach to produce your videos. Keep on going!

[JosefFoti]

I really like your lens choice and I think your kit is as minimal as possible for how much it covers. I shoot quite a lot of portraits, events, weddings (I'm just getting into it), so I definitely shoot much more with primes but in general, if you divide your lens collection into kits for different purposes like you did in the video, it makes perfect sense. I also appreciate your point that you want your lenses to serve multiple purposes. That's really important for me as well.

[MartinKayStaff]

18-135mm is my main lens I walk around with. It covers 80% of what I do. It really is an affordable, tank of a lens that covers a lot of ground.

[maddhendrix]

As a hobby shooter, I've found my happy place with two primes. The 23 1.4 and the 56 1.4. I have the 35 f2 and that is a great little lense, but honestly the 56 basically lives on my camera.

[Deetroiter]

Thank you for PHOTOS and not pixel peeping. I never understood pixel peeping, so I can’t quite understand the obsession over it. It’s nice to see the actual PHOTOS that someone’s taking. You know, the important thing of photography!

[ivardahl-larsen]

I have photographed with all kinds of cameras from 1969 until now and love Fuji as well as my trusted Pentaxes. But I have to admit that Fuji amazes me and I have two of them. Very nice the way you explained your ways of using your lenses and why. Well done young man, albeit I tend to use prime predominantly for my work except when wild life is to far away, amongst humans and nature's own specimens!👍

[Kingjay]

This kit is close to mine kind of. I use the 16-55 as main lens for almost everything. It's the one lens I don't leave behind and would he my one single lens if I had to get rid of everything else. The funny thing is that I use all of the cheaper alternatives that you suggest instead of your main picks. I love the thought process and explanation of each pick.

[shivamkharwal]

Hi Roman, great informational video as always! I just got a Fuji XS10 in March this year and I've been using the XF 18-55 kit lens since then. Been planning to get a prime now but I think the 18-55 is a brilliant starting lens. The video quality is pretty damn amazing for a kit lens.

[inkedchick]

Great video Roman! I have an X-T4 and my go-to kit is the XF 33mm f/1.4 and the XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. Honestly, the 18-135mm barely ever leaves my camera body. I have had amazing good fortune with this lens and it seems like this is one that kind of flies under the radar in the Fuji world. I have used this lens for everything and surprisingly it seems to excel when creating close-up detail shots (ex. leaf details in the fall).

[BrianRBrown-ID]

Recently picked up the 18-135 and will be shooting with it for the first time tomorrow. I know the variable aperture turns a lot of people off but surprised at how little attention this lens seems to get. Guess I'll find out tomorrow whether that's warranted or not. Thanks as always for the balanced review and comments on gear!

[sorenmelchior]

As a landscape, portrait, & architecture photographer I use many lenses depending on my needs. For primes my 16 1.4 is a staple that’s on my camera the most. For portrait prime it’s the 50 f1.0, I also use the 80mm 2.8 Macro in some cases. I have a 35 f2.0, but honestly I never use it.

For zooms the 8-16 f2.8 with the Lee 150mm filter system (yes, one can use filters with this lens if you don’t mind the bulk and high price tag). Next is the 55-140 f2.8 for portraits and landscape work. I also use the 100-400 with 1.4 extender for some work.

For fun I just picked up a non Fuji fisheye (7artisans 4mm f2.8) to test and play around with. But with that lens, I need to mount the lens on a support or I get the fingers holding the camera in the image.

[jedcurtis]

Cheers for the vid mate. Just went on a family holiday to Croatia with the 16 1.4, 35 1.4 and 55-200. Usage was 80% 35mm, 10% 16mm and 5% 55-200. Realized halfway through the trip that I could basically leave the 16 & 55-200 at home.
Your idea of 16-55 and the 33 1.4 is a good shout for traveling. 👌

[MeAMuse]

I think in general people should start with a standard zoom (ideally an F2.8... but kit will do), then you add a prime (most people will get a 50mm FF due to how cheap they are)... but generally I would advise this to be a lens that you easily visualize or that you have a common use for. I started with a 50mm FF eq... but quickly preferred 35mm.... these days I am experimenting with 28mm... Some people may prefer portraits as a focus and go for 85mm-115mm as their first prime... but the point is to choose a lens that limits you - while focusing you on subjects you love (could be a macro for flowers like my Mrs). After that... go wide and/or long... typically zooms.... but there are exceptions for wildlife or video shooters. In the end most people will end up with 3 zooms (wide, mid and tele) and some primes for the most common things you shoot. I also have a 24-240mm... and yes it is bad quality.... but man... hiking, travel, or location scouting.... it makes sense. There are always excuses to buy/try new/different gear.

[StillSawyerPhotography]

You’re the man, I’ve been planning my switch from Sony to Fuji for the last couple weeks. Got my body choice down and now I need to choose my lenses. Thank you for this 🙏🏻

[ScottClintonPhotography]

As a fellow pro-shooter and x-series user, I agreed with most of your comments. For me, the 16-55 and 50-140 are my workhorses... Something I never thought I would say as traditionally I loathe zooms. I find the 8-16 to be too prone to flaring and opted for the 10-24 instead. I have rented the Fujifilm fast primes in the past, but found their performance somewhat lackluster compared to my Canon L-series primes which I adapt to Fuji. I do love the 23f2 as my go-to travel lens along with the Samyang/Rokinon 12mm f2. Recently I picked up a 16-80 which I am looking forward to using as a travel option. I am intrigued by the 27mm f2.8, but have not tried it.

Cheers!

[Galiley]

Totally agree, my travel setup is 16-80 + 23mm 1.4 by Viltrox. 16-80 covers 95% of my purposes