Street photography is a given with Fujifilm cameras. They’re set up pretty perfectly for doing just that. Not only do you get lenses that are pretty small, but they deliver great image quality when paired with the company’s incredible cameras. I mean, who wouldn’t like the look of Fujifilm Acros? Scroll through Instagram and you’ll find so many photos that look like film — and they’re bound to have been shot on Fujifilm. Here are some of the best lenses for street photography with Fujifilm cameras.
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How We Test and Choose the Best Lenses for Street Photography With Fujifilm Cameras
- The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product. We only recommend gear we’ve fully reviewed in these roundups.
- If you’re wondering why your favorite product didn’t make the cut, there’s a chance it’s on another list. If we haven’t reviewed it, we won’t recommend it. This method keeps our lists packed with industry-leading knowledge. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- When we test lenses, we’ve got various things in mind. First off, we consider who might want to buy the lens and what they might do with it. With that in mind, we try to tackle at least three genres of photography with that lens in a variety of situations. If the lens has weather resistance, then we’ll test it accordingly with a weather-resistant camera. We also test the autofocus of the lens in continuous mode, single mode, with exposure preview effects, without those effects, and then with all the major image quality parameters. These days, no one really makes a bad lens — but some are far better than others.
- In this specific roundup, we’re basing our findings on the reviews that we’ve done. We’re choosing a favorite, but we’re also giving photographers a bunch of others that they might like depending on how they shoot.
The best Lens for Street Photography With Fujifilm Cameras: FUJIFILM 23mm f1.4 R WR
There’s a lot to love about this lens. Fujifilm revamped the autofocus motors to improve it over the previous version. They also modernized the optics to help it render sharper images with newer sensors like those on the X-H2. It’s also weather resistant, so you can take it out with you in tougher conditions. Honestly, it’s a lens that might never leave your camera. Nothing hits quite like this lens and your favorite film simulation. We like pairing it with Glimmer glass for retro-vibes.
I honestly thought that my favorite lens for street photography would be the 18mm f1.4 R WR, but nope. It’s this!
Combine it with your favorite film simulations and the right exposure for results that you’re going to love. I prefer Classic Chrome, Astia, Pro Negative High Contrast, and Classic Negative.
Why It’s Great
- Weather resistance
- Fast autofocus
- Build quality
- It still makes Fuji’s sensors look good!
- Pretty good pricing at the Fujifilm online store
Tech Specs
Specs are taken from the FUJIFILM online store.
- Lens Configuration: 15 Elements in 10 Groups with 2 aspherical and 3 ED elements
- Focal Length: 23mm
- 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 35mm
- Angle of View: 63.4
- Maximum Aperture: F1.4
- Minimum Aperture: F16
- Number of Aperture Blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm opening)
- Aperture Step Size: 1/3EV (22 steps)
- Minimum Focusing Distance (cm): 19
- Minimum Focusing Distance (in): 7.48
- Maximum Magnification: 0.2x
- Lens Diameter (mm): 67
- Lens Length (mm): 77.8
- Lens Length (in): 3.06
- Lens Weight (g): 375
- Lens Weight (lb): 0.82
- Filter Size: 58mm
- Lens Mount: FUJIFILM X mount
- Approximate External Lens Dimensions: 67mm x 77.8mm
This lens is available for $899.95. In our review conclusions, we said:
The Fujifilm 23mm f1.4 R WR LM is a worthy successor to the original. Fujifilm improved the image quality by making it sharper. Some of us won’t want our photos too sharp, so I’d recommend using a haze filter or an intensifier to soften it up a bit. There’s also weather resistance and faster autofocus. At the same time, it’s pretty long. Ergonomically speaking, I personally like a fatter, shorter lens. But practically speaking, this is one of the best lenses Fujifilm has ever made.
The Best Lenses for Street Photography Might Be Different For You
Here are three other great options that photographers will enjoy. These lenses render different views, and all have different looks — especially Fujifilm’s beloved 35mm f1.4. But for some photographers, these might be the best lens for street photography with Fujifilm cameras because of image quality, balance, or affordability.
FUJIFILM 35mm f1.4 R
What’s Great
- Exceptional image quality
- Jaw dropping sharpness
- Focusing speed has improved with further firmware updates, but still isn’t top notch
- Excellent metal build quality
- The finish will make it look like an old lens over time
Tech Specs
- Lens Configuration: 8 elements in 6 groups (includes 1 aspherical element)
- Focal Length: 35mm
- 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 53mm
- Angle of View: 44.2
- Maximum Aperture: F1.4
- Minimum Aperture: F16
- Number of Aperture Blades: 7 (rounded diaphragm opening)
- Aperture Step Size: 1/3EV (22 steps)
- Minimum Focusing Distance (cm): 28
- Minimum Focusing Distance (in): 11.02
- Maximum Magnification: 0.17x
- Lens Diameter (mm): 65
- Lens Length (mm): 50.4
- Lens Length (in): 1.98
- Lens Weight (g): 187
- Lens Weight (lb): 0.41
- Filter Size: 52mm
- Approximate External Lens Dimensions: 65mm x 50.4mm
This lens is available for around $599. Our review concluded by saying:
When I made the purchase of the X-Pro 1, I was torn between the 18mm f2 and this lens. I think I made the right decision due to the faster aperture despite the fact that I like shooting wider. Either way, this lens is a wonderful piece of glass that every photographer going into a mirrorless system should consider. Granted, it does have its contenders. Panasonic’s 25mm f1.4 and Voigtlander 25mm f0.95 may keep Micro Four thirds users locked in at the time of this publishing. Sony doesn’t have anything in the equivalent area to step into the arena, though some can argue that the 30mm f3.5 may be a suitable fit.
FUJIFILM 33mm f1.4 R WR
What’s Great
- Weather sealed
- Lightweight
- Decent size, not too large or small.
- Insanely fast on the X Pro 3 and XT4
- Beautiful image quality
- I’m glad this isn’t directly replacing the 35mm f1.4 because that lens has beautiful render.
- Can be a fantastic wedding lens one moment and then a great fun lens the other moment.
Tech Specs
- Lens Configuration: 15 elements in 10 groups with 2 aspherical and 3 ED elements
- Focal Length: 33mm
- 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 50mm
- Angle of View: 46.9
- Maximum Aperture: F1.4
- Minimum Aperture: F16
- Number of Aperture Blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm opening)
- Aperture Step Size: 13EV (22 steps)
- Minimum Focusing Distance (cm): 30
- Minimum Focusing Distance (in): 11.81
- Maximum Magnification: 0.15x
- Lens Diameter (mm): 67
- Lens Length (mm): 73.5
- Lens Length (in): 2.9
- Lens Weight (g): 360
- Lens Weight (lb): 0.8
- Filter Size: 58mm
- Lens Mount: FUJIFILM X mount
- Approximate External Lens Dimensions: 67mm x 73.5mm
You can get this lens for around $799.95. In our review, we state:
“Mount the Fujifilm 33mm f1.4 R WR LM to your camera, and you’ll probably fall in love nearly immediately. The balance, the build quality, and the reliability all work together to make this a fantastic lens. Couple that with one of the great Fujifilm simulations and you’ll be very happy. It focuses incredibly fast in any situation you’ll need to it. And it also reliably tracks your subjects.”
FUJIFILM 18mm f1.4 R WR
What’s Great
- It’s quite sharp
- Swift autofocus
- Lightweight and ergonomic
- Withstands the elements
- Great for a variety of applications
- Beautiful optics
Tech Specs
- Lens Configuration: 15 elements in 9 groups (includes 3 aspherical and 1 ED elements)
- Focal Length: 18mm
- 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 27mm
- Angle of View: 76.5
- Maximum Aperture: F1.4
- Minimum Aperture: F16
- Number of Aperture Blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm opening)
- Aperture Step Size: 1/3EV (22 steps)
- Minimum Focusing Distance (cm): 20
- Minimum Focusing Distance (in): 7.87
- Maximum Magnification: 0.15x
- Lens Diameter (mm): 68.8
- Lens Length (mm): 75.6
- Lens Length (in): 2.98
- Lens Weight (g): 370
- Lens Weight (lb): 0.81
- Filter Size: 62mm
- Approximate External Lens Dimensions: 68.8mm x 75.6mm
Get this lens for around $999.95. In our review, we state:
“The Fujifilm 18mm f1.4 LM WR lens provides the classic 28mm equivalent focal length with a fast aperture. The linear motor delivers even more impressive autofocus, and it’s weather sealed. Images are beautifully sharp with painterly bokeh, gorgeous colors, and solid contrast. The film simulations make editing a breeze and get you back to shooting in no time. It is a lens that you can and will want to take with you everywhere.”
What to Know About The Best Lenses for Street PHotography With Fujifilm Cameras
- Fujifilm X Mount (which we’re focusing on here) has many lenses available. And so, we’re choosing the best lenses for street photography with Fujifilm Cameras: from the ones that we’ve reviewed. Luckily, we’ve reviewed the vast majority of lenses for Fujifilm X Mount. You can find them in this guide here.
- So what makes a lens the best lens for street photography? A few things: at the top of it all is portability. I mean, what’s the point of using a lens if you never want to handhold it or carry it for a long time? Then there’s image quality. Fujifilm’s newer lenses are a bit cleaner than the previous ones were. However, a lot of the image quality is also based on whatever film simulation you’re using. We also value weather resistance because it helps prolong the shelf-life of your product.
- With Fujifilm, we typically just use single autofocus and have it select from the entire area. Otherwise, we use Continuous autofocus and choose the widest zone right in the center. It typically nails the exposure.
- We’ve reviewed nearly all of Fujifilm’s X series lenses. You can take a look at this guide.
Picking the Right One For You
If you’re still a bit confused as to the right lens for you, here are some questions to ask yourself
- What’s your budget?
- How will you use the product?
- What lighting situations are you in, and how will that affect what you’re doing? Our reviews hyperlinked in this article can help with that.
- Are you traveling a lot with it?
- Will you be using it in a situation that’s a bit rougher?
- Can you live without the best quality?
- Who else uses this product? How are they using it?
- What’s so appealing about this product that I can’t get from what I have already or something else?
- When will I really have time to use this product?
- Where will I bring this product?
- How will this product help bring me joy and joy in my photography?
These are just a few of the questions that we ask ourselves, but we think that you should ask yourself these for sure.