23mm F2 vs 35mm F2

Chaidez wrote:

Chaidez wrote:

Hi and thanks for helping me.

I already have the 50mm f2 Fujinon. I am a photography student and I opted for the portrait, wich should I buy between 23mm f2 or 35mm f2, considering that I can only afford one.

Thank for the answers. Now it is clear to me not to go for the 35mm but now I doubt whether to take the 23mm f2 or the 27mm f2.8. Any suggestions?

I was faced with the same question quite recently... What would compliment the 56? 23mm or 27mm? I opted for the 27mm. Made my decision based on a combination of factors:

• Recommendation on the 27 as a quick focusing, easy to use lens
• The fact that I am pairing it with an X-E4, so the compact size is really, really nice to have on (at least) one lens
• Fuji's own MTF charts which indicate the 23mm f/2 has a LOT of astigmatism in the extreme corners (at least wide open--may improve stopped down, but their charts only show performance wide open)
• The 27 was less expensive as it was available as the "kit" lens for the X-E4
• f/2.8 is amply fast for my use case--combo of environmental portraits, street, landscape. I wouldn't want to go faster than f/2.8 for environmental portraits as the limited depth of field would be too constraining--want backgrounds to have enough detail to provide context without distractions, so I think f/2.8 is perfect
• Having that "little bit wider" view of the 23mm wasn't super important to me since I also have the 10-24mm for landscape and tight spaces

A reasonable person could make the opposite decision, but that's why I went with the 27mm. So far, I'm pleased with my choice. Honestly, in your case (where it is one of only two lenses) I'd probably go with whichever focal length feels more useful to you. The 27mm is approaching "normal" perspective, so people shots may be a bit more flattering, but you might find it a bit constraining if, for example, you were going to try to do landscape shooting. You mentioned you are a photography student--what is coming up next in your coursework? Street? Product? Landscape? Are you going to school in the city or the country? Do you like to shoot people or objects?