Advice for the best all around Fuji 23mm?

jidccruz wrote:

So after over a year of shooting and switching between the 23mm f2 and the 35mm f1.4, I just find that the 35mm ff eq focal length is more versatile for my everyday family docu/portraits/streets/travel photography than the 50mm ff eq. Slightly bummed because I really love the 35mm f1.4!

Anyways, so I already have the 23 f2 and considering swapping it for a 23 f1.4 or just sell it together with my backup camera and just buy the X100V which will be my main/backup camera.

Overall, is the 23 on the V the best, considering my use case?

The Fujicron 23mm is a very capable lens. But the 23mm lens on X100V is optically superior.

Talking about sharpness, I remember the fujicron 23 is quite sharp except shooting close focus. In normal shooting situations, the sharpness difference can always be adjusted in PP or by increasing the sharpness paramneter in the camera.

I bet you most likely don't always need corner to corner sharpness for docu, streets and portraits. For travel and occasional travel landscape, better sharpness may be a little more important. But the 23/2 is able to give you plenty of sharpness when stopped down to 2.8. Sharpness peaks at f/5.6 although f/8 is still pretty good.

The Fujicron's AF performance on XT30 and the latest bodies, however, will beat X100V especially in some difficult light situations. (And it is near silent.) For street and travel the AF advantage can be significant.

And of course, you can always use the lens on different bodies when you upgrade. You won't find the same versatility with X100V.

The XF 23/1.4 is much heavier ( although it should not qualify as heavy lens by its absolute weight ). What you gain, however, is less contrast, maybe better micro contrast, a little more 3D image quality, f/1.4 and clutch MF system.

If you are lucky enough to score a great copy like me, you will be quite happy with the sharpness (and micro contrast) this lens can offer even when its wide open at f/1.4.

Personally, I am not a huge fan of the high contrast character of the Fujicrons. That's why I sold my copies and repurchase the f/1.4s. I also find that the AF of the f/1.4s in very low light is as fast as or better than the fujicrons on my XH1.

Of course, with the clutch system and distant markings, the 23/1.4 is super beautiful when paring with my Xpro3, and that makes me love it more and go out with it more.

X-pro3 and XF 23/1.4

Taken by X-pro3 and XF23/1.4

Taken by X-pro3 and XF23/1.4

To me, buying X100V is not only about the lens, given it is currently 3.5 times more expensive than the 23/2, and 2.5 times more expensive than the used XF23/1.4 in used market.

IMHO, getting the X100V for the access of that 23mm lens is the worst buying decision indeed.

But if you are considering to get a fixed lens camera to replace your current system due to handling, compactness, form factor, the range finder style experience and some other features that are important to you, it becomes a valid option. But in this case, comparing the pros and cons of X100V to your Xt30/23f2 combo may give you a more clear picture.

The Good thing is... your have multiple choices and none of them is bad.

Good luck!