The Fujifilm 23 - the 2.0 or the 1.4?

An update now.

The Fujinon 23/1.4 came to me as a classic "mate's rate" sale from a friend who was disposing of all his gear and made me a super good, even super great offer. So I went for it.

Admittedly, it's one of the older lenses. I've read all about the various problems with this lens, the softness in the corners, color shifts, wobblies et al. None of these apply to my baby - it works well, I've put it thru its paces at my usual f/5.6-f/8 settings, and all's good. Excellent results. Other than the extra weight, I'm happy with it.

Being me, I overthought the entire matter and decided what I really wanted was a 35. Now for the usual question: which 35? The lighter f/2 or the heavier f/1.4 which for all intents and purposes gets far better ratings.

In the end I opted for light weight and went with the f/2. I've not yet tested it to my satisfaction, so for now I will say no more, other than it's a nice lens, it looks good on my XE2, and I like the focal length for "around the house" photos, mostly of our cats and various domestic close-ups.

A friend then kindly gave me her unused 18-55. So I have two of these. The new one appears to be much sharper than my old one. Oh, well.

I'm also thinking about a 23 f/2... As another poster has suggested, I may consider the cheaper Fujinon, to save money and salve my conscience at the heresy (ha!) of owning two 23s. Again, it all has to do with weight, and a lighter travel load which at my age has become super important. Less is, well, less. I aim for better. Getting there, slowly.

The merry-go-round goes round and round in all its usual circles - it helps me pass the time - and I do try to use all my lenses at least once every few months, to give them (and my life as a photographer) more meaning.

I'm currently in Indonesia, staying in Surabaya. This trip my kit consists of my XT2, 18-55 (the new one), 18/2 and 14/2.8. I use my Fujinon in the order of (2), (1) and (3). the 23 is at home, keeping company with my XE2. When I go traveling again mid-'23, I plan to take it with me to Laos and Cambodia. Its time on the road will have come then.

Such fun we have in our dotage, heheheh...

From DANN in Surabaya (next weekend in Bali). Huzzah!!

PS Thank you all for your kind posts. Good information throughout. All of it greatly appreciated. I like to stretch my elderly brain cells in new and creative ways.