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If you had the choice: 23mm 2 and 90mm f2 OR 33mm 1.4?

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andlum

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Hi there,

I am facing the decision which of the two setups i'll prefer. I mostly shoot my family and kids on trips and vacations - kids being 6 and 8. Currently I am using an Xt5.

I am kinda intrigued by the 90mm and would accompany this with the 23mm f2 as a lightweight city tour / hiking lens.

Or do you think the 33mm 1.4 as a general purpose lens would be the better fit?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
The 33 f1.4 is an excellent choice for a lens at that FL; very fast focusing and super sharp images.
 
andlum said:
Hi there,

I am facing the decision which of the two setups i'll prefer. I mostly shoot my family and kids on trips and vacations - kids being 6 and 8. Currently I am using an Xt5.

I am kinda intrigued by the 90mm and would accompany this with the 23mm f2 as a lightweight city tour / hiking lens.

Or do you think the 33mm 1.4 as a general purpose lens would be the better fit?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have the 90 and the 33 - I do 95% of my shooting with these two lenses. The 90 is IMO a wonderful lens and in this context, great for "stealth" shots of kids - they forget you're there and taking photographs and so you can get some very natural, close-up expressions. Personally, I also love the 33 focal length, a top quality, general purpose lens: sharp, very quick focusing and the fast 1.4 lets you get some low light shots.
 
andlum said:
Hi there,

I am facing the decision which of the two setups i'll prefer. I mostly shoot my family and kids on trips and vacations - kids being 6 and 8. Currently I am using an Xt5.

I am kinda intrigued by the 90mm and would accompany this with the 23mm f2 as a lightweight city tour / hiking lens.

Or do you think the 33mm 1.4 as a general purpose lens would be the better fit?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
No one can really tell you what is best for you. If you like the 23 mm field of view, then the 33 is likely too close to add much. While I personally find the 23 mm FOV boring - both to wide and too long at the same time, some much prefer it. On the other hand that is why the 23 can be a good compromise for a single lens and why it is the chose for fixed lens cameras.

Carrying a 33 and 23 is a bit redundant. My personal preference would be to team at 33 or 35 with an 18 - the classic FF nifty 50 with a 28. So if you have a 23 and are satisfied with it picking up a 33 might not be optimal.

The 90 f2 is one of Fuji's best lenses. It is fast to focus and sharp with wonderful imaging rendering. It is long, FF equivalent of 135 so you need room. However, once you learn to use it properly, it produces wonderful images.
 
It's up to your FL preferences. 33/1.4 is nice as a single lens solution (however I'd pick Viltrox 27/1.2). XF 90/2 is one of my favorite lenses ever and I never sell it, however I'd like Viltrox 75/1.2 as well (it's with me on winter holiday while XF90/2 stayed home).

If I had to pick one of your proposals I would go with 23/2 + 90/2 (haven't tried 23/2 at all), but as an happy owner of Viltrox Pro duo 27/1.2 + 75/1.2 I'd recommend to consider this setup as well (you can get both for the price of XF90/2)

TBH for single lens solution I prefer zoom (very happy with XF 16-55/2.8 mk1 so far).

Cheers,

Artur
 
For family, kids and vacations I'd get a zoom.

In my case I have the 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 and 35mm f/2. (I'm a 50mm-e guy). I also have a X-T5 and this makes for a lightweight kit.

I think combining a standard zoom with a prime is a good combo (at least for me, we're all different).
 
Wait for the Viltrox 25mm f/1.7, coming in the next few months. I have the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 - it's cheap and awesome.
 
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Are you only in the market for prime lenses? The 16-55 f/2.8 paired with the X-T5 is a great setup.
 
This is very personal. What focal length, or lengths, are you more used to? We are talking 3 very different focal lengths.
 
I got the XF 33mm f/1.4 when getting my X-T5 a few months ago. It's a superb lens, they form an amazing combo.

I can do multiframe stitching if I want the occasional larger field of view: it's so sharp corner to corner than it comes without compromise.

The cropping margin of the 40Mpx sensor of the X-T5 makes the 33Mpx cover easily up to a 50mm.

I pair it with a Sirui 75mm f/1.2, lighter than the Viltrox one and a still a stellar sharpness for way cheaper (got it for $299). A no brainer. Alternatively the Samyang 75mm f1.8, Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 II or Meike 85mm f/1.8 Pro could so also be good options.

So that's currently my 2 prime system, and it's more versatile than it sounds.
 
andlum said:
Hi there,

I am facing the decision which of the two setups i'll prefer. I mostly shoot my family and kids on trips and vacations - kids being 6 and 8. Currently I am using an Xt5.

I am kinda intrigued by the 90mm and would accompany this with the 23mm f2 as a lightweight city tour / hiking lens.

Or do you think the 33mm 1.4 as a general purpose lens would be the better fit?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have the 23 f2; it’s a great lightweight lens. I also have the 90mm, but I find it too long for shooting kids and too heavy for travel. I pair the 23mm lens with the XF 50mm f2.



Howard
 
As others have said it’s a very personal decision. Optically the 90 and 33 are superior, however that counts for very little if they’re not of much use to you.

I had the 90mm and it was as flawless as you could get. Exquisite rendering and tack sharp. That said, I think I used it in anger twice, maybe three times, over the couple of years I owned it. It just wasn’t a focal length I personally found all that useful.
 
23mm 2
One lens to rule all. Mainly focusing on whole thing than just flatering portraits and close ups

90mm f2
Flattering portraits. Family album. Indoor is merely impossible you will be far away from subject.

33mm 1.4?
in the middle. Still can't take group pictures sitting accoros table

Personally i'll take 23mm.
 
I have the 33 and 18 in f/1.4 and love the combo. The 33 stays welded to the camera for almost everything except wildlife shoots.

18 goes on for indoor group photos, wider angle scenery shots. I like it for museums as well.
 
andlum said:
Hi there,

I am facing the decision which of the two setups i'll prefer. I mostly shoot my family and kids on trips and vacations - kids being 6 and 8. Currently I am using an Xt5.

I am kinda intrigued by the 90mm and would accompany this with the 23mm f2 as a lightweight city tour / hiking lens.

Or do you think the 33mm 1.4 as a general purpose lens would be the better fit?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Of the lenses you mention, I would go 23/1.4 only or 23/1.4 plus 90/2.

I personally prefer the 23mm FOV over the 33mm FOV.

The issue with the 90mm is that it is a bit long for most indoor use. I tend to pair the 23/1.4 with a 56/1.2.

Another thing I personally tried was a Viltrox 75/1.2 as a focal length between the XF 56/1.2 and 90/2. The Viltrox is a bit heavier than the XF 90/2; but, it does have f/1.2. Never did a head-to-head between the two lens; but, I have been happy with the results I got from the VIltrox.
 
andlum said:
Hi there,

I am facing the decision which of the two setups i'll prefer. I mostly shoot my family and kids on trips and vacations - kids being 6 and 8. Currently I am using an Xt5.

I am kinda intrigued by the 90mm and would accompany this with the 23mm f2 as a lightweight city tour / hiking lens.

Or do you think the 33mm 1.4 as a general purpose lens would be the better fit?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I was shoting for years with 16/2.8, 18/2, 23/2, 35/1.4 + 35/2, 50/2, 60/2.4 and 90/2.

The last one is great portrait lens (135mm equiv, in FF) with beautiful colour rendering but it's not light and fast focusing, and rather big. 23/2 prime is wider than indicated, it's close to 32mm in FF equivalent. Today if I had to choice 2 primes for family trips/trafeling/landscape shoting I would take 18/2 & 60/2.4 - both have wonderful renderings and are light + small. If 3 then + 35/1.4 for sure for its beautiful rendering too.
 
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