Sell me on the 35mm F2

It's the first lens one should get! https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-first-fujifilm-lenses-you-should-buy/

The camera comes with a good 18-55 already, and I'm having a hard time imagining when I would trouble to switch that out for the 35mm. The 35 opens up a stop or so wider, but loses the OIS so that's a wash.

One could reasonably make the small and light case, but wouldn't the pancake be a better answer?

What am I missing? Why is the 35mm a must-have lens?

Just search for any thread (here or on Google) on the 35mm f1.4 vs f2 and you'll have more info and opinions than you could ever stand to read.

If you need to be SOLD on getting the 35mm f/2 lens then you don't need it.

I have both f/2 and f/1.4. Both very good lenses. Yes I use both for different things.

Great answers, though I'm not deciding between the two 35mm lenses...

Banana Peel wrote:

Great answers, though I'm not deciding between the two 35mm lenses...

Yeah but if you search any thread here or elsewhere pertaining to the comparison of the two, you'll still get a ton of information. Not really any need for another thread to explain the pros and cons of this lens.

Have a look at the reviews of the 18-55mm and the 35mm f/2 at Lenstip

https://www.lenstip.com/

I see that their tests show much better image resolution for the 35mm f/2 vs. the 18-55mm at 30mm.  I find that the 35mm f/2 is quite sharp in the centre, though less so at the edges.  I use it very frequently on my X-E style bodies.  If you like this focal length, it's a good buy and not unreasonably expensive, IMO.  BUT, the 27mm  pancake is also very nice.  AND, if you want a faster lens (aperture), the 35mm f/1.4 has many groupies.  

Best of luck deciding.

Banana Peel wrote:

It's the first lens one should get! https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-first-fujifilm-lenses-you-should-buy/

The camera comes with a good 18-55 already, and I'm having a hard time imagining when I would trouble to switch that out for the 35mm. The 35 opens up a stop or so wider, but loses the OIS so that's a wash.

One could reasonably make the small and light case, but wouldn't the pancake be a better answer?

What am I missing? Why is the 35mm a must-have lens?

No way is the 35mm is a must have lens.  I much prefer the 23mm focal length over the 35mm focal length for my first main prime. 

Note that the 23mm f/2 is the sort of lens that's permanently attached to the X100 series.

I personally don't like the Fujifilm pancakes enough to use one of them as my first or second prime.  You compromise to get a slimmer form factor; I don't want to give up a aperture ring, better AF, shallower DOF, etc., for a slimmer form factor.

If you have a WR camera body like the X-T or X-Pro series, the f/2 primes gets you that weather resistance that can come in handy in light rain.  The much faster AF can be a big bonus.  These lenses focus close enough that you can get some nice background blur for subject isolation, even at f/2.

Banana Peel wrote:

It's the first lens one should get! https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-first-fujifilm-lenses-you-should-buy/

Everybody's got one (an opinion).

The camera comes with a good 18-55 already, and I'm having a hard time imagining when I would trouble to switch that out for the 35mm. The 35 opens up a stop or so wider, but loses the OIS so that's a wash.

Then sit tight. See how you fare with the 18-55 in the meanwhile.

One could reasonably make the small and light case, but wouldn't the pancake be a better answer?

Depends on the pancake.

What am I missing? Why is the 35mm a must-have lens?

It's not, unless one takes everything they read literally.

I've got some nice wet photos with the 35/2, it's one of my go-to lenses - but that doesn't necessarily mean it's right for you.   What and where and how we each go about our business has a lot to do with what is a must-have.

chimphappyhour wrote:

Just search for any thread (here or on Google) on the 35mm f1.4 vs f2 and you'll have more info and opinions than you could ever stand to read.

I second the f1.4 lens which gives you 2 + stops over the zoom and a special rendering.

Why are you considering a lens without knowing which you need and why?

If you don't know what lens need - you don't need it!

Vic

I have the 35mm f2 lens which I bought to use on a XT-1 body that I kept when I got my XPro2. In truth, I rarely use the body nor the lens. Why would I bother taking the 18-55 lens off the camera to use the 35mm f2. As for the 56mm f1.2, that is another story.

Banana Peel wrote:

It's the first lens one should get! https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-first-fujifilm-lenses-you-should-buy/

The camera comes with a good 18-55 already, and I'm having a hard time imagining when I would trouble to switch that out for the 35mm. The 35 opens up a stop or so wider, but loses the OIS so that's a wash.

One could reasonably make the small and light case, but wouldn't the pancake be a better answer?

What am I missing? Why is the 35mm a must-have lens?

If you want sales talk...go to a store.  I have the 35mm F1.4 and really like it...I would probably say the same thing about the 35mm F2 if I had one.  Don't develop the mindset that you should skip buying a prime lens if you already have a zoom that covers a certain focal length...doing so would be a mistake.

Banana Peel wrote:

The 35 opens up a stop or so wider, but loses the OIS so that's a wash.

The impact of different aperture sizes is more meaningful to the artistry (DOF & starbursts) of the image moreso than the ability to collect light.

It all depends on what you intend to shoot.

i have the 18-55, 23, 35 and 50 f2’s.

the f2 lenses focus much faster, plus those extra stops.

the 35 is my least used f2. The 23 is great as a walk around / street, the 50 ideal for taking nAtural light images of my never sit still granddaughter.

i bought the 35 (used) as I thought it might suit me better for street, but not so.

as others have said, shoot a lot with the 18-55, analyse your focal lengths and see what will suit you best, for what you intend to shoot.

.... many reviews on YouTube also     It is a great lens

Thanks all. I think I'll hold off on the 35mm for now. Perhaps one day when I go 18-135 rather than 18-55, a 35mm will make more sense as a companion.

"As for the 56mm f1.2, that is another story." Agreed! Even I can see good reason to exchange lenses for the 1.2. particularly for portraiture. This is a delightful lens.

+1  Good summary.  That about sums it up for me.  Disclaimer: I don't own the 18-55mm.