Exchanging my 23 f2 + 35 f1.4 to 16-55 f2.8, good or bad idea?

I saw an ad selling his 16-55mm primarily to buy primes. He's willing to exchange it with my 23 f2 and 35 f1.4. Do you think it's a good idea? I love both lenses but sometimes it's hassle to decide which lens to use. I want the quality of the 35 f1.4 almost all the time but sometimes it's limiting so I'm using the 23 f2.

I'm using them with an X-T30 so I love the compactness. I know 16-55mm is a beast and I'll adjust with its size and weight.

I also have an X100S, if that will help.

Do you need f/2 or f/1.4?

Good or bad, only you can decide. Often, the best option is to have the flexibility of the focal range of the zoom, complemented by the flexibility of the fast aperture of a prime.

What do you primarily shoot? What environments? How important is size to you? How often do you typically shoot the lenses you have wide open? I personally would never make this trade, but then I prioritize a small kit and the ability to shoot with wide apertures. If you find that size is not that much of an issue for you and that you typically stop down those lenses, particularly the 35, then it might be worth it to you to have a single lens that can cover that entire focal range.

1. Hahaha biza43 wrote:

Do you need f/2 or f/1.4?

Good or bad, only you can decide. Often, the best option is to have the flexibility of the focal range of the zoom, complemented by the flexibility of the fast aperture of a prime.

I'm a hobbyist which loves to capture family moments primarily. When outside, I often stop down to 2.8 or 4 for the sharpness.

Its a good idea if you want a zoom more than you want f2 or f2.4. And besides, you can always buy one of those lenses again should you want one in the future.

jidccruz wrote:

1. Hahaha biza43 wrote:

Do you need f/2 or f/1.4?

Good or bad, only you can decide. Often, the best option is to have the flexibility of the focal range of the zoom, complemented by the flexibility of the fast aperture of a prime.

I'm a hobbyist which loves to capture family moments primarily. When outside, I often stop down to 2.8 or 4 for the sharpness.

With this use case, I think you'll like the 16-55.  It's definitely my 'around people' lens, because it can capture very sharp photos, from a variety of FLs, without changing lenses.

However, I still keep my 35/1.4 around for low light and its compact size.  Tough to say you wouldn't miss either lens you let go.

if 35mm feels too tight occasionally, have you considered grabbing an inexpensive backup body to carry with the 23mm or maybe a secondhand 18mm attached? that'd save you time changing lenses, and you'd get to keep the fast aperture and save on size and weight. the X-E3 both new and gently used is pretty reasonably priced for now, not sure if that'll get better or worse when it's discontinued in favor of the X-E4. I don't know about you, but any time I find myself pining for a zoom lens, it's usually because I want one or both of the focal lengths at the extreme ends or the middle.

jidccruz wrote:

I saw an ad selling his 16-55mm primarily to buy primes. He's willing to exchange it with my 23 f2 and 35 f1.4. Do you think it's a good idea? I love both lenses but sometimes it's hassle to decide which lens to use. I want the quality of the 35 f1.4 almost all the time but sometimes it's limiting so I'm using the 23 f2.

I'm using them with an X-T30 so I love the compactness. I know 16-55mm is a beast and I'll adjust with its size and weight.

I also have an X100S, if that will help.

16-55 obviously gives you more range than just your 23 & 35 so it's definitely worth thinking about. You could try it & then later add back the 35 1.4 if you miss it (you probably will).

Or if you're happy with those 2 lenses you could just add a cheapish second body like an xe3 & sell the x100s? So you have 2 bodies & 2 lenses...ie no lens swapping...or X100V paired with your xt30 & 35 1.4...sell the rest. You could add a 56mm later on too if you like.

jidccruz wrote:

I saw an ad selling his 16-55mm primarily to buy primes. He's willing to exchange it with my 23 f2 and 35 f1.4. Do you think it's a good idea?

Financially it;s slightly in your favour so on that note I'd say nothing to worry about.

I love both lenses but sometimes it's hassle to decide which lens to use. I want the quality of the 35 f1.4 almost all the time but sometimes it's limiting so I'm using the 23 f2.

The 23mm F2 has excellent quality so I have to assume you mean the 35mm has more bokeh when you say quality? If it is that then obviously you will lose that with the 16-55

I haven't had the 35mm f1.4 so I acknowledge you may mean it does have some excellent IQ character even over the 23mm f2 however.

I'm using them with an X-T30 so I love the compactness. I know 16-55mm is a beast and I'll adjust with its size and weight.

I have an X-T2 and tried out the 16-55 f2.8 and honestly was put off by the size and weight. And I used to carry a Nikon D5300 with Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 OS DC HSM

On an X-T30  - if people (and they exist) find it too front heavy on an X-T model, well on an X-T30...  but neither camp are right or wrong it's subjective to each person

I also have an X100S, if that will help.

Lol that's tiny even compared to an X-T30. I owned and loved an X-100 T for 2 years.

But this is MY subjective experience and you will find as many people saying it's fine on an X-T2 for sure and some even on an X-T10/20/30.

So only way is try before you buy.... Or buy and try and then send back (not to an ebay non business seller though, that's real harsh, I mean a big retailer under your 14 day return rights - here in UK)  I only say that as I'm assuming like us in the UK under covid restrictions you may not be able to enter a brick and mortar store and try one out

As for image quality, I don't think you'll lose ANY except of course a stop of light compared to the 23mm F2 and two stops compared to the 35mm F1.4. And of course less BOKEH!  Though as I wrote above maybe the 35mm f1.4 is really special but I cant comment on that

So in my subjective opinion it boils down to

1. Size and weight (only you can tell by trying)

2. Bokeh (how much do you like bokeh?)

3. Low light. Do you need faster than F2,8?

4.  How special is the 35mm at f2.8 and narrower over the 16-55 at 35mm...?