Which prime lens + 16-80 for Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand

PeterLeyssens wrote:

Bokeh Bear wrote:

The bright F1.4 aperture gives you a substantial low-light/DOF advantage over the F4 zoom.

Absolutely this. You already have quite wide to quite long with the zoom, at the cost of being slow. 16-80 will be great for landscapes (get it all in, or zoom into a detail), temples, cities etc. What you're really missing is a very bright lens for night work. In SE Asia, night markets are an event. But light is usually sparse, which is exactly what makes them so pretty. You really need something bright.

If you don't mind manual focus, try some of the Chinese lenses. There's a tiny 7Artisans 35/f1.2 - just a bit brighter but much smaller than Fuji's own 35/f1.4. There are also several f0.95 lenses that aren't so big. And small 23/f1.4 lenses. If you prefer AF, I'd think of Fuji's own 35/1.4, 23/2 or 18/2. The wider lenses aren't f1.4 but you can handhold them better as shake affects them less.

Oh, don't forget the world is full of tripods. Stabilise your camera against a pole, tree, on a bench or table and you can suddenly shoot at 1/2s. Somebody's shoulder also works. You get a fast lens to stop the action (or with a bit of action blurred). Not to stop motion blur because you can't hold the camera still for long enough.

Thank you for a very detailed reply. I have ordered Viltrox 13 for covering temples etc. will carry 23 f2 as well

Finally I have returned from my trip. Just thought of updating on what took with me. I took Viltrox 13, Fuji 16-55, 70-300, and 23. I have used only Viltrox and Fuji 16-55. No need for 70-300. But for FOMO I took it. 
Viltrox is a wonderful prime. It’s tack sharp both at wide and at F8. I highly recommend it after using it on this trip. Build quality and usability is top notch. Never felt I am using a third party or inferior lens at all.

Just learn that DPReview is  going away. Sad to hear that and what a shame on the decision whosoever made it.

victorgm wrote:

Hello again!

Thank you very much for all the advice! I've been very short of time these weeks and I haven't been able to reply until now. The truth is that for the same reason I haven't been able to practice much with the X-S10 and I'm still undecided about the fixed focal length.

Precisely what I want to avoid is to hesitate between the 16-80 and the fixed lens I will buy when taking pictures on the trip, but to have a specific use for the fixed lens that avoids swapping every time and enjoy it more than stressing about using the most suitable one.

I understand that there would be two strategies to combine with the 16-80:

- Buy a bright prime that offers a different focal length, e.g. 12mm f2, 16mm 2.8 or a 50/70mm.

- Buy a bright prime in the mid-range of the 16-80, so that it is valid to go lighter and in different situations in low light, dusk or night.

I would say that most of my photos are landscapes, interiors and architecture, so a 16mm 2.8, 18mm or 23mm f2 would suit me well. You can check out my instagram at @victorguimeram instagram.com/victorguimeram (don't kick me out of the forum for that, I want to open a flickr soon

On the other hand, I could enhance my street/architecture/portrait photography (of my partner) on this trip in Hanoi/Bangkok if I took a 27mm 2.8 and 35mm 1.4, or for landscapes that require some zoom (like in halong bay with distant islets that with wide angle are lost in the distance), although for that the 16-80 could also defend itself well.

In short, I think I'm tending towards the 23mm f2, and I've seen one second-hand for 275€. But I have a specific doubt: for a daytime walk around the temples of Angkor Wat, would you use the 16-80mm f4 or the 23mm f2 first? I understand that the versatility of the 16-80 can be very good, but would a 23mm f2 offer better quality during the day with the same focal length? Or would it only stand out in low light like at sunset?

Many thanks again!

Victor

The 16mm f2.8 would be my choice.

Small, snappy focus and great for video, a 24mm equ makes for a great travel lens as well as portraits, landscapes, city scapes etc etc.

I find the 23mm, 23mm  and 35mm`s to be pretty boring.