X-T3 arrived - New lens for everyday use?

With the generous help of the members of this forum - I'm happy to announce that my gently used / X-T3 has arrived and seems to be in mint condition (only 167 shutter count / and extra battery included).

It came with a 16-80 mm lens which I find a bit heavy for everyday use and I'm wondering if there is something a bit lighter? I'm going whale / iceburg watching this summer on a trip and would like to travel light (if that factors into the equation).

(I have ordered a hand grip for improved ergonomics).

The lightest (and most compact of course) would be the 27mm f2.8 WR, which would still keep your set up weather resistant.

Are you looking for a prime or a compact zoom?

For whale watching and iceberg hunting would you not want a longer lens than what you have? Maybe sell the 16-80 and get the 18-55 f2.8-4 and a longer 70-200 type? Then you will be covered for nearly everything. Sigma do a short zoom for fuji now. The 16-80 isn't a big lens at all so i think you are going to struggle with what you are looking for.

One strategy is to get a prime lens that sits in the middle of the zoom range. Are you planning to photograph the whales/icebergs? If yes, then you need a lens that will not be light...

sheepless wrote:

With the generous help of the members of this forum - I'm happy to announce that my gently used / X-T3 has arrived and seems to be in mint condition (only 167 shutter count / and extra battery included).

It came with a 16-80 mm lens which I find a bit heavy for everyday use and I'm wondering if there is something a bit lighter? I'm going whale / iceburg watching this summer on a trip and would like to travel light (if that factors into the equation).

(I have ordered a hand grip for improved ergonomics).

The 16-80mm is about as general purpose as one can get.  If that is too heavy for you sell the camera and get a super zoom.   For wale watching and not getting heavy, try the 70-300mm and hope they are close.

Morris

The X-T3 + 70-300mm would be a good kit for your trip as it also has weather resistance, which may come in handy for the shooting conditions. A lighter, budget option would be the XC 50-230, which offers excellent IQ for its price but is not wr. The XC 16-50 is still a decent compact budget zoom as well, though hard to find new. If looking at either of these XC models, it would be recommended to get the OIS ii versions, as they have slightly better (you guessed it) OIS and can update to the latest firmware.

sheepless wrote:

With the generous help of the members of this forum - I'm happy to announce that my gently used / X-T3 has arrived and seems to be in mint condition (only 167 shutter count / and extra battery included).

It came with a 16-80 mm lens which I find a bit heavy for everyday use and I'm wondering if there is something a bit lighter? I'm going whale / iceburg watching this summer on a trip and would like to travel light (if that factors into the equation).

(I have ordered a hand grip for improved ergonomics).

I would recommand You to get XF 23/2 and Sigma 18-50/2.8, for very light travel/everyday combo

sheepless wrote:

With the generous help of the members of this forum - I'm happy to announce that my gently used / X-T3 has arrived and seems to be in mint condition (only 167 shutter count / and extra battery included).

It came with a 16-80 mm lens which I find a bit heavy for everyday use and I'm wondering if there is something a bit lighter? I'm going whale / iceburg watching this summer on a trip and would like to travel light (if that factors into the equation).

(I have ordered a hand grip for improved ergonomics).

FWIW I don't find the 16-80 to be heavy on my XT3. Since purchasing the 70-300 I found the MHG-XT3 (JJC equivalent) really helpful and thus leave it attached when using the 16-80 as well. The extra grip and arch swiss base doesn't hurt for quick tripod mount either.

I still have my 18-55 (awesome copy BTW) for when I want something just a bit smaller/lighter although it's usually in my XT30-II bag with one or two primes.

If you find the hand grip doesn't set things right for you, then I'd consider the 18-55 as it has OIS and an aperture ring (although unmarked), neither of which the Sigma has. Our XT3's don't have IBIS so having it in the lens is often helpful.

Edit: Congratulations on your New2U XT3. Awesome camera!

jonikon wrote:

The lightest and smallest Fujinon "standard" zoom lens is the XC 16-50 and my copy is sharp at its largest apertures, especially at 16mm. It's really featherweight compared to other zoom lenses. I love that little lens! It's not weather sealed though, and has a plastic mount, that is the same for the lightweight XC 50-230 which is also excellent optically. I would love to see Fujifilm make a new version of the XC 16-50 with the same build quality of the XF 18-55.

Here is an example of the XC 50-230 at 230mm.

XC 50-230mm @ 230mm

Wow great shot! I'll look into your lens recommendation for sure.

Carry on with the 16-80.  The 50-230 is a very good distant zoom.

Just for clarification sake:

The 16-80mm lens is not a weight problem generally speaking, but  I was wondering if there was a more compact lens I could bring along as an accompaniment - I think 2 lens will be my max. I am away 3 weeks and only 1 day will be on a whale / iceberg tour. As much as I'd like to bring a larger lens I'm looking to go smaller.

I'm still learning photography and am only mildly familiar with the term prime lens - I understand they are a fixed lens?

Weather Resistance is always a consideration given that the unpredictabilty of the weather these days!

I'm in the lucky position of having 2 local camera stores with good customer service but I always like to do a bit of pre-emptive research before I head in.

a_c_skinner wrote:

Carry on with the 16-80. The 50-230 is a very good distant zoom.

I will definitely look at putting that on my list.

Giantcappuccino wrote:

The lightest (and most compact of course) would be the 27mm f2.8 WR, which would still keep your set up weather resistant.

Are you looking for a prime or a compact zoom?

I have just looked at the 27mm f2.8 WR and it looks like a good option. Any thoughts on a compact zoom?

biza43 wrote:

One strategy is to get a prime lens that sits in the middle of the zoom range. Are you planning to photograph the whales/icebergs? If yes, then you need a lens that will not be light...

I am hoping to photograph whales / icebergs - but that will only be 1 day of a 3 week trip.

BeatX wrote:

sheepless wrote:

With the generous help of the members of this forum - I'm happy to announce that my gently used / X-T3 has arrived and seems to be in mint condition (only 167 shutter count / and extra battery included).

It came with a 16-80 mm lens which I find a bit heavy for everyday use and I'm wondering if there is something a bit lighter? I'm going whale / iceburg watching this summer on a trip and would like to travel light (if that factors into the equation).

(I have ordered a hand grip for improved ergonomics).

I would recommand You to get XF 23/2 and Sigma 18-50/2.8, for very light travel/everyday combo

Thank you! I'm getting a good list together.

Robmas4229 wrote:

sheepless wrote:

With the generous help of the members of this forum - I'm happy to announce that my gently used / X-T3 has arrived and seems to be in mint condition (only 167 shutter count / and extra battery included).

It came with a 16-80 mm lens which I find a bit heavy for everyday use and I'm wondering if there is something a bit lighter? I'm going whale / iceburg watching this summer on a trip and would like to travel light (if that factors into the equation).

(I have ordered a hand grip for improved ergonomics).

FWIW I don't find the 16-80 to be heavy on my XT3. Since purchasing the 70-300 I found the MHG-XT3 (JJC equivalent) really helpful and thus leave it attached when using the 16-80 as well. The extra grip and arch swiss base doesn't hurt for quick tripod mount either.

I still have my 18-55 (awesome copy BTW) for when I want something just a bit smaller/lighter although it's usually in my XT30-II bag with one or two primes.

If you find the hand grip doesn't set things right for you, then I'd consider the 18-55 as it has OIS and an aperture ring (although unmarked), neither of which the Sigma has. Our XT3's don't have IBIS so having it in the lens is often helpful.

Edit: Congratulations on your New2U XT3. Awesome camera!

Thank you for your lens recommendations - I have ordered a hand grip as I got quite spoiled with the hefty grip of my Panasonic Bridge Camera.

What primes do you carry?

The 27mm only makes sense if you are planning to carry it with nothing else that covers that FL.  Added to the 16-80 it is only sensible if you are leaving the latter at home.

Fuji (he says again, and again and again) hasn't any easy or obvious standard zoom, you've got one of the respectable but not compelling solutions in the 16-80 so personally I'd stop considering those choices.

You've a f4 lens that works OK so there might be some logic in a faster lens in that focal length range.  The new f1.4 lenses are big and costly but one of the f2 lenses (say the 23/2) might make sense, more than a 2.8 one.  If you want something small and easy to carry the 18/23/35/50 f2 lenses depending on what focal length(s) you use most.

The 50-230 is an easy choice for a light lens for general use as is the 55-200.

a_c_skinner wrote:

The 27mm only makes sense if you are planning to carry it with nothing else that covers that FL. Added to the 16-80 it is only sensible if you are leaving the latter at home.

Fuji (he says again, and again and again) hasn't any easy or obvious standard zoom, you've got one of the respectable but not compelling solutions in the 16-80 so personally I'd stop considering those choices.

You've a f4 lens that works OK so there might be some logic in a faster lens in that focal length range. The new f1.4 lenses are big and costly but one of the f2 lenses (say the 23/2) might make sense, more than a 2.8 one. If you want something small and easy to carry the 18/23/35/50 f2 lenses depending on what focal length(s) you use most.

The 50-230 is an easy choice for a light lens for general use as is the 55-200.

Thank you Andrew for these recommendations, I am finiding the "Camera size / lens" comparison website to be very helpful in at least visualizing your recommendations nicely. Although I know size alone won' be the deciding factor, I am now in a better position to start researching lens attributes vs  "percieved"  needs.

Thanks again!

sheepless wrote:

Robmas4229 wrote:

sheepless wrote:

With the generous help of the members of this forum - I'm happy to announce that my gently used / X-T3 has arrived and seems to be in mint condition (only 167 shutter count / and extra battery included).

It came with a 16-80 mm lens which I find a bit heavy for everyday use and I'm wondering if there is something a bit lighter? I'm going whale / iceburg watching this summer on a trip and would like to travel light (if that factors into the equation).

(I have ordered a hand grip for improved ergonomics).

FWIW I don't find the 16-80 to be heavy on my XT3. Since purchasing the 70-300 I found the MHG-XT3 (JJC equivalent) really helpful and thus leave it attached when using the 16-80 as well. The extra grip and arch swiss base doesn't hurt for quick tripod mount either.

I still have my 18-55 (awesome copy BTW) for when I want something just a bit smaller/lighter although it's usually in my XT30-II bag with one or two primes.

If you find the hand grip doesn't set things right for you, then I'd consider the 18-55 as it has OIS and an aperture ring (although unmarked), neither of which the Sigma has. Our XT3's don't have IBIS so having it in the lens is often helpful.

Edit: Congratulations on your New2U XT3. Awesome camera!

Thank you for your lens recommendations - I have ordered a hand grip as I got quite spoiled with the hefty grip of my Panasonic Bridge Camera.

I think you'll find the handgrip helpful but it won't reduce the size of the 16-80 (which I think is perfectly fine on the XT3). I've evenly just recently discovered that it's perfectly okay on my XT30-II, with a handgrip added.

What primes do you carry?

It really depends on whether I'm carrying only primes or mixing with zooms.

Typically, for trip where I'm taking the 16-80 and 70-300 I'll consider:

23mm f2 if I suspect I'll be using the prime mostly indoors or tight landscapes

35mm f2 if I think I'll be low-lighting more outdoors or portraits (rarely)

Possibly the 27mm if I want small & compact or can't decide between the 2 above.

Primes only? 16/2.8, 23/2, 50/2