Fuji 18mm XF f2 v 18-55 XF zoom

[Rosedale]

I have an Fuji XE-2 with the standard 18-55mm 'kit' lens and whilst I find it very good, I cannot help wondering whether an 18mm prime lens would give better results - in terms of IQ that is. Obviously the 18mm prime would make the camera more pocketable but would I notice any difference in the end result. If anyone out there has compared the two, then I'd be very grateful for their opinion. Thanks in advance

 

[Stephen L]

Whilst the 18mm is a good lens - I have one as well as the 18-55 - in real terms you will notice no difference in IQ. But it's an easier carry.

 

[Rosedale]

Thanks Stephen - that's good to know

 

[Carousels Spin]

Depending on how steady your hands are, you may actually find the 18-55 gives better quality - the 18mm has no stabilisation. I'm rather fond of my 18mm, keep it on the camera most of the time in fact, but would say my 18-55 has the edge in quality, particularly in lower lighting situations.

 

[Rosedale]

Depending on how steady your hands are, you may actually find the 18-55 gives better quality - the 18mm has no stabilisation. I'm rather fond of my 18mm, keep it on the camera most of the time in fact, but would say my 18-55 has the edge in quality, particularly in lower lighting situations.

Well, I'd not thought of that aspect at all - thanks for the info

 

[frod]

I have an X-E2, X-Pro1 and the 18mm (amongst other lenses). Whilst I regularly use the 18mm I hardly ever use it on the X-E2; it feels made for the X-Pro1 with its short length not obscuring the OVF and perfect angle for the wider OVF lens, neither of which apply to the X-E2. If you want a versatile, lightweight small carry option for the X-E2, the 27mm is a superb choice. It's just the better performer of the two Fuji pancakes, and smaller and lighter. It almost feels like a different camera.

 

[wyx087]

I had the 18mm but sold it and considering a 18-55mm at the moment for a one-lens camera setup. The 18mm was also unnecessary due to my X100 covers the same "light and small" use case.

The 18mm didn't offer better IQ than my 10-24mm, perhaps it will in good light. But I bought the 18mm for F2 so I only used it wide open so it didn't take as sharp images as stabilised 10-24mm wide open. It's not the comparison you wanted, but I find IS lenses definitely takes sharper images at night, when you are on the edge of usable shutter speed. I've taken perfectly sharp 1/4s images with the 10-24mm (albeit at 10mm)