Hi kevin,

If they’re a similar price I would personally go with the 16-80mm f4 for the additional zoom range which is more useful than the larger aperture of the 16-50mm at the wide-end for landscapes and travel.

All the best
David

Hi Ye,

Thanks for your kind words. I almost always shoot Classic Chrome on the X-T5 and then just edit to taste in post. I will be adding some articles on editing and colour grading in the future.

All the best
David

Great review. Helps me with my lens choice journey.

Your color grading is amazing on the photos you showed throughout this review. Did you use any particular recipe or film simulation for the photo of the guys on the beach with the N22 jersey? its under “Travel Kit: Prime-Only for the Purist”. Anyways, great work.

Cheers from Paris

Hi Gary,

Thanks for your question and apolgies for the delyed reply. I’ve been in the middle of my move from the Philippines to Scotland. Yes, the 16-50mm is a decent lens for a beginner. its pretty much as sharp as the 18-55mm and performs well across the range. I’d go for it and then see where that takes you after using it for a few months.

All the best
David

New to photography and looking to purchase a camera mainly for street shots and travel. Have done quite a bit of research about various cameras within my price range and seem to keep coming back to the Fujifilm X-T5 currently on sale here in Australia for AUD$2749 with XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 lens kit. Is this a good lens kit for a beginner or would I be better buying the body only (I’ve seen as cheap as AUD$2299 and then a different lens? I’ve hit a bit of wall (paralysis by analysis?) and just can’t make up my mind! Any advice would be appreciated! Btw love the website! Lots of great info and tips…well done!

Hi Max,

Thanks so much for your kind words. I’ll try to answer your questions in order for you.
1. I have not shot the 10-24mm f/4 WR (the new version) on a 40mp sensor so I can’t comment on that directly. What I can say is that I owned that lens a few years ago and shot it regularly on my X-T4 and I thought it was a very decent performer. Sharp, decent contrast and not prone to any anomolies. One thing I would say is that in all liklihood, you would be stopping the lens down a little for landscapes so wide open performance isn’t as important and thats often where people criticise the sharpness of lenses. Secondly, having shot landscapes professionally a decade or so ago, I think there is a point at which a landscape focused lens is sharp enough and composition, light etc become much more important. The 10-24mm f/4 is sharp enough. It wont perform like your primes becasue they are exceptional, thats why we both bought them but it will give you flexibility which is very important for landscapes so that you can tweak composition easily.
2. Unfortunatley the 70-300mm is one of the few Fuji lenses that I have not shot. I will likely be shooting it, along with some of Fuji’s wildlife options once I get back to the UK. If you are in no rush to buy it then I’ll have content on those wildlife options for Fuji in the coming months.
3. My personal take on a zoom lens for travel photography, particularly something like the 18-120mm, is that I would rather have a couple of primes in the bag and get fewer shots that wow me than more shots of lesser quality but, it really depends on what you like to shoot when you travel. Travel, for me, where most locations have been shot to death, is about the people and culture as much as the place and the primes you have would give you far better and more interesting results for that kind of shooting.

All the best for 2026.
David

Hi Joonas,

Thanks for your kind comment and questions.
There are so many variables when recommending lenses that its quite difficult to give the perfect recommendation. However, if you like wide angles for landscapes and bearing in mind that your other lenses cover 23mm and up, the 10-24mm f/4 WR (newest version) is a good performer. I havent used the 23mm f/2.8 or 27mm f/2.8 so am not in a position to help with that decision although between your 23mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4 I would think you are pretty well covered for family stuff, if you’re happy with the weight and size of those lenses.

All the best and happy new year to you too.
David

This was very nicely written article and helpful. I also have the X-T5 and I am slowly building a perfect kit of lenses for my needs. I mainly shoot family documentation, landscape photos and travel photos. My kit currently is the 35mm f1.4R for only lens for family documentation, 23mm f1.4R + 56mm f1.2 for landscape and travel photography.

I am thinking of investing to one zoom lens for my landscape photography since my current primes are not weather sealed. I do a lot of hiking on landscape photography trips so the weight is something to consider. What zoom would you recommend?

Second question is related to pancake lens the 23mm f2.8 or 27mm f2.8. Would this be something to consider as an everyday lens for family documentation or should I just stick with my 35mm f1.4R? Or do you have some other recommendation for everyday lens that can be my default lens attach most of the time. I like to carry my X-T5 everywhere when going out with my family.

Thanks and Happy New Year!