The 3 Fujifilm Lenses I Always Travelled With (and how things have changed)

27 Apr

Today’s blog post is a special one — it’s actually based on my best-performing video on my YouTube channel! Honestly, that video resonated with so many of you, and as I'm prepping for my next big trip (more on that in a second), I thought now would be the perfect time to revisit the topic with fresh eyes.

And speaking of travel... I'm buzzing to tell you that I'm heading back to Japan next Sunday! I can’t wait to be back in Tokyo — it’s one of my favourite places in the world. I’ll definitely be chatting more about the trip and my plans in the coming week, so stay tuned for that. But for today, I want to dive into something that's been on my mind a lot lately: how I used to travel with Fujifilm gear, what I learned, and how that’s shaping my move into the Sony system.

It’s been a super interesting shift for me. I’m still very much learning what I want and need from Sony, so reflecting on what worked for me with Fujifilm has been a huge part of that process.

So, let’s jump in — here are the three lenses I always travelled with during my time with Fujifilm, why they mattered so much to me, and how they're influencing my future choices.

1. TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 AF

The TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 was actually the biggest surprise lens for me last year. It was sent over by the company for review, and honestly, I didn’t expect much. But it absolutely blew me away.

It’s incredibly lightweight, insanely portable (it can literally just sit in a pocket), and because it's affordable, I never worried too much about damaging it when travelling — a huge win when you’re prone to a bit of gear anxiety like me.

Despite the low price, this lens delivered some amazing results. Sharpness was great, autofocus was reliable, and it became a permanent fixture on my X-Pro3 (and occasionally the X-H2S or XS20).

Sure, it has its quirks — like a bit of vignetting — but those are easily corrected in post. For anyone balancing street and travel photography, this lens is a no-brainer.

Takeaway for my Sony kit: I’ll definitely be looking for something equally small, lightweight, and low-stress for everyday travel.

2. Fujifilm 35mm f/2 WR

Ah, the trusty 35mm f/2 — probably my all-time favourite Fuji lens. It’s part of Fuji’s beloved f/2 "Fujicron" series, and for good reason.

It’s compact, beautifully built, weather-resistant, and sharp as anything. I love the clicked aperture ring (even if I've broken the lens hood recently, which still stings a bit).

On an APS-C sensor, that 35mm focal length becomes a 50mm equivalent, which for me hits that perfect balance between wide and tight — brilliant for travel, street, and portrait photography. It’s also super robust, able to withstand rougher environments without batting an eye.

This lens has been with me since almost the very start of my Fujifilm journey, and honestly, even though I’m switching systems, it’ll be hard to say goodbye to it.

Takeaway for my Sony kit: I’m definitely hunting for a compact, weather-sealed 50mm equivalent — something durable that can handle being thrown in a travel bag.

3. Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN

This was my personal favourite purchase of last year.

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 is an absolute beast: solid build, crazy sharp, and small enough to travel with easily — even if it’s a touch heavier thanks to all that glorious glass.

For low-light situations or when I wanted a bit of distance between me and my subject (especially at night), this lens was perfect. It helped me stay a little more reserved in my street photography, which really suits my natural shooting style.

The only drawback? No aperture ring. As a long-time Fuji shooter, that was a bit of a pain — but not a dealbreaker given how great the results were.

Takeaway for my Sony kit: I need something fast, reliable, and compact for portrait work and low-light shooting, even if it means sacrificing the aperture ring experience.

Wrapping Up...

Those three core lenses — the TTArtisan 27mm, the Fuji 35mm f/2, and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 — made up my always-pack Fujifilm travel kit. Even if I didn’t use them all on every trip, they were light and compact enough that they never got in the way.

Now, as I move deeper into Sony, I'm using everything I learned from travelling with Fujifilm to guide my lens choices. It’s exciting (and a little nerve-wracking) building a kit from scratch, but that’s all part of the adventure.

Big things coming soon — including plenty of Tokyo content — so make sure you’re subscribed to the newsletter (and the YouTube channel if you're not already)!