In this single Fujifilm lens challenge article, we’ll explore what it takes to make the most of using only one lens.
Too many people get caught up thinking they need a new lens for every occasion.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been there, and the status anxiety can be suffocating.
“I really need that new Fujifilm XF 18-200mm f/4 just in case I need a telephoto zoom when I’m at the zoo on Friday!”
Sound familiar? It certainly does to me and plenty of other photographers.
But what if you could make the most of just a single Fujifilm X Series lens attached to your Fujifilm X-T5 or X-S20?
I know it sounds limiting, but there’s a lot to learn from a single-lens challenge.
I tested myself by shooting with only a single lens to capture as many photography styles as possible.
Let’s take a look at how I went.
Why We Suffer From GAS and FOMO
One of my past Fujifilm X Series kits
Many people suffer from different forms of status anxiety these days.
Some people collect model cars, others opt for indoor plants, and still more seek out gear for camping, cooking, and crafting.
In the photography world, I’ve observed that we suffer from one of two afflictions.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome
The first is GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrom.
GAS is a dopamine thrill ride where we desire and often pursue unreasonable amounts of gear like cameras, lenses, and accessories.
We’re led to believe that we need a lens for every occasion – just in case!
Given the rate at which new cameras, lenses, and accessories launch, keeping pace is unrealistic.
Fear Of Missing Out
The second condition is FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out.
FOMO has become increasingly prevalent in recent years.
Camera model upgrades make us question whether we’re still happy with our Fujifilm X100 V or genuinely need the new, shiny Fujifilm X100 VI!
And with news of stock shortages, competitive pricing, and the worrying trend of scalpers selling gear at exorbitant prices, FOMO kicks in.
How Much Do You REALLY Know About Photography?! 🤔
Test your photography knowledge with this quick quiz!See how much you really know about photography…
Start Quiz
Your answer: Correct answer: Next
You got {{SCORE_CORRECT}} out of {{SCORE_TOTAL}}
Sometimes, we’re victims of peer pressure from friends and those within our photographic community.
At other times, store websites and salespeople attempt to trick us and apply marketing pressure.
One Lens To Rule Them All
Do you know what your preferred focal length is?
For some photographers, upgrading an existing lens or adding another lens to the collection is easy.
It’s easy, as they’ve got the resources and capacity to purchase additional lenses well beyond the kit lens that came with their camera.
I’ve been there and back again.
I went through a stage where I was resourced enough to buy several Fujifilm X Mount lenses (and camera bodies) within a relatively short period.
I bought, sold, and rebought the same lens because my GAS was terrible.
More recently, financial pressures forced me to sell much of my kit and work with fewer lens options.
I’ve learned the hard way that GAS and FOMO are not my friends, and we’ve had to part ways.
Today, I run with the philosophy of making the most of what I already have available.
I have three Fujifilm lenses to suit my style and approach to photography.
As a result, I have shot thousands of images with each of those lenses and now can confidently say I know them inside and out.
I know how they perform in every possible condition and the composition framing without lifting the camera to my eye.
Making the most of what you have avoids costly purchasing mistakes and increases your joy of photography.
The Joy Of Photography
We’ve become a society obsessed with consumerism and are made to believe joy comes from transactions.
I’m not going to stand on a soapbox, but I will say that we’re under more pressure than ever before to keep up with the Joneses.
I think the most significant cost to photographers is losing sight of the joy of photography.
Status anxiety has us desiring newer, bigger, and better cameras and lenses.
We carry all those lenses in our newer, bigger, and better camera bags and spend more time hunting for the right lens than composing a shot.
Even when out on a shoot, we often feel like we’ve missed a shot because we didn’t have the ‘correct’ lens.
Back in film days, most vintage cameras either had a fixed prime lens or only a handful of lens options released over several years.
Film photographers today still enjoy the experience of shooting with a handful of film stock and a single lens.
Wouldn’t you rather adopt a philosophy like that over being caught up in what’s next?
It’s me living my best photography life!
For me, the joy of photography comes from being present, taking in the entire scene before me, and evaluating the light.
That’s before I even adjust my camera settings or frame the shot.
Pressing the shutter button is the culmination of my attention to the end-to-end process.
Furthermore, I take more of the shots I intend to capture as I’m ready to go and see the world before me.
Don’t miss the shot because you thought swapping from your Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 to the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 was a good idea.
Or, by the time you’ve unslung your backpack to change lenses, the most fantastic wildlife encounter has passed.
How I Approached The Single Lens Challenge
I can’t very well preach to you without first putting myself to the test.
That’s why I decided to undertake a Fujifilm single-lens challenge: I use one lens and apply it to as many styles and genres as possible.
I chose the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 WR lens for this challenge.
It’s one of Fujifilm’s smallest prime lenses, weighing 84g (0.19lb) and measuring Ø62mm x 23mm (2.44″x0.91″).
(And it’s counted among our top picks for the best Fujifilm X Series lenses.)
The weather-sealed pancake prime has a f/2.8 maximum aperture and a 55.5° field of view.
It’s a 40.5mm full-frame equivalent focal distance, replicating many popular analog film cameras from back in the day.
I paired the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 WR with the Fujifilm X-E4 digital mirrorless camera.
The lens, camera, and Fujifilm X-E4 base plate and grip weigh 550g (1.21lb).
In the blue corner, the challenger! Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8.
I shot over a week in and around my hometown of Melbourne, Australia.
Keeping the challenge in mind, I sought opportunities to make the most of this little lens.
I attempted genres such as landscape, cityscape, portrait, food, macro, birds, and pets.
Given that I’m a city kid, getting to rural areas is a challenge in itself.
Regardless, I made the most of the environments and opportunities around me, and I didn’t use any other lens for the duration of the challenge.
When editing the images, I used minimal cropping and applied Fujifilm film simulations to the photos in Lightroom.
I typically use Classic Chrome for street photography but challenged myself to use alternatives.
What I Learnt From Shooting With A Single Fujifilm Lens
Technically bird photography – look for the Rainbow Lorikeet!
Getting out and about with a single camera and lens is a liberating experience.
I was free of burdensome, excessive photography gear and only took what I could carry in my pockets.
Walking out the door with my keys, wallet, phone, and Fujifilm camera was uplifting.
The Fujifilm single lens challenge taught me much about myself and my approach to photography.
I found that I was far more present and mindful of everything that was going on around me.
With a 27mm (40.5mm full-frame) focal distance, I constantly assessed my location and that of my intended subjects.
I zoomed with my feet, read the light and shadows, and if I wasn’t in the best spot, I either took the shot or turned away from it.
Furthermore, I understand the capabilities and limitations of the lens I was shooting with.
Knowing it was an f/2.8 meant I bumped up the ISO or dropped the shutter speed in low-light conditions.
I learned in post-processing how each full aperture stop impacted image sharpness and exposure.
Finally, I developed an awareness of the framing area of a shot before I even lifted the viewfinder to my eye.
Despite having previously shot with this lens and the original XF 27mm f/2.8, which lacked weather resistance, I fully understand its capabilities.
The final stage is to apply what I learned from the single lens challenge to my daily methodology.
Moving forward, I know exactly what the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 WR lens can achieve.
I’ll no longer fret that I haven’t packed the right lens for the job, as I know I can achieve much with the smallest lenses possible.
Furthermore, I’ll apply the single lens challenge to my other Fujifilm lenses so that I fully understand what they can deliver.
The Results
Here is a sample of images shot with the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 lens during the single Fujifilm lens challenge.
Golden Hour Architecture | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/500 SS | 400 ISO | f/8
Food Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/125 SS | 1250 ISO | f/2.8
Food/Produce Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/125 SS | 800 ISO | f/2.8
Pet Portraiture | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/250 SS | 5000 ISO | f/8
Product Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/125 SS | 800 ISO | f/5.6
Botany/Macro Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/250 SS | 100 ISO | f/2.8
Garden Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/180 SS | 400 ISO | f/8
Residential Architecture | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/500 SS | 200 ISO | f/8
Street Portraiture | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/1000 SS | 100 ISO | f/2.8
Portrait Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/1000 SS | 100 ISO | f/2.8
Cityscape Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/500 SS | 200 ISO | f/8
Dance Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/1000 SS | 100 ISO | f/4
Documentary Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/250 SS | 400 ISO | f/2.8
Landscape Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/500 SS | 200 ISO | f/8
What About Professional Photographers?
It goes without saying that the single lens challenge isn’t suitable for every photographer.
Professional wedding, portrait, and event photographers make their living by having the best gear for the job.
An event photographer isn’t going to show up to a paid gig with only a 27mm lens on their camera. It’s just not a viable option.
However, there are ways to facilitate the single-lens challenge methodology in professional photography.
It’s essential to understand that the same principle applies; if you spend time hunting around your camera bag, you’ll miss the shot.
Wedding photographers won’t walk around a venue or dining hall with a big camera backpack on their back.
In many cases, professional photographers will work with two camera bodies.
Each camera body hosts an essential lens for the work style and conditions.
For example, one Sony A7R V will have a Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM MK II Zoom, and the other A7R V will mount a Sony FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM M2 OSS.
Typically, each camera and lens combo is supported by a shoulder strap, allowing the photographer to have both on hand at a moment’s notice.
It’s a case of essential tools for the job with all bases covered.
Final Thoughts
The Fujifilm single-lens challenge has helped me cement key learnings and adapt my photography methodology.
FOMO and GAS come and go, and the first challenge is to vaccinate yourself against them or change your ways.
Rather than be a prisoner to the pressure of constantly acquiring new gear, liberate yourself and make the most of what you have.
Whether you use the 18-55mm kit lens or your favorite focal length, challenge yourself to use it in every possible setting, light, and opportunity.
Try to shoot macro with your telephoto zoom or capture portraits with a wide-angle prime.
My Jam! Street Photography | Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm | 1/1000 SS | 100 ISO | f/2.8
If you need a slower transition, work with a single zoom and later progress to a single prime lens.
The key is to focus on the moment and not the lens you forgot to bring with you or the weight of the backpack holding every lens you own.
The joy of photography springs from the well of creative experience and not from the camera store display window.
That’s very deep and philosophical for a Tuesday morning, Greg!
What do you think about my single-lens challenge? Have you put your photography skills to the test working with a single preferred lens?
Share your experiences and questions in the comments below. Above all else, get out and shoot!
