Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 Street Photography in Harajuku

This article was originally written in November 2022. It reflects my experiences with the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 lens at that time. While I no longer shoot with Fujifilm, I’ve left the original review intact as a ‘time capsule’ of my photographic journey.

In November 2022, I bought a Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR lens. I first tested it at the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum in tandem with the XF 16-55 mm. This time, I would use it for street photography. Harajuku would be my target. By the end of the day, I had fallen in love with this tiny gem.

A rainy walk in Harajuku

I started my walk in Takeshita-Dori, Tokyo’s hub of pop culture. It was crowded. Life has returned to the famous street (read more here). Everyone was enjoying their crepes and shopping. The Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 handled the close ranges easily with its snappy auto-focus.

Then the rain started. Umbrellas went up. A few were colorful. Plastic transparent ones have been ubiquitous over recent years. Those are incredibly boring. Seeing reds, polka dots, and frills was a surprise. Anyway, the rain didn’t worry me as the lens was weather-resistant.

While I was in Takeshita-Dori, I made a detour to Togo Shrine. Again I was fortunate. A couple in their kimonos were taking their wedding photos. That was a good chance to get some pictures of my own. I actually wished I had a zoom as I couldn’t get too close to them.

The rest of the day was standard street photography fare. People were on Omotesando. I took more photos of people and their umbrellas than of architecture. I even managed to grab a mirror shot. I was satisfied even though I didn’t catch anything outstanding.

Final thoughts on the XF 35mm f/2

So, what can I say about the Fujifilm XF 35mm? It’s a superb performer that genuinely changed my approach to photography. For me, its strengths boil down to a few key points:

It’s small and light. Shooting with the camera in one hand and an umbrella in the other is no problem. With the heavier XF 16-55 mm it was difficult.
The lens is weather-resistant. That doesn’t mean waterproof, but you have some protection in the rain.
I love the images it creates. In the middle, it is amazingly sharp. The extreme corners are a little soft, but it doesn’t bother me.
Build quality is great. It is a solid lens.

Conclusion

While I am now in the Canon world, there are some things I miss about Fujifilm. One of them is the XF 35mm f/2 R WR lens, packed with great features at a value price. I don’t yet have an equivalent for my R5 that combines this level of portability, sharpness, and value. The search continues for a lens that can replicate that unique ‘one-hand, one-umbrella’ shooting freedom I enjoyed on that rainy day in Harajuku.