The One Lens I Regret Selling – And What About You?

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Something happened to me just a few days before Christmas.

I was preparing dinner when I accidentally cut the tendon of my thumb.

Fast-forward to today: I’m deep into rehabilitation. My thumb bends maybe 20% at best, and there’s still a real risk of damaging the tendon again if I push it too hard.

So I have to be careful. Very careful.

And I have to be careful, as I’m about to embark on a journey to the other side of the planet—with two small kids, a couple of bags, and the cheapest economy seats money can buy 😉.

As you can imagine, while packing I inevitably started thinking about camera gear. But given the circumstances, the conclusion was immediate and unavoidable:

This trip demands the most minimalist setup possible.

I can’t easily switch lenses.
I can’t strain my thumb by handling heavy gear.
And I definitely can’t afford to be clumsy.

So the rule was simple: as little and as light as possible.

First decision: X-E5 or X-T5?

Well, the answer is obvious ;).

And lenses?

By now you probably know that my go-to travel lens is the Fujinon XF18-135mm.

But realistically, for the next few weeks I can truly rely on just one hand. That makes the XF18-135mm far less practical than usual.

So what should I bring instead?

Without hesitation, the Fujinon XF27mmF2.8 R WR makes the cut. It will almost certainly become my most used lens on this trip.

However, while going through my options, I realized something else:
I really miss having a small, compact lens on the wide end—something for landscapes and broader scenes without adding bulk.

And for the first time, I genuinely regret having sold one specific lens.

If I still owned it, it would be absolutely perfect for this journey:
the Samyang MF 12mmF2.

Yes, I could bring the XF10-24mmF4. But that would break my “as light as possible” rule, and paired with the X-E5 it doesn’t balance particularly well either.

I know exactly why I sold the Samyang. Optically, it was a stunning lens for the price, and some of my favorite images ever were taken with it. But the color rendering was never quite what I’m used to—and what I love—about Fujinon XF lenses.

Still, right now, I regret that decision.

Yes, I’d have to put a bit more effort into color work in post. But it would absolutely be worth it.

So what’s coming with me?

I guess for this time I’ll go with a more X100-alike experience: ultra compact X-E5 with XF27mm and that’s it.

Anyway, this whole process got me thinking.

Is there a particular lens in the Fujifilm X system that you regret selling?

If so, feel free to share it in the comments.

And I hope your next trip isn’t too far away—or that you’re already right in the middle of an amazing one

My Travel Setup

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