Got the 18-55 in a kit. Hang on to it or nah?

So I'm converting from Canon to Fuji and bought the X-T1 kit with the 18-55. I'm really wanting a faster portrait lens and have my eye on the 35 f/1.4. I can't decide if I want to hang on to the 18-55 or sell it and use the money toward the 35. Anyone else been in a similar situation? What did you decide? I'm pretty sure the 35 would suffice for 99% of my needs but the "what if" lingers in the back of my mind.

They call the 18-55 a "Kit" lens, but that is not necessarily true. It is one of the better and more versatile lenses Fuji makes. It is on my XT-2 most the time. The 35 f1.4 will not disappoint you, it is a fantastic lens and out of my 12 different Fuji lens the 35 is the only one that causes me to take the 18-55 off. The 18-55 is used when the 35 is just not versatile enough. The other lenses get used when the subject I am shooting requires a different focal range.

Lumens wrote in post #18594028
They call the 18-55 a "Kit" lens, but that is not necessarily true. It is one of the better and more versatile lenses Fuji makes. It is on my XT-2 most the time. The 35 f1.4 will not disappoint you, it is a fantastic lens and out of my 12 different Fuji lens the 35 is the only one that causes me to take the 18-55 off. The 18-55 is used when the 35 is just not versatile enough. The other lenses get used when the subject I am shooting requires a different focal range.

Thanks. That definitely makes me think I want to keep the 18-55. I have been pretty blown away thus far with the quality of the images I've taken with it. I guess I have this anxiety with having both lenses in that I fear I'll have the 18-55 on the camera and then at some point will take a shot with it and end to wishing I had taken it with the 35 instead and then have this constant mental debate going on with what lens to keep in the camera. (I know... headcase, right?)

Kind of off topic but how is the autofocus nose and speed in your opinion on the 35? Seems most reviews say to get the 35 f2 as it's better build and much faster focus but of the example shots I've seen, the 35 f1.4 wins hands down. Plus I'm a bokeh lover and I think the 35 f1.4 will satisfy my craving without having to fork over a grand for something like the 56 f1.2. I think I can overlook and noise and hunting. I won't be shooting in that low if light anyway so I really can't see it being a big deal. Sometimes I wonder if the folks reviewing the lenses go a tough over board in their depiction?

If you want to do video then the f2 is what you want. The f1.4 is noisy while focusing, but if it's bokeh you want the f1.4 is by far a MUCH better lens. I do own both the f2 and the f1.4. I need to get off my tail end and sell the f2. The f2 is a fantastic lens and does have good bokeh, but the f1.4 would be my choice for stills.

Lumens wrote in post #18594249
If you want to do video then the f2 is what you want. The f1.4 is noisy while focusing, but if it's bokeh you want the f1.4 is by far a MUCH better lens. I do own both the f2 and the f1.4. I need to get off my tail end and sell the f2. The f2 is a fantastic lens and does have good bokeh, but the f1.4 would be my choice for stills.

Thanks. Yeah I really don't do much video although I may actually try to start doing more because the Fuji system makes it so easy to bounce back and forth between video and stills. My previous 5DMarkII was kind of a pain to even start taking a video and then it only took 10 minutes at a time. That said, since I feel like I'll probably keep my 18-55, if I did have a need to do video, I'd likely just use that and keep the 35 for stills for the benefit of the buttery bokeh.

Thanks

The XF 18-55mm is the only zoom I regularly use. Didn't care for my 24-105L on my 6D, but I love my 18-55mm. Keep it, at least for now.

That said, the 35/1.4 is easily my favorite lens

Sold mine. Terrific lens, no complaints whatsoever. I just prefer using primes.

I love my 18-55, also had the 35 f1.4, just could not get used to slow focus, sold it and bought the 35 f2, smaller, and focus is fast and perfect.....so for my needs the 18-55 and 35 f2 for me, and a Panasonic lx10 in the pocket.

Sold all my canon stuff.

Keep it. To me it’s the perfect travel lens for a lightweight setup, I should have kept mine for that reason alone

Having 18mm @ f/2.8 on the kit zoom is actually quite beneficial as you'll have a stabilized lens.

Fuji 35mm is a 50mm fov on a full frame. That is extremely limiting if you want to use the fuji for general usage for all situations.

Don’t sell it until you have two primes in its range. Even then you may want to keep it. I have it and the 23/35/50 f2’s and I’m keeping it for now. I may let it go when I get a UWA. It’s a great lens.

I use it still myself; it came with an XSi. For a kit lens, it seems to work well

Thanks all. I decided to just hang on to it. Looks like they are only selling for 250-300 online anyway, so not like I'd get a large amount out of it to use for something else.

mark2009 wrote in post #18605600
I love my 18-55, also had the 35 f1.4, just could not get used to slow focus, sold it and bought the 35 f2, smaller, and focus is fast and perfect.....so for my needs the 18-55 and 35 f2 for me, and a Panasonic lx10 in the pocket.

Sold all my canon stuff.

I just bought a used 35 1.4 and you're right, it definitely does hunt a bit at times especially in lower light. I wish it were faster, but I decided on it over the f2 simply because I'm a bokeh nerd and didn't think the f2 would do it for me. What were your thoughts on the bokeh on both lenses when compared?

Lumens wrote in post #18594028
They call the 18-55 a "Kit" lens, but that is not necessarily true. It is one of the better and more versatile lenses Fuji makes. It is on my XT-2 most the time. The 35 f1.4 will not disappoint you, it is a fantastic lens and out of my 12 different Fuji lens the 35 is the only one that causes me to take the 18-55 off. The 18-55 is used when the 35 is just not versatile enough. The other lenses get used when the subject I am shooting requires a different focal range.

I noticed in your signature you have the 6D.

If you could only have the 6D or the Fuji X-T2, which would you keep?

Bokeh at f2 is just fine. I even shoot my 50-140 at f2.8 and the bokeh is outstanding.