AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I'm going to buy an XH1 and a single lens. The budget for the lens is around $1,000.00; preferably less. I have no Fuji gear.

I need the kit for portraits, travel, food, and basketball (my son is a college coach). I currently own a Sony RX100iii that I use for travel, but would like to have more reach.

I've heard mostly good things about this lens: Fujifilm XF 18-135mm. It seems like it could be a good all-purpose lens even if it's a bit slow.

I'd appreciate hearing about your experience with this lens and/or any alternative lenses that you think would be good and why.

Thanks!

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

AlohaBob - If you are on Facebook, there is a group called “Fuji X USA Buy/Swap/Sell” that features classified ads for used, well-cared for Fuji X camera bodies and lenses. Highly recommended. Enjoy your new X-H1. I’m truly envious. /Ralph

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks Ralph; much appreciated.

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Also what raw processor do you recommend for Fuji? I use and like Lightroom Classic CC for my Sony raw files.

ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

I'm a Fuji user, Lightroom Classic CC and Luminar 2018 support my post processing needs.

Cly72642 Loc: Georgetown SC

I have 5 Fujinon lenses and I am pleased with all of them but the 18-135 is the one that stays on my camera 90% of the time. It is sharp, focuses rapidly and its range makes it versatile. If I could only have one lens, I would unquestionably choose this one.

leftj Loc: Texas

Thank you for for this Fuji group information. Im a fairly recent convert to Fuji and have requested to join the group.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

For travel I use the 18-135mm. I like the 35mm and 23mm.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

You can't go wrong with ANY Fuji lens, they are all good, but the 18 - 135 is one of the most useful! The kit lens, 18-55 is also just about indispensable tiny lightweight giving you the equivalent of a 28 - 80 moderate WA to portrait length, I also have a 200 and a 12mm prime lenses. I would get the camera with the kit lens and play around with it before I decide to get another lens. Find out what you need first. In any case, if you are like most users, you will love that little camera - just the way it handles, - not to mention the gorgeous images it gives you.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Ralph- thanks for the link.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Query "The Lightweight Photographer" - he does a lot with the Fuji 18-135 mm lens and posts images as well as posts other interesting information about Fuji equipment.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Unless you plan to do a lot of video, save yourself some money and get the Fuji X-T2. I have used the 18-135 for portraits and travel and it is an excellent lens, but, depending on how close you can get to the action, you might need more reach for basketball.

magpix Loc: St. Michaels, MD

I have almost every Fuji lens except the 18-135 which I consider a good travel, or walk-around lens. But based on all the reviews I've read, it's not quite as good as the rest of the line. It's certainly not as fast. Spending the extra money for the new XH-1 and not the less expensive XT-2, XT-20 or the new XT-100 seems a bit overkill if you go with the 18-135. In fact, you will notice that Fuji is offering a number of kit deals on the XH-1 but I haven't seen it with the 18-135 perhaps because it's not the very best match of body and lens. I'm also not sure the 18-135 is fast enough for shooting basketball games because of the typical lighting challenges. For great basketball images, the 50-140 f/2.8 is your best bet, but it's expensive (although there's package deal with the XH-1). For a very good everyday lens I think the 18-55 is quite remarkable for its price, and it's sharper and faster than the 18-135. Right now, you can buy an XT-2 with the 18-55 for less than the XH-1 body alone. And for those basketball games, you may want to consider the 55-200. It's on sale now for $599. I've shot professionally with three different Fuji bodies and almost all their lenses, and I would think the best way to start would be with an XT-2 body, 18-55 and 55-200. The XH-1 is a superb camera, but bigger and heavier than most Fuji's due to its in-body stabilization feature. But I don't see the great advantage if you shoot with Fuji's stabilized lenses. The XH-1 seems to be aimed more for video shooters than still shooters. I don't mean to discourage you buying the XH-1, but it just seems that you may want to put more money into your lens budget and a little less into the cost of the XH-1 body....unless you plan to shoot a lot of high end video. Either way, you're going to love shooting with the Fuji system.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Here is a picture (not my own) made with the 18-135 lens. Is it sharp enough to satisfy you?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ripensis/38985389830/in/photolist-22p1jaC-qvoAg8-BNDTbv-26nCTjX-FEFsPF-pAjB2Z-256ntzS-VipoEk-pcmNjm-256mPSh-YCWyu1-prwiRr-pYPQ8y-25DYZJj-qnxxSC-YxZNVN-23QDS9a-rutLRU-r6R8VU-rfZnng-ZeLJ2q-UU6RS8-KHbL5b-EgEHHL-TT22Lx-Z1B4yC-rFKbak-oqb7x8-24CV8Sh-w6tSsR-Tp3F4A-rph6N3-27R9kuv-pBn6gm-S4WgFg-228KKTb-Zs5g7j-qCZoEB-pG7pdD-Wv7z5j-Tr7rd9-pNqP1G-UkLEj9-VTp8tH-pUDDgH-Jc8Zx6-278iP5z-XRUqFq-262KWR1-rnZrKS

Jbat Loc: Charleston, SC

I have the X-H1 and X-T2 and numerous lens. The 18-135 is probably the most used because it is useful for so many things. The slower speed has been noted but most of the time this is not a killer. For basketball, it will likely be a problem but to do any better you will need to go to the 50-140 with its f/2.8 speed. But this lens is not good for walking around or travel, etc, unless you can stand to hold a heavier lens. And even if you can, it does not have the wider angle range of the 18-135. Ideally, you would have both, which I do. If I had to have just one, it would be the 18-135. The
X-H1 with its IBIS would be my choice as it allows you to have stabilization for future purchases of lens which are not image stabilized.