Just picked up a Panasonic S5 II and want one solid “do-everything” L-mount lens to start with. I shoot a mix of travel, street, and casual portraits, and I’d like decent low-light performance without a huge, heavy setup. Budget is around $800–$1,200. What’s your pick for the best all-around lens for this camera, and why?
For your situation, I’d grab the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary (L-Mount). Usually lands ~$800–$900, it’s sharp, focuses fast on the S5 II, and it’s legit smaller/lighter than a 24–70/2.8. 28mm is “wide enough” for travel/street imo, and 70mm f/2.8 does casual portraits fine. If you want more reach: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art (L-Mount)… but yeah, chunkier.
> “one solid do-everything” L-mount lens… decent low-light… not huge/heavy Saw this earlier—quick Q: do you *need* 24mm wide, or is 28mm fine for ur travel/street? If 28’s OK, Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary (L-Mount) is the best value imo. If you want wider + nicer build, Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm F2.8 (L-Mount) is great but heavier/pricier used. For light+low-light, Panasonic LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 (L-Mount) is cheap, but ya lose bokeh/ISO.
Ok so—when I got my S5 II, I grabbed a midrange Panasonic zoom and honestly it taught me fast that 24–70-ish + f/2.8-ish is the sweet spot: usable low-light, decent bokeh, not TOO chunky.
^ This. Also, jumping in here because I'm so stoked for you! The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is an amazing piece of gear and you're gonna have a total blast with it. I'm gonna go against the grain a little bit though... I know everyone is pointing you toward those f/2.8 zooms, but I honestly wonder if that's the best route if you're really worried about a heavy setup for travel. Are you mostly shooting during the day, or is that low-light performance for nighttime street stuff a total dealbreaker for you? Also, are you planning on doing any serious video work with this, or are you strictly a stills person? Cant wait to hear more about your style so we can help you find the perfect fit!
I really wanted to love the Panasonic LUMIX S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. as my do-it-all lens, but unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed after owning it for a year. That f/4 aperture just isnt as good as I expected for low-light street stuff, and the bokeh felt a bit clinical for portraits. If I were you, I'd honestly skip the f/4 zooms and grab the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Art (L-Mount). It's right at the top of your $1,200 budget but:
- It's way lighter than the first version.
- The f/2.8 makes a massive difference for evening travel shots.
- The build quality is actually nice to use daily. Tbh, i spent months wishing I had just bought a faster zoom from the start. The S5 II handles these Sigma lenses so well now... it's definitely the way to go if you want one lens to rule them all. Just dont make the mistake of settling for f/4 if you plan on shooting when the sun starts going down.
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To add to the point above: if you are really trying to keep the weight down but refuse to sacrifice low light, you should look at a prime setup instead of a zoom. Coming back to this after testing some gear, I found that mixing a standard zoom with a fast prime covers way more ground for travel without weighing down your neck.
- Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN Contemporary is a stellar choice for street. It is tiny, weather-sealed, and the sharpness is honestly insane for the price.
- Pair that with the kit lens or even the Panasonic LUMIX S 50mm F1.8 for those portraits you mentioned. Honestly, having f/1.8 or f/2 gives you way more room to play with shutter speeds at night than an f/2.8 zoom ever will. I have been super satisfied with this combo. It keeps the S5 II feeling like a compact travel rig instead of a heavy tank. Plus, you will save a bunch of cash compared to those pricey Art zooms.
Saved for later, ty!
Nice, didn't know that
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Interested in this too