Before buying any lens for the Leica SL2, you need to understand that the L-mount alliance allows you to use Sigma and Panasonic lenses natively. However, hiking with a heavy camera body like the SL2 requires careful consideration of lens weight and weather sealing. I would suggest looking at these two options:

• Panasonic Lumix S 14-28mm f/4-5.6 MACRO
• This offers a very wide field of view and is weather-sealed, which is critical for Oregon weather. Be aware that the variable aperture means it will perform poorly in low light without a tripod.
• Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary L-mount
• This is incredibly compact and lightweight, making it ideal for long hikes. Make sure to note that the f/4 maximum aperture might limit you if you want to shoot astro-photography or clean shots at dusk. Be careful when looking at cheaper third-party manual focus lenses. Since you are a beginner, trying to pull manual focus on a high-resolution 47-megapixel sensor like the SL2 will likely lead to soft, frustrating images. Stick to autofocus lenses for your first trip.

> Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma share the same mount design, so their lenses work natively on your SL2 To add to the point above: it is true that L-mount gives you options, but you still have to be really careful. I learned this the hard way on a rainy hike in Washington last year. I bought a cheap manual wide-angle lens online thinking I was being smart and saving money. Unfortunately, it had terrible flare issues and the lack of weather sealing made me paranoid the whole time. It was not as good as expected and honestly felt like a waste. If you want something reliable that wont break the bank, look for a used Panasonic Lumix S 24mm f1.8 L-mount. I eventually swapped to that one and it has proper sealing to protect your uncles camera. You can usually find them used for around $500 which fits your budget perfectly.

When I first transitioned to the L-mount system for my own hiking trips, I quickly learned you dont need to pay Leica prices to get great glass. Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma share the same mount design, so their lenses work natively on your SL2 with full autofocus. Here are two solid options that fit your budget:

• Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 L-Mount
• This is a highly versatile zoom. It goes down to 20mm for wide shots and only weighs 350 grams, which is perfect for trail hiking.
• Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount
• A prime lens with a fast f/2 aperture. The all-metal build feels premium and the optical sharpness is impressive for the price. Since you are just starting out, the zoom range of the Panasonic might be easier to learn on, though the Sigma gives you better low-light performance.

Like someone mentioned, you really have to be careful with cheap glass on a body as good as the SL2. I learned this the hard way years ago when I took a budget manual lens on a trip to the Rockies. The image quality was soft at the edges and I ended up with so much lens flare that half my shots were basically ruined. It was a massive headache to fix in post.

• Stick to native L-mount glass if you can.
• Weather sealing matters way more than you think in places like Oregon.
• Don't sacrifice reliability just to save a few bucks. Everything folks said about the alliance lenses is spot on, but just remember that the sensor on that camera is super unforgiving. If you put cheap, unoptimized glass on it, you're gonna notice the lack of sharpness immediately. My current setup stays consistent because I stopped trying to hunt for bargain bin optics. Just take your time and make sure whatever you pick up can actually handle the weather, or you might regret it mid-hike.