Im heading to Iceland in three weeks and my current glass just isnt wide enough for the landscapes. I was looking at the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 because everyone raves about the sharpness, but then I saw some forum posts complaining about the bulbous front element making filters a huge pain to use. I really need to use ND grads for long exposures. Then I looked at the Lumix 16-35mm, but is it sharp enough for 47mp sensors? My budget is around 1500 bucks and honestly im getting stressed because I cant decide if I should prioritize filter convenience or absolute corner-to-corner sharpness. Does anyone have experience with these for actual mountain work?
Forget the bulbous glass and grab the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. It takes standard 72mm filters, is tack sharp on my S1R, and weighs next to nothing for hiking!
Honestly, skip the stress. I spent a month in Iceland last year and lugging around a specialized filter system for a bulbous lens is a nightmare when the weather turns, which it will. Regarding what was mentioned about the 16-28mm, those smaller threads are a total game changer for real-world landscape work. If you want the best balance of price and performance, look at the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. It is incredibly compact for a f/2.8, which is great when you are hiking up volcanic ridges. The filter situation is so much easier since it takes standard 72mm glass. I usually pack a B+W 72mm Circular Polarizer and a few NDs, and it fits right in my jacket pocket. If you really crave that extra ultra-wide reach and don't mind a slightly different setup, check out the Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift. It is manual focus, but for landscapes, that is rarely an issue. The shift capability is actually a godsend for capturing those massive waterfalls without converging lines. You save a ton of cash compared to the pro zooms, leaving you more money for gas and those insanely overpriced Icelandic burgers. Don't overthink the sharpness specs on a chart; out in the field, the ability to actually use your filters easily is gonna net you way better photos than a slightly sharper lens you're too frustrated to use.
Honestly, the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 16-35mm f/4 is the way to go for Iceland. I have used it on my S1R and the resolution holds up perfectly across the frame. It just works well for long exposures since you can use standard 77mm filters without any weird holders.
- Sharpness is excellent at f/8
- Filter usage is seamless Save the stress and just grab that lens. You wont regret it.
