Ive been shooting landscapes on my S1R for a few years now and usually stick to primes, but I have a trip to the Dolomites coming up in a month and I'm stressing about lens changes in that weather. My logic was to grab a 24-70mm to cover most of it, but Im worried about corner sharpness at the wide end since I really need that detail for prints. Ive looked at the Lumix Pro glass, but the price tag is kinda steep, honestly. Is it worth stretching the budget for the native optics or should I look at Sigma? Im just nervous about field curvature issues on non-native glass. Has anyone actually tested these for high-res landscape work?
In my experience, the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 is unmatched for corner sharpness. If that is too pricey, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art performs well enough too.
Honestly, if you are worried about corner sharpness on that S1R sensor, you really owe it to yourself to check out the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art. I have been using the Art series for years and the glass quality is just insane for the price. People obsess over native glass, but Sigma has really stepped up their game recently. Here is what you should consider for the Dolomites:
- The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art is significantly lighter than the Lumix pro stuff, which is a lifesaver when you are hiking.
- Definitely look at the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art if you want those epic wide angle shots, it is actually sharper than most primes I have owned! Dont stress too much about field curvature, the modern stuff handles high-res sensors like a champ. You are gonna get some amazing shots up there!
Honestly, if you need extreme precision for those high-res prints, maybe look at the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH. It is pricey, but the contrast and corner detail are legendary for landscapes. I have spent years using Leica glass and the micro-contrast saves me so much post-processing time. Check out the LensTip reviews if you want to see the resolution charts. Just dont risk cheap glass on a trip that important.