I’m trying to pick a solid wide-angle for L-mount mainly for landscape work (mountains, coastlines, and some night skies). I shoot on a Panasonic full-frame body and hike a lot, so weight matters, but I also don’t want soft corners or weird distortion when I’m shooting wide open. I’m debating between something in the 14–24mm range vs a lighter 16–35mm-style zoom, and I’m not sure how much I’ll miss filters if I go super-wide. Budget is roughly $800–$1,500. What L-mount wide-angle lens would you recommend for landscapes, and why?
> I hike a lot, so weight matters, but I also don’t want soft corners or weird distortion… debating 14–24 vs 16–35… and filters
For your situation, I’d look hard at Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary (L-Mount). It’s way more hike-friendly than the big 14–24 bricks, still gives you f/2.8 for night skies, and corner performance is honestly solid once you’re at f/4–f/5.6 for landscapes. Distortion is there at 16mm but it’s the “easy to profile-correct” kind, not the funky mustache stuff.
Filter-wise, this is the big win: it takes normal screw-in filters (72mm), so ND + CPL is painless. If you want *max* ultrawide drama, Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art (L-Mount) is amazing, but the filter headache is real… idk, I value convenience on hikes!!! cheers
Same here!
Ok so… been there. I hiked a ton with a Panasonic FF and tried to “save weight” with a 16–35, but unfortunately I kept getting mushy extreme corners at 16mm wide open for night stuff. What actually stuck for me is Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art (L-Mount). It’s not tiny, but the corners are realy solid for stars at f/2.8, distortion is well-behaved, and it’s sharp enough that you stop thinking about the lens.
Downside: no normal front filters, which I miss on coastlines (ND/grad life). If filters matter more, I’d go Panasonic Lumix S PRO 16-35mm f/4 (L-Mount). Lighter-ish, takes 77mm filters, and for landscapes at f/8 it’s GREAT. Lesson learned: pick “filters + hiking” (16-35) vs “night skies + corners” (14-24). good luck
- Not to disagree, but I’d actually lean **16–35-ish** for hiking landscapes unless you’re *constantly* at 14mm. That extra 1–2mm is cool, but it’s not worth the filter pain + bulk most days, imo.
- For value in ur $800–$1,500 range: I’ve been really happy with a **Sigma wide zoom** (their stuff is usually sharp across the frame for the money). No complaints, and you’re not paying the “native brand tax.”
- If night skies matter, prioritize **corner coma control at f/2.8-ish** over max wideness. Corners tell the truth.
- Filters: I’d rather keep **normal screw-in NDs/polarizers** than deal with huge holders… especially on windy coastlines.
Good luck!!
TL;DR: Go with a tiny prime like the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary and use DIY panoramas to get wider shots without the heavy pro gear weight!!! Honestly I’m pretty new to this but I’ve been trying to keep my pack light by using a small prime and then just stitching shots together for that ultra-wide look. It's kinda like a DIY wide-angle zoom but way lighter for hiking!!! I’m using that Sigma 17mm and it’s so tiny it fits in a pocket basically. Plus it takes normal filters which saves me from buying those expensive pro filter holders and systems. I even started cleaning my own sensor instead of paying for a pro service every time I get trail dust on it when swapping lenses which is way easier than I thought it’d be tho. If you're okay with doing a bit of extra work in editing later it’s a total game changer for the weight and cost.
Just saw this thread and figured I would chime in with a slightly different path. If you are really hiking a lot and want to geek out on the technical specs without the bulk, you should look at the Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D for L-Mount. It is a manual focus lens, but honestly, for landscapes and astro you are basically always at infinity or using focus peaking anyway.
- Weight: about 500g (super light compared to those 1kg+ wide zooms).
- Optical formula: 12 elements in 9 groups, with 2 aspherical and 3 extra-low dispersion elements.
- Filters: Takes a standard 72mm thread, so no bulky filter holders needed. The f/2 aperture gives you a nice stop of light over the f/2.8 zooms for Milky Way shots. Since it has no electronics, you gotta do the DIY move and manually tell your camera body it is a 15mm lens so the IBIS works right. It is a bit of a purist approach but for around 700 bucks it punches way above its weight. If you really need autofocus tho, the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for L-Mount is another technical beast with its MFL switch specifically for astro, though it definitely adds more weight to your pack. Just depends on whether you prefer the manual control or the convenience.
