^ This. Also, if youre worried about things just working, Sigma is actually a very safe route. Since theyre part of the official L-Mount Alliance, the communication between the lens and your SL3 is native. No weird adapters or glitchy autofocus usually. Looking at the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art is a good move because it has that brass mount and internal seals. It feels sturdy which is important when you're dropping that much on a Leica body. The technical side of the alliance means you get firmware updates that keep the lens performing as the camera software changes. Thats a huge deal for reliability over the long term. If you want something that basically stays on the camera all the time and wont let you down in a light drizzle, the Art series is solid. Just make sure to check the specific version because the newer DG DN models are designed for mirrorless from the ground up and handle the SL3 sensor better.

You should definitely look at the third-party options if you want to save some cash. I went that route when I first started out and im so happy with how its held up. Tbh, there was this fear that if I didnt spend the absolute max, the camera wouldnt perform right, but that just wasnt the case for me. My current setup has been through some pretty rough environments and hasn't let me down once. A few things I learned after using it for a while:

• The build quality feels way more premium than the price suggests
• Weather sealing actually held up during a rainy hike last month
• I dont feel like Im missing out on any sharpness for my daily shots Its just such a relief to find gear that works well without feeling like Im overpaying. Ive taken my gear out in some dusty conditions and its still clicking along perfectly. No complaints so far, basically just really satisfied with the reliability.

> so which brand should I buy? Ngl I am literally going through this exact same struggle right now. Just picked up the SL3 and while I love the body, looking at the lens prices makes my eyes water a bit. I’ve been scouring forums and eBay for weeks trying to find a way to kit this thing out without selling a kidney. I ended up grabbing a used Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and honestly, it’s been such a relief to find something that doesn't cost five grand. Im totally with you on the budget side of things... it feels a bit weird putting cheaper glass on such a premium body but my bank account is much happier this way. I'm still hunting for a deal on a used Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 just to have a versatile walk-around lens that doesnt weigh a ton or cost a fortune. The struggle is real when you want that Leica quality but have to be smart with the cash.

My thought on these lenses:

Panasonic L-mount lenses:

• Tend to be more affordable than Leica
• Autofocus optimized for video and vlogging
• Lenses like the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 are high quality zooms
• Growing selection of primes and zooms

Leica L-mount lenses:

• Premium build quality and optics
• Manual focus lenses provide tactile experience
• Lenses like the APO-Summicron-SL line have superb sharpness and rendering
• Most expensive of the three brands

Sigma L-mount lenses:

• Excellent optical quality for the price
• Art series lenses like the 35mm f/1.2 and 85mm f/1.4 are highly regarded
• Contemporary line balances size, weight and performance
• I series is compact and high quality for the size

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your needs and budget:

• For the highest optical quality and build, go with Leica
• For the best value, Sigma lenses are hard to beat
• For reliable AF, especially for video, Panasonic is a great option

Finally someone says it. Ive been thinking this for a while but wasnt sure.