Can anyone suggest a wide-angle lens for my Leica SL2-S that doesnt cost like five thousand dollars? I feel really silly even asking this because I know this brand is super high-end but I got the camera as a hand-me-down from my uncle and I'm honestly a total beginner. I want to take some cool pictures of buildings and the desert when I go to Zion National Park next month but the lens I have now is a 50mm and it just feels too zoomed in for big landscapes.
My budget is pretty tight since I'm still a student so I'm looking for something under $700 if thats even a thing for these cameras. I keep seeing people mention L-mount and then something about adapters for M-mount and I am just completely lost on what actually fits. Do I have to buy a Leica brand lens or can I use other ones? I saw some stuff by Sigma and Panasonic but I dont want to buy something that breaks the camera or doesnt work right.
- needs to be wide for mountains and architecture
- hopefully not too heavy to carry on a hike
- under $700 if possible
Sorry if this is a really basic question I just have no idea where to start with all these different mounts and names...
Re: "You should look at the Panasonic Lumix S..." - that zoom is a decent starter, but I am worried it might not be wide enough for the scale of Zion. Since youre new to the system, you might want to consider the Sigma 17mm f4 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount. People get confused about the mount, but basically Leica, Sigma, and Panasonic formed the L-Mount Alliance. This means any lens labeled L-mount works natively on your SL2-S without an adapter. You get full autofocus and electronic control, so dont worry about it not working right. I would suggest sticking to primes like this one because they tend to be sharper and much lighter for hiking. The 17mm is tiny but has great optics. When you are at the bottom of a canyon looking up at those red rocks, that extra width makes a massive difference compared to your 50mm. Be careful though, ultra-wide lenses can make things in the distance look smaller than they are, so you will want to find something interesting in the foreground to keep the composition balanced. If $600 is still feeling a bit steep, check out the Sigma 24mm f3.5 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount. It is usually closer to $400 or $500. It isnt quite as wide, but the build quality is fantastic for the price. Just make sure you stay away from M-mount lenses for now... those require adapters and usually dont have autofocus, which is a headache you dont need while youre still learning the ropes. Let me know if you need help figuring out the aperture settings for those landscape shots!
You should look at the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6. Its super light for Zion and way under your budget. Since its native L-mount, it works perfectly on your SL2-S.
I unfortunately wasted money on adapters that werent as good as expected. Just get the Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount. TL;DR: Skip adapters; Sigma fits the L-mount natively.
Yep been there done that. Can confirm everything said above is spot on.
