I finally pulled the trigger on a used SL2 and honestly my hands are still shaking a little bit lol. I saved up for like a year to get this thing and now I'm flat broke but so hyped to go out and shoot some architecture around Seattle this weekend. The problem is I only have a 50mm prime right now and it feels so cramped for what I want to do.
I've been looking at some L-mount options that wont break the bank because Leica glass is just... yeah not happening right now. I saw some people recommending the Panasonic 20-60mm because it's super cheap and light but then I read a few forum posts saying it doesn't really do the 47MP sensor justice and might look soft in the corners which is a bummer. Then there is the Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN which looks beautiful and fits the budget better but I'm worried 24mm might not be wide enough for some of the tight street corners downtown? I really want to stay under $700 if possible because my rent is due soon haha.
Does anyone have experience using these cheaper L-mount lenses on the SL2 specifically? Do they feel weird or unbalanced on such a beefy camera body or should I just hold out for something else?
Over the years, I've tested several L-mount options and the Sigma 20mm f2 DG DN Contemporary is basically the best technical compromise for your budget. While the 20-60mm is versatile, it lacks the peripheral resolution needed for architecture. The 20mm focal length provides a better perspective for those tight Seattle streets than a 24mm lens, and the build quality wont feel cheap on your SL2.
What buildings are you shooting? I shot Pike with the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 and was so disappointed tbh.
- 24mm: too narrow
- Sigma 17mm f4 DG DN Contemporary: wider but slow
Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.
@Reply #3 - good point! Honestly i have been dealing with this exact same headache for like two months now and i still havent pulled the trigger on anything. I am in the same boat where the SL2 basically ate my entire gear budget for the year and now i am just stuck with a 50mm that feels way too narrow for the city stuff i want to do. I have been trying to find answers by digging through:
- the L-mount section on Fred Miranda
- some old user galleries over at DPReview
- various Leica enthusiast groups on Facebook Everything i read just makes me more nervous tbh because one person says a lens is sharp and the next person says it looks like mud on a 47MP sensor. I am so worried about wasting my last bit of cash on something that wont actually hold up. It is super frustrating when you have this amazing body but no glass to really let it shine... let me know if you figure it out because i am still totally lost.
Quick reply while I have a sec... I totally get the struggle, I went through the same thing when I first picked up my SL2 and had zero cash left for glass. I actually started with the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 because it was so cheap, and while it is a decent travel lens, I felt the same way about the corners once I started looking at those 47MP files. It just didnt feel right for high-res architecture. I ended up swapping it for the Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary and honestly i couldnt be happier with how it performs. It is way wider than 24mm which you will definitely need for those tight city streets, and it feels much more premium than the kit zoom. I managed to snag a used copy for about $650 and it has been my go-to ever since. The f2.8 is really nice to have when the clouds roll in. It doesnt feel unbalanced at all on the beefy SL2 body, just feels like a solid setup without the Leica tax. Definitely worth looking at if you want that extra width... it basically saved my city trips.
