So I finally bit the bullet and got a used SL2 after saving up for like two years. I love the body feel and the EVF is just insane but now I am staring at the prices for the Summicron-SL lenses and honestly I feel like I might have made a huge mistake budget-wise. I really need something for portraits because I have a wedding coming up in October for my cousin and I promised I would take some shots for them. It is just a small backyard thing in Seattle so nothing too crazy but I want that Leica look without spending five thousand dollars on a single lens. I did some digging online and people keep mentioning the Panasonic S Pro 50mm f/1.4 as like the best alternative but then I saw some reviews saying it is an absolute brick to carry around and I am worried about my wrist after a whole day of shooting. Then there is the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art which looks sharp as hell on paper but some folks on the forums say it feels a bit too clinical or digital compared to the more character-rich Leica glass. I am kinda stuck in the middle here.
My constraints are:
- Budget is strictly under $1100 since the body drained my savings
- Needs to be L-mount native (dont really want to mess with adapters right now unless its foolproof)
- Good autofocus because I am not fast enough with manual focus yet for moving people
- Decent bokeh because the backyard setting might be a bit messy and I need to blow out the background
I am really trying to find that sweet spot where I dont have to sell a kidney but also dont end up with a lens that feels like it belongs on a cheaper kit. Is the Sigma 90mm f2.8 too slow for that blurry background look? Or should I just suck it up and get the heavy Panasonic? I keep looking at the Lumix 85mm f1.8 too but it feels a bit cheap for the SL2 if that makes sense? I dont know... maybe I am overthinking the prestige part of it and should just go for performance or something...
Honestly, I have been using the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art on my SL2 for about a year now and I am very satisfied with how it handles. I know you mentioned folks calling it clinical, but in my experience, that just means it is predictable and reliable. When you are shooting a wedding for family, you really want a lens that works well every single time you hit that shutter button.
- The autofocus is extremely snappy and has not missed a beat for me even in lower light.
- It is much lighter than the older versions, so your wrist wont actually fall off by the end of the day.
- The sharpness is top-tier, and the bokeh is plenty smooth enough to hide a messy backyard background. I wouldnt worry about the prestige factor too much. The Panasonic S Pro 50mm is a beast, but it is basically a brick and will definitely drain your energy by the third hour of shooting. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is the sweet spot for safety and professional results. I have had no complaints about the look of the images... they are crisp and look very high-end. Also, dont totally discount the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8. I get that it feels a bit light compared to the SL2 tank, but it is a total workhorse. It balances well on the body and the image quality is surprisingly punchy. It is probably the safest bet if you want to keep some extra cash for a good flash or extra batteries, which you are definitely gonna need for a wedding.
