I finally pulled the trigger on the S5II last month after rocking an old GH5 for years and man the full frame look is just different but now I'm stuck on glass. I have a wedding for my cousin in early October in this really pretty botanical garden and I really need something that can get those super crisp eye-tracking shots without breaking my back or my bank account. I've been looking at the Lumix 85mm f1.8 because its pretty affordable and fits the whole lightweight vibe but then I see everyone online swearing by the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN saying it's the gold standard for sharpness. My budget is capped at like 800 bucks so I might have to go used if I get the Sigma but I'm worried about the weight since I'll be running around all day. Plus some people say the native Panasonic lenses have better AF consistency with the phase detect system on the S5II while others say the Sigma is just as fast. I just dont want to end up with soft eyes because the lens couldn't keep up or it was too heavy to hold steady after six hours of shooting. Is the Sigma sharpness really that much of a jump over the Panasonic 1.8 for real world use or should I just stick with the native glass?
Honestly, just grab the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f1.8. For a long wedding, that 355g weight is a massive win over the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art. Youll save 300 bucks too. Tech-wise, the native linear motor handles the S5II phase detect cycles perfectly. The Sigma is technically sharper in lab charts, but the Panasonic is plenty crisp for real portraits. Definitely the smarter budget pick.
