What is the absolute best compact travel lens for L-mount that wont weigh me down while hiking? Ive been shooting with my Lumix S5ii for a while now and honestly love the image quality, but man, those native f/1.4 primes are absolute bricks when you're trekking through the Alps for a week. Im planning a trip to the Dolomites next month and I need something that fits in a small sling bag without sacrificing too much sharpness. I had my eyes on the Sigma i-series 45mm f/2.8 but im not sure if itll be wide enough for landscape shots, or if I should look into one of the pancake options instead. My budget is around 600 bucks so nothing too crazy expensive, just something reliable and weather-sealed enough to survive a little mountain mist. Is there anything else out there that I might be overlooking, or should I just bite the bullet and go with the Sigma? Its kinda frustrating how limited the pancake selection feels compared to Sony E-mount... If anyone has real-world experience pairing a lightweight prime with an L-mount body for travel, please let me know.
Quick reply while I have a sec. I spent two weeks hiking around the Dolomites last year with my S5ii, and I feel your pain on the weight. Honestly, the Sigma 45mm is great for street stuff, but for wide epic mountain vistas, you might find it a bit tight. I ended up packing the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary instead, and honestly, I was super happy with it. It balances amazing on the S5ii and the build quality feels like a tank, way better than typical plastic lenses. It handles the damp mountain air perfectly fine, just keep a decent microfiber cloth handy. Another one to look at is the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 if you want some flexibility. It came as a kit lens for many of us, but don't sleep on it. It goes wider than any prime in this price range, which is huge for landscape shoots. It is super light, weather-sealed, and the sharpness is honestly way better than the price suggests. I basically stopped carrying primes for hiking because having that 20mm reach is just way more useful on trails where you can't exactly back up to get the whole peak in frame. If your priority is just landscapes, grab the zoom. If you want the character of a prime for the evenings, the 35mm f/2 is the way to go.
^ This. Also, check out the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f/1.8 for those wider vistas. It is super light, weather-sealed, and fits your budget way better than the expensive glass.
TL;DR: The Sigma is a solid pick, but be really careful about moisture. Honestly, those thin primes are great for weight but dont offer much weather protection. If you take one into the Dolomites, make sure you pack a solid rain cover for the body. I would suggest sticking to glass that has a decent gasket. You dont want a little mist turning into a repair bill. Just take it slow out there.