Been shooting on the S5II for a while now using my old Canon EF glass through the MC-21 adapter and its mostly fine but honestly the autofocus is just too hit or miss for gimbal work so I finally decided to bite the bullet and go native. I've got this high-end corporate documentary shoot coming up in two weeks over in Bristol and I really cant afford to miss focus during the interviews or have the lens hunting while I'm walking around.
I'm stuck between the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art and the Lumix S Pro version. The price difference is pretty massive and I dont know if the Leica certification is just marketing or if it actually makes a difference for video. I keep hearing mixed things about:
- how the AF-C handles transitions
- micro-jitter on the Sigma
- if the focus breathing on the Panny is worth the extra weight
The Sigma Art lenses have always been my go-to but the Panasonic Pro looks like a total tank. I'm worried about the Sigma's weather sealing since I'll be outdoors for a lot of this shoot and the UK weather is... well you know. Is the linear manual focus on the Lumix really that much more reliable for video work? I'm trying to stay under $2000 for this one lens but I could stretch it if the native glass is gonna save my life on this gig.
> I'm stuck between the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art and the Lumix S Pro version. Honestly, I went with the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art L-Mount a while back and ended up kinda regretting it for professional video gigs. I had some nasty issues with micro-jitter during slow pans that basically ruined a bunch of b-roll for a client last year. Unfortunately, the autofocus isnt quite as sticky as the native glass, which is a nightmare for gimbal work when you're moving fast. I took that Sigma out for a rainy shoot and was constantly worried because the sealing just didnt feel as good as expected. I eventually swapped it for the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 and while the price tag is painful, the lack of focus breathing is totally worth it. For that Bristol doc, you're gonna want that linear manual focus clutch. It makes pull-focus shots actually repeatable... something the Sigma just couldnt do reliably for me.
If youre stuck between those two expensive options, honestly my tip is to save the cash and go for a combo! I absolutely love the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f4 Macro OIS for video work. It is way cheaper than the Pro zooms and that extra reach to 105mm is a total lifesaver for documentary stuff when you cant get close. Plus the stabilization is just fantastic on the S5II! You could grab that and still have money left for a Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG DN Art L-Mount for those gorgeous, blurred out interview shots. Seriously, f4 is plenty if youve got decent lighting, and the autofocus is snappy as heck. Dont overthink the Leica badge too much, just get out there and shoot! Bristol is gonna look amazing with this setup!!
I've been super happy since switching to native glass, everything just feels smoother. For Bristol rain, you definitely want that sealing though.
- The Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN II Art L-Mount is the new version and it really fixed the AF-C issues and weight from the original Art.
- If you're on a gimbal all day, the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount is way lighter and still looks sharp. Both handle focus way better than adapted glass.
