> I heard about using M-mount adapters but I have never done manual focus on a trip where I am moving fast so that kinda scares me. Honestly, I totally get why you're nervous about manual focus. If you're hiking, the last thing you want is to miss a shot because you couldn't nail focus in time. For your budget, you might want to consider the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f/1.8. It is a perfect match for the SL2 because it is natively supported, giving you reliable autofocus without worrying about adapters failing. Make sure to check the weather sealing too... the Smokies can be super damp. This lens is built for that, which is way safer than using an old vintage lens. It’s lightweight for your pack and plenty sharp for landscapes. I would suggest this over heavier glass just to save your back. Just be careful and test it out before you head to the mountains to make sure everything works right.

I have tried many setups over the years and honestly the safest bet when you're broke is getting the Sigma MC-21 Mount Converter EF-L. I used one with a used Canon EF 17-40mm f4L USM for landscapes. It gives you autofocus and access to tons of cheap EF glass. Its way more reliable than messing with manual focus while you're hiking.

To add to the point above: if you are really worried about that 20-60mm being too soft but still want to keep your pack light, there are a couple of Sigma options that fit the SL2 vibe way better than a basic kit lens.

• Sigma 24mm f3.5 DG DN Contemporary: Seriously, this lens is a sleeper. Its all-metal, super compact, and way sharper than people expect for the price. 24mm is a sweet spot for those mountain overlooks in the Smokies. You can grab this for like $450-500 and still have cash for gas and snacks.
• Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary: If you search the used market, you can definitely find these for around $650. Its significantly lighter than the 24-70mm Art version and way better for hiking all day. I wouldnt sweat the manual focus stuff if youre moving fast between spots. The autofocus on these modern Sigmas is plenty fast for landscapes and street stuff. Ngl, the 24mm is probably your best bet for keeping things light and staying under budget... plus it actually feels like a premium lens which is nice when you're shooting with a Leica body.

Interested in this too

I'm totally with Melvin on those compact Sigma lenses, they're such a good value. This whole dilemma sounds familiar because I ended up picking up a Panasonic Lumix S 14-28mm f/4-5.6 MACRO for my trip to the mountains last year. Being super satisfied with how it handled the wide stuff, I can definitely recommend it. It's way wider than that kit lens and feels much better built. My copy was used for under $600 and it's been my go-to for landscapes since. No complaints about the image quality even on the high res SL2 sensor. Quick tip: Check your firmware before you leave. My AF was a bit wonky until I updated the body, and now it works well. Also, dont be surprised if the physical aperture rings on some third-party glass dont work with the SL2 body, you might have to use the camera dials instead.

Late to the party here but I went through this exact same panic before a trip to Glacier last year. I ended up grabbing the Sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary and it basically saved my back. I was worried about the f2.8 being too slow but honestly for landscapes you are stopping down anyway. A few things I noticed while using it:

• The autofocus is snappy and super reliable which is huge when you are trying to keep up with a group.
• It is weather sealed which gave me peace of mind when it started drizzling on the trail.
• The metal build feels right on a Leica body unlike some of the plastic kit lenses. I would suggest being careful with the aperture ring tho. It moves pretty easily and I accidentally bumped it to f8 a few times without noticing. Make sure to double check your settings before you fire off a shot. You can find these used for like $300 or $350 which leaves you plenty of cash for extra batteries. Its not the widest lens but it forces you to think more about your composition which I kinda liked for street shots too.

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.

TIL! Thanks for sharing

> The Panasonic is cheap and fits the L-mount naturally but I read some other forums where people said the image quality is way too kit lens for such a high-res sensor Tbh, people online overreact about the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f3.5-5.6. It's definitely a kit lens but for hiking in the Smokies, that 20mm wide end is massive for landscapes. If you're really worried about sharpness on that SL2 sensor tho, you should look at the Sigma I-series instead of the Art glass. The Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN Contemporary is way lighter than the Art version and usually fits your budget used. Another solid path is the Panasonic Lumix S 50mm f1.8. It's light, cheap, and surprisingly sharp across the frame. I have used it on high-res bodies and it holds up fine. If you want one lens to do it all on a budget, the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary is usually around $650 used if you hunt for a deal. It's much lighter than the pro 24-70 options and offers better quality than the 20-60. Quick tip: skip the vintage glass for a hiking trip if you arent used to manual focus. The SL2 focus peaking is good but missing shots because you're fumbling with a ring while moving fast is a vibe killer. Stick to the Sigma Contemporary line. They are basically the middle ground you're looking for... decent build, light, and wont break the bank.