Man I finally did it and picked up a used SL2-S last week and Im so stoked to start shooting some video with it. I spent way too much on the body though so looking at native Leica glass prices is actually terrifying lol. I need something wide for a short documentary project I'm filming in Seattle next month and I'm really trying to keep this lens under 900 bucks if possible.
So I was thinking about the Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 Contemporary. Its super light which is great for my gimbal work but I'm worried if the focus breathing is gonna ruin my shots since I do a lot of rack focusing in my style. Then there is the Lumix 20-60mm which is honestly dirt cheap and that 20mm wide end is actually pretty decent for what I need but that variable aperture... ugh. f5.6 on the long end is kinda rough for the low light interiors I'll be in.
I also looked at the Sigma 20mm f2 prime because the build quality matches the Leica vibes better but I dont know if I'm brave enough to stick to one focal length for the whole trip. My logic was that the 16-28 gives me the most range for the money but I keep seeing people rave about how the Panasonic lenses actually play nicer with the L-mount autofocus sometimes. I'm totally torn between going for the f2.8 constant or just saving the cash with the Lumix and maybe getting a nice variable ND with the leftover money. What do you guys think for a video-first setup?
Yo! Congrats on the SL2-S, it is an amazing beast for video! Honestly, I went through this exact same panic when I jumped into L-mount. If you are worried about focus breathing and want that speed, I really think you should look at the Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f1.8 L-Mount. It fits your budget perfectly and is fantastic for gimbal work since it is so light. The autofocus is super snappy on the Leica body too. I tried the Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary and while the range is nice, the breathing on the wide end can be a bit much for rack focuses. If you really need a zoom, that Sigma is the best bet under 1k, but that Lumix 18mm prime is just... amazing for those tight Seattle interiors. TL;DR: Skip the variable aperture Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 and grab the Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f1.8 L-Mount. It is faster, sharper, and way better for low light doc work!
To add to the point above:
- Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary: Its 450g weight is fantastic for gimbals!
- Panasonic Lumix S 14-28mm f4-5.6 Macro: Amazing focal range and minimal breathing!
Saw this earlier and honestly the price of glass for that body is a total gut punch. I would suggest being really careful about the weight distribution on your gimbal if you go with a zoom tho. Shifting glass can really stress the motors when youre trying to do smooth pans and it gets annoying to rebalance constantly. Actually, you mentioned Seattle and it just reminded me of a trip I took there back in 2022. The weather was just constant grey mist for like four days straight. I ended up hiding in this tiny bookstore for like three hours just to keep my gear dry. They had this incredible section on local history and I got so sucked into reading about the old underground tunnels that I completely missed the golden hour light I was waiting for. My memory cards were basically empty by the end of the day because I was too busy reading. Anyway lol, sorry kinda went off topic there.
