Honestly, seeing someone blow their life savings on an SL2-S is probably the most Leica owner thing ever lol. Dont stress too much about the magic right now because the sensor in that beast is so good itll make most L-mount glass look stellar anyway. If you are hitting Chicago next week and only got 700 bucks, you gotta be careful not to end up with a lens that feels like a plasticky toy on such a heavy body. I would suggest looking at these two specifically:

• Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount
• This is basically my favorite cheap L-mount lens. It has an aperture ring which feels very Leica-esque and the rendering is actually quite unique, not just clinical. Its tiny too.
• Panasonic Lumix S 50mm f/1.8 L-mount
• If you need that f/1.8 for low light stuff in the city at night, this is the one. Sharpness is actually incredible for the price point, tho it feels a bit hollow being mostly plastic. Make sure to check the used market because you might even find a Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount under budget if you get lucky... tho a prime is probably safer for the price. Be careful with older Sigma ART lenses tho, they are heavy as lead and might make the camera feel totally unbalanced without a grip. Youll definitely want something nimble for walking around the Loop... just my two cents anyway. Enjoy the trip, Chicago is a total heater for street photography.

Quick reply while I have a sec. You might wanna consider the Panasonic Lumix S 24mm f/1.8 for those wide street shots, but be careful with the linear focus ring settings in the menu. If you need more range, the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 is surprisingly sharp for a kit lens. I would suggest checking the official L-Mount lens database for MTF charts before you spend that last $700 tho.

Building on the earlier suggestion, I actually disagree a bit about sticking to the usual AF glass for this. In my experience, when youre shooting an SL2-S, putting a light plastic lens on it just feels wrong. Over the years, I've tried many combinations and you really don't need to spend that full $700 to get great results.

• Just go with any of the manual glass from the newer Chinese brands
• Pick up a cheap adapter for old rangefinder lenses
• Spend that extra money on a good pair of walking shoes for Chicago You honestly cant go wrong with any of the all-metal primes from brands like TTArtisan or 7Artisans. They have that weight and tactile feel that matches the Leica body way better than a kit lens. It might be manual focus, but the focus peaking on that camera is so good it wont even matter. Just grab a couple of their faster options and you'll have more fun anyway...

Seconded!

Regarding what #4 said about Seconded!

• I have the exact same issue. I have been dealing with this specific budget lens crisis for months now and I still havent found a good answer. It is honestly so frustrating because I am totally satisfied with the Leica SL2-S body itself, but finding glass that does it justice without breaking the bank is a total mess.
• I have spent weeks comparing the rendering between the Panasonic and Sigma options
• Every time I think I found a cheap lens, I worry it wont have the right micro-contrast
• Most of the affordable stuff just doesnt seem to balance well on such a heavy camera Honestly I am just as stuck as you are... I have been looking since before my last big trip and I am still no closer to a decision. It feels like every time I save a little more, the prices of the native glass just jump even higher.