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 #5 said about comparing the rendering between the Panasonic and Sigma options... i've been pretty let down by those lately too. Unfortunately, the budget Lumix primes are just way too clinical and lack the micro-contrast you'd expect for a Leica sensor. It's a bit of a bummer to put a plastic-heavy lens on such a premium body. If you want that look without spending thousands, you gotta go the DIY route with manual glass. The SL2-S has a killer EVF that makes manual focus super easy anyway.

• Pick up a TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH for L-mount. It's all metal and glass, costs almost nothing, and the rendering is actually pretty Leica-like with much better transitions than the cheap AF stuff.
• Check out the 7Artisans 35mm f/2.0 for L-mount. It's tiny, fits the street photography vibe for Chicago perfectly, and avoids the heavy software corrections you see in the budget Panasonic glass. I had issues with the focus-by-wire on the cheaper L-mount options... it just feels disconnected and laggy. Using a real mechanical focus ring on that body feels way more authentic. Plus you'll actually have money left over for a decent meal in the city.

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.

Can confirm