So I'm leaving for Tokyo in literally ten days and I still havent picked my main lens for my S5II. I'm torn between the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art and the Panasonic 24-105mm f4.
The Sigma looks amazing for low light at night but man it looks heavy to carry all day. The Lumix 24-105 has that extra reach which would be great for street stuff but f4 scares me for indoor shots. My budget is capped at like 1100 bucks so I might have to buy used. I need something that can handle basically everything because I dont want to swap lenses while traveling. Which one would you guys grab for a one-lens setup?
I definitely agree the 24-105 is solid. But if you really need f2.8 for night shots without the weight of the Art series, look at the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary.
- It weighs only 470g. Light. Your neck wont kill you in Shibuya.
- You can grab it new for about 800 bucks, way under your cap.
- Technical trade-off is losing that 24mm wide end, but for portability, its a steal.
Honestly, Ive spent plenty of time wandering Tokyo and the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f4 Macro O.I.S. is basically glued to my camera most of the time. Youll probably worry about f4 for the night shots, but since youre on an S5II, the Dual IS is basically magic. You can handhold slow shutters way easier than you think... Heres why I think its the better play for this trip:
- That extra reach to 105mm is huge for framing narrow alleys or getting shots of the Skytree from further away. 70mm always feels just a bit too short for street stuff imo.
- Weight is the real dealbreaker. Carrying the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art for 25k steps a day is no joke. I tried it once and honestly my neck was screaming by day three.
- The macro capability on the Lumix is a hidden gem for food photos or cool details at shrines. Im super satisfied with how the 24-105 handles everything. Modern sensors handle high ISO so well that the f4 thing isnt the death sentence it used to be. Plus if you buy used, youll have plenty of cash left over for ramen and beer. If you really want that bokeh later maybe grab a tiny prime, but for a one-lens setup, the Lumix wins every time tho.
> The Sigma looks amazing for low light at night but man it looks heavy to carry all day. Unfortunately, that original Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art is a total brick. I had issues with dust sealing on mine and the weight is just miserable for travel. Honestly, if you want quality without the bulk, look for a used Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN II Art instead. its way lighter and handles much better on the S5II. dont settle for the old one.
Just found this thread and wanted to clarify one detail. Are you intending to utilize the S5II for a significant amount of video content, or is your workflow strictly focused on still photography? Reliability in autofocus tracking and transition speed is quite variable between those two optics. On a side note, Tokyo always reminds me of the specific architecture in the Ginza district. I spent an afternoon there once just analyzing the structural integrity of those narrow buildings. It is fascinating how they maximize vertical space in such high-density urban environments. I actually ended up talking to a local contractor for an hour about the seismic dampening systems they use in the newer towers. The engineering required to keep those structures stable during a tremor is truly impressive when you look at the schematics and how the load-bearing joints are designed for flexibility... Anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there. Let me know about the video requirements tho.
