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?
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.
