I just got an S5II because I heard it was good for video but honestly I am so lost with all these lens options. I'm going to Japan in like three weeks and I really just want one lens that can stay on the camera the whole time because I dont want to be that guy fumbling with gear in the middle of a busy street. My budget is around a thousand bucks give or take. I saw a 24-105mm one and then a 20-60mm and I'm just confused because the numbers are so similar but people say they do different things? I just want something that can take a nice picture of a building and then maybe zoom in on a cat or something lol. Whats the go-to zoom for people who dont know what they're doing...
Dude, you're gonna have an absolute blast in Japan! The S5II is such a beast for video, you made a killer choice. Honestly, if you only want one lens and don't want to mess around with gear on a crowded street, you 100% want the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S.. It fits your budget and is basically the "Swiss Army knife" of lenses. Heres why it beats the 20-60mm for your trip:
- 105mm gives you way more reach for those cat shots or distant temple details.
- It has built-in stabilization (O.I.S.) which stacks with your S5II for super smooth video.
- The f/4 aperture stays the same when you zoom, so your video wont suddenly get dark.
- It does "macro" for awesome food close-ups! The 20-60mm is okay, but you'll constantly wish you could zoom in more. Get the 24-105mm and dont look back!
