so I finally grabbed an L-mount body a couple weeks ago and now Im completely stuck on glass. I shoot mostly street stuff and the occasional family trip around Chicago, so I really need something versatile that wont kill my back. Ive been reading forums and reviews non-stop for like five days. I saw a bunch of people recommending the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 Art because its sharp and reasonably priced compared to the Leica version, but then other threads say the autofocus can be finicky or the lens is just too damn heavy for all-day walking. Then I looked at the Panasonic 24-105mm f4 since I get that extra reach and macro-ish capabilities, but Im kinda worried f4 wont be enough for low light when the Chicago winters kick in and the sun sets at 4 PM. My budget is around 1k to 1.5k max, and I need to figure this out before a trip next month. Anyone actually use these day-to-day for walking around and can tell me if the weight is really that bad?
Congrats on the L-mount setup! In my experience walking around the city all day, the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art is manageable if you use a good strap, but honestly, that f4 concern for Chicago winters is totally valid. If weight is your main enemy, check out the Panasonic 28-200mm f4-9 MACRO O.I.S. instead. It is surprisingly tiny and saves your back completely.
man I feel your pain on the weight issue. grabbed the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art for my setup last year and honestly had issues with wrist fatigue after just a few hours wandering downtown. winter darkness is brutal here too so f4 is risky. ended up switching to a lighter prime setup to save some cash and my back. def check out used deals on mpb if you wanna stay under budget.
Quick reply while im waiting for my coffee to brew. Honestly glass weight is a whole journey and everyone learns the hard way. I remember back in 2018 taking a massive setup on a trip to Italy thinking id muscle through it. Worst mistake ever. My neck hurt for three days straight just from carrying heavy gear around old cobblestone streets.
- packing too heavy kills vacations
- lighter gear means you actually take photos instead of leaving the camera in the bag
- coffee shops are the best places for gear research ngl anyway lol totally forgot what thread i was even replying to for a second there, sorry kinda went off topic with the italy story