I just picked up an S5II a few weeks ago after finally ditching my old micro four thirds setup and I am honestly kind of overwhelmed by the lens options for the L-mount. I need one solid do-it-all zoom because I am heading to Japan for three weeks in October and I really dont want to be swapping primes while walking around Tokyo with my kids.
I have been looking at a few options but I am torn:
- Panasonic 24-105mm f4 Macro
- Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 Art (the newer Mark II or the old one)
- Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 Contemporary
I read that the Panasonic 24-105 is great because of the dual IS and the extra reach but then some people say f4 is just too slow for moody street shots at night or indoor shrines. Then I look at the Sigma Art and it seems perfect until I see the weight... carrying that for 15 miles a day sounds like a nightmare. The 28-70 is light but I am worried 28mm isnt wide enough for tight city streets. My budget is right around $1200 so I am probably looking at used gear for the more expensive glass.
Does the f2.8 really make that much of a difference for travel or is the extra range and stabilization of the f4 kit more practical for a one-lens setup?
In my experience, you should grab a used Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS. It's a steal. Over the years I've seen these go for around $650, which is well under your budget. The S5II sensor is so clean at high ISO that f4 isnt really an issue for street stuff. Save that extra cash for the trip. Japan is pricey with kids!
Building on the earlier suggestion, that dual IS is basically magic, but be careful with the weight. Carrying the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art all day through Tokyo stations is gonna be rough with kids in tow.
- watch out for front-heavy setups
- check the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary for a lighter alternative I would suggest prioritizing comfort since youre walking so much tho.
I spent three weeks trekking through Shinjuku and Osaka with a heavy setup once, and I totally learned my lesson about weight. I eventually landed on the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary for these kinds of trips. It doesnt have the full weather sealing of the Art line, but its been through light rain and heavy humidity without a single hiccup. The build feels solid enough that I dont baby it. If you really feel like you need that 24mm for the architecture, the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN II Art is a huge step up from the old one. Its way more manageable on an S5II and the constant f2.8 is a lifesaver when youre inside those darker temples or hitting the alleys at night. I found that having the extra light meant I wasnt constantly worried about my shutter speed dropping too low and getting blurry shots of the kids... kind of a big deal when theyre running around. The f4 is a great lens, dont get me wrong, but for me, having that extra stop of light for unpredictable indoor shots was worth the trade-off in reach. Just something to think about before you commit to the extra weight.
Ngl, you're spot on about the dual IS! It is absolutely amazing for handheld work and basically negates the f4 limitation. Love having that extra reach for compression!
Regarding what #4 said about trekking through Shinjuku and Osaka, I have to agree that weight is your biggest enemy when traveling with family. You really dont want to be lugging around heavy glass when you have kids to manage. Make sure to prioritize a balanced setup because fatigue leads to mistakes, and you dont want to drop your new camera gear while navigating those crowded train stations. I would suggest looking into what Sigma offers in their lighter series, as they generally provide a nice balance between optical performance and portability. If you want a more premium feel, you might want to consider just sticking with whatever the high-end standard zooms from Panasonic are, as the native integration with your body is going to be the most reliable option out there. Personally, I tend to be a bit cautious with third-party gear for critical trips, so just get any professional zoom from Panasonic that fits your budget and you really cant go wrong. Be careful with buying used gear online unless you can verify the condition first, as you dont want any mechanical surprises once you arrive in Japan.
Building on the earlier suggestion, I totally get the fatigue struggle. After hauling heavy glass across Europe for years, I realized that chasing the f2.8 aperture isn't always worth the back pain. Honestly, I have been using the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 24-70mm f2.8 for a while and while the sharpness is incredible, I find myself reaching for lighter glass more often lately. If you want to balance weight and performance, here is what worked for me on long trips:
- Try renting the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary for a week before your trip to see if the range hits your sweet spot.
- If you end up needing more width, grabbing a cheap prime like the Panasonic Lumix S 20mm f1.8 is a lifesaver for those tight shrines and really light to toss in a bag.
- Don't discount the dual IS on the S5II. It handles lower light so well that I rarely miss the extra stop of light from an f2.8 zoom, especially when I am shooting at 1/15s in a dark temple. Just focus on having fun with the kids! You'll be way happier with a lighter setup.
Nice, didn't know that
Re: "Regarding what #4 said about trekking through Shinjuku..."
- I agree that weight is your biggest enemy, but honestly, I have had issues with the zoom creep on those lighter lenses over time. Unfortunately, the build quality on the contemporary stuff just is not as good as expected for long-term travel reliability. If you really want to see how these hold up after a few months of abuse, just search around a bit:
- Check the official manufacturer lens roadmap
- Look for long-term user reviews on Reddit
- Watch some YouTube field test videos There is this one video comparing L-mount travel setups that pops up immediately if you search for l-mount zoom comparison, and it basically covers everything you are asking. I'm too tired to re-summarize it all, but you'll figure it out.