What is the best all-around zoom lens for L-mount systems because I am honestly spiraling trying to pick one before my flight to Japan next month? I've got my Lumix S5II ready to go but I'm stuck in this massive loop of indecision and I really need to pull the trigger by the end of the week so I can get some practice in. My budget is pretty firm around $1200, maybe a tiny bit more if I can justify it, but I really just want one 'do it all' lens so I'm not lugging a giant bag through the trains in Tokyo.
I spent all last night reading about the Panasonic 24-105mm f/4 and it seems like the logical choice for travel because of the range and the macro capability which would be cool for food shots, but then I see people on Reddit saying the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art (the new Mark II one) is significantly sharper and better for that shallow depth of field look. I love the idea of f/2.8 for nighttime street photography in Osaka but is 70mm long enough? I feel like I might regret not having that extra reach when I'm trying to compress the background on a busy street or getting details on temples.
Then there is the weight issue... the Sigma is a bit of a brick even though the new version is supposedly lighter, and I'm worried about my wrist after walking 20k steps a day. I also looked at the 28-200mm superzoom because it's so light but I feel like I'm wasting the sensor's potential if I don't get something pro level for this trip. Is the Dual IS on the Panasonic lens actually a dealbreaker for handheld shots or does the Sigma's faster aperture make up for the lack of lens stabilization since the S5II has good IBIS anyway? I'm just totally overthinking everything at this point and I dont want to make an expensive mistake right before the biggest trip of my life...
Honestly I had such high hopes for the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art because everyone raves about the sharpness, but unfortunately it felt like a total brick after just an hour of shooting. I tried it for a local street photography weekend and my wrist was basically toast by Sunday, which is definitely not what you want when youre doing 20k steps a day in Tokyo. I ended up settling for the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. even though I was kinda disappointed by the slower f/4 aperture at first. It just felt like the safer, more reliable bet for a big bucket-list trip like Japan.
- Dual IS is actually a massive deal for the S5II. I thought the IBIS would be enough for the Sigma, but it wasnt as rock-solid as I hoped for handheld shots in the evening.
- The 70mm long end on the Sigma is honestly frustrating. Youll find yourself wanting to zoom in on temple carvings or far-off signs and just... hitting a wall.
- The macro on the 24-105 is fine, but dont expect it to be a true macro lens. Its just okay for close-up food shots. If you really want that f/2.8 look without the weight, maybe check out the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary which is way lighter, but you lose that 24mm wide end. Tbh just grab the 24-105mm. Its the boring choice, but its the one that wont leave you with a sore arm or missed shots because you couldnt zoom in enough. Japan involves way too much walking to be dragging heavy glass around... its just not worth the hassle imo.
