honestly i am so fed up with switching lenses every five minutes during my hikes it is driving me crazy and i feel like im gonna miss the shot every time i stop to swap. i bought the 20-60mm kit lens thinking it would be fine for my trip to Iceland in three weeks but the range is just so limiting and the variable aperture is making me anxious about low light performance when we are out chasing the aurora or whatever. my logic was that i could just use primes but carryin a bag full of glass while hiking is a nightmare and my back is already killing me from the last trip.
i have about 1300 dollars saved up and i keep going back and forth on these:
- sigma 24-70mm art (worried about the weight and dust issues)
- lumix 24-105mm f4 (is f4 enough for low light?)
- sigma 28-70mm contemporary (is 28mm wide enough for landscapes?)
i need something that can just stay on the camera 90% of the time because i am losing my mind over here trying to decide. i feel like every time i pick one i find a reason to doubt it and the trip is getting closer and closer. is there any other all-around zoom for the l-mount that actually covers everything without being a brick or am i just stuck with these options...
Just found this thread and honestly, its a tough spot to be in. I had issues with the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art L-Mount during a trek through Moab last year. Even with the supposed weather sealing, fine dust somehow found its way inside the barrel... plus lugging 835g plus the body made my neck hate me by day three. Unfortunately, your current list has some compromises:
- Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f4 Macro OIS is great for the reach, but f4 is not as good as expected when the sun goes down. Youll be cranking ISO way too high for clean aurora shots.
- Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary L-Mount is light at 470g, but 28mm is a major sacrifice for those massive Iceland landscapes. I tried it and kept wishing I had that extra 4mm on the wide end. Maybe look for a used Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f2.8 ASPH. Its built like a tank compared to the others, tho still heavy. Ngl, trying to find one lens that does it all usually ends in disappointment.
Just found this thread and honestly, since you are heading to Iceland in three weeks, you need to prioritize weather sealing and versatility. The aurora concern is real, but remember that for those shots you will be on a tripod. An f/4 lens is actually fine for long exposures, though f/2.8 gives you more wiggle room to keep your ISO lower and shutter speeds shorter to capture movement in the lights.
- The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art is the one you should look at. It is significantly lighter than the original version and they redesigned the internals to fix the dust issues people complained about. It is basically the professional choice that fits your $1300 budget almost exactly.
- If you really want to stop the lens swapping for good, look at the Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S.. It is surprisingly tiny for that much range. While the variable aperture is slow, for daytime hiking and landscape shots where you are stopped down to f/8 or f/11 anyway, it is super convenient. You could pair it with a cheap used prime for the low light nights.
- Regarding the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS you mentioned, it is a workhorse. The extra reach at 105mm is better for landscape compression than a 70mm. f/4 is enough for 90% of situations, and the Dual I.S. with a Lumix body is incredible for handheld shots in dim cathedrals or blue hour. Personally, i would grab the Sigma Art II. It is the best balance of optical quality and modern features without being a total brick in your bag.
Man, i feel that struggle so hard! I once hiked through the PNW and missed a massive eagle because i was mid-swap... never again. Honestly, just go with any constant aperture zoom from the Lumix lineup. Their stabilization is absolutely insane and the tech in their glass is top tier!
- better weather sealing
- killer dual IS
- rock solid build quality Seriously, their native stuff is just built different for hiking.
Man I wish I found this thread sooner. Would have saved me so much hassle.
Re: "Man, i feel that struggle so hard! I..." - totally get where Megan is coming from. I spent a week in the Faroe Islands a while back and basically lived through the same nightmare of trying to swap lenses while my hands were freezing and the wind was howling. I finally gave up and stuck with one zoom for the rest of the trip and was so much more satisfied with the experience. It really lets you actually enjoy the place youre in. Ive bounced between Sigma and Lumix glass for a long time now. Sigma usually wins on that raw sharpness and value, but Lumix glass just feels more rugged in my hands, especially when the weather turns nasty. Both brands are solid, but they definitely have different personalities when you are out in the field. Just to get a better idea of what might work best for you tho, are you planning on using a tripod for those aurora shots or are you trying to do everything handheld? Also, how often do you actually find yourself needing to zoom past 70mm when you are out on these hikes?
