I just grabbed the S5II and I'm freaking out a bit because I'm heading to Japan in literally four days and I still dont have my main lens situation sorted. I have the 20-60mm kit but it just doesnt have enough reach for what I need. I've been reading up on the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 and it seems like the gold standard but honestly it looks massive and I'm worried about lugging that thing through Tokyo for 10 miles a day. Then I saw the Lumix 24-105mm f4 which has great reviews for the dual IS but is f4 gonna kill me for night street photography? I really need something that can do it all because I dont want to be swapping glass in the middle of a crowded street.
Here is what I'm looking for:
- Budget is around $1000 to $1200 max
- Must be good for both video and stills since I vlog a bit
- Needs to be relatively weather sealed for the rainy season
- Weight is a huge factor since I'm traveling light
Should I just bite the bullet and get the Sigma or is there something else I'm missing that works better with the S5II's phase detect? I heard the older lenses might have some weirdness with the new autofocus system but I'm not sure if that's just people being picky... help me out.
I've tried many setups over the years and honestly you dont need to worry about f4 for Tokyo nights since the S5II sensor is a beast. If you want light but fast, try these:
- Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary is way lighter than the Art and fits your budget.
- Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f4 Macro OIS for the reach and Dual IS which is killer for vlogging. The 28-70 is like half the weight of the big one... game changer for walking 10 miles.
Re: "I have spent a significant amount of time..."
- Unfortunately, most travel zooms are not as good as expected for the S5II.
- Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f4-7.1 MACRO OIS: Its basically the best range you can get, tho the slow aperture is quite disappointing for video work.
- Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN II Art: Lighter than the v1, but itll probably blow your budget. I had issues with heavy gear in Tokyo... just stay light.
@KevinLof - good point! Honestly though, if you are really worried about the weight for walking around Japan, forget the heavy 24-70s. I have taken the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary on several trips and it is a total lifesaver. It is sharp enough for vlogging and the f2.8 aperture is way better for those neon-lit streets than the f4 lenses. I get why people suggest the 24-105mm, but f4 for video in Tokyo at night is gonna result in some grainy footage unless you crank the ISO way up. The Sigma is just so compact that you can actually carry it all day without your shoulder giving out. Just keep the kit lens in your bag for those wide architectural shots if you need to go wider than 28mm. Have a blast in Japan, it is an amazing place to shoot!
tl;dr - the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art v1 is the best value play for your budget, but keep an eye on the weight and dust issues. Adding my two cents because I went through this exact panic before a trip to Osaka last year. I ended up lugging a heavy setup and honestly, by the time I hit Shinjuku on day three, I was ready to chuck it all in the trash. My shoulder was totally wrecked. If you do go for the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art, just be careful with older used copies. Some early batches had sealing issues where dust would get behind the front element... definitely not what you want if you hit the rainy season. Quick tip: Get yourself a Peak Design Slide strap. It makes a massive difference when you are pulling 20k steps a day with a heavy L-mount kit. If you can stretch the budget or find one used, the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 24-70mm F2.8 is a beast for reliability. The focus clutch is a dream for vlogging when you need to swap to manual fast. Japan has amazing used camera shops like Map Camera, so you might even find a deal once you land!
I have spent a significant amount of time testing various zooms for the S5II, and unfortunately, the reality of a perfect travel lens is often quite disappointing. I had issues with several high-end options being far too cumbersome for a ten-mile walking day, and the handling honestly was not as good as expected when trying to vlog on the move. You are right to worry about the weight because a heavy setup will ruin your trip faster than a slow aperture will, especially in a place as dense as Tokyo. To give you a better recommendation, I need to know a bit more about your priorities. Are you planning on doing mostly handheld night shots, or will you have a small tripod for those low-light street scenes? Also, is the extra reach at the long end more important to you than having a compact setup for crowded trains?
Can vouch for this
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Building on the earlier suggestion, honestly its ridiculous that we even have to deal with this dilemma. The camera companies have basically backed us into a corner where you either spend a fortune for a brick or settle for something that struggles the second the sun goes down. It drives me crazy how the perfect travel lens doesnt actually exist because manufacturers are more focused on profit margins than actual usability for people who travel light. You look at the prices for some of these zooms and it is a total scam considering how many compromises we are forced to make. It is incredibly frustrating to have a high-end body like the S5II and still feel like you are missing out because the glass options are either too heavy, too slow, or just plain overpriced. The whole situation is just exhausting and honestly it feels like the industry is just letting us down. You spend months saving for a trip and then spend the last week stressed out because the gear market is such a mess right now. Just a total headache for anyone trying to stay mobile.
