So I've been shooting with the S5II for about six months now and mostly sticking to the 35mm and 50mm primes but I am honestly getting so tired of swapping lenses every five minutes when I'm out walking around. I've got this trip to Tokyo and Kyoto coming up in late October—finally—and I really want to just have one solid zoom lens glued to my camera for like 90% of the time. I'm trying to figure out which all-around zoom is actually worth the money for the L-mount system because there are a few really good options but they all have these annoying trade-offs.
Right now I'm mostly stuck between the new Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art Mark II and the Lumix 24-105mm f/4. I know the Sigma is faster and supposedly sharper but that extra reach on the 105mm for street stuff seems so useful for those tighter shots of temples or whatever. Plus the 24-105 has the Dual IS which people say is like magic on the Lumix bodies. On the other hand I'm also looking at the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 Contemporary just because it's so small and light. My budget is around 1200 bucks but I could go higher if the Art lens is really that much better for a trip like this.
Weight is kind of a big deal since I'll be walking like 15 miles a day but I dont want to sacrifice image quality if the 28-70 is noticeably softer. Im mostly shooting street scenes, food in dimly lit restaurants, and some landscape stuff if we head out to the mountains. I'm worried the f/4 might be too slow for the night markets but is the 24-70 Art too heavy to lug around for two weeks straight? If you had to pick one lens to keep on your camera for a whole trip without wanting to throw it in a river halfway through, which one are you grabbing?
I spent two weeks trekking through Osaka last year and honestly, by day three I was ready to leave my heavy kit in the hotel safe. You might want to consider the weight trade-offs carefully before committing to the heavy glass for a trip where youre walking 15 miles. I learned that lesson the hard way.
- Be careful with the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II. It is incredibly sharp, but lugging that much weight through Kyoto crowds is just exhausting after a few hours.
- I would suggest looking at the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. It is around 800 bucks and the weight savings are basically life-changing for long travel days.
- Make sure to keep in mind that f/4 on the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. might struggle in those tight, dark alleys in Shinjuku at night. I personally grabbed the 28-70mm for my last trip and barely felt it tho... the slight loss at the wide end is worth the comfort.
Quick question tho... are you planning to do much handheld video or strictly stills? Like someone mentioned, weight is a huge factor. I would suggest you be careful before dropping a grand on heavy glass for a 15-mile-a-day trip.
- Check out the Panasonic LUMIX S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 Macro O.I.S.. Its way lighter and covers everything for a travel setup.
- Make sure to buy used to keep it way under your budget. Dont overcomplicate it with heavy f/2.8 lenses you might hate carrying by day three.
Saw your post and honestly, I've been in your shoes. Over the years, I've hauled way too much gear through Kyoto and eventually learned that that 24mm wide end is basically non-negotiable for those tight streets and massive temple gates. You should really look at the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art. They actually shaved a lot of weight off this newer version compared to the original, making it much more manageable for those 15-mile days you're planning. The f/4 on the 105mm is tempting for the reach, but in my experience, you'll really miss that extra stop of light once you hit the night markets or dim ramen shops. The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary is tiny and light, sure, but you lose that weather sealing. Tokyo rain is no joke in late October and you dont want to be hiding your camera every time it sprinkles. TL;DR: The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art is the sweet spot for quality and speed. It's the one lens that won't make you miss your primes.
