Jumping in here because I went through this exact same headache last year. Too much money went into the body and there was basically no cash left for glass. Honestly... trying to make the Panasonic LUMIX S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 work for sports was a total letdown. Unfortunately, you just cant get close enough from the sidelines and my kids looked like tiny ants in every shot. There were constant issues with the focus speed too when they were running fast. Scouring the used markets for weeks was the only way I survived. Eventually found a used Panasonic LUMIX S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. which was better for travel, but still kinda struggled at the long end for soccer. Hunting down a used Panasonic LUMIX S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S. for around 700 bucks might be your only real shot for those games. It's tough when the budget doesn't match the goal, ngl.

Jumping in here because I've been really satisfied with the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. for exactly what you're doing. It's a solid piece of glass that stays on my camera 90% of the time. While 105mm is a bit short for the far end of a soccer field, it's basically the best middle-ground you'll find for under 700 bucks if you buy used. A couple quick tips for the S5II setup:

• Map the APS-C Crop function to a custom button. This gives you a 1.5x reach boost, making that 105mm act like a 157mm lens.
• Shop the used market. You can find copies in great condition for around 600 or 650 pretty easily. It works well for travel because the stabilization is incredible, so you wont need a tripod for most shots. No complaints from me on the image quality, it just works.

Ngl I am basically in the exact same spot right now. Spent way too much on the S5II body and now I am staring at my bank account wondering how to get good shots of my kids without going broke... it is a struggle for sure. I have been looking at two paths for that reliability:

• Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary: This is super compact and I am happy with how Sigma builds stuff, but the reach is kinda meh for soccer sideline shots.
• Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S.: This is the one I am eyeing for safety. The AF is usually more reliable when you stay native, plus that 200mm range actually gets you to the other side of the field. Just glad I am not the only one feeling lost with all these numbers tho... let us know what you end up with.

Ngl I am in the exact same boat and it has been driving me nuts for about a month now. I spent a huge chunk of my budget on the S5II body thinking the phase detect would solve everything for my kids games, but finding a zoom that actually has the reach and aperture I need for under 700 bucks is honestly proving impossible. It is so frustrating because you look at the technical specs of these lenses and anything with a decent constant aperture just blows past that budget immediately... I still havent found a single thing that works for me either. We are basically stuck in this weird limbo where the gear we want costs twice what we have left.

Regarding what #6 said about "Ngl I am in the exact same boat...", it is honestly such a letdown how expensive these zooms get once you need real reach. I have spent way too much time analyzing MTF charts and pixel-peeping, and unfortunately, the cheaper glass just doesnt have the light-gathering power I expected for the S5II. If you want to actually see your kids on a soccer field without spending two grand, you have a few specific paths for under 700 bucks (check the used market for these prices):

• Panasonic LUMIX S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S.
• This is probably your best bet for a single do-everything lens. It is incredibly compact for the range, but that f/7.1 aperture at 200mm is a major technical drawback. You will be pushing your sensor pretty hard if the sun starts going down during a game.
• Panasonic LUMIX S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S.
• I have seen these go for 650 used. The 300mm reach is much better for sports than a standard zoom, and the stabilization is top tier.
• Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
• If the soccer games are the main priority, this has the best reach for the price. It is definitely heavier tho, so it kinda sucks for casual travel unless you have a dedicated bag. Honestly, it is a struggle to find a fast lens in this price range. Most people dont realize how much light you lose once you go past f/5.6, but for 700 bucks, these are basically your only reliable options.

Honestly, just go with Sigma! Their stuff is absolutely amazing and works perfectly with the S5II focus system. I love how they build their glass. It feels so much more solid than some of the generic options and you honestly cant beat the value for money right now.

• Just get any telephoto zoom from their Contemporary line
• Make sure it is specifically the L-mount version
• Look for used deals to stay under that 700 budget You really gotta be careful with compatibility tho. Double check that it says L-mount on the box before you buy! I have seen people accidentally order the Sony version and it is a total nightmare when it doesnt fit your camera. But once you get a Sigma on there, the speed is fantastic for sports!

Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.

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I'd basically just stick with what Panasonic makes for their own system. Their mid-range zooms are decent options for travel since they arent too heavy. Sigma is the other big choice for L-mount and usually works well if you want something a bit more rugged for sports. Stick to those two and you wont have any issues staying under budget.