I am so sick of swapping lenses constantly. I picked up the S5II for a trip to Japan next month and I thought the 20-60 kit lens would be enough but honestly the aperture is killing me in low light and the images just look... flat? I dont know how to describe it. Then I looked at the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 cause everyone raves about it but god its so heavy and I dont want to be lugging that around Tokyo all day while also chasing my kids. My logic was that a constant f2.8 would solve my problems but now Im worried about the weight and the autofocus speed. Is the Lumix 24-105 f4 any better? Or is f4 gonna be just as bad as the kit lens when we're inside shrines or restaurants? I've got maybe 1200 bucks to spend and I'm honestly just stressed that I'm gonna pick the wrong one and miss all the good shots. Like, should I just stick to primes? No, that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I just want one lens that stays on the camera 90% of the time. Everything feels like a massive compromise right now and my head is spinning looking at all these spec sheets...
> Is the Lumix 24-105 f4 any better? Or is f4 gonna be just as bad as the kit lens when we're inside shrines or restaurants? The Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS is a massive upgrade over the kit lens tbh. Constant f/4 isnt nearly as restrictive as the variable aperture on the kit lens because the S5II handles high ISO like a champ. You can easily push to ISO 6400 in a dark temple and the images will still look clean. Plus, having that reach to 105mm is great for detail shots you cant get otherwise. If you're still dead set on f/2.8 but the Art lens is too heavy, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary is basically the answer. It is way lighter and smaller, making it perfect for travel. You lose the 24mm wide end, but it fits your budget and wont weigh you down. Honestly, the 24-105 is the better one lens choice for Japan tho just because of the range.
