I just picked up an S5II for a trip to Japan next month and I'm stressing about which zoom to bring. I've been looking at the 20-60mm kit lens since it's cheap and light but I'm worried it won't have enough reach for street stuff.
I also saw people raving about the 24-105mm f4 because of the constant aperture and extra zoom, but then I read it's kinda bulky for all-day walking. My budget is about a thousand bucks and I really just want one lens that stays on the camera the whole time. Should I go for the 24-105 or is there a better third-party option like Sigma that I'm missing?
Unfortunately, the 24-105mm is a disappointment for travel because of the weight-to-range ratio. Its just too bulky for all day walking. Since you want to stay under a grand, the Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. is a better bet.
- Weighs only 413g
- Decent 0.5x macro ability The f/7.1 at the long end is kinda weak tho. Still, it saves cash and fits the one-lens requirement perfectly.
Unfortunately, the 24-105mm was not as good as expected for travel because of its weight.
- Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary It is lighter, cheaper, and handles street photography better.
> My budget is about a thousand bucks and I really just want one lens that stays on the camera the whole time. In my experience, going cheap on your primary travel lens is a mistake you only make once. I spent years trying to juggle three different primes to save weight, only to miss a gorgeous shot of a temple in Kyoto because I was fumbling with my bag. Safety and reliability are everything when youre thousands of miles from home. Having a lens you can trust is worth the extra weight. Ive tried many zooms, but the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art is what I always come back to for the L-mount. Its built like a tank, which gives me peace of mind if I get caught in a drizzle. That constant f2.8 is non-negotiable for street stuff at night in places like Shinjuku. You can find the original version for right around $900-1000 these days since the new version came out.
- 24mm is way better for tight alleyways than 28mm
- Weather sealing is actually legit
- Tack sharp even wide open Its definitely heavier than the 20-60, but Id rather carry an extra pound than regret a blurry photo because the aperture was too slow. Ngl the peace of mind is worth the shoulder ache tho...
Adding my two cents here, but honestly picking a travel lens is such a headache. I went through like five different setups before I found what worked for me, and when youre traveling, reliability is basically everything since you cant just pop back home if something goes wrong. I actually saw a really solid breakdown of all the current L-mount zooms on YouTube recently that covers exactly what youre asking. Just search for s5ii travel lens shootout and it should be one of the top results... I think it was from a guy who actually dragged them all across Japan for a month. It really helped me decide because seeing the actual size comparison on the Panasonic Lumix S5II matters way more than just looking at the weight in grams on a spec sheet. Honestly just check some of the Reddit threads too, people there are usually pretty blunt about what holds up and what feels cheap.
