What is the best all-around zoom lens for the Lumix S5II?

Question

im honestly fed up with this 20-60mm kit lens, it keeps hunting for focus during my travel shoots and the low light is garbage. I have a 1200 dollar budget and need a replacement before my trip to Japan next week. What is the best all-around zoom lens for the Lumix S5II?

DavidAlasy · Accepted Answer

> im honestly fed up with this 20-60mm kit lens, it keeps hunting for focus during my travel shoots and the low light is garbage. Just saw this thread and felt the need to chime in. The exact same struggle happened to me when I first jumped into the L-mount system. Honestly, carrying glass that fails you when the sun goes down is the worst feeling, especially when youre somewhere like Japan with all those neon lights and dark alleys. Being careful with weight is huge tho. Heavy glass seems cool until your back regrets it after a week of walking 20k steps a day in Tokyo. Maybe look at the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary for L-Mount. Switching to this from the kit lens made the difference in autofocus speed on the S5II feel like night and day. Since it has that constant f/2.8 aperture, you dont have to worry about exposure shifting during zooming. That shift is basically why your current lens keeps hunting in the dark. Few things to keep in mind:Its way lighter than the Art series, so your neck wont hate you by day three.The price usually leaves you with about 400 bucks leftover from your budget for sushi.Make sure to update the firmware as soon as you get it for the best AF performance. If you really need 24mm it might not be wide enough, but for a general travel zoom that actually hits focus, its the most practical move imo. Just make sure to test it before your flight... nothing worse than finding a defect once youre already in Kyoto.

Grolsnovor · Answer

Honestly, that kit lens is a total letdown and its frustrating how much it hunts. I had constant issues with it during my last trip and it simply isnt as good as expected for a pro-level body like the S5II. If youre heading to Japan next week, you need the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art L-Mount. It fits your budget perfectly and is basically the best all-arounder for the L-mount system right now. Quick tip: dont even bother looking at the f/4 zooms like the 24-105mm. They wont solve your low light complaints and youll just end up frustrated again when the sun goes down in Tokyo. The Sigma is a bit heavy but the constant f/2.8 aperture is mandatory if you want sharp, clean shots. Just grab that and dont look back.

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What is the best all-around zoom lens for the Lumix S5II?