I just got my Panasonic S5II yesterday and oh my god I am so excited but also totally overwhelmed right now like I have no idea what I'm doing. I spent forever saving up for this body because everyone said the autofocus is finally good but now I'm looking at lenses and I am completely lost with all these numbers. I need one lens that can basically do everything because I'm going to my sisters wedding in Italy in three weeks and I really dont want to be that person fumbling around with a bag of glass while everyone is trying to eat pasta.
My budget is around $1100 or maybe $1200 max since I blew most of my savings on the camera itself. I was looking at the 20-60mm that comes in the box but then I saw people talking about a 24-105mm and then something about f/2.8 vs f/4? I think the f/2.8 means it's better in the dark but it costs way more and looks really heavy and I dont want my neck to hurt after an hour. My logic was that if I get a lens that zooms more like the 105 one then I wont have to walk around as much which sounds great for a wedding but then I read somewhere that those arent as sharp or something? I dont even know if I would notice if it wasnt sharp to be honest.
I want to take some nice portraits of my family but also some wide shots of the buildings and maybe some video of the ceremony. Is there a goldilocks lens that just stays on the camera all the time and I never have to take it off? I have been looking at these:
- The Panasonic 20-60mm kit lens
- The Sigma 24-70mm Art thingy
- The Panasonic 24-105mm
Someone mentioned a Sigma 28-70 because it's light but then I lose the wide part? I'm so confused. I just want it to look professional without me having to be a professional if that makes sense... I'm really worried about picking the wrong one and missing the big moments.
Caught this thread and wanted to offer a different path. Before you decide, how much of the Italian architecture are you actually trying to fit in one frame? Like, are we talking narrow alleyways or just general scenery? If you can live without the ultra-wide end, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary is a decent option that fits your budget perfectly at roughly $800. It is significantly lighter than the 24-70mm Art and having that f/2.8 aperture is gonna be a lifesaver once the sun goes down at the reception. The 28mm is still wide enough for most groups, and with the money you save, you could honestly pick up a Panasonic LUMIX S 50mm f/1.8 for those professional looking portraits. Having a dedicated portrait lens for the ceremony will look way better than any zoom anyway. Its a solid combo that wont break your back or your bank account.
Just saw this thread and honestly you picked such an amazing camera!! For a wedding in Italy, you definitely want the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. as your main glass. Its the absolute goldilocks lens because the range covers everything from wide architecture to tight portraits. The Dual I.S. system in that lens is incredible when paired with the S5II... it makes your handheld video look insanely smooth. Ngl, people stress about f/2.8 for low light, but the S5II sensor is so clean at high ISO that f/4 is totally fine for a reception. Quick tip: if you need more reach during the ceremony, just toggle the APS-C crop mode on your camera to get an extra 1.5x zoom instantly. It keeps everything looking professional without the massive weight of the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. Youre gonna love the results!
TL;DR: Go with a Sigma zoom. They offer the best technical performance for the price on the L-mount. I spent some time analyzing the MTF charts and resolving power data for the S5II sensor. Sigma zooms are technically impressive and I have been very satisfied with their optical consistency. If you want to see the hard numbers, I recommend checking out sites like LensTip or looking at the white papers on the Sigma website. They do a great job of explaining how their lens designs minimize distortion and chromatic aberration. Going with Sigma is basically the smartest move when you are budget-conscious but still want professional results. Any zoom they make for this system will work well and handle the autofocus requirements of the wedding perfectly. You wont have to worry about the weight either. Just get any Sigma zoom that fits your limit and you will be set for Italy. It is a very methodical way to get the best glass without overspending.
