I'm honestly about to lose it trying to pick a lens for this s5ii. I just upgraded from m43 and everything is so much bigger and more expensive than I thought it would be. I have a trip to Japan in three weeks and I'm stuck between the Panasonic 24-105mm f4 and that Sigma 24-70mm f2.8.
The panny has that extra reach and macro which seems great for food shots but the sigma is faster and I'm worried about low light in Tokyo at night. My budget is capped at 1100 bucks so the sigma is a stretch. I just need one lens that can do it all so I'm not swapping stuff in the rain. Which one is actually the better all-rounder for street and travel video?
Yo, congrats on the S5II! Honestly, since you're coming from m43, be careful with the weight of that Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. Its a total tank and if youre walking around Tokyo all day, your neck is gonna hate you. I would suggest sticking with the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. instead because it feels safer for a one-lens trip.
- The Dual IS 2 stabilization is basically a cheat code for handheld video.
- That extra reach to 105mm helps a ton when you're stuck behind crowds.
- Native weather sealing means you wont be panicking every time it drizzles. Make sure to look at some weight comparisons before you buy. Low light isnt that scary on full frame tho, the S5II sensor handles high ISO like a champ. You might want to consider saving the extra cash for more travel snacks... Japan is expensive!
In my experience, Ive found the Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f4-7.1 MACRO OIS perfect for travel.
- Super light
- Fits your budget Honestly, nothing beats it for wandering Tokyo.
Building on the earlier suggestion, I actually think you should consider a completely different strategy to stay under budget while still getting amazing results! While a single zoom sounds convenient, I disagree that it is the most reliable way to handle those Tokyo nights. I honestly think you would be much better off with a two-lens setup like the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 paired with the Panasonic Lumix S 50mm f1.8. This combo is fantastic for travel for a few specific reasons:
- The 20mm focal length on the zoom is amazing for those tight Japanese streets and massive temples where 24mm feels cramped.
- Both lenses are fully weather-sealed to match your S5II, so shooting in the rain is totally fine and wont damage your gear.
- Switching to the 50mm f1.8 at night gives you significantly better low light performance than any f2.8 zoom can offer. Since you are coming from m43, this setup will feel much more natural because the weight is spread out. You get the wide-angle flexibility for daytime and a dedicated low-light monster for the evening without breaking your budget tho... It is basically the best way to handle the variety of shots you are gonna see in Japan.
I went through this exact same headache before a trip to Kyoto. Carrying a heavy Art zoom felt like lugging a brick after two hours, so I tried the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary. Its a lifesaver.
- Fits in a small sling
- f2.8 handles neon Shinjuku streets easily
- Way under your budget tho The 28mm is a bit tight but worth the weight savings imo.
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