I finally pulled the trigger on the S5II last week and I'm honestly kind of panicking because I have this huge trip to Kyoto coming up in literally twenty days and I still haven't picked a main lens. I spent all my savings on the body so my budget for glass is capped at maybe $1100 tops. I keep reading that the Lumix 20-60mm is the logical choice because it's tiny but then I see people saying the constant f/2.8 on the Sigma 24-70mm is mandatory if I'm doing any night shots in the city.
But the Sigma looks huge? Like I don't want to be lugging a brick around for 10 miles a day. Then there's that new 28-200mm travel zoom which sounds perfect for the range but I'm worried the aperture is gonna be a total disaster once the sun goes down or if I'm inside a temple where it's dim. I'm just paralyzed by all the options and I don't want to regret my choice while I'm halfway across the world. Is there like a middle ground that has decent reach but won't break my neck or should I just suck it up and get the heavy f2.8 lens...
Saw this earlier but just getting back to you. Like someone mentioned, you really want that f2.8 for Japan. I ended up getting the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary for L-Mount and honestly im so happy with it. Its way lighter than that 24-70 brick but you still get the fast aperture for temples. It feels like the safest middle ground for a long trip where you dont wanna be miserable lugging gear.
To add to the point above: > I'm just paralyzed by all the options and I don't want to regret my choice while I'm halfway across the world. Totally get the stress... i went through this exact same panic before my last big trip. I actually started with the kit lens but found myself wanting more reach and better build. If youre worried about weight but need more versatility than the 20-60, the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. is a really decent middle ground. It usually sells for about $1,100 or less so it hits your budget. The f4 aperture sounds slow on paper, but honestly the stabilization on the S5II is so good that I could hand-hold shots inside darker shrines without much noise. It gives you that extra reach for architectural details which is huge in Kyoto. It is definitely heavier than the tiny kit lens, but nowhere near as bulky as those f2.8 zooms. Just throwing it out there as a solid choice that covers most bases without breaking your back.
Honestly I think that constant aperture zoom works well for Kyoto. IIRC the transmission data is solid and im satisfied with the balance on that body.
