Whats the best all-around zoom lens for the Panasonic S5II that i can just leave on the body for a whole trip? Im finally pulling the trigger on a new setup before I head to Japan next month but im super stuck on the glass choice. I looked into the 20-60mm kit lens and honestly the 20mm wide end seems amazing for narrow city streets in Tokyo, but that aperture drop at the long end kinda scares me for nighttime shots or getting any decent bokeh. Then everyone online says to just buy the Sigma 24-70mm Art because the image quality is insane, but i went to a shop to hold it and man that thing is a total brick. Im worried itll make the S5II feel way too front-heavy for walking around 10 miles a day.
Im looking for a few specific things:
- solid low light performance for dinner shots
- fast autofocus for handheld video
- something that wont break my neck after 8 hours of walking
Is there a middle ground I'm missing? I have about $1200 max to spend and i really want something that handles the phase detect autofocus well since I do a lot of travel vlogging. Should I just suck it up and get the heavy Sigma or is there a Lumix S lens that makes more sense for a single lens setup? I really just want to avoid carrying a bag full of primes through crowded subways if i can help it...
To add to the point above: I really wanted to love the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f4 Macro OIS for travel but the low light performance was honestly a letdown for dinner shots. Unfortunately, the fast native zooms are just way over budget. Maybe hunt for a used Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN II Art? Its lighter than the original, tho it might still push your $1200 limit. It's a tough compromise for sure...
I absolutely love the technical improvements in the new Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN II Art! I recently upgraded to this because the original version was such a heavy brick.
- It is roughly 10 percent lighter than the mark one.
- The new linear motor is incredibly fast for video AF.
- It hits right at your $1200 budget limit. Honestly, that constant f2.8 is a total lifesaver for dim Tokyo izakayas! I really wouldnt carry anything else.
Honestly, you're hitting the classic L-mount dilemma. If the Art version felt like a brick, the middle ground is definitely the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary. It weighs about 470g compared to the 835g of the Art, which is a massive difference when walking 10 miles a day. You keep that constant f/2.8 aperture for low light, which performs much better at the long end than the kit lens. I've found the weight reduction on the Contemporary line to be a total lifesaver during long travel days. The AF motors handle the S5II phase detection perfectly for vlogging. If you prefer more reach, the Lumix S 24-105mm f4 Macro OIS is another solid choice because of the Dual I.S. 2 support. For your $1200 budget, the Sigma is likely the best balance of weight and speed.
