I grabbed a used Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. for my Tokyo trip and it was amazing!

• better reach
• awesome macro The extra weight is totally worth it!

Saw your post and honestly, been super happy with my S5II setup for travel. If you are worried about the weight of the 24-105 but want better low light performance than the kit lens, you should definitely check out the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary for L-Mount. It basically hits the sweet spot for a Tokyo trip where you are walking 20k steps a day. I have used it for a while now and honestly have no complaints about the optical quality or the autofocus speed on the new phase detect system. Here is why it works well for your $800 budget:

• Weight: It only weighs about 470g. That is significantly lighter than the 24-105, making it very easy to carry around Shinjuku all night without your neck hurting.
• Constant Aperture: Having that f/2.8 is a life saver when the sun goes down. The kit lens starts hitting f/5.6 pretty fast which forces your ISO way up in those narrow alleys.
• Size: It is barely larger than the 20-60mm kit lens but the build quality feels much more professional and sturdy.
• Cost: You can usually find these brand new for around $799, which fits your budget perfectly. While you lose that 20mm ultra-wide end, the 28-70mm range covers almost everything you will actually shoot in a city environment. The bokeh at 70mm f/2.8 is actually quite nice for street portraits too. It is a very methodical choice if you want to keep the kit light without sacrificing that fast glass feel.

Building on the earlier suggestion, I am honestly in the exact same boat as you right now. I have been obsessing over this for like two months and still cant pull the trigger because I am so worried about making the wrong choice for a long trip.

• I really need something that is gonna be 100 percent reliable since I dont want gear issues when I am away.
• Every time I think I have the weight figured out I start worrying about missing the reach.
• My budget is basically identical to yours so it feels like every option is a massive compromise. It is super frustrating that there isnt just one clear safe choice that everyone agrees on. I am just as lost as you are tbh and it is making me so stressed about my upcoming flight.

^ This. Also, while the weight discussion is valid, I think we might be skipping over some technical realities of the L-mount alliance. Native Panasonic glass usually offers better communication with the S5II body compared to third-party brands, especially regarding the stabilization systems. Before you commit, its worth considering a few points:

• Are you planning to shoot a lot of handheld video where the Dual IS system becomes more critical?
• How much do you value the linear focus response found in the native Panasonic zooms for manual focus? Ive found that third-party lenses often trade off that perfect stabilization sync for a faster aperture or lower price point. It really comes down to whether you prioritize the lens speed of a brand like Sigma or the seamless integration of the Panasonic ecosystem.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Youre a lifesaver honestly.