Honestly so sick of lugging around three different primes for my S5II, it is absolutely killing my back during street shoots. I just want one lens that does it all so I can stop swapping glass in the middle of a crowd. Should I just bite the bullet and grab the Sigma 24-70 or is there something better under 1200 bucks?
Honestly, I used to carry a bag full of glass until I picked up the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Art. The weight distribution on the S5II is spot on for long days. It is razor sharp and the autofocus is finally snappy enough for street work.
- Constant f/2.8 aperture
- Weight is manageable for handheld
- Weather sealing holds up It is basically the only lens I reach for these days. Dont overthink it.
^ This. Also, honestly, I had a pretty frustrating experience with that Sigma zoom. It was tack sharp in the studio, but unfortunately, mine had serious issues with focus breathing during video, and the build just felt a bit too front-heavy for my S5II on long street shoots. I really wanted to love it, but it just wasnt as good as expected for the price. If you want to save some cash and keep your back from aching, look at these instead:
- Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 - super light, great wide angle, and you can usually find them used for peanuts.
- Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary - much smaller and way better for street work than the bulky Art version. Seriously, dont blow your whole budget if you dont have to. That Lumix kit lens is actually a hidden gem for the money.
I had that exact same issue last year. Honestly, I stopped caring about zoom range and just started walking more to get the shot. My back feels way better now.
