Honestly, im just so fed up with my current gear setup right now. I bought into the L-mount system thinking it would be this seamless, professional experience, but my wallet is screaming. I picked up a Lumix S5II a couple months ago for my freelance wedding work here in Chicago, and while the camera is fine, the glass is killing me. I tried to stick to the native pro stuff, but the prices are just insane? I cant justify dropping two grand on a single zoom lens when my bookings are starting to slow down for the winter. It just feels like everything is either cheap plastic that doesnt focus right or a mortgage payment. I tried a third-party option last week and the focus hunting made me miss half the shots during a rehearsal, and i honestly almost threw the thing across the room. Im sitting here with a 50mm prime that I cant even use for wide shots and I have a shoot in two weeks where I really need something versatile that wont bankrupt me. I need to get this sorted before my next gig because Im sick of stressing over gear when I should be focusing on the client. Ive got maybe 600 or 700 bucks tops to play with right now. Is there actually an L-mount lens out there that doesnt totally suck but also doesnt cost as much as a used car? I feel like im taking crazy pills looking at these prices... what should I actually be looking at that is worth the money?
Re: Totally get the frustration, but you have to be careful with those compact zooms if you are doing low-light wedding work. I tried the Sigma, but honestly, for a bit more reliability in the dark, I would suggest looking at the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8. It is built like a tank and the focus is native, so no hunting. You might want to consider grabbing this for the portraits and saving up for a better zoom later.
Been there, man. I remember when I first switched systems and felt exactly the same way about the glass tax. Its brutal. Honestly, if you want something that isnt gonna break the bank but still performs like a pro piece, you need to look at the Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN Contemporary. Its part of that I-series line and the build quality is just mental compared to the plastic junk out there. Its a prime, sure, but it lives on my body for probably 60 percent of my gigs. It gives you that wide look without being distorted and the manual aperture ring is a lifesaver for fast adjustments. Dont let the size fool you, it handles low light like a champ. Saved me from buying those overpriced zooms more than once.
Totally get the frustration, but you have to check out the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary. It is an absolute lifesaver for weddings!
- Super lightweight for all-day shooting
- Sharpness is honestly insane for the price
- Focus is snappy and reliable I used this for a whole season and it never let me down. You can usually find it right in your budget. Seriously, it is a game changer!
