Honestly getting so annoyed with the lack of native long glass for L-mount. I've been shooting Lumix for years but just moved to Montana and my kit is failing me. Tried the Sigma 150-600 Sport last weekend for elk shots and while the reach is okay its just way too heavy to hike with and the AF hunt is driving me crazy on my S5II.
I have about 2500 bucks to spend before my Yellowstone trip in two weeks.
- Panasonic 70-300mm (seems too short?)
- Sigma 60-600 (too heavy?)
- Leica 100-400 (is it worth the cost?)
Is there a secret lens I'm missing for birds and bears that wont break my back or miss focus constantly?
Unfortunately, the native selection is still pretty bleak. If the Sport is too heavy, check out the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary. It is way lighter for hiking and costs around 900 bucks. I had issues with AF speed, and it is not as good as expected in low light. Grab the Sigma TC-1411 1.4x Teleconverter too, otherwise 400mm is way too short for bears.
This exact same issue has been on my mind for about six months now and it is honestly exhausting. As an experienced shooter, I still cannot find a lens that balances performance with portability for this mount.
- I would suggest being very careful about the weight of these long zooms because I have found they are just too heavy for long hikes and my back just wont take it anymore.
- You might want to consider that the autofocus hunting is a widespread issue; I am seeing it on all my non-native glass too.
- Make sure to be wary of the pricing because I havent found anything that feels like a good value lately. It would be nice to have an answer for you but I am stuck in the same position... I am worried there is no good solution right now tho.
Saw this earlier but just getting to it now. Unfortunately, the L-mount telephoto situation is pretty frustrating. If the Sport was too heavy, you definitely wont like the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports because it is basically a heavy brick. I had issues with AF hunting on Sigma glass too, even with the phase detect on the S5II. It is just not as snappy as native glass. You should look at the Panasonic Lumix S 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3 OIS. Since it is a native lens, communication with the body is more reliable, and it weighs way less for hiking. If you need more reach, pair it with the Panasonic DMW-STC14 1.4x Teleconverter. Check the L-Mount Alliance compatibility charts on their site to see specific body AF benchmarks. It is not as good as expected for birds yet, but that 100-400 is the most professional middle ground for your trip.
