What is the best value L-mount zoom lens for shooting landscapes? Im planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest in October and my current kit is just too heavy. Ive looked at the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 and it looks pretty sharp, but then I read a few reviews saying the Panasonic 20-60mm is actually decent for the price and lighter for hiking. Im honestly torn because I dont want to break the bank but I also dont want to regret my shots when I get home. Is the extra cash for a constant aperture worth it or am I overthinking the glass for landscape stuff?
Honestly, grab the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6. It is way lighter for hiking and the 20mm wide end is killer for PNW landscapes. Total no-brainer for the price.
Just catching up on this thread. If you want a bit more reach without the weight, check out the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. I took this to the Cascades last fall and the sharpness across the frame is just amazing! It is super compact and usually cheaper than the 24-70mm options. Honestly, saving that extra cash for travel expenses is a huge win. The constant aperture really makes a difference when light gets low under those forest canopies.
Look, I gotta disagree with just going for the kit zoom. If you really care about landscape micro-contrast and edge sharpness, you might want to be careful with those budget options. Theyre fine for casual stuff, but PNW light can be tricky and soft corners really show up once you get back to your monitor.
- Honestly, just search for some lens comparison charts on flickr or reddit, people have pixel-peeped these to death already
- Check out some of the deep-dive reviews on youtube, just search for L-mount wide angle shootout and you will find exactly what you need to see
- Be super careful about weather sealing since October in the PNW is basically just one long rain shower I saw a really solid video on this recently, just look for technical comparisons of wide angle glass and you'll find it right away.