Picked up a used SL2 last week and now Im staring at the lens wall. Everyone keeps saying the 24-70mm Sigma is the smart buy for the price, but then I read a thread where people swear the Lumix primes are better value for street stuff. Im in Chicago and need something versatile for travel by next month, budget is like 1k max. Does the Sigma actually hold up or am I just cheaping out?
If you want pure value, check out the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8. It is super sharp, light for travel, and honestly cheaper than any zoom while giving you that pro look.
Building on the earlier suggestion, the Lumix primes are definitely the way to go if you want to keep that bag light for your Chicago treks. If you want something a bit wider than that 85mm for street work, you really should look at the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f/1.8. It is honestly such a sweet spot for travel photography. Here is why it works for me:
- super compact so you dont look like a tourist holding a massive cannon
- weather sealed which is clutch for the city
- way cheaper than the Leica glass but you still get that crisp rendering I swapped to the primes a few months ago and havent looked back. Youll save a ton of cash compared to the big zooms, and honestly, carrying less gear makes me way happier when Im out all day.
Honestly, you aren't cheaping out at all by grabbing the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. I bought one for my SL2 last year and it has been my go-to lens for everything. It feels super solid and handles the Chicago weather just fine, which is a big plus for city shoots. I was worried it might feel like a compromise, but the image quality is honestly fantastic for the price. It's sharp enough that I rarely feel like I need those expensive Leica native lenses. If you want something that works well for travel without breaking the bank, this is the one. I'm really satisfied with how it balances on the body too, makes long days of walking around way easier. Definitely a smart buy.
TL;DR: Gear choices are wild, but sometimes just picking one and going for a walk beats overthinking the specs. Regarding what #3 said about building on the earlier suggestion, the Lumix primes... it honestly brought back a memory. My uncle actually bought a similar setup back in the day for a trip to the Alps. He spent three weeks obsessing over lens charts and gear forums, just like this. He showed up at the airport with this massive, heavy bag that looked like he was prepping for a moon landing. Halfway through the first day, he dropped his main lens in a puddle trying to frame a shot of a mountain goat and basically spent the rest of his vacation using a disposable film camera he bought at a gift shop. He still says those blurry, grain-filled photos of the goat are the best ones he ever took. It was a whole ordeal trying to dry out the electronics in his hotel room with a hairdryer. You really never know how these things are gonna play out once you actually get out there and start moving around.
