honestly im so over this 24-90mm beast i have right now. i love the image quality but oh my god its like carrying a literal brick around my neck all day and people stare at me like im some kind of paparazzi or something. i was out in shoreditch last weekend and i missed like three perfect shots because i was fumbling with the zoom or the autofocus just felt sluggish compared to what i need for fast movement. im ready to ditch the zoom life for a prime because i need to be more discreet and faster. i am actually super stoked to finally join the prime club though because ive seen the rendering on some of these lenses and it looks incredible and i want that look for myself.
i need something that fits these specific things:
- has to be L-mount obviously since im on the SL2
- light enough that i dont need a chiropractor after a 4 hour walk
- fast autofocus is a dealbreaker i cant be hunting while the moment passes
- looking for that 35mm or maybe 50mm focal length for that classic street vibe
- budget is around 2500 dollars maybe can stretch to 3k if its the absolute dream lens
- needs to handle low light well since i do a lot of blue hour shooting
ive been looking at the 35mm summicron-sl but then i see the sigma i-series and they are so much smaller and cheaper so now im just confused. is the leica glass really worth the extra three grand or whatever for just street stuff? im going to paris in three weeks for a photography trip and i really want this sorted before then so i can just focus on the art and not my gear failing me every time i try to be quick. do i go for the APO stuff or is that totally overkill for someone who isnt printing billboards? i just want that 3d pop without the massive weight. what are you guys actually using day to day that doesnt kill your shoulder? i need to make a decision like yesterday because i am itching to get out there with a setup that actually works with me instead of against me...
honestly i totally get the 24-90 pain. i lugged that beast through berlin years ago and it basically ruined my vibe by lunch. in my experience, over the years ive tried basically every l-mount prime for street and you really dont need the apo glass for what youre doing. its technically perfect but adds weight and costs a fortune. i found that being discreet is way more important than having the absolute sharpest corners. for your paris trip id look at these:
- Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary I-Series - this is my daily driver. its tiny, has a dedicated aperture ring for fast adjustments, and the af is snappy.
- Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron-SL ASPH - if you want the name, the non-apo version is fantastic. it still gives that 3d pop and stays under your 3k limit.
- Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f/1.8 - dont sleep on this. its light and the af is basically instant on the sl2. id grab the sigma. the size difference makes you feel invisible compared to that zoom brick...
> do i go for the APO stuff or is that totally overkill for someone who isnt printing billboards? Before deciding, are you mostly tracking moving subjects or static scenes? If speed is priority, the Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN Art L-mount uses a linear actuator that technically outperforms stepping motors in smaller lenses. Its 640g so nearly half your zooms weight... basically gives you great low light performance without the bulk or the APO price tag.
i actually have to jump in here and politely disagree with the idea that you should skip leica glass just to save some cash. i spent a few weeks wandering around kyoto last year and i started with a cheaper third party lens but i just wasnt satisfied with the rendering. it felt a bit clinical. i finally swapped it for the Leica Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH and the difference was honestly night and day for me. the way it renders light is just gorgeous and it has that punchy look that makes street shots really stand out. the autofocus is super snappy on the sl2 and it is a total featherweight compared to that 24-90 brick youre lugging around now. i was so happy with how it felt during long 6-hour walks because i barely noticed it was there. i really think if you are going all the way to paris you want to be 100% happy with your files when you get home. i briefly tried the Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH but that thing is another monster that would kill your neck just like the zoom. quick tip for the sl2: use the joystick to quickly move your focus point if youre not using tracking... it becomes muscle memory after like two days and makes you way faster. definitely look at the non-apo version though. it fits your budget perfectly and keeps the weight down while still giving you that premium feel. i have no complaints after using mine daily for months now. it just works well for the fast-paced stuff you are describing.
