honestly im just so fed up with my current kit right now because carrying three different apo-summicrons across a city all day is actually killing my back and im missing shots left and right because im too busy fumbling with lens caps in the rain. i love the quality of the primes obviously but for professional travel work its just becoming a nightmare to manage and i feel like a total amateur struggling with my bag while the light is changing.
so i was thinking about finally biting the bullet and getting a high end zoom for my sl2 but im stuck between the options and keep going in circles. my logic was that the 24-90mm vario-elmarit would be the perfect one lens solution because of that extra reach on the long end but man that thing is a literal brick and it feels so front heavy when im hiking. then there is the 24-70mm which is lighter and has the constant f2.8 but ive heard people say it doesnt have that same leica rendering or character and is basically just a repackaged sigma design which drives me crazy considering the price jump.
im heading to the dolomites in about three weeks for a commercial landscape shoot and i need something that can handle the grit and the moisture without me needing to swap glass every five minutes. i have a budget of around five thousand but i really dont want to spend it on something that feels clinical if that makes sense. i considered the sigma 24-70 art as a temporary fix but if im shooting for a client i want that native performance and weather sealing and that specific micro-contrast you usually get from the house of leica.
is the 24-90 really still the king for travel despite the age and weight or is the 24-70 actually better for modern sensors and i just need to get over the lack of ois? really torn because i need to order this by friday to get it in time...
Honestly i have spent way too much time obsessing over this exact dilemma for my own SL2 setup. If you are doing a commercial shoot in the Dolomites you definitely want to minimize the lens swapping because that mountain weather turns in a heartbeat. If you really care about that specific Leica look and micro-contrast then the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH is still the undisputed king despite the weight. It is a beast but the optics are noticeably different from the newer 24-70mm. However since you mentioned being budget conscious and hating the price jump for a repackaged design i think you should seriously consider the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for L-Mount. I know you want native performance but the Sigma is basically the same internal glass as the Leica 24-70 for a fraction of the cost. You could save about three thousand dollars which is insane. With that extra cash you could literally buy a backup body or a killer telephoto like the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S. which is great for those distant peaks. The 24-90 is the better lens for character but for a commercial gig where you need to be fast and light the Sigma is the smarter financial move tbh. Just grab a good hardshell for the rain and you will be fine.
Tbh i would be careful with the 24-70 if you want that specific leica look... it is just different than your primes. before i weigh in tho, are you shooting mostly handheld at dawn or is everything on a tripod? to save your back for the dolomites, i suggest:
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art for L-Mount
- a Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap
- a sturdy Manfrotto BeFree Advanced Carbon Fiber Tripod
> my logic was that the 24-90mm vario-elmarit would be the perfect one lens solution because of that extra reach Jumping in here... ive been super happy with the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH. for a long time. It is a beast for sure but for reliability its unmatched. The OIS is a lifesaver when your hands are shaking from the cold and the weather sealing has never let me down in the mud. If you really want to shave weight tho the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70mm f/2.8 is a fantastic alternative that still feels very premium and works well with the Leica interface. It is certified by Leica anyway so you get that peace of mind. Honestly though i spent half my last trip to Italy just hunting for the perfect carbonara. I found this tiny spot in a back alley that didnt even have a sign and stayed there for three hours. Totally missed the sunset light but the food was worth it... reminded me that sometimes we overthink the gear when the experience is what actually matters. You should definitely check out the local bakeries while you are there. But yeah, if you need the reach and that tank-like build, just go with the 24-90.
How big are the client prints? I've seen a lens fog up in the Alps, total nightmare. TLDR: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for L-Mount lacks heavy-duty pressure gaskets.
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