Which native prime is actually the best for L-mount street photography? Im stuck between the Sigma 35mm f2 and the Panasonic 35mm f1.8 and honestly its driving me crazy. I leave for a trip to Tokyo in three weeks and I am NOT carrying my massive 24-70 around all day. Budget is around $650 max so the pro glass is out. The Sigma has that cool aperture ring but I heard the Lumix focus is faster for tracking people? I just need something light that wont make people stare at me while I take photos in Shinjuku. Which one would you guys actually pick for a fast paced environment...
> I am NOT carrying my massive 24-70 around all day. Budget is around $650 max. Man I totally feel that! Tokyo is way too much walking for heavy glass. Honestly, go for the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f/1.8. It is amazing for the price and super light for long days in Shinjuku! The autofocus is snappy and it fits your budget perfectly with room for extra SD cards. Youre gonna love how fast it tracks!
Unfortunately, those 35mm primes were not as good as expected for staying low key. I had issues with how much they still stood out in crowds... honestly kinda annoying. I'd just grab the Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary for Tokyo. Its tiny, way cheaper, and actually invisible. TL;DR: Skip the bulky 35s. The 45mm f/2.8 is the real winner for budget street shooting.
^ This. Also, iAquaLinkohb is spot on about the size. If you want to stay under budget and keep it light, ive been very satisfied with the Panasonic Lumix S 50mm F1.8. It is basically weightless compared to that 24-70 beast and the image quality is honestly great for the price. No complaints here. Just a few things to keep in mind for your trip:
- Careful with the Sigma aperture rings if you arent used to them. Sometimes they get bumped in crowded spots like Shinjuku and youll mess up your exposure without realizing it.
- Stick to the f1.8 or f2 lines. The extra stop on pro glass isnt worth the back pain when youre hitting 20k steps a day.
- If you can wait, check the used bins at Map Camera or Lemon Inc once you land in Tokyo. You can usually grab a Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN Contemporary for a steal there. Youre gonna have a blast in Japan, just dont overthink it!
