Ive been shooting street for over a decade, mostly with my trusty Leica M, but I recently picked up a Lumix S5II for some project work and I need a solid prime for it. The thing is, Im struggling to find that sweet spot on L-mount. I know the Sigma i-series is popular, but honestly, the rendering feels a bit too clinical for my taste? I need something with a bit more character for these moody night shots Im planning for a gallery show in London next month. Budget is around 1,000 quid give or take, but I really need to get this sorted by end of next week because the deadline is looming.
Here is what I need:
- Small footprint is a must, I dont want to look like a tourist with a giant slab of glass
- Needs to be sharp wide open, I shoot at f/1.4 or f/2 constantly
- Weather sealing would be great since it rains here every five minutes
- Fast enough AF for candid shots
Is the Lumix 35mm f/1.8 my only real option for the size, or am I missing some hidden gem? Tried searching around but everything is just generic reviews that dont focus on street work. Seriously starting to stress out about this now...
Oh man, I totally get the stress about the L-mount search. It took me forever to settle on glass that felt right for moody street work without those clinical, sterile vibes you get from modern optics. If you really want character without breaking the bank, stop looking at the standard Lumix primes for a second and check out some adapted glass or the specialty stuff. Here is what I would grab if I were you:
- Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical III for L-mount. It is manual focus, but honestly, it is tiny, built like a tank, and the rendering just screams classic street photography. Its way under your budget too!
- Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary if you absolutely need that AF. It is way more soulful than the 1.4 version and has that awesome all-metal build that just feels fantastic in the hand. Honestly, the Voigtlander is the real winner here. It has that magical glow wide open that makes night shots in London look incredible. Since you are used to the Leica M, you are gonna feel right at home with the physical aperture ring and the size. It is honestly such a steal, you could spend the leftovers on a nice Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L to keep it light and dry. Good luck with the gallery show!
Stumbled upon this discussion today and I totally feel your pain regarding the clinical look of modern glass. Coming from M-mount, that sterile rendering feels like a wall between you and the scene. I have been using the Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary for my late-night London walks recently, and honestly, it hits differently. It is not an f/1.4 beast, but the aberration control and the way it handles point light sources give it a distinct classic feel without being soft. If you need something faster, maybe look into adapting glass, but for native L-mount, I found these trade-offs work best for character:
- The 45mm is built like a tank and fits the S5II perfectly
- Its micro-contrast is surprisingly organic for an autofocus lens
- You get weather sealing which is mandatory for the UK weather I have tried forcing myself to like the wider 35mm primes, but the Sigma's focal length feels more intimate for street portraits. Keep at it, you will find your rhythm before the show.
Oh man this whole thread is giving me flashbacks to when my cousin tried to prep for his Berlin gallery show last year. He had this exact same freakout about gear rendering and deadlines, spent three straight days agonizing over lens specs instead of actually shooting, and then ended up leaving his entire camera bag on the train five hours before his flight. He had to shoot the whole exhibition on a busted point-and-shoot he bought at a station kiosk in a panic. Needless to say the results were grainy as hell but honestly kind of legendary anyway. Anyway good luck sorting your setup out before next week!
Just checking in, but are you prioritizing manual control or autofocus speed, and have you considered adapting your existing M-mount glass to see if the rendering satisfies those specific aesthetic requirements?