I've been shooting with the SL2 for over a year now mostly for studio work but I’m trying to get back into street stuff and honestly it’s been a struggle finding the right glass. I just moved to Chicago and the vibes here are great but my 24-90 zoom is a total brick it’s killing my neck after an hour and everyone sees me coming a mile away. I’m used to the old school M bodies where you can just blend in but my vision is getting worse so I really need reliable autofocus now. I tried the Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN because everyone says the i-series is great but I found the AF-C was hunting way too much in the subway stations and it just felt off.
My budget is capped at about $3500 since I’m saving for a trip to Berlin in three weeks and I need something locked in before I go. I keep looking at the 35mm APO-Summicron-SL but man that price tag is hard to swallow and it’s still pretty long for a prime. Then there is the Panasonic 35mm f1.8 which is cheap but it feels like a toy on such a premium body. I just want that balance of fast AF and that 'Leica look' without it being a giant telescope.
- Sigma 35mm f2 (AF felt jumpy)
- Panasonic 35mm (build quality issues)
- Leica 35mm APO (massive price tag)
Should I just bite the bullet on the 35mm APO or is there a sleeper lens I’m missing for the L-mount that doesn't feel like a total compromise?
Honestly, if you're worried about the Sigma hunting and the Panasonic feeling cheap, the Leica Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH. is probably the most reliable middle ground for your SL2. I've spent some time with it and it just works... the AF is snappy enough for street work and it definitely feels like a Leica in the hand. It’s lighter and shorter than the Leica APO-Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH., which saves your neck and some cash for that Berlin trip. The APO is obviously the peak of L-mount glass, but its pretty massive for street photography. This non-APO version gives you that Leica look and the weather sealing you can trust when the weather in Chicago or Berlin turns sour. Its a decent option if you want to avoid the toy feel of the Panasonic while keeping native performance. You wont even notice the difference in image quality unless you're pixel peeping at 400%. Definitely worth a look before you fly out.
