Ive been shooting street for about a decade now, mostly on old Fuji and Sony bodies, but I finally bit the bullet and switched over to the Panasonic S5II for that phase hybrid AF. I thought the transition would be seamless because I know my focal lengths like the back of my hand, but man, the L-mount lens lineup is actually kind of stressing me out more than I expected. I'm used to small, discrete primes, but when I look at the pro L-mount glass, everything seems absolutely massive or way out of my budget.
I'm heading to Chicago in about three weeks for a specific project focusing on high-contrast urban geometry and candid portraits. I have about $1,100 saved up for a single, do-it-all street prime. At first, I was looking at the Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG DN Art because, well, it's a classic, but then I saw the size of it in a shop and I'm worried it's gonna kill my wrist after eight hours of walking around the Loop. Plus, it's a bit look at me, which I hate when I'm trying to be invisible.
Then I looked at the Panasonic 35mm f1.8. It's lighter and cheaper, which is great, but does it have that soul or character? Some of these modern lenses feel almost too clinical, you know? I also keep seeing people rave about the Sigma 35mm f2 Contemporary I-series because of the all-metal build and the aperture ring, which I really miss from my old tactile cameras. But then I worry f2 might not be enough if I'm shooting late at night in the subway.
The unexpected part for me is how much the rendering varies between the Sigma and Panasonic stuff even though it's the same mount. I'm totally torn between going for the high-end Sigma Art, the lightweight Panasonic 1.8 series, or maybe even hunting for a used Leica... wait, no, the Summicron is way out of my bracket. What are you guys actually using day-to-day for street? Is the size of the Art lenses a dealbreaker for you, or is the image quality worth the extra weight? I really need something that balances being discrete with having enough wide-aperture pop...
To add to the point above, you are spot on about the weight issue... carrying a massive lens around Chicago all day is a recipe for a sore neck. I have used both and here is a quick technical breakdown:
- The Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN Contemporary has better micro-contrast for those urban textures. The all-metal build is solid, and it has a bit more character in how it handles highlights. It is a decent option if you value that tactile aperture ring.
- The Panasonic Lumix S 35mm f1.8 is technically more consistent with less fringing and faster AF tracking on the S5II. It is lighter, tho it feels more like a tool than a lens with personality. Quick tip: Check out the Sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary. Its tiny and has a unique rendering that fits high-contrast street shots perfectly. It might be slower at f2.8, but the size is unbeatable for staying discrete.
I learned the hard way about bulk.
- Sigma 45mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary: Tiny, but be careful since f2.8 is slow for night shots.
- Panasonic Lumix S 50mm f1.8: Cheap, though it might feel too tight.
Re: "To add to the point above, you are..."
- Honestly i totally feel your pain about the lens size struggle! I went through the exact same thing when i switched to the S5II and started wandering around downtown. Chicago is literally the best place for those high contrast geometry shots. Have you looked at the Sigma 24mm F2 DG DN Contemporary? Its been a total game changer for me. I used to be a die hard 35mm guy but for the Loop and all those massive skyscrapers that extra width is just amazing for getting the scale of the city! The build is all metal and feels super reliable which is huge when youre walking miles every day in a city. Plus that aperture ring feels so good... very old school and tactile. It comes in way under your $1100 budget too, usually around $639. If you really need that soul or character i think you'll love it more than the clinical feeling of the Panny glass. Its so tiny people wont even notice you're there shooting candid stuff. And dont worry about the night shots, i found f2 was plenty for the subway and street lights. Youre gonna have a blast in Chicago!!
I spent years lugging around heavy pro glass thinking it was the only way to get the right look. Tokyo taught me the hard way that weight just kills the vibe.
- Big lenses make people stare
- My current setup is half the weight
- f2 is plenty for dark alleys Switching to a smaller lens with a manual ring saved my wrist and finally made me invisible again.
