honestly im so done with this lumix 20-60mm kit lens. i thought it would be fine for my hiking trip to Zion next week but I just did some test shots and the edges are just mushy garbage. like i spent all this money on a full frame setup and my iphone honestly looks sharper in the corners sometimes its just so demoralizing. i need to grab a sigma lens before i leave on tuesday but im totally lost on which one is the best value for the money.
here is what im dealing with:
- budget is around 900 bucks max maybe a tiny bit more if its worth it
- must be sharp edge to edge for big prints
- i need to carry it for 10+ miles a day so nothing crazy heavy like a brick
- l-mount for my s5
im looking at the 16-28mm contemporary since its light and fits the budget but will i regret not getting the 14-24mm art? the art is way over my budget anyway unless i find a crazy used deal but then the weight is a huge issue for the canyon. is there a prime i should get instead like the 20mm or 24mm i-series? i just want something that wont make me regret taking the shot when i get home and see it on a big screen...
Look, if youre hiking Zion, you definitely dont want that Art lens. Its 795g and uses a bulbous front element which makes filters a total nightmare for landscape work. I would suggest looking at the Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary instead. It stays under your 900 dollar limit and weighs only 450g, so your back wont hate you after 10 miles. Make sure to check the corners at f/8 tho, as there is some minor vignetting you might want to consider correcting in post. A few technical points to keep in mind:
- Internal zoom mechanism keeps the balance perfect on your S5
- Uses 72mm filters so you dont need a massive expensive holder system
- Edge sharpness is significantly better than that 20-60mm kit lens Be careful with the 14-24mm used market because some of those older units have centering issues. Honestly, the 16-28mm is the safer bet for a hiking setup where weight is everything.
