So I finally caved and bought a Lumix S5ii because everyone kept telling me it was good for beginners but now I am totally stuck. I have the kit lens which is fine I guess but I really want to be able to zoom in on stuff from far away like when I am out hiking in the mountains here in Colorado. I dont really know what I am doing with all these technical terms and honestly the prices for these lenses are kind of scary. I have maybe 600 or 700 bucks to spend right now and I just want something that will let me take decent photos of birds or my dog running around the park. Im looking at the Sigma ones because they seem popular but there are so many versions and I keep getting confused about what fits on my camera without needing some adapter thingy. Is there actually a zoom lens that wont break the bank for the L-mount or am I just dreaming? Like what is the best value one I can get that wont make me regret spending my savings...
Honestly, you absolutely have to look at the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary for L-mount. It is the gold standard for budget-friendly telephoto zoom lenses and it fits your S5ii perfectly without any stupid adapters. I use mine all the time for hiking and the reach is just amazing for the price. You can usually find them used or on sale for around your budget if you look around a bit! Here is why it rocks for what you want:
- The reach is insane at 400mm, perfect for those mountain birds.
- It is surprisingly compact so it wont kill your back on a hike.
- The image stabilization is super clutch for handheld shots. Since you are doing sports or dog photos, just keep in mind you will need decent light since it is not the fastest lens aperture-wise. If you are shooting at dusk or in deep shadows it might struggle a tiny bit but for daytime park play, it is honestly fantastic. Just get out there and start shooting, you will learn the settings way faster once you have the glass in your hand. Dont overthink the technical stuff too much yet, just enjoy the zoom range!
Regarding what #2 said, definitely go with the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary. It really is the best value if you want to capture distant wildlife properly.
Honestly, I get your frustration. I started with that same kit lens and quickly realized it just doesnt cut it for wildlife or anything distant. You honestly have to be careful here. I tried a few cheaper third-party options and honestly had issues with the autofocus speed, which is a nightmare when youre trying to track a moving dog. Unfortunately, most of the high-end glass is way out of your budget range. For what you need, the best move is looking at the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary. It fits the L-mount native so no adapters are needed. You might find it used right around your 700 dollar limit. It isnt quite as sharp as the massive pro lenses, but for hiking in Colorado, it is definitely the best value you will find without selling a kidney.
TL;DR: Im in the exact same boat and honestly super lost. Like someone mentioned, omg I have this exact same issue. Ive been dealing with it for like 3 months now trying to figure out a setup for my S5ii and still nothing works out right. My brain is literally fried from looking at specs and MTF charts every night. Good luck figuring it out tbh!