Im trying to figure out which zoom lens is gonna give me the sharpest results on my S5II. Ive been doing a ton of research lately and honestly my head is spinning. I keep seeing people swear by the Lumix 24-70mm f/2.8 Pro, but then I read a few threads where people say the Sigma 24-70mm DG DN II is basically indistinguishable for half the price. My logic was that native glass would always be the clear winner for autofocus reliability but maybe Im just overthinking it? Im mainly shooting street photography and some light landscape work in Seattle where the weather is always kinda gloomy so that f/2.8 aperture is non-negotiable for me.
Budget wise I have about 2k saved up, but I really dont want to blow it all if the sharpness difference is negligible. Is the Panasonic one actually worth the extra premium for the build or is the Sigma actually just better value for money now that the II version is out? I have a trip to the coast coming up in a month so I need to make a decision soon before I head out. If anyone has used both on the S5II specifically I would love to hear if the focus breathing or edge sharpness is a dealbreaker for either one...
Honestly, I have had both the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 and the newer Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art on my S5II, and I gotta say the experience was pretty disappointing with the native Lumix glass. I really wanted that Panasonic badge to mean better focus tracking, but in actual practice, the weight is just ridiculous for street work. It feels like a brick on the camera. The sharpness is obviously there, but unfortunately, it doesnt feel like a massive step up over the newer Sigma version to justify the insane price jump. I had issues with the Lumix lens balance, and to be fair, the weather sealing on the Sigma is totally fine for those gloomy Seattle days you mentioned. If you're worried about edge sharpness, the newer Sigma is honestly so good that you wont notice a difference unless you're pixel peeping at 400 percent on a giant monitor. Don't waste the extra cash on the Lumix branding. The focus breathing on the new Art lens is way better than I expected, too. Grab the Sigma, save a grand for your trip, and put the extra money toward a nice Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13L to actually carry the gear comfortably. You'll thank me when you're hiking the coast.
