SL2 city to country transition lens set

[steveBK]

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Hi all,  FP + SL2 owner here. (Plus M+35/50)
Currently shooting with the Sigma 45 which I love for the size/weight balance on the body, and Sigma 100-400 for birding in yard.  

Longtime M city/street/event shooter so never been a big zooms guy, but looking to pick up (at least) 1 right now.
Given pandemic, I am spending probably another year near the shore shooting landscape, particularly beach/shoreline and some woodlands.  
I am also venturing into a bit of astrophotography and plan to get a tracking mount.

Utility 24-X zoom seems logical, but starting to think a more specialist wide zoom may fit my use case better especially if I prefer lighter kit?
I would normally just buy a bunch of primes and thinking of adding some of the new small Sigma primes, but I am concerned with lens changes at the beach.

Short list-
Panasonic 16-35 is very tempting for its MF clutch, range & weight/price  (500g/$1500).
Sigma 14-24 is interesting for its f2.8 speed, 14mm wide, recommended for astrophotographers & OK weight / price (800g/$1400) downside is weight & only 24mm on long end.
Sigma 24-70 seems like a sweet spot in the 24-X range for f2.8 speed/weight/price (800g/$1100)
Leica 24-90 is temping in the 24-X range due to Dual OIS, 90mm reach, Leica optics at the expense of weight/price (1100g/$3500 used)

Panasonic 24-70 is in between Sigma&Leica for weight&price, might as well jump all the way to Leica and get 90mm & OIS
Panasonic 24-105 seems to have very mixed reviews but I'd love for it to work out given the weight/price 
Leica 24-90 I am having trouble rationalizing if I could get a wide zoom + another Sigma prime (65mm?) and still come out with an extra $1000.

 

For the size/weight/price difference I could probably carry SL2+(wide zoom) &  FP+(sigma prime).

[chris_tribble]

I blenched at the prospect of the weight/size of the SL 24-90 (having lived with M cameras for decades, reserving DSLRs for static shoots) but I'm now converted.  During the pandemic I've been out walking in the area round Kendal (North of England, on the edge of the Lake District, but also close to the Cumbrian coast and the Pennines) and the SL2 + 24-90 has been my go to kit.  If you scroll down some of the images on my Flickr Photostream you'll see a lot of examples of the versatility of this lens.  

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctribble/

I hope this helps with your decision (I've still got the Sigma 45 + my M bodies and lenses + the SL 90-280) but the 24-90 is most used at the moment.

Edited December 31, 2020 by chris_tribble

[Sjz]

From your list I have both the Sigma 14-24 and the 24-90 (plus a 35 SL).

Gut feel, my usage is 24-90 about 95%, Sigma 4% and my use of the 35 SL is embarrassingly low.  The 35 SL is brilliant, the Sigma crazy sharp and the 24-90 is simply superb.

I do need to make more use of the others however I have thought that before.  

The 24-90 is not subtle, particularly with the hood on, I do not find it tiring to carry around, the ergonomics of the SL2 make the combination a joy.

I enjoy similar photography to you, shoreline, landscape and some cityscapes.

 

[steveBK]

Thanks!

I’m also contemplating whether to reserve specialist lenses for different use cases.
Maybe picking up a fast manual f1.4 wide for astrophotography & a super wide zoom for daytime landscape makes more sense.
Would generally be different outings so having to switch lenses is not a big deal.
Not sure AF is that important at f4 & 14-24mm range anyhow.

[Cattoo]

For astro work I'd recommend you check out the Sigma 14mm f1.8 ART. https://www.sigmaphoto.com/14mm-f1-8-dg-hsm-a  I bought one myself recently for that purpose.