Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 on an SL2?

[alex129]

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45 minutes ago, jaapv said:

If you are looking for an alternative that has quite good wide open performance consider the Sigma 29-70 2.8. 

It at least 3-4 times Used. F2.8 is not gonna save you at night in horrible conditions. You are still better of using prime at mine f stop

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[jaapv]

Hmm - 28-70 @ 4.0 ISO 3200 S5ii

 

 

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[AdjusterBrett]

Have SL, S1, TL2 (and RX1, XT collection from 1 through 4, and many more).  This is an ONGOING SAGA - its a domino affect that leads me down a rabbit hole - EVERY TIME...    Is the 20-60 on the TL2 as good as the XF18-55 on the XT2 - no, but it's better than any Sony or Nikon kit I've ever had.  Have Pana 50/1.8, Several Voigts 28-50 (manual), and several much longer native lenses (sigma).  Have a plethora of vintage from 24-200mm in primes, and zooms all over the place.  Anytime I carry more than bare bones (think Peak 5L sling as go bag, anything bigger would be 'more than bare bones') - the 20-60 earns a spot, regardless of body.  When I take the TL2 - in a Peak 3L - it ALWAYS makes the cut, if for nothing else - convenience and autofocus for quick grabs.  It's not going to win any sharpness contests - but if you are pixel peeping that close - then you are missing the utility of the camera and lens you have with you vs. the perfect blah blah blah.

At the price point - if you want autofocus - there really is NOTHING to compare it too - and even if there was - it's likely to hold its own (in the weight/size class) - assuming holding the line on Full Frame lens...

Grain of salt, as I'm 75% vintage, 25% native.  I have shot the illustrious lumix pro lenses - and they are decent - but for the price - they are heavily challenged by their sigma counterparts.  As to the associated Leica glass (16-35) - even used, you could buy all the zoom lenses in sigma - so its not even in the same argument...

Or let me put it another way...  You are sporting an SL2S with a 24-90...  The panasonic will cost less than the sales tax your paid - especially used.

By comparison the 24-70 (regardless of flavor) is bigger - and if I had it - it would NOT make the cut - as it would NOT fit in the Peak 3L sling with the TL2, viso, and a couple vintages.  The 24-70 is HUGE in comparison to the 20-60.  Although I will likely end up having a 24-70 (likely in Sig flavor) - the 20-60 is solid, especially when its <400 in the used market...  Further, the Sigma 16-28 simply did NOT bring enough to the table to be considered.  Wide is FUN - and if I'm going to move to a LARGER zoom like the 16-28, then I'm just going to use the 14-24 - as its a better lens and wider, and larger still...   At some point you start talking yourself into buying into APS-C only lenses - like the sigmas or springing for the TL flavors - and now I've worked myself back up into a tizzy....   I WANT the TL 11-18 - but for the price, I could buy a used 18-50 sig, a new 10-18 sig, and still chase after more vintage - and then I start thinking I've already got the Viltrox 13/1.4 on the XT line - and for B&W - its awesome...  and now I'm not even carrying my beloved TL2 in the small bag -but we have upped to a bit larger prime on an APS-C fuji...   TIZZY like I said - and in the end, I usually just keep the 20-60, but will likely continue to think about this damned Dilemma for a couple hours...

20-60 with price as NO object - its decent.  20-60 with price in consideration - it has no competitors.

Depending on how much you shoot at night (and how the CL reacts to 4 and 5 digit ISOs) - it's a pretty simple question.  If I'm shooting at night - S1 with a fast vintage - usually at ISO levels its runs away from A7S series (damn thing shoots in the dark), and the TL2 is simply not along for the ride.  If I'm headed to the west coast, South America, or Europe for a week - then I'm packing the TL2 with 20-60 and two fast vintage - and in the larger backpack I also have the SL (or S1 if lots of low light) with big glass for portraits and long shots.  Moral of the story - its usually along for the ride.

Just my $0.02 from the cheap seats...

[tom0511]

I think it's a great range, very compact and a decent lens. It seems not to offer the same POP in IQ like the 16-35 Leica, shows a little more CA and flare.

I think its kind of cool range, but I always feel there is a price for the low weight and size - it performs fine but its not a wow lens optically.

 

[WvE]

Bought a used one for the SL2-s and haven't regretted it. It's a great walk-around or travel lens, light and compact with a unique zoom range. As always, most people won't see the difference between a more expensive lens and this kit lens.  

[Archiver]

My previous post mentioned that this lens has awful distortion at 20mm on the Panasonic S5 - but on the Leica SL2S, the lens corrections seem to be baked into the raw files, so this issue may be moot for SL users. The SL2S, and presumably the SL2, bakes lens corrections in for Panasonic lenses like the 24-105 and 50, and the Leica Summicron 35 SL. This doesn't happen on the Panasonic S5. Now the 20-60 becomes convenient to use!