Compact Standard Zoom for L-mount

[shefys]

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Until recently Sigma 28-70 f2.8 was the only compact zoom available for L-mount with f2.8 aperture. With introduction of Panasonic Lumix 24-60 f2.8 we suddenly have a choice. What would you pick and why?

Sigma 28-70 f2.8:

• weight: 470g
• length: 101.5mm
• filter size: 67

Panasonic S-series 24-60 f2.8:

• weight: 544g
• length: 99.9mm (3.93in)
• filter size: 77

 

From Panasonic web site sounds like the lens has some dust/water resistance which Sigma is missing. Sigma has a gasket in the mount only hence could be less preferred as a travel lens. Quote from Panasonic website:

Quote

Dust, Splash and Freeze-resistant Design

This lens is designed to keep shooting in the toughest conditions thanks to its dust- and splash-resistant construction and allowing you to shoot in temperatures as low as 14°F. The fluorine coating applied to the front lens makes it easy to remove oil-based dirt sticking to it.

A link to a full spec for lumix lens is not working for me hence here is a direct working link to the spec: https://help.na.panasonic.com/answers/features-and-specifications-lumix-lens-s-e2460/

Edited May 18 by shefys

[o2mpx]

Have used the Panasonic 20-60 and 24-105 zooms with SL2. Personal opinion only, but both Panasonic zooms seemed lower in contrast, and not very sharp at the corners compared to the Leica 24-90 zoom. Bear in mind subjects are landscapes taken at mid apertures. 

Recently just acquired the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 II lens, fairly well reviewed, but will see how it is after the next trip. 

[shefys]

@o2mpx Leica's 24-90 and Sigma Mark II are excellent lenses for landscape work. However, when I want to travel light, I like to have something smaller and less conspicuous.

[Babylonia]

@shefys

As you specially opt the choice between two lenses. Personally, I should chose for the new Panasonic S-series 24-60mm / f2.8:

• weight: 544g
• length: 99.9mm (3.93in)
• filter size: 77

Why? Because starting at 24mm and the relative compact size and weight.
By test reviews by most aspects it even is a tiny bit better than e.g. the Lumix S-Pro lens 24-70mm / F.2.8 that is bulky, heavy and expensive.

Me myself do have the 24-105mm/F4.0

But I am thinking about the Panasonic S-series  24-60mm / f2.8  myself.
I am using the 47 Mp S1R camera. You easily can make use of a 1.4x crop mode, that gives about 23.5 megapixel image, enough for most shots.

So by crop-mode ---> a comparable angle of view about 85 mm lens, a nice "portrait" range.  So very versatile.

[Stuart Richardson]

It seems to me that these are both neither here nor there lenses. If you truly want compact, the 20-60 3.5-5.6 is the clear winner at only 350g albeit a bit slow at the long end, but if you want performance the 24-70mm II Art is probably the best performer and it is only 200g-300g heavier than these two lenses with only a slightly larger filter than the panasonic. All this said, of course, unless the new Panosonic outperforms the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 Art II, which does not seem likely at its price point...even then, the extra 10mm of focal length is pretty useful. 

Edited May 19 by Stuart Richardson

[Babylonia]

vor 18 Stunden schrieb Stuart Richardson:

.... but if you want performance the 24-70mm II Art is probably the best performer and it is only 200g-300g heavier than these two lenses
with only a slightly larger filter than the panasonic.

Best performer? Comes down in "what" is important for you.
At least the Sigma 24-70mm II Art has dreadfully bad LoCA - see < YouTube review by Christopher Frost > at starting time of LoCA test.
Alone by this very bad LoCA quality, personally I shouldn't buy such a lens at all.

E.g. I own a Sigma 50mm / F1.4 DGN Art. Known for its bad LoCA < (YouTube) >, but still is "holy" in comparison to this Sigma 24-70mm II Art.
Still I am thinking to exchange by the later Sigma 50mm / F1.2 DGN Art lens. It is not LoCA free to < YouTube >, but seems better than the 50mm / F1.4 DGN Art.
(First I want to compare doing some tests shots extra within the shop of my supplier).

The Lumix 24-60mm seems to do much better in this LoCA area. - < YouTube review by Richard Wong > comparing it with the Lumix Pro-S 24-70mm/F 2.8
In some other aspects this Lumix 24-60mm/F2.8 even outperform or same level vs. the Pro-S 24-70mm/F 2.8
So this Lumix 24-60mm/F2.8 seems a good lens.

A more wide 82mm filter tread for the 24-70mm II Art, is another deal breaker - at least for me (and think many others).
Polarisers - neutral density filters - "mist" filters. All bought by me using 77mm tread. Plus sets of stepping up and stepping down rings to match other lenses.
For several other equipment 82mm is just "to wide". (E.g. owning a simple "ring" LED light, but doesn't match 82mm either).
(Although also the Lumix Pro-S 24-70mm/f2.8 lens - I don't own - also do have this 82mm filter thread).

At least a few "extra" considerations to think over, for making a good choice.
-
 

Edited May 20 by Babylonia

[Stuart Richardson]

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A great list of things to consider. Let's see how it pans out. All I said was that I thought it was unlikely to outperform the Sigma because it was at a lower price point. As far as I can tell, Panasonic has not shown any MTF or any other way to evaluate the lens yet. I don't tend to watch youtube for lens reviews, so I have not seen those you mention yet. Obviously if you have a ton of 77mm filters and no 82mm filters, that will be a factor! But that could be for anything. What I meant is the difference is only 5mm. It is not exactly a huge difference in size.

[Babylonia]

vor 34 Minuten schrieb Stuart Richardson:

What I meant is the difference is only 5mm. It is not exactly a huge difference in size.

Indeed not a big difference, but for several accessories just "the border".
In past I used e.g. square and rectangular filter systems (gradual fading colours).
These systems "than" (e.g. filters made by "Cokin") are divided just by that particular filter tread dimensions of 77mm, as two different systems.
Although it must be said that gradual fading colour filters are no longer common, because nowadays you can do all that in post processing.

Today e.g. Lee start at 100mm filter dimensions.  https://leefilters.com/camera/

But still, polarisers and neutral density filters (8x - 64x - 1000x), one or the other system can make a huge price difference.
-

Edited May 20 by Babylonia

[JoshuaR]

Yeah, this is a tough one! 

I've been interested in the Sigma 28-70 for a while. I previously owned the Leica 24-70 and liked it a lot. I've enjoyed a few other Sigma lenses as well. And I like the small size, and the way the 28-70 looks on the camera.

On the other hand, it seems to me that 20-60 would be a more useful range to me, in an 'outdoor' lens, then 28-70. And I like the idea of better weather resistance. 

But, on yet another hand, I really like the way the Sigma 24-70 renders. Same for the Leica version. Its images look good alongside my M images. Whereas I was not happy with the Lumix 50 f/1.8 that I tried. And from what I can see online, I also like the way the Sigma 28-70 renders, whereas I wasn't too impressed with the pictures out of old, slow Panasonic 20-60. Maybe the new lens will be different—or maybe I just prefer the Sigma rendering, overall.

I'm in no rush to buy a standard zoom for my SL2-S—I've standardized on using my M-mount 50 Lux ASPH—but, if I were, I suspect I'd still go for the Sigma 28-70. Or just suck it up, size-wise, and go back to the Leica or Sigma 24-70.

[shefys]

@JoshuaR with 2.8 I can, in theory, just take one lens and use it during the night (yes, not great but doable vs f/4+). 20-60 wouldn't give me that and some reviews mentioned pretty bad distortion at 20mm. On the other side my experience with Sony 20-70 f/4 was great but i think it's a bit better quality than Panasonic lenses.

[helged]

Leica is coming with (another) Sigma sibling, the 24-70 f2.8: https://www.l-rumors.com/first-leaked-image-of-the-new-leica-28-70-f-2-8-lens-coming-on-june-12

[Virob]

9 hours ago, helged said:

Leica is coming with (another) Sigma sibling, the 24-70 f2.8: https://www.l-rumors.com/first-leaked-image-of-the-new-leica-28-70-f-2-8-lens-coming-on-june-12

I think you meant 28-70. I have the Sigma 28-70. I got it because it is small, light and inexpensive used. If the choice had been available at the time, I would have gone with the 24-60. A more useful range for my needs.

[shefys]

Just got 24-60 for my SL3 and it’s great. I think this is the lens I was waiting for

[shefys]

Before ordering Panasonic Lumix S 24-60mm f/2.8, I used to have a Sigma 24-70 Mark II on the SL2-s, and it was a very bulky combination. Also, I had a Sony 24-70 GMII on the A7RV and didn't like it much either. In both cases, the standard zoom was too bulky for me. I'm not even sure if it's about the weight, but maybe more about the dimensions—the length of the lens and/or the 82mm filter size. Neither one was balanced on the camera body, and I didn't like walking around with it. However, I did like Sigma's lock button to prevent zoom creep, which is not the case on the GMII.

In comparison, the Lumix S 24-60 is well balanced on the SL3 body, it is not long, and it takes 77mm filters (so happy I can reuse my Kase Revolution filters from my Fuji 16-55 days!). AF works fine but it's not like I need it for my everyday/landscape photos. For a bit of extra reach I do have Sigma 90mm. Really happy to have those extra 4mm on a wider side vs Sigma/Leica 28-70mm.

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[shefys]

uploaded few photos on Flickr and case you're interested in 24-60 samples. Also, on Glass you can explore photos by lens type - same photos there.