Autumn is in full swing for photo material desires.
I recklessly went ahead and bought the LUMIX S1IIE, but then I went and bought the rumored high-power zoom SIGMA 20-200mm DG F3.5-6.3 too.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I agonized quite a bit over this choice compared to the telephoto LUMIX S Pro 70-200 F4 or its native rival, the LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1. The former boasts impressive performance but is too heavy for me; the latter offers advantages like being lightweight, compact, and having image stabilization, but its wide-angle range is limited and its resolution performance is slightly inferior. I talked myself into this, and in the end, I made the decision, cutting off my hesitation.
Making the decision was tough, but honestly, finding the money was even tougher. Phew.
Anyway, here it is in all its glory, alongside the S1IIE.
I acquired the L-mount version, but since this lens is also available for the FE mount—which has an overwhelmingly larger user base—reviews across various sites highlight:
1) Covers ultra-wide 20mm
2) Lightweight at 550g
3) Sufficient resolution performance across the entire range
4) Close focusing capability (half-macro at standard focal lengths)
These features earned it praise as “high-performance and high-functionality that sets it apart from conventional high-power zooms,” creating a bit of a boom.
My biggest current concern is whether it can deliver image quality comparable to the standard LUMIX S 24-105mm F4, which I’ve relied on. If it can, I might switch my primary gear. I’m dreaming of having extra space and weight allowance in my bag, packing one or two bright prime lenses into the gaps to compensate for its “darkness” weakpoint. That way, I could go on photo walks ready for anything – wide, telephoto, low light.
But if there’s still a noticeable gap compared to the “Little Trinity,” then I’ll keep my main gear unchanged. The SIGMA 20-200mm will become a helper for when I need telephoto reach and a travel companion for when I want to lighten my load. That’s within my expectations, and that’s perfectly fine too.
I’ll gradually proceed with test shots and comparative evaluations.
