Which do-it-all zoom lens?

[DonaldM]

Thanks for posting your experiences. Not many of us get to shoot with the top-tier Leica glass. I'd love to get a set of the APO primes, but it sounds like the 24-90 would be a great alternative. Have you ever used the 90-280?

Sorry, no I did not. I could try the APO lenses from a friend. Two or three of them: that is really heavy. If you want go light the 20-60 from Panasonic is not bad. I tried that on a LUMIX S52X and a Leica SL601.

 

[Babylonia]

I've been using an S5 and 20-60 for two years now almost only for Time-Lapse work. Never used a more expensive L-mount lens, only old Nikon glass. My work mostly ends up on YouTube in 4k, with all the compression. Would more expensive glass make any difference you think?

Well, for the purpose of Time-Lapse work - YouTube 4K, I doubt that you ever see the differences in using more expensive L-mount lenses.
Time-laps - more or less you can compare to a kind of "video" / movie.
Separate images are shown in such a short time, afterwards changing to another image.
That "viewers" (people looking the time-laps video) never have the time / see the individual optical short comings.

Maybe if a lens have serious flare and ghosting problems under extreme lighting conditions, it shall be noticed.
But these short comings "artistically" seen, also can have its charm.

Just check to "pause" a normal video. So you only do see "one" image for a more long time.
You shall be shocked, how bad such an image is looking, quality wise.

If you have doubt, just rent or borrow an L-mount lens (if there is a possibility) for some days to get more experience in what it brings to you.
-

 

[Markuswelder]

Lol. My do-it-all zoom lens lasted about 500 meters yesterday, before it turned into a prime. I'm a bit addicted to my my Lumix 18mm F1.8 it would appear Climbed about 800 meters elevation, carried the camera in hand the whole way up & back, that's why I'm not that keen on a chunky monster. I nearly turned back here. Ha ha ha, not a chance.

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• 18.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/100 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 100

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• 18.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/160 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 100

• Panasonic - DC-S5
• 18.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/80 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 100

 

[NerdyTimelapser]

Well, for the purpose of Time-Lapse work - YouTube 4K, I doubt that you ever see the differences in using more expensive L-mount lenses.
Time-laps - more or less you can compare to a kind of "video" / movie.
Separate images are shown in such a short time, afterwards changing to another image.
That "viewers" (people looking the time-laps video) never have the time / see the individual optical short comings.

Maybe if a lens have serious flare and ghosting problems under extreme lighting conditions, it shall be noticed.
But these short comings "artistically" seen, also can have its charm.

Just check to "pause" a normal video. So you only do see "one" image for a more long time.
You shall be shocked, how bad such an image is looking, quality wise.

If you have doubt, just rent or borrow an L-mount lens (if there is a possibility) for some days to get more experience in what it brings to you.
-

Thanks for your elaborate reply! I have been trying so many things for YouTube not to destroy my footage, but the compression is just so aggressive.
For some time I really wanted a 24-105 for more versatility and a bit better image quality, but I'm also afraid YouTube will eat up any possible quality difference with the 20-60. In practice I'm almost always in the 20-28 range, so more reach isn't that important for me I found out (while I love the wider bit). The 20-60 also controls flares really well, which is great since I do many sunsets.
The last 3 weeks I've been traveling abroad and pretty much walking around all day with a bag containing my S5, 20-60, travel tripod, filters, Manfrotto super clamp, power bank, bottle of water and tilt/shift adapter with Nikon 50mm. So happy the S5 and 20-60 are relatively small and light! I am considering a Lumix 14-28 though now, that might be the perfect single lens for me since quite some times I wanted to go wider . So nice there are different lenses for everyone's needs!

 

[Markuswelder]

I am considering a Lumix 14-28 though now, that might be the perfect single lens for me since quite some times I wanted to go wider . So nice there are different lenses for everyone's needs!

If, like me, you love shooting wide, the Lumix S 14-28mm would be a brilliant choice. I'm currently in China, I brought my recently purchased Lumix S 18mm F1.8 with me so I could claim back the sales Tax, but I would have no hesitation in bringing just the 14-28mm as an only lens. I was in New Zealand for 3 weeks or so earlier this year, the 14-28mm hardly came off the camera.
As I wrote, If I could only take one lens, the 14-28mm would be my choice. I even took it swimming with me, there's a thread on here about that So versatile, it's weather sealed, light, small and compact, sharp, and not stupid slow. Highly, highly recommended.

 

[NerdyTimelapser]

If, like me, you love shooting wide, the Lumix S 14-28mm would be a brilliant choice. I'm currently in China, I brought my recently purchased Lumix S 18mm F1.8 with me so I could claim back the sales Tax, but I would have no hesitation in bringing just the 14-28mm as an only lens. I was in New Zealand for 3 weeks or so earlier this year, the 14-28mm hardly came off the camera.
As I wrote, If I could only take one lens, the 14-28mm would be my choice. I even took it swimming with me, there's a thread on here about that So versatile, it's weather sealed, light, small and compact, sharp, and not stupid slow. Highly, highly recommended.

Yeah it sounds amazing, gonna have a look at your threads, thanks!