25/03/2026 7:00 pm
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Finally making the jump to an S5II for my trip to Tokyo next month and I'm honestly stuck on which Sigma glass to grab first. I've been looking at the 35mm f2 Contemporary because it's so tiny and fits the budget, but then I see the 35mm 1.4 Art for a bit more cash and I wonder if the extra stops are worth the massive weight jump. Also keep seeing people rave about the 65mm f2 for that weirdly perfect focal length but I'm worried it's too tight for street stuff. I've got about 700 bucks left in the gear fund so which of these Sigma primes actually gives the best bang for the buck without breaking my back on a 10-mile walking day...
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11
25/03/2026 7:00 pm
I actually bought the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for a trip last year and honestly, it was a mistake. I thought that extra stop would be life-changing for night shots but unfortunately the weight was just soul-crushing after three hours of walking. My shoulder was killing me and i ended up leaving it in the hotel room halfway through the trip. It just wasnt as good as expected when youre actually on the move...
- Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary: This is the real value king. Its tiny and the build is premium.
- Sigma 65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary: People rave about it but i had issues with it being way too tight for busy city streets. The I-series f2 primes are way better for Tokyo. You get that physical aperture ring and metal build without the bulk. Ngl, hauling the Art series around all day is a recipe for a bad time.
11
25/03/2026 8:05 pm
^ This. Also, it really depends on your needs for those tight Tokyo streets. If you have 700 bucks, you could actually snag two of the smaller I-series primes if you look at the used market or catch a sale. The Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is a decent option for the sweet spot between value and weight. It's built like a tank but doesnt weigh you down on a 10-mile day. Honestly, the f/2 vs f/1.4 difference is basically negligible for street shots when you're exhausted at 9 PM in Shinjuku. Consider the Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary too. Tokyo has these tiny narrow alleys where 35mm feels a bit cramped. If you grab the 35mm and have cash left, maybe hunt for a used Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary for compressed street views. It literally fits in a jacket pocket and works well for portraits. Mixing these little metal lenses is way more practical than lugging one giant Art lens that you'll eventually just leave in the hotel room.
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25/03/2026 7:25 pm
Saw this and wanted to chime in... technical trade-offs for the Art series arent always worth it for travel. I used the Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN Contemporary recently and its MTF charts are surprisingly sharp even wide open.
- 35mm f2: Light with a great tactile aperture ring.
- 65mm f2: Great bokeh, but be careful with the tight 24 degree angle of view on the Sigma 65mm f2 DG DN Contemporary in crowded streets. The f2 line gives the best optical density.
