Belize Travel Photography Guide: Minimalist Camera Gear and Packing Tips

Leica M11 Digital Rangefinder Camera

David Saylors 9/23/23 David Saylors 9/23/23

A day out with Aaron in Chattanooga

It was time...

We have not gathered to shoot photos in quite some time now so Aaron found there was a beard competition happening in Chattanooga and decided to make his way down for it.

It was time...

We have not gathered to shoot photos in quite some time now so Aaron found there was a beard competition happening in Chattanooga and decided to make his way down for it.

The Setup: What I Shot With

For this day out with Aaron, I kept my setup simple:

Camera: Leica SL2 (full-frame mirrorless) Lens: Leica 50mm APO-Summicron Mode: Aperture priority with -2/3 exposure compensation ISO: Auto (probably ranged between 200-800) Settings: Wide open or close to it (f/2 to f/4 for subject separation)

Aaron was shooting with his new Nikon Z8, and we kept comparing how our cameras metered the scenes differently. The Leica wanted to overexpose about 2/3 stop compared to his Nikon, which meant I had to dial in negative exposure compensation the whole time. This is something you learn when shooting different camera systems together!

The SL2 is heavy (like really heavy compared to smaller mirrorless cameras or rangefinders), but it makes stunning images and the build quality is tank-like. I don't baby it on the streets, which is exactly how a street camera should be used!

Aaron Lyfe wtih the Nikon Z8 Chattanooga Leica SL2 street photography Aaron photowalk — Shot with Leica SL2 and 50mm during our Chattanooga day out with Aaron at the beard competition.

When he arrived we spent the evening playing with stuff (his new Z8 in particular) and catching up. But then it was off to bed so we could get up and start our big day of photography.

The next morning comes around and we down some coffee and make a plan to meet up about lunchtime as I had to go to our Church’s Association as a delegate. Seems I made a mistake and assumed I didn’t need to go… lol, I see what that got me. Anyway, I really enjoy Association so it wasn’t like a chore, it meant changing plans a little from the original plans for the day.

So after I finish with business at association, I head over to the Harley Davidson dealership which is where the beard competition is being held. There I find Aaron is short order and it is really crowded. He basically tells me to get my camera out and take a picture with it so I sheepishly do as I am told.

Beard competition Harley Davidson Chattanooga Leica SL2 event photography — The beard competition at Harley Davidson in Chattanooga. This event was perfect for breaking down personal barriers to photographing strangers! People were there to be seen and photographed, making it easy practice for someone like me who's normally shy with the camera. Shot with Leica SL2 + 50mm.

Bearded man portrait Chattanooga beard competition Leica SL2 street photography — This fellow was more than happy to pose for me at the beard competition! Events like this are perfect for overcoming shyness in street photography because people expect cameras and are happy to participate. Shot with Leica SL2 and 50mm. The afternoon light gave great contrast for portraits like this!

Beard competition crowd atmosphere Harley Davidson Chattanooga Leica SL2 photography — The atmosphere at the beard competition was incredible! Crowded but friendly, with people everywhere happy to get their photos taken. Aaron was right when he told me to just get my camera out and shoot. Sometimes you need that push from a friend! Leica SL2 + 50mm, aperture priority mode.

You see I am not very aggressive with my photography especially when it involves people. I will ask at times but most of the time, this is why I don’t shoot aggressive street stuff. So now I am starting to get some photos and it is exactly as he mentioned. People happy to get their photos captured are everywhere. Like this fellow below, he was more than happy to pose for me. I will be honest, this kind of event is the perfect thing to break down your personal barriers to shooting photos of people you don’t know.

Women beard competition Chattanooga Leica SL2 event photography fun — Even the girls got in on the fun at the beard competition! Not everyone there had a beard, lol. Shot with Leica SL2 + 50mm at Harley Davidson in Chattanooga. This is why I love event photography as practice for street work!

Why Events Are Perfect for Shy Street Photographers

I mentioned I'm not very aggressive with my photography, especially when it involves people. This is something a lot of photographers struggle with! We want to capture candid moments and interesting people, but we don't want to be intrusive or make anyone uncomfortable.

Events like the beard competition are the perfect training ground because:

People expect cameras. They're there to be seen and photographed, so you're not the weird person with a camera. You're just another photographer at an event.

Subjects are willing. Most people will happily pose if you ask, and many will even seek you out to get their photo taken. This builds your confidence!

Low stakes. If someone says no or looks uncomfortable, there are dozens of other subjects around. You're not losing a once-in-a-lifetime shot.

Practice makes perfect. The more you shoot people at events, the more comfortable you get approaching strangers in regular street situations.

Aaron's advice was simple: "Get your camera out and take a picture with it." Sounds obvious, but when you're standing there feeling shy, you need someone to tell you it's okay to just shoot!

Start with events. Work up to regular street photography. Your shyness will fade as your confidence grows! Back to the story in progress…

Well the beard competition winds down about 3 or so in the afternoon and we decide to rearrange the rest of the day to shoot some street photography in downtown and also to go have supper at a great Italian restaurant later on.

The streets of Chattanooga were busier than usual with it being a holiday weekend but it still wasnt really bad where we went for our walk.

Mural reflected light alley Chattanooga street photography Leica SL2 afternoon light — We found this mural with light reflecting from the building across the alley and it was just something we couldn't pass up! This is what afternoon light does in downtown Chattanooga. The light spill creates scenes you don't get at other times of day. Leica SL2 + 50mm on our photowalk route through Main and Broad Streets.

We started on Main Street and then headed down Market Street to about 7th where we turned over to Broad Street and then back towards Main eventually diverting over to Cowart street before arriving at the truck.

So now you have the route, let see what we got. I kept joking about channeling my inner Eggleston as I would take photos of the mundane. Another thing I have learned is my Leica wants to shoot about 2/3 stop over exposed compared to my friends Nikon cameras. I kept -2/3 stop exposure compensation dialed in the whole time. I did this to keep the sky from being blown out as the shadows would be dark due to the bright afternoon sun. I will dig into the setup on my camera more to see if I can find out why it is doing that.

Tivoli theater marque shot with the Leica SL2 and the 50mm Summicron L — The Tivoli Theater is an iconic landmark in downtown Chattanooga Tennessee and never disappoints for a photograph.

Along the way we saw a lot of cool stuff to photograph, like in the images below where it is different light so the images come out different from my usual time of day. With the light further over to the west we kept getting these awesome light spill shots like the one below of the old Rone Regency Jewelers location. This location will be sorely missed by me when they finally do something with this building. I love the gritty nature of the old signage and it wasn’t long ago that the windows were not boarded up so you could actually see inside the store. Even so, the black painted plywood makes a nice contrast to the lighter color of the upper section of the building bringing balance to the image.

Rone Regency Jewelers building Chattanooga boarded windows street photography Leica SL2 — The old Rone Regency Jewelers location with afternoon light spilling across the facade. This location will be sorely missed by me when they finally do something with this building. I love the gritty nature of the old signage! The black painted plywood makes a nice contrast to the lighter color of the upper section, bringing balance to the image. Shot with Leica SL2 + 50mm Summicron on our downtown Chattanooga photowalk with Aaron.

We also found a few people to photograph as well. It was not quite as busy as I had figured it would be for a holiday weekend in the downtown area, but there were a few people out and about and I was able to grab a few photos of them. The Leica SL2 is a great camera for this kind of photography as it makes stunning portraits as well as makes for a wonderful, albeit heavy, street camera.

Why Afternoon Light Changed Everything

I usually shoot at different times of day (mid-morning usually), so this late afternoon session was different for me. With the sun further over to the west, we kept getting these awesome, direct sun light spill shots that I don't normally see.

What made afternoon light special:

Hard shadows: The bright afternoon sun created strong shadows and high contrast. Great for black and white or dramatic color shots.

Light spill: Buildings reflecting light into alleys and onto other buildings. This is what made the Rone Regency Jewelers shot work so well!

Window light: Storefronts and windows become light sources, creating interesting reflections and secondary lighting.

Challenge mode: Protecting highlights meant I had to underexpose a bit (-2/3 stop), which made shadows darker. This forced me to look for scenes that worked with that contrast.

Different light means different photos. Don't just shoot at the same time every day! Mix it up and see what you discover.

Chattanooga photowalk with Aaron SEPT 2023 Leica SL2 50mm-2.jpg

Chattanooga photowalk with Aaron SEPT 2023 Leica SL2 50mm-4.jpg

Chattanooga photowalk with Aaron SEPT 2023 Leica SL2 50mm-9.jpg

Chattanooga photowalk with Aaron SEPT 2023 Leica SL2 50mm-13.jpg

All in all we had a great time and then even got to go eat wonderful Italian cuisine later too. What more could you ask for? Well, there is one more thing I could ask for…

Lightroom Classic… I did it, I went over to the dark side and installed Lightroom back on my system again. It has the power to edit like I need finally and I kept running into problems that Exposure couldn’t easily solve for me so it was time to upgrade…or move over laterally to or what ever you call it…So going forward, I will be learning how to use Lightroom to edit my photos…wish me luck.

If you want to see more abotu this day, I made a vlog cideo about the photowalk portion of the day and it can be watched here.

Youtube link to vlog

What I Look For in Street Photography

During the photowalk, Aaron joked about me "channeling my inner Eggleston" as I photographed mundane things. But that's what street photography is about! Here's some of the things that I look for:

Light: Always first. How is the light hitting the subject? Is there interesting shadow play? Is it spilling from one building to another?

Layers: Foreground, midground, background. The best street photos have depth and multiple elements working together.

People: Not always necessary, but human presence adds scale and story. Even just a silhouette or someone walking through the frame.

Color or contrast: Bright colors that pop, or strong black and white contrast. Something that makes the eye stop.

Geometry: Leading lines, patterns, shapes, architecture. The bones of a good composition.

Moments: Candid expressions, interesting gestures, unexpected juxtapositions.

The mundane: Everyday things that become interesting when you isolate them with your camera.

Don't overthink it! Just walk and shoot what catches your eye. You can analyze it later when you're editing. Then you can take inventory of what you shoot the most and see if those images have some meaning or if it is just what you like to shoot…either way, it is good to get out and shoot photos so go have some fun.

Frequently Asked Questions About Street Photography and Chattanooga Photowalks

How do you overcome shyness when photographing strangers?

Honestly, I still struggle with this! I'm not aggressive with my photography, especially when people are involved. I'll ask permission sometimes, but most of the time I just shoot what feels natural without getting in people's faces. What helped at the beard competition was that people were already there to be seen and photographed. They were happy to pose! Events like this are perfect for breaking down those personal barriers to shooting photos of people you don't know. Start with events where people expect cameras, then work your way up to regular street photography. Aaron's advice of "get your camera out and take a picture with it" is the best cure for shyness, even if it feels awkward at first!

What's the best time of day for street photography in downtown Chattanooga?

The afternoon worked great for us! With the sun further over to the west, we kept getting these awesome light spill shots bouncing off buildings. The light was different from my usual shooting times, and it created some really interesting shadows and contrasts. Late afternoon (around 3-5pm) gives you that warm golden light that looks great for both architecture and people. Early morning works too, but afternoons tend to have more people out and about, which is what you want for street photography. Avoid harsh midday sun if you can, unless you're going for high-contrast black and white work!

What's a good street photography route in downtown Chattanooga?

The route Aaron and I took worked really well: Start on Main Street, head down Market Street to about 7th, turn over to Broad Street, then back towards Main, and eventually divert over to Cowart Street. This gives you a good mix of architecture, street scenes, and people. You'll pass old buildings like the Rone Regency Jewelers location (which has great gritty signage), modern storefronts, alleys with interesting light, and public spaces where people gather. The whole loop is maybe 2-3 miles depending on how much you wander, perfect for a couple hours of shooting!

Is the Leica SL2 too heavy for street photography?

Yes and no, lol. The SL2 is definitely heavy compared to smaller mirrorless cameras or rangefinders. But it makes stunning portraits and the image quality is just incredible. I kept it paired with just the 50mm lens to keep things simple. Is it the "ideal" street camera? Probably not if you're walking all day. But does it work? Absolutely! The weight actually helps stabilize handheld shots, and the build quality means I don't baby it. If you've got one, use it for street photography. Don't let the weight stop you. Your shoulders might complain, but the photos will be worth it!

Why was your Leica exposing differently than Aaron's Nikon?

Great question! I noticed my Leica SL2 wants to shoot about 2/3 stop overexposed compared to Aaron's Nikon cameras. I kept -2/3 stop exposure compensation dialed in the whole time to keep the sky from being blown out. The shadows would be dark anyway due to the bright afternoon sun, so I was protecting the highlights. Different camera brands meter scenes differently, and Leica tends to be a bit generous with exposure to preserve shadow detail. This is something you learn when shooting with multiple camera systems. Just dial in the compensation and keep shooting! I need to dig into my camera setup more to see if there's a metering mode that matches my shooting style better.

What camera settings do you use for street photography?

For this photowalk with the Leica SL2, I was shooting mostly in aperture priority mode with the 50mm lens. I kept -2/3 exposure compensation dialed in (as mentioned above). ISO was probably auto, and I let the camera pick the shutter speed. For street photography, I like to shoot wide open or close to it (f/2 to f/4) to get that subject separation, but I'll stop down if I need more depth of field. The key is to keep your settings simple so you're reacting to moments, not fiddling with dials. Set it and forget it, then just focus on composition and timing!

Can you photograph people at public events without permission?

At events like the beard competition where people are specifically there to show off and be seen? Yes! Most people were happy to be photographed and many posed for us. That said, I still try to be respectful. If someone looks uncomfortable or waves me off, I move on. For regular street photography, it's trickier. I generally don't ask permission before shooting (it kills the moment), but if someone objects after I've taken their photo, I delete it. Know your local laws, be respectful, and don't be creepy. Events are the easiest place to start because people expect cameras!

What makes a good subject for street photography?

Honestly? Almost anything! During the photowalk I kept joking about channeling my inner Eggleston as I would take photos of the mundane. Look for interesting light (like that spill on the Rone Regency Jewelers building), patterns, textures, people doing everyday things, architectural details, reflections, shadows... anything that catches your eye. Don't overthink it. I shot everything from bearded bikers to boarded-up buildings to random street corners. The beauty of street photography is finding the interesting in the ordinary. Just walk around and let things reveal themselves to you!

Should I shoot RAW or JPEG for street photography?

I shoot RAW because I like having the flexibility in post-processing. For this shoot, I ended up using Lightroom Classic to edit (I went back to the "dark side" after trying to use Exposure, lol). RAW gives me the power to recover highlights, lift shadows, and adjust colors the way I want them. That said, if you're comfortable with your camera's JPEG processing and you don't want to spend time editing, shoot JPEG! The best format is the one that gets you shooting. Street photography is about being out there capturing moments, not agonizing over file formats!

How do you choose which photos to keep from a street photography session?

I wish I had a good systematic answer for this, lol. Honestly, I just go through them and keep the ones that speak to me. Does the composition work? Is the light interesting? Did I capture a genuine moment or expression? Is there something about the image that makes me want to look at it again? I'm pretty ruthless in culling, especially with street photography where you might shoot hundreds of frames. If it doesn't grab me immediately, it gets deleted. The photos I shared in this post were the ones that stood out when I was editing. Trust your gut, and don't be afraid to delete mediocre shots. Only keep the good stuff!

BONUS QUESTION: What's the best way to learn street photography?

Go out with a friend like Aaron who will tell you to "get your camera out and take a picture with it"! Seriously, having a photography buddy makes a huge difference. You push each other, share ideas, and it's way less awkward than being alone with a camera on the street. Start with events (like the beard competition) where cameras are expected, then work up to regular street shooting. Use a simple setup (one camera, one lens), set your camera to aperture priority or full manual, and just walk. Don't overthink it. The best teacher is just getting out there and shooting. Oh, and watch Aaron's work or other street photographers you admire, but then go do your own thing. Your style will develop over time!

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Sigma 90mm F2.8 DG DN for L Mount

Thanks for stopping by, now get your camera out and go take a photo or two with it!

David Saylors 9/16/23 David Saylors 9/16/23

Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN Review: Leica Quality for $600 (L-Mount)

This is the second of two Sigma lens reviews I have done recently and this lens is no slouch either. The 90mm f2.8 DG DN Sigma lens is a very well made little prime lens and this particular copy is for the L mount for Leica and Panasonic cameras. I am sure Sigma makes this lens for other lens mounts as well, but I dont have that list with me so I cant speculate past that.

Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN: Technical Specifications

Before we dive into the hands-on experience, here are the specs:

Optical Design:

Focal length: 90mm
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Minimum aperture: f/22
Aperture blades: 9 (rounded for smooth bokeh)

Physical Specs:

Mount: L-mount (Leica SL/CL, Panasonic S-series)
Filter size: 55mm
Length: 2.4 inches (61.6mm)
Weight: 10.4 oz (295g)
Minimum focus distance: 19.7 inches (50cm)

Construction:

All-metal barrel
Aperture ring with 1/3 stop detents
AF/MF switch on lens barrel
Weather sealing: No (one downside vs Leica)

Price:

Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN: ~$600
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH: ~$5,395

Yeah, that's not a typo. The Leica costs nine times more than the Sigma. Let's see if that price difference is justified!

What is 90mm Good For? Use Cases and Focal Length

If you're not familiar with 90mm as a focal length, let me explain why this is such a useful lens to have:

Portrait Photography: 90mm is a classic portrait focal length! It gives you nice compression, flattering perspective, and enough working distance that you're not right in your subject's face. The f/2.8 aperture provides good subject separation without going overboard. This is what I'd grab for environmental portraits where I want context but still want the subject to stand out.

Street Photography: At 90mm, you get compressed perspective that makes street scenes feel more intimate. You can shoot from across the street without being obvious, and the focal length picks out details in a way that 35mm or 50mm just can't. It's not a run-and-gun street lens, but for deliberate composition? It's great!

Detail Work: Need to photograph architectural details, signage, or anything where you want isolation without getting too close? 90mm is perfect. I use this focal length all the time for documenting buildings and urban details in Chattanooga.

What 90mm is NOT good for: Wide landscapes (too narrow), group photos in tight spaces (you'll run out of room to back up), and anything requiring fast reaction (it's a slower, more deliberate focal length). Know your lens's strengths!

Sigma 90mm f2.8 DG DN lens with lens hood L-mount Leica SL2 compact prime lens telephoto — The Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN with its lens hood attached. Notice how the hood is almost as big as the lens itself! This is a genuinely compact 90mm prime lens.

In the photo below you can see how small the lens actually is. The lens hood takes up almost as much space as the lens itself. That is crazy! With the all metal construction and well made optical formula, this lens is also punching up as they say.

Sigma 90mm lens size comparison showing compact barrel next to large lens hood L-mount prime — Size comparison showing how small this lens actually is. The lens hood takes up almost as much space as the lens itself. That's crazy for a 90mm focal length! With all-metal construction and excellent optics, this little lens is punching way above its weight.

Some notable differences between the Sigma lens and my Leica counterparts are that the Sigma lens actually has an aperture ring on it that also has 1/3 stop detents. This is really nice as it allows manual aperture control to be basically mapped to a control surface that photogs are accustomed to using. If you want the usual camera control for the aperture, then simply turn the aperture ring to the “A” position and your ready to go. Ít couldn’t be simpler.

Sigma 90mm aperture ring with 1/3 stop detents manual aperture control L-mount lens feature — The aperture ring on the Sigma 90mm with 1/3 stop detents. This is a really nice feature that allows manual aperture control mapped to a control surface photographers are already used to. Turn it to "A" for camera-controlled aperture. Simple and intuitive!

The next thing they did on the lens that I am not so sure I like yet is to put a switch to choose between manual and automatic focus. The Leica lenses use a software control to do this and it is pretty simple to implement and once you get used to doing it that way it really is a good system. There are less openings in the lens to let water in and the control is right they with the various auto focus modes all in one spot. The Sigma system has you choose manual or auto on the lens and then if you choose auto, you have to further goto the software and choose the automatic mode you want. It makes choosing autofocus a two step affair. This is probably just a user issue where I lack practice with the lens, but this seems a little clumsy compared to the Leica process. It is possible that Leica didn’t share all the tech needed to make this happen, I don’t know, but like I said I am on the fence on this one.

Sigma 90mm autofocus manual focus switch on lens barrel L-mount focus mode selection — The AF/MF switch on the lens barrel. This is the one design choice I'm not sold on yet. Leica lenses use software control for focus modes in one step. The Sigma requires you to switch here first, then choose the AF mode in the camera menu. It's a two-step process that feels clumsy compared to Leica's system. Still works fine, just takes getting used to!

Lastly is image quality. The Sigma has it. It produces sharp, distortion free images with good color and exposure. What more can I say here? It really is amazing what you get for the price. These lenses can run with the big boys, in my opinion, just fine. If you pixel peep deep enough you might find fault in them, but only photographers do that. The normal person never digs into the corners or zooms into 500% on a photo so I am not going to rate this lens like that either. The photos look wonderful…just look at the ones below.

Sample Photos: What This Lens Can Do

Let me show you what this lens can actually produce in real-world use. These are all shot with the Sigma 90mm f/2.8 on my Leica SL2:

Sample photo taken with Sigma 90mm f2.8 on Leica SL2 showing sharpness color rendering street photography — Sample photo shot with the Sigma 90mm f/2.8 on my Leica SL2. Look at the sharpness, color rendering, and contrast! This lens produces distortion-free images with excellent detail. What more can you ask for at this price point?

Look at the sharpness across the frame! The colors are accurate without being oversaturated, the bokeh is smooth and not distracting, and the compression at 90mm makes these compositions work. The first photo shows how this lens handles contrast and detail in mixed lighting. The second demonstrates subject isolation at f/2.8. The third shows color rendering in challenging light.

This is what you're getting for $600. Not "budget lens performance." This is legitimate high-quality glass that happens to cost less than the Leica equivalent.

One thing to note: these photos weren't babied. I was shooting handheld in various lighting conditions, some shots were wide open at f/2.8, and I didn't do any special post-processing beyond my normal workflow. This is real-world performance, not controlled test charts!

Sigma 90mm sample image showing bokeh subject isolation portrait quality Leica SL2 photography — Another example of what this lens can do. The 90mm focal length gives you nice compression and the f/2.8 aperture provides good subject separation. The bokeh is smooth and not distracting. This is Leica-quality glass at a fraction of the cost!

Real world photography sample Sigma 90mm lens review demonstrating image quality color accuracy — More proof that the Sigma 90mm delivers excellent image quality in real-world use. Colors are accurate without being oversaturated, detail is sharp across the frame, and the lens handles mixed lighting well. These aren't test charts, this is actual photography!

Sigma 90mm f2.8 DG DN sample photo Chattanooga street photography demonstrating lens capabilities — Final sample showing the Sigma 90mm's capabilities. Shot handheld in Chattanooga during a block party. The lens is sharp, colors look great, and the compression at 90mm makes the composition work. If you want great glass at a fraction of Leica's price, this lens is the ticket!

Sigma vs Leica: Is the Price Difference Worth It?

Let's address the elephant in the room: Leica makes a 90mm lens for L-mount. The Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH costs about $5,400. The Sigma costs $600. That's a $4,800 difference.

What do you get for that extra $4,800?

The Leica advantages:

One stop faster (f/2 vs f/2.8)
APO designation (apochromatic correction, minimal chromatic aberration)
Legendary Leica color rendering and micro-contrast
Full weather sealing
Leica brand prestige (if that matters to you)
Probably slightly sharper wide open (though the Sigma is already sharp!)

The Sigma advantages:

Costs $600 instead of $5,400
Still produces excellent images (as you can see from my samples!)
Aperture ring with detents (Leica's is clickless)
Compact and lightweight
You save $4,800 that you can spend on other lenses or, you know, food!

My take: If you're a professional portrait photographer who needs f/2 and perfect optical performance for paying clients? Maybe the Leica is worth it. If you're a Leica SL2 shooter who wants excellent 90mm performance without spending a small fortune? The Sigma is absolutely the right choice.

I'd rather have the Sigma 90mm f/2.8 plus a Sigma 35mm and 65mm for the same price as one Leica 90mm. That's three lenses versus one! Unless you're chasing that last 5% of optical perfection, the Sigma is the smart buy.

Pros, Cons, and Who Should Buy the Sigma 90mm f/2.8

Let me break down the good and the not-so-good about this lens:

What I Love (Pros):

Image quality is excellent: Sharp, great color, minimal distortion
Compact size: Fits easily in a bag, lens hood is bigger than the lens!
Aperture ring with detents: Manual aperture control feels great
All-metal construction: Feels solid and well-made
Price: $600 vs $5,400 for the Leica equivalent
Real f/2.8: Not a variable aperture zoom, consistent light gathering

What I Don't Love (Cons):

Two-step focus mode selection: AF/MF switch on lens PLUS software menu selection feels clumsy compared to Leica's one-step software control
Only f/2.8: If you need f/2, you'll have to step up to the Leica (and pay 9x more)
No weather sealing: Leica lenses are weather sealed, this isn't
Learning curve: Takes some getting used to if you're coming from Leica's system

Who Should Buy This Lens:

Leica SL2 or Panasonic S-series shooters on a budget
Portrait photographers who want 90mm without spending $5,000+
Anyone building an L-mount lens kit and prioritizing value
Street photographers who like compressed perspective
Photographers who appreciate manual aperture rings

Who Should Skip This Lens:

People who absolutely need f/2 or faster
Photographers who require weather sealing for their work
Anyone who already owns the Leica 90mm f/2 (obviously!)
Wide-angle shooters (this isn't your lens!)

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Final Thoughts

So in conclusion, if you want great glass at a fraction of the cost of Leica, this lens is just the ticket. Sigma has done a complete 180 from the last time I used one over a decade ago and that makes me happy.

Here's my bottom line: The Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN is the lens Leica SL2 shooters should buy if they can't justify $5,400 for the Leica version. And honestly? Most people can't and shouldn't justify that price difference. The Sigma produces excellent images, feels solid, and costs less than many Leica lens hoods!

The only real downsides are the two-step focus mode selection (which is a user interface annoyance, not a deal-breaker) and the lack of weather sealing. If those don't bother you, this lens is a no-brainer for L-mount shooters.

Sigma has seriously stepped up their game in recent years. I remember using Sigma lenses a decade ago and being underwhelmed. These new DG DN lenses for mirrorless mounts? They're competitive with first-party glass at a fraction of the price. This is exactly what the L-mount system needs—excellent third-party options that don't compromise on quality.

Would I rather have the Leica 90mm f/2? Sure, if someone else is paying for it! But would I rather have the Sigma 90mm plus four other Sigma primes for the same money? Absolutely. That's the math that makes sense for most photographers.

Now get your camera out and go take a picture with it!

David Saylors 8/26/23 David Saylors 8/26/23

Canterbury Pilgrimage AAR: 2-Week Hike from Winchester to Canterbury (England)

When my friend Kelly first mentioned hiking the Canterbury Pilgrimage, I'll admit I was skeptical. I'd never done a long-distance hike before, and two weeks walking across England seemed ambitious at best. But Teresa and I said yes anyway, and that decision led to one of the most memorable adventures of my life.

The Canterbury Pilgrimage follows the historic Pilgrims Way from Winchester to Canterbury, the same route immortalized in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Over two weeks in June of 2023, we hiked through some of the most beautiful countryside England has to offer, stayed in quaint villages, explored ancient churches, and learned valuable lessons about packing light, staying hydrated, and stopping to smell the flowers.

This is our complete guide to the Canterbury Pilgrimage, including planning, packing, daily experiences, gear that worked (and didn't), and practical lessons for anyone considering this trek.

Teresa on the Pilgrims Way or AKA The Canterbury Pilgrimage in southern England

Planning Our Canterbury Pilgrimage: How It Started

When I first heard about this I was intrigued to say the least. I had never really considered doing a pilgrimage before or even doing extended length hiking trips of any kind. Enter Kelly, a lifelong friend and adventurer(she married one of my best friends in high school and was in our Dungeons and Dragons group). She tells of this adventure in England where she was planning to hike from town to town and follow the original Pilgrims Way laid out in the Canterbury Tales as well as a few notable stops while in London as well. (We also saw The Phantom of the Opera while in London!)

Well, us being the adventurous types that we are, we asked if there was room in the group for us too! As it turned out, the three of us would be the WHOLE group which actually worked out really well. So we started planning the adventure of a lifetime.

Our friend Kelly working her way through a "kissing gate" amid a veritable sea of Stinging Nettle while on the Canterbury Pilgrimage — Our friend Kelly working her way through a "kissing gate" amid a veritable sea of Stinging Nettle!

Packing Light: The Backpack-Only Strategy

We decided early on to only bring what we could carry in our backpacks. Gone would be the "checked bag" at the airport as well as bringing computers and the associated baggage required for their operations. This actually made the airport part of the journey very easy as we didn't have to stand in lines for the check bag counter nor did we have to deal with baggage claim at all. It was very liberating to be honest.

The first thing we decided to do was limit our equipment to what we could carry in our respective backpacks. This eliminated a literal mountain of gear that we had deemed needed but optional. It also made the journey much nicer. We finally decided on a couple of changes of clothes, I took a small amount of camera gear in a dry bag (since it rains in the UK a lot), and a water bottle. We would pick up snacks along the way and add that to our loadout as we needed it.

lightweight travel concept of only taking what fits in a backpack and nothing more is very liberating. — Lightweight travel concept of only taking what fits in a backpack and nothing more is very liberating.

This also generated another benefit with our travel: the airport processing got A LOT simpler this way. We literally didn't check anything, so we just went through the TSA checkpoint and carried our packs right to the gate. Our hands were free to do things like buy coffee or get out credit cards! It made traveling so much less stressful to be quite honest that I might be adjusting my future travel to operate in this mode. You never lose your luggage as you walk onto the plane with it and it fits into the overhead space without issue... every time. This was glorious for me as I worry about the luggage making it to the same place as me or even worse, not arriving at all.

Just consider this a travel hack that actually works if you can live without all the stuff in your check bag…

Camera Gear for 2 Weeks of Travel Photography

Since we had decided to travel so light, I took a hard look at the camera kit I would use on the trip as well. I whittled it down to just the Leica CL, the TTartisan 17mm f1.4 L mount lens and the 35mm f0.95 L mount lens. That's it, no other gear whatsoever. Well... there were batteries and a charger, but you get the point here. So I quickly learned that I liked the 17mm in London and then once we got to Winchester I switched to the 35mm and left it in place almost the rest of the trip. To be honest, I could have left he 17mm at home and it would have been fine…lesson learned.

The author with the Leica CL mirrorless camera and the TTArtisan 35mm f0.95 lens on the Pilgrim's Way

For this trip I decided to travel light so I took my Leica CL and two prime lenses: the 17mm f1.4 and the 35mm f0.95 prime lens. Turned out I wished I had taken the 35mm f1.4 as it is smaller and lighter than the 0.95 aperture lens and would have saved me some weight. I don't know if I even once opened up to f0.95 on this trip, even at night. I just didn't need it, so it was wasteful to bring it.

I took a dry bag to protect the camera gear since it rains in the UK a lot. Smart decision, as we did hit some wet weather!

Mystery Ranch Backpack Review: 25-30 Pounds, No Back Pain

As for hiking gear, my loadout for this trip was as follows: I had a full change of clothes plus extra socks, I also took my phone charging gear, a Katadyn water filter as I was not sure if I would have ready access to clean water. Sometimes you don't have that access to be honest, and I wished I had taken another water bottle as well... I took a single Nalgene quart water bottle, a ziplock bag of snacks from the grocery store, a rain coat, and my dry bag with my camera gear in it, and that’s it.

I picked up a set of trekking poles in Winchester that I almost wore out by the end of the trip. My backpack that I used on this trip is a Mystery Ranch Pitch 40, which is actually geared toward rock climbing but worked just fine for this trip. I am going to take a moment here to point out that a really well-engineered backpack makes all the difference in the world. I was carrying about 25 to 30 pounds from day to day and my back was NEVER sore or painful from the pack, not even once. I can absolutely, and with certainty recommend Mystery Ranch backpacks after this trip. They work.

I never really understood how to properly use a backpack, but after using this one, I figured it out and got it dialed in. It is not really designed for this kind of trek, but rather it is engineered for route climbing and carrying rope and chalk and harnesses and such instead. I just used it anyway as it is what I had at the time. This didn’t seem to be a problem though as the load bearing system puts the load on your waist and not your shoulders. This is where people get things wrong because small bags and haversacks place the load on the shoulders and this causes fatigue unnecessarily. If you adjust your pack properly, you can carry it for hours and you will just be tired from the trekking and you will be sweaty from the physical workout, but your back will not hurt.

Arriving in London: Tourist Mode Before the Trek

Big Ben in London England is an incredible iconic landmark that is a must see if you are in London. We did the usual tour and then went for a walk, which is how I was able to get this photo with the Leica CL and the TTArtisan 35mm f0.95 lens.

Once in England we started in London where we did the usual tourist stuff for a couple of days ahead of starting the pilgrimage proper. This included a bus tour and a short trip to the British Museum as well. We even took in the Phantom of the Opera while in town. What a treat that was! I was wholly unprepared for the experience that is the Phantom of the Opera, totally worth it.

Sierra in London, travel photography merged with documentary photography with the Leica CL — The daughter went with us to visit London and to hand out with us for the first few days of the Canterbury Pilgrimage, even though she cheated…

Well, once on the ground in England we checked into our hotel and went for some food. What we found is that the food in the UK is... different... from what we are accustomed to here in the US. We had to adjust to this as it seemed that they have a very specific diet and do not vary from it for any reason. We joked about how for a country that conquered most of planet earth at one point for spices…. doesn’t know how to use them! I will never understand this whole “beans on (soggy) toast” thing either…

We spent the next couple of days being tourists in London for the sake of brevity, then we embarked on the mission to Winchester to start the pilgrimage. We saw all the usual stuff, like Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abby and such, but it was only for a day or so, then it was off to Winchester!

The fence outside the British Museum showcasing the iconic telephone booths in London.

Winchester Cathedral: The Official Start

Interior roof structure of Winchester Cathedral in Winchester England at the beginning of the Pilgrim's Way — Interior of Winchester Cathedral in Winchester England.

Once in Winchester we attended a service at Winchester cathedral and received a blessing from the priest before we started, which was a really nice touch to add to the whole experience to be honest. If you do this hike, I recommend attending a service at the cathedral even if you're not really religious and hear the boys choir. The singing is beautiful. It also just adds a little something special to the trip in my opinion. I think the evening service is called “Evensong” or something like that, it is beautiful. We also found an outfitter in town (who would have guessed that there would be a HIKING outfitter at one end of the Canterbury Pilgrimage? HaHa) and this is where we learned about the value of trekking poles and decided to get a couple of sets for me and Teresa. I am really glad we did too, they helped so much! I will not do long hikes without them anymore. Once you see how much they help with load distribution as well as balance, you will never want to hike without them again too.

Now the adventure officially begins…

Winchester to Arlesford (First Steps)

Well, we strike out and head for the next town and I must say at this point that the English countryside is absolutely gorgeous! We couldn't get over how everywhere we looked that it looked like a postcard! We walked by beautiful fields, streams and all these little communities with some of the nicest people we have ever met!

The first “destination” was Alresford which is a quaint little village in the countryside that has several really old buildings (which becomes a recurring theme on this trip). One of which was constructed before the USA even existed. I point in out in one of the videos listed below actually. It turns out that it takes a lot longer to cover 8 to 10 miles than I thought it would too, we were complete neophytes at this and were REALLY over ambitious about how fast we would move on the trail, turns out we go ALOT slower than we thought… this resurfaces later in the blog, but just keep that in mind if you think you want to do this hike.

Wheat field south of London England on the Pilgrim's Way — Wheat field south of London England on the Pilgrim’s Way of the Canterbury Pilgrimage.

Some of the things we have learned are that stinging nettle is a legit plant you don't mess with and it is literally EVERYWHERE. Another one is that the locals are very friendly, especially the older ones, and are a real treat to chat with when you find them here and there. They loved my accent most of the time and would call me “the Yank” when they would hear me talk…it was almost comical as I have a very strong Appalachian accent as you can hear in the video as well. The trail also isn't just a hiking trail through the woods, but more of a "way" which will cross fields, go down designated paths or even along roads at times. You really have to pay attention to make sure you don't miss your turn...ask me how I know.

All that aside we had a wonderful first day on the trail, albeit a long one where we ran into really interesting people and also learned a few things about the local flora and fauna we didn't know either.

English Countryside: Why It Looks Like Postcards

The English countryside is some of the most picturesque terrain I have ever laid my eyes on, and for the locals it is just...home... I have seen a lot of beautiful places on this earth and they all have a charm. The charm here is the people and how they groom the landscape for agriculture beautifully. It is literally a postcard in almost any direction you look. So I did just that, took photos in every direction, and wound up with something like 1400 unique images when I got home two weeks later.

When you would cross from one field to another or maybe pass from the forest to the fields, you would come to one of these gates in a variety of forms, all of them would work in a pretty similar fashion, but nonetheless, it would be there. This is a simple cattle gate but in the United Kingdom, it is called a kissing gate for some reason. Above you can see Kelly passing through a modern steel kissing gate and they are all over these trail systems in England.

So first things first, hiking this trail is actually really fun. It could be monotonous for someone who isn't comfortable with their own thoughts for hours at a time, but it was fine to me. I didn't even listen to music on this trip, I was just...there...

Day 2: Arlesford to Alton (The 13-Mile Mistake)

From Post 2: This is the hotel we stayed in and it was simply adorable. The whole first floor of the part you see here is a restaurant/pub and the hotel is L shaped with a significant portion out back behind this street facing portion. The rest of the town is also really neat to me as well.

Swan Hotel Alresford England is a beautiful and very old hotel on the Pilgrim’s Way trail.

So the next morning we leave out for the next town and make pretty good time. Alton is a larger town and we are hoping to be there by lunch. Well, turns out the girls decided to take public transportation after about 5 miles or so and I decided to leg it on in... this would prove to be painful.

Hardware store in Alresford England is typical of the types of buildings you will find on the Pilgrim's Way.

I had looked at the map and speculated it to be about 10 miles to Alton and figured I would probably cover the remaining 5 miles in about 3 hours since I would be stopping to get photos and the erratic nature of the trail layout and such as that. Well, this turned into a 6-hour slog that added up to an additional 13 miles for the day! It even got to the point where I realized I needed to cover ground more rapidly or I would miss supper so I stopped capturing video for the YouTube channel all together and just grabbed the occasional photo instead. You read that right, 18 total miles in a single day, for a beginner trekker who had done almost no train up for this trip. What I had also forgot to account for was the fact that a lot of it was in the direct sun an really hot. I ran out of water probably with 2 hours left to hike if memory serves me and there was no where to stop and get more without trespassing on farmland. This is important as the trail passes through all this beautiful countryside and we are given special permission to use these trails, but we can not deviate from the trails, you have to stay on the trail. So if the trail doesn’t cross a stream, then there is no water. On this day, it didn’t even pass by houses hardly at all, it was just one field to the next, over and over, with occasional diversions down the country roads (that didn’t have shoulders at all in places).

Hydration on a hike is critical and also taking in electrolytes too. I lost a lot of electrolytes on the Pilgrim’s Way trail to Canterbury as this shirt can attest!

Now to be fair, I did cross a lot of beautiful countryside on this leg of the trip and I don't regret making the trek this day, but I failed to drink enough water and had debilitating cramps later that night from dehydration. The lesson here is to drink more water, especially if you are doing an activity that is physically demanding in any way.

18 miles and cramps if you dont hydrate while hiking — I grabbed this photo about midway through my 18 mile day with a single quart of water…lesson learned.

Over the course of the next two weeks we would explore numerous old churches as well as eat in many of the most quaint pubs you have ever seen! The bulk of the trek though is through the country with some parts being out in farmland for hours at a time on trail. You really need to make sure you take enough water when you leave too, as there are times when water just isn't available. I ran out on the 18 mile day and had debilitating leg cramps later that night because of dehydration. It is a thing y'all, don't scoff at this part: drink electrolytes and water, it matters…

Infrastructure and Details: What Makes England Special

Here we have the road crossing (well, more like a tunnel under the road actually)heading into Alton where you walk under the road to get into the town proper. This is the kind of thing you don't see much where I live and I found interesting. The footpaths are so important to the English that they build this kind of infrastructure to keep them operational. I wished we would have done this with the old hiking trails from our country's early settlements and made them into hiking trails today...just a thought.

trail tunnel under a main highway for the Pilgrim's Way heading into Alton England — Trail tunnel under a main highway for the Pilgrim's Way heading into Alton England

Here is a perfect example of what I am talking about. This bridge is pre-war era construction. The reason I know this is because the whole thing is riveted together. Any other modern form of metal joining would be significantly cheaper than rivets. Arc welding wasn't really common place till after World War 2 so rivets were used everywhere till then. If I had been a typical traveler heading to the next destination, I most likely would not have noticed this.

Pre-war riveted foot bridge to a train station in southern England.

Mid-Journey: Farnham and the Stepping Stones

The next day we really didn't do much hiking as I escorted Sierra to the airport and then went back and linked up with Teresa and we made our way by train over to Farnham. We really wanted to explore the town and Kelly had already went ahead on her own so it was the perfect opportunity. We had a great time in Farnham and found Kelly later so it all went great.

Then the next day we leave Farnham and make our way over to the stepping stones which is a huge deal on this trail and I didn't even know about it till this morning. These stepping stones are part of the trail system and when we found them we decided to make a small event of it and enjoy a few minutes at this location to make it a little more memorable. If you would like to see the stepping stones just watch the video linked above. I didn't get my camera out of the dry bag here for obvious reasons so I only have video from this location.

These kinds of treks are not just about seeing how fast you can cover ground or seeing how many miles you can hike in one day, but about stopping and smelling the flowers or grabbing some photos. This is what this pilgrimage was about for me.

old church in southern england on the pilgrim's way — One of the many old churches in southern England on the Pilgrim's way (Canterbury Pilgrimage)

The Pilgrimage Experience: Disconnecting and Reflecting

This hike was a twofold event. First it was a way to explore England in a more intimate way than seeing the usual tourist sites and then hopping on a plane for the states. This way we get to talk to the locals and see parts of the country that other visitors will never see, eat food that they will never taste, and just enjoy the country like a traveler should.

The second part or probably what should be considered the first part is the pilgrimage part of the trip. A pilgrimage is a trek to a significant location for the purpose of reflection and to be able to spend time with the Lord. I had ample time for this too. You get to be with your own thoughts a lot if you keep your cell phone put away, which I did, this will give you a lot of time to reflect. I am glad I did this as it allowed me to just disconnect from life for a while and to be able to just enjoy where I was at the time without having to think about what I was going to do the next day or whatever.

This was so important to me that I didn't even post much about the trip while on it. I used the map function most of the time (there is a website where you can get the route and it overlays on Google maps). This was wonderful for someone who has grown VERY accustomed to using their phone a lot.

Above is one of the many churches we explored on our pilgrimage to Canterbury. Over the course of the next two weeks we would explore numerous old churches as well as eat in many of the most quaint pubs you have ever seen!

The Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury England is a beautiful hike. A quality backpack will make all the difference too.

Canterbury and completing the pilgrimage

After about two weeks we finally walked out of a field, into an old road and there it was…Canterbury! We had finally made it and the sense of completion is hard to describe. The long days on the trail, the injuries, the dehydration cramps, all those photos to sort through… It was surreal to be honest about it. We stopped at a pub to get a bite to eat and had a wonderful time chatting with the locals before heading into the old city to check into our hotel. The Cathedral Gate Inn (I think that is the name) is ANCIENT!!!! There were all sorts of oddities associated with this Inn, but aside from that we have made it to the Cathedral! We went to the ticket office to go into the Cathedral grounds and when the attendant figured out we were Pilgrim’s he personally escorted us FREE OF CHARGE (at this point I don’t know if there is a charge, but he got real excited when he figured out we were pilgrims) to the courtyard to the marker that signifies the official end to the hike.

Trail End Stone at Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury England

We all made our photo with the stone and then went for supper. Later we were treated to a special blessing from the priest at Canterbury Cathedral as well as being personally escorted to the Pilgrim’s Sanctum in the far back of the church. The story is that all the stained glass in the other churches are of Christ, the Saints and biblical events BUT here all the stained glass is of PILGRIMS to honor those who make the journey and we were the latest ones to get there. This was after Evensong service with the boys quire and the pipe organ. If you have never heard this and you have the chance, you really should experience it for yourself. It was incredible.

Canterbury Cathedral is so large and ornate that it is imposible to capture it in one photo. — Canterbury Cathedral is so large and ornate that it is impossible to capture it in one photo. I opted to just get this one spire as some of it was obscured by scaffolding and the rest was just so large. This photo shows the level of detail and the sheer scale in just one photo. It is hard to imaging a Cathedral can be so large. Canterbury has to hold some sort of record for this…

What I Learned: Practical Lessons for Future Pilgrims

Let's talk about what really matters. In closing, I am going to wrap this with the following quote that I made up just for this blog, but it does seem fitting to me: "If you don't stop to look at the flowers along the way, you wasted part of your trip."

I am really one of those people that likes the journey as much as the destination and this was the perfect blend for me. Daily goal-oriented activity with lots to do and see along the way...

Key lessons:

Drink more water than you think you need (I learned this the hard way with debilitating leg cramps!)
Pack lighter than you think (I should have taken the 35mm f/1.4 instead of the heavier f/0.95)
Stop to smell the flowers (literally and figuratively)
The journey IS the destination (don't rush through beautiful countryside)
Backpack-only travel is liberating (no checked bags, less stress!)
A good backpack matters (Mystery Ranch saved my back)

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