I am seriously so fed up with this 24-50mm kit lens that came with my Z6II. I thought it would be fine since it's compact but the aperture is just driving me crazy. I was at my niece's birthday party last weekend and missed almost every good shot because the autofocus kept hunting in the living room light and f/6.3 at the long end is basically useless indoors. I have a 50mm 1.8 prime but honestly I hate swapping lenses every five minutes while trying to keep up with my toddler. It is just too much work and I end up missing the moment anyway.

I have a trip to the PNW coming up in three weeks and I really dont want to be fumbling with gear in the rain or missing the scale of those big trees because I have the wrong lens on. I need one solid, all-around lens that can stay on my camera 90% of the time and not make me want to quit photography. My budget is around $1100-1300 if I stretch it. Is the 24-120mm f/4 actually as good as people say for a do-it-all lens or should I just get the 28-75mm 2.8 for the extra light? I just need something that actually works when the lighting isnt perfect...