Ive been shooting with my trusty A7III for about four years now, mostly sticking to my 24-70mm GM lens. Honestly, I love the glass, but its just getting way too heavy for my weekend street photography trips. Lately Ive been feeling kinda burnt out carrying that massive brick around while Im trying to catch candids in the city. I need something way more compact and lightweight, maybe a prime or a smaller pancake lens, but I dont have a huge budget right now. I was hoping to spend under 400 bucks if possible. I have a trip coming up in about three weeks to Chicago and really dont want to be lugging the heavy gear through the windy city, you know? Ive looked at the Samyang 35mm f/2.8 and the Sony 50mm f/1.8, but I keep reading mixed reviews about the autofocus speed on the Sony nifty fifty. Does anyone have experience with those cheaper primes, or is there another hidden gem I should be looking at for E-mount that wont break the bank? Really just need something sharp enough for travel shots and quick street portraits without hurting my back...
If you want something super tiny but actually sharp, look at the Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. It is built way better than the cheap plastic lenses and the aperture ring is honestly a game changer for street stuff. Its not quite a pancake, but it balances perfectly on an A7III and the autofocus is snappy enough for city candids. Another one to check out is the Tamron 24mm f/2.8 Di III OSD. Yeah, it is a bit wide, but it is basically featherweight. The magnification on it is wild too, so you can do some cool close-up shots of architecture or food while you are in Chicago. People complain about the autofocus speed sometimes, but for street, you are usually fine since you dont need to track fast action. It wont hurt your back at all after a long day of walking, which is exactly what you need. Tbh, carrying a massive 24-70mm GM around all day is exhausting, so honestly anything in the 200-300g range is gonna feel like a miracle for you. Just grab one of those and save your spine for the trip.
Totally agree on ditching the brick. If you want something super compact and sharp for Chicago, try the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 instead. It is honestly perfect for street candids.
The Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE is way better than that old nifty fifty for street. It is tiny, fast, and stays sharp enough for travel.
Building on the earlier suggestion, ditching that heavy zoom is the best move you could make for your back. Ive been shooting for years and honestly, the weight difference changes how you see the city completely. If you want something that just works reliably without any fuss, I have been super happy sticking with anything from Viltrox or Sigma lately. They really stepped up their game and offer some solid glass that feels professional without the massive price tag or the weight of those top tier lenses.
- Honestly, just look into any of the compact primes from those brands.
- The build quality is usually solid enough to take a beating on a trip.
- You get that crisp look you are after for your street shots without needing to worry about gear failure. I am totally satisfied with my own portable setup these days, no complaints at all. Youll be much happier roaming Chicago with a lighter load, trust me. Let me know if you need any other tips for your travel kit.