ok so my trip to iceland is literally in three weeks and my head is spinning trying to figure out glass. i was originally gonna bring a bunch of primes cause thats what i usually shoot on in my studio here in chicago, but dragging a bag of four lenses through freezing wind and mud sounds like a total nightmare. i spent all last night reading old threads and watching youtube reviews, and everyone keeps raving about the tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8, but then other people say its way too heavy for all day hiking and you really just need a traditional 24-70mm like the sony gm ii. i even looked at some superzooms like the 24-240mm to save weight even though i know the image quality takes a hit. my budget is around two grand max since i just bought plane tickets. is there actually one ultimate zoom lens that can handle landscape, northern lights if im lucky, and random street stuff without killing my back, or am i chasing a unicorn here...
you are definitely chasing a unicorn tbh. ive been to iceland twice and tried bringing that heavy glass the first time, big mistake. freezing wind will literally rip the camera right out of your hands when you have a monster lens attached.
- Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD is amazing for portraits and street stuff back home, but hiking through the mud at reynisfjara with it on my neck nearly destroyed me.
- Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM II is much lighter, but honestly still a brick after eight hours on a glacier. grab something smaller like the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 instead and save your back. you wont regret leaving the heavy gear behind when the weather turns sideways.