So I just got this Sony A7IV and honestly I have no idea what I'm doing half the time but I really want those super crisp photos you see on Instagram where like every single leaf and rock is perfectly clear. I tried using the kit lens that came in the box and it looks okay i guess but it just doesnt feel sharp enough for what I want to do. I'm going to Zion next month for a week and I really want to get some good shots of the canyons. I was looking online and people keep talking about prime lenses versus zoom lenses and I'm just so lost like is a prime lens actually better? My logic was that if a lens only does one thing it probably does it better than a lens that zooms in and out right? But then I dont want to be carrying around a bunch of heavy glass while im hiking. My budget is probably around 1200 bucks if that helps. I saw some people mentioning a 24mm or maybe a 35mm but I dont know which is better for wide stuff or if I should just get a G-Master thing even though those seem really expensive. Sorry if this is a dumb question but is there like one lens that is known for being the absolute sharpest for landscapes? I just want the best quality possible so I dont regret it later when I look at my photos on a big screen...
> I saw some people mentioning a 24mm or maybe a 35mm but I dont know which is better for wide stuff Dude, you gotta check out the Sony FE 20mm f1.8 G! Its seriously sharp, like mind-blowingly crisp even compared to expensive GM glass. The corner-to-corner resolution is insane for your A7IV. I used it in Zion last year and it handled the canyon scale perfectly. Plus its way lighter than a zoom for those long hikes! Youll love the detail in those rocks.
Saw this earlier but just now responding... honestly, be careful about getting too many primes for a place like Zion. I learned the hard way on my first big trip there. I brought a few specialized lenses and kept swapping them to get the perfect frame, but the wind kicked up so much fine sand that I ended up with nasty dust spots all over my sensor. It was a total nightmare to fix in post and I dont want you to deal with that. Now I mostly stick to one versatile, high-quality zoom to keep the camera internals sealed up. I would suggest looking at the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS because its super reliable and plenty sharp for big prints. It fits your budget and covers almost every focal length you would need for canyons without having to risk your sensor in the wind. Quick tip: Stop your lens down to f/8 or f/11 to get that edge-to-edge crispness. Shooting wide open usually makes the corners look soft.
I've been shooting E-mount for a long time and I've wasted way too much money on gear that was too heavy or too expensive. My first big trip out West, I brought a bag full of primes and spent more time cleaning dust off my sensor than actually hiking. Nowadays I prioritize balance. If you want to stay under that $1200 mark, you can actually get professional results without the G-Master price tag:
- Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is what I usually recommend for the A7IV. It's lighter than the Sony equivalents and honestly just as sharp for landscape work.
- Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is a great choice if you want a dedicated sharp prime that doesnt break the bank or your back. I usually tell people to buy used from a reputable shop. You can often find that Tamron for like 700 bucks. That leaves you plenty of room to get a good circular polarizer, which is gonna help way more with those Zion colors than a slightly more expensive lens would. I've found that third-party glass is the way to go because you get way more bang for your buck. Just make sure to look for the G2 version of the Tamron, it makes a big difference in resolution.
To add to the point above: the dust in those canyons is no joke! You really dont want to be swapping lenses every five minutes while youre hiking around The Narrows or Angels Landing. If you want that pro-level sharpness on a $1200 budget, you should 100% grab the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E. Honestly its a beast and easily rivals the Sony G-Master stuff for way less money. I use mine for everything and the detail is just amazing! Like, you can zoom in 100% on those rock textures and it stays crisp as hell. It covers the 24mm wide angle you were looking for but also gives you that 70mm reach if you see something cool further away. Basically it stays on my camera 90% of the time. Plus its way better than that kit lens you have now. Also, since you're doing landscapes, definitely grab a decent circular polarizer like the Hoya 82mm Fusion Antistatic CIR-PL to make those Zion red rocks really pop against the blue sky! Its gonna make a massive difference in your photos, trust me. Youll be so stoked when you get home and see those files on your monitor... seeing every single crack in the canyon wall is the best feeling. Have a blast in Zion, its a magical place!
Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.
