I have about $350 or maybe $400 to spend if I save up for another month. I heard primes are the way to go for sharpness but there are so many options out there I have no idea where to start... do I need a specific brand or does Nikon make the best ones?

I have about 700 bucks to spend on a new prime before I fly out. I keep looking at the 23mm f2 because of the size and the fact it wont block the OVF as much but then I see people swearing by the 35mm f2 for that more cinematic look. I'm worried about the 23mm f2 being soft wide open at close range though since I do some detail shots too. Is the 18mm f2 worth considering even with the noisy motor or should I just stick to the newer f2 primes for the weather sealing? I need something fast and discrete that works perfectly with the framelines... what's the move here?

Torn between the Sony 24-105mm G and the Tamron 28-75mm G2. Sony has the range but Tamrons f2.8 is tempting for low light... is the extra 30mm worth losing that stop of light?

But anyway my sisters graduation is coming up next month in Chicago and I really want to get some good shots of her in her cap and gown outside. My budget is pretty tight like maybe 200 or 250 bucks max. I keep seeing people talk about the nifty fifty which is the 50mm f/1.8 but then other people say on my camera which they call a crop sensor it makes everything look too zoomed in? So my logic was maybe I should get a smaller number like a 24mm or a 35mm but then I worry the background wont be as blurry. I spent like three hours on YouTube last night and just ended up more confused than when I started.

Is the 50mm going to be too much? Like will I have to stand across the street just to get her whole body in the frame? I also saw a 24mm pancake lens which looks cool because its small but someone said it doesnt get as blurry as the 50mm. I just want something easy that works for a beginner who has no idea what they are doing.

• budget is $250


• need it by mid-May


• mostly for people pictures and portraits

I really dont want to waste my money on the wrong thing and then be stuck with it at the graduation ceremony and not know how to use it...

• Budget: $1000ish


• Use case: Travel and kids


• Preference: Sharpness over range?

Leaning towards the 24-120 but is the extra reach on the 200 better for travel?

Right now Im pretty much torn between two very different paths. Option A is the Sony A7 IV paired with the 35mm f1.4 GM. I do a lot of street photography but Im starting to get into more cinematic video stuff, so that hybrid power is really calling to me. But then theres Option B: the A7C II with the 40mm f2.5 G lens. Its so much smaller and I'm honestly worried about lugging a big rig around for two weeks straight while walking 20k steps a day.

My budget is hard capped at $3,500 for everything. If I go with the A7 IV and the GM lens, Im already basically at the limit, maybe even a bit over if I include taxes and extra batteries. If I go the A7C II route, I'd have enough left over for maybe an 85mm prime for portraits or even a nice gimbal.

Here is what I am looking for:

• Fast autofocus (my current camera hunts way too much in low light)


• Compact enough for travel but still feels good in the hand


• Weather sealing is a huge plus for those rainy city shots


• Good video features like 10-bit color

Does anyone know if Sony usually does a late summer or early fall sale? I know Black Friday is too late for my trip. I've checked the usual spots like Adorama and even Focus Camera but everything seems to be at MSRP right now. Maybe there are some trade-in programs or EDU discounts I'm missing? Im leaning toward the A7 IV just for the dual card slots and better viewfinder, but that 35mm GM price tag is stinging... is there a bundle deal anywhere I should be looking at?

My logic was get the 24-70 GM II but that's way over my $1500 budget. I was looking at the Sigma 24-70 DG DN Art but it's such a brick to carry on a hike. Then I saw the Tamron 28-200 which sounds perfect for range but will I regret losing that 24mm width for landscape shots? Or maybe the Tamron 28-75 G2? I'm just so used to primes that picking one zoom is stressing me out lol.

Ive been shooting with Fuji for about six years—started on the X-T2 and just upgraded—so I know my way around the system but this resolution jump is throwing me for a loop. My old 18-55mm kit lens just isnt cutting it anymore, it looks kinda soft when I zoom in and I feel like I am wasting the sensor. I need something for street photography and landscapes that can handle the high megapixel count without being a total brick to carry around all day.

I was looking at the 16-55mm f2.8 since everyone raves about the optics but the lack of OIS and the weight is making me nervous even with the IBIS on the T5. Then there is the 16-80mm but is f4 gonna be too slow for night shots in Shinjuku? My budget is sitting right around $1100 and I really want to just stick to one lens for the whole trip if possible. Is there something I am missing or should I just get the 16-55 and deal with the sore neck...