What lenses are you guys actually using for travel on the a7? Im torn between the Sony 24-105mm f4 and the Tamron 28-200mm for a trip to Italy next month.
My budget is $900 and I dont want to swap lenses while walking around. Is the extra reach on the Tamron worth it for street shots?
- The Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD fits your budget well.
- Range works better for one-lens travel.
- It keeps things simple while saving you money.
^ This. Also, from a technical standpoint, you're usually better off looking at the value proposition of third-party glass. I spent years obsessing over chromatic aberration and corner resolution data before my first big trip to Europe. I ended up bringing a very expensive native setup, but it was so heavy it ruined my back by the time I got to Florence. I remember hiking up to Piazzale Michelangelo with a bag full of heavy glass; my shoulder was killing me and I was so focused on the gear that I almost missed the sunset.
- Go with Sigma, you really cant go wrong with their glass.
- Their stepper motors are incredibly quiet for street work.
- You get much better center-to-edge sharpness for the price compared to others. I eventually sold my heavy gear and just stick to those third-party zooms now. Honestly, the rendering is beautiful and it fits your budget way better than the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS. Just get one of the Sigma zooms and enjoy your trip without worrying about the weight. The weight-to-performance ratio is just better for walking around all day.
> I dont want to swap lenses while walking around. I would suggest the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS. Be careful, f/4 is slow for interiors, but 24mm is better for tight European streets.
Honestly, I learned the hard way that weight matters more than specs when you are walking ten miles a day. I took a heavy kit to Rome a few years back and ended up leaving half my gear in the hotel safe because my neck was giving out by noon. Since then, I stick to a single, lightweight zoom that handles most situations well enough.
- Reliability is everything when you are abroad. I prefer lenses that have decent weather sealing because you never know when you might get caught in a sudden downpour.
- My current setup has served me well for years because it just works, even if it is not the fastest glass out there.
- If you are worried about the range, just remember you can always crop in post if your glass is sharp enough. At the end of the day, bring something that wont make you regret leaving the hotel in the morning. Being able to actually enjoy the view without thinking about your gear is worth more than a few extra millimeters of reach.
