sorry if this is a dumb question but im so overwhelmed right now. i just got a sony a6400 for my trip to japan next month and i honestly have no idea what im doing. my budget is around 800 bucks max and i just want ONE lens that does everything so i dont have to swap glass while standing in a crowded street in tokyo. i was looking at prime lenses cause everyone says they are sharp but then my friend said i need a zoom for travel so my logic was totally fried. what is the absolute best all-around lens for any sony camera that wont break the bank and actually makes photos look good...
Congrats on the a6400, totally get being overwhelmed before a big trip. I used to swap lenses constantly until I settled on the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A VC RXD for my crop sensor body. It gives you a great zoom range for Tokyo streets, plus that constant f2.8 aperture works well in dimly lit shrines.
- Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A VC RXD: super versatile and stabilized, but a little heavy.
- Sony E 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 OSS: much lighter for walking all day, though you lose low light performance. Stick to a zoom, youll thank yourself later.
> Tokyo streets are no joke when youre trying to change glass in the middle of a rush hour crowd. @Reply #2 - good point! You really dont want to be fumbling with gear when thousands of people are rushing past you at Shibuya crossing. I learned that the hard way last year. Had a moment to think about this more and I would suggest looking very closely at your budget since Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A VC RXD sits right at that 800 dollar mark. It has weather sealing which saved my gear during a sudden downpour in Kyoto, plus the stabilization is a lifesaver for night shots. If you want to save some cash, the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN Contemporary is way smaller and lighter, but you lose that extra reach and stabilization. Just be careful with heavy lenses on the a6400 grip since it gets uncomfortable after walking ten hours straight.
Tokyo streets are no joke when youre trying to change glass in the middle of a rush hour crowd. Honestly just grab a solid third-party zoom from Sigma and call it a day. Constant aperture makes life so much easier.
- skip the primes for this trip
- get something starting around 17mm You wont regret sticking to one versatile zoom.