hey sorry if this is a super dumb question but im totally overwhelmed lol. I just got my first real camera ever (a sony a6400) for a trip to japan next month and I am drowning in lens options. Im looking for that one magical lens that can do literally everything so I dont have to swap glass while standing in the middle of a crowded street in Tokyo.
Here is what I need:
- Budget is around 600 bucks max
- Needs to be good for both landscape shots and street portraits
- Something not too heavy since Ill be walking 10 miles a day
What is the absolute best all-around lens for a sony beginner like me...
Congrats on the a6400, but watch out for heavy glass since walking Tokyo all day brutalizes your shoulders. I would suggest grabbing the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A VC RXD if you can stretch the budget slightly used, or stick strictly to the Sony E 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 OSS for weight savings and pure versatility.
- skip primes
- get image stabilization
- pack light
> I just got my first real camera ever (a sony a6400) for a trip to japan next month Man, walking Shibuya with heavy gear is no joke. I tried hauling the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 Di III-A VC RXD last year and my shoulder was dying by day two. Honestly, you might wanna look at the Sony E 35mm f1.8 OSS instead. It's tiny, cheap, and forced me to actually enjoy the trip instead of constantly zooming.
To add to the point above: if you want a fantastic ultra-light setup that wont break your back or your bank account, look into the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens. It costs right around [[PRICE:549]] brand new, which keeps you safely under that six-hundred dollar limit. The constant f2.8 aperture is amazing for evening street shots in Shinjuku, and its ridiculously tiny compared to other zooms. Seriously, it practically turns your a6400 into a point-and-shoot while giving you pro-level flexibility for both wide landscapes and tight little portraits. Have an awesome trip to Japan!