Im so hyped right now because Im finally upgrading from my old crop sensor to a full frame Sony a7iv next week! But man am I spiraling trying to figure out what glass to get first. I literally spent all last night reading reddit threads and watching youtube reviews until my brain melted. Half the internet swears by the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 g2 because its light and affordable, but then I see people saying the Sony 24-70mm GM II is the holy grail even though its like double the price. Honestly Im so torn. I need one single lens to start with since my budget for the body and lens combined is around 3500 dollars and I cant afford a whole bag of primes right now.
Here is what I need it to do:
- Travel friendly enough for a two-week trip to Japan next month
- Sharp enough for professional-looking street photography and portraits
- Fast enough for low light izakayas at night
- Weather sealed because Im clumsy and it always rains when I travel
Is the GM II actually worth the extra grand over the Tamron or Sigma alternatives for someone at my stage? What are you guys actually keeping glued to your cameras when you only take one lens out?
Congrats on the a7iv upgrade, thats gonna be a sweet setup for Japan! Honestly, spending double on the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II right out the gate might hurt your wallet way too much, especially with a 3500 dollar total budget. It is an amazing lens, but the price is brutal. I would suggest looking closely at the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for Sony E instead. Its way lighter for walking around Tokyo all day, weather sealed, and the optical quality punches way above its price tag. The main downside is losing that 24mm end, which is nice for cramped streets, but you can easily make 28mm work. Another solid choice is the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E if you really need 24mm, though its a bit chunkier than the Tamron. Save your cash for some great food in Japan and grab the Tamron first imo.
^ This. Also, before you drop thousands on glass, what kind of focal lengths do you usually shoot with on your crop sensor? That really changes which zoom makes sense for your trip. Here is a quick breakdown of how the main choices stack up for a single-lens travel setup:
- Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2: Great value and very lightweight, but you lose out on 24mm which is super useful for tight Tokyo streets.
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II: Excellent sharpness and build quality at a mid-tier price, though it is noticeably heavier than the Tamron.
- Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: Ultimate performance and weather sealing, but likely blows past your budget when paired with the a7iv. Let me know what you normally shoot and we can narrow it down.
Totally agree with the budget warnings above. When I took my first big trip abroad, I blew way too much cash on top-tier glass and stressed the whole time about damaging it. Honestly, you will have a much better time in Japan if you arent constantly terrified of scratching a ridiculously expensive piece of equipment. Grab something mid-range, save your cash for the food and trains, and just enjoy the trip!