Ive been digging through Reddit threads all morning trying to figure out what the absolute best all-around lens for Sony cameras is. I read that the Tamron 28-75mm is great for budget and weight, but then people swear the Sony 24-70mm GM II is worth every penny even though its insanely expensive. My logic was to just buy the GM and be done forever, but honestly dropping two grand on glass right now makes me super nervous since Im mostly just shooting street stuff and travel around Chicago. So Im kinda stuck... is the GM really that much better for an everyday carry or should I just save my cash?
Honestly dropping two grand on a lens for street walking in Chicago is pure pain, especially when the corner angles on the GMII arent even drastically sharper in real world data. You'll just get robbed or break your back.
- Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 gives you 90 percent of the performance for a third of the weight
- Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art is heavier but optically stunning without the Sony tax Save your cash and grab the Tamron tbh.
Just dropping in a day later to share some financial perspective on this. Spending two grand on the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is rarely necessary unless you are shooting commercially every single day.
- Look for clean used copies on Fred Miranda or local marketplaces to save thirty percent instantly.
- Consider the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 if your primary focus is keeping weight low for walking around the city.
- Rent before you buy anything so you dont regret dropping heavy cash. At the end of the day, glass loses value slower than bodies, but cash in your pocket beats marginal sharpness upgrades every time.
Check out the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Art instead. It hits that sweet spot between price and quality without carrying the GM weight. Definitely look at reviews on DXOMARK first.