So Ive been shooting on the Sony system for like five years now and mostly stuck to my 35mm and 85mm primes because I love that fast aperture look but honestly I just booked this huge three-week trip to Japan for next month and the thought of swapping lenses while navigating crowded Tokyo subways sounds like a total nightmare. I usually pride myself on being a prime-only snob lol but I really need that one-and-done setup for this trip.
I tried my old 28-70 kit lens recently but the sharpness is just not there especially for those night shots in Shinjuku and I really want something that stays on the body 90% of the time without making my neck ache. Im looking for a zoom that covers everything from wide landscapes to some decent street portraits. My budget is capped at around $1100 since I already spent a fortune on flights and I really need to pull the trigger this week so I can get some practice in before I head out.
Is the Tamron 28-75 G2 still the king for this or should I be looking at the Sigma 24-70 even though its a bit heavier and might push my budget? Or maybe even that Sony 24-105 f4 for the extra reach? I just dont want to regret the image quality when I get home and see everything on a big screen. What do you guys think is the absolute best all-arounder for full frame E-mount right now?
Check CameraSize first. My neck hated hauling heavy glass in Osaka. You might want to consider:
- Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary It sacrifices a few mm wide to save your back during long walks.
To add to the point above: the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is 100% the king for Japan! It's seriously amazing how light it feels while still delivering those sharp shots youre used to with your primes.
- Incredible bokeh for street portraits
- Fast focus even in low light
- Saves you tons of cash for sushi Youre gonna love it! It is the ultimate one-and-done setup tbh.
Regarding what #3 said about "To add to the point above: the Tamron..." being the king, I totally get why. I've been using that lens for a while and honestly, I'm super satisfied with how it handles low light in the city. But if you want some fresh ideas for Japan, here are two others to think about:
- Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G This is my current go-to. Having 20mm on the wide end is massive for those narrow Kyoto streets. Its constant f4 so you lose a stop of light, but modern Sony sensors handle high ISO so well it barely matters.
- Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD If you really want a one-and-done, this is it. It starts at f2.8 which is nice. Its surprisingly sharp for a superzoom and having that reach for temple details is pretty handy. Basically, if you want bokeh, stick to the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. If you want wide views of Shinjuku, go for the Sony 20-70. Either way, you'll be way happier than carrying those primes around all day!
I would suggest looking at any of the newer Sigma zooms. You really cant go wrong with that brand for sharpness, but be careful because they can be pretty chunky for a long trip.
- make sure you check the weight specs
- keep an eye on the weather sealing I usually find their image quality stays closer to primes than the others... just dont forget a good strap.
