honestly im just so over carrying a bag full of glass every time I leave the house... its getting ridiculous. I have a bunch of primes for my a7iii but switching them mid-walk is a nightmare and I always end up missing the shot anyway. im looking for one "do-it-all" lens because I have a big trip to Tokyo coming up in three weeks and I refuse to lug three different lenses around the city.
- budget is max 1100 bucks
- needs to be sharp enough for portraits but wide for street stuff
- preferably not a brick that weighs five pounds
does anyone actually have a zoom they love or am I just dreaming?
Are you gonna be doing much night shooting in Tokyo? That makes a big difference for aperture choice. I would suggest looking at the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for the weight savings, but be careful since 28mm is kinda tight for city streets. Make sure to check the specs on the Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS before committing... that extra reach adds bulk fast.
I just saw this while browsing... honestly Tokyo involves so much walking that weight is everything. I remember taking a heavy zoom to Kyoto once and I regretted it by the second afternoon because my shoulder was just shot. Just curious tho, are you mostly shooting during the day or are you planning on hitting the bars and neon alleys at night? That really changes which lens I would trust for the trip. Like someone mentioned, the 24mm vs 28mm difference is a big deal when you are stuck in narrow side streets. Here is how I see the main options:
- Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2
- This is probably the safest middle ground. Its light enough and that f2.8 is great for portraits with nice bokeh. I have found it to be very consistent.
- Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
- Very reliable and the 24mm is much better for cityscapes, but you might struggle in low light without a tripod since its only f4.
- Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary
- Definitely the budget pick. Its surprisingly small, tho it does not feel quite as robust as the others if you get caught in the rain. Personally, I would lean toward the Tamron. It feels like the most dependable workhorse for the price without being a brick.
Late to the party but you might want to consider the aperture trade-off. Be careful with f/4 glass if you plan on shooting Tokyo neon at night.
- Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS - the 24mm is huge for street, but its bulkier.
- Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary - incredibly light, but 28mm is kinda narrow for cities. I would suggest checking Sigma for pure weight savings tho... might be best for long walks.
