so I've been using Sony mirrorless for like six years mostly shooting portraits with primes but I'm heading to Iceland in 5 days and I'm panicking because I just realized I can't be switching lenses in that crazy weather. my logic was just grab the 24-105 f4 G for the range but then I started looking at the Tamron 28-200 and even the 24-70 GM II though that's way out of my $1200 budget. I need something that won't fail me for landscapes but can still handle some indoor shots. is there a consensus on the absolute best do-it-all glass right now? I need to order this tonight so it arrives in time...
> I need something that won't fail me for landscapes but can still handle some indoor shots. Unfortunately f/4 is usually a letdown for indoor stuff and I've found it pretty frustrating in low light. Are you planning to shoot the Northern Lights too or just day landscapes? If you need that f/2.8 speed, I'd skip the Sony and get the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E instead. Also, quick tip... buy a Peak Design Rain Shell Small because no lens is truly waterproof in Iceland's sideways rain.
Honestly the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS is your best bet for that budget! The constant f/4 is fantastic for consistent exposure and that internal OSS is a total lifesaver in Iceland's crazy winds. If you want to save some serious money tho, grab the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD because getting f/2.8 at the wide end for under $800 is an insane value! Both have amazing weather sealing!
Honestly if youre worried about reliability in Iceland, you might want to consider the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G. That extra 4mm on the wide end is a total game changer for those massive waterfalls, tho you gotta be careful with f/4 indoors like the others mentioned. Make sure to check the MTF charts because this thing is actually sharper in the corners than the old 24-105 at most apertures. Couple quick tips for the ice and wind:
- Grab a B+W 72mm Master Clear MRC Nano filter to protect against salt spray.
- Check your battery door seal for sand before you head out each morning. Iceland is wild tho. Last time I was there I spent more time worrying about my rental car door blowing off than my camera gear. Those winds are no joke... I actually saw a door get bent backwards at a gas station near Vik. Spent the whole trip terrified of every breeze. Anyway, focus on that 20-70 if you want the best landscape range but yeah.
Like someone mentioned, that wind and grit is the real lens killer. Before you pull the trigger on a lens tonight, are you planning on doing any serious hiking into the highlands or just sticking to the main ring road spots?
- check your tripod plates
- bring some gaffer tape
- maybe a DIY rain cover Speaking of gaffer tape, a whole roll went into fixing a broken tripod leg while I was out in the Faroe Islands last summer. Spent like forty minutes trying to balance it on a sheep trail while the wind was literally trying to push me off a cliff. Everyone else was already at the pub and I was just there wrestling with sticky tape and carbon fiber. It's funny how we spend thousands on gear then fix it with a cheap roll of tape. I even used the same tape to patch a hole in my backpack later that night. anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.
Just found this thread and had to chime in! Like someone mentioned, you definitely do not want to be swapping glass in those Iceland winds... the grit will ruin your day. If you want a really reliable alternative that handles low light better than the f/4 options, I highly recommend the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. It is a total beast for the price! The weather sealing is fantastic and having that f/2.8 is gonna be a lifesaver for those indoor shots or even some moody landscape stuff. If you want the ultimate safety net and dont mind sacrificing a bit of corner sharpness, look at the Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS. It is the ultimate one-lens solution so you never have to expose your sensor to the elements. Honestly, the Tamron is much better for portraits tho, and since thats what youre used to, youll appreciate the faster aperture. Its gonna be an amazing trip, just make sure your batteries are charged because the cold drains them so fast!
took my zoom to Norway last year and was so happy I didnt have to swap glass in the wind... which camera body are you using tho? Resolution might change my advice.