I'm freaking out a bit because I leave for my trip to Iceland in literally two weeks and I still havent settled on a main lens for my A7IV. I spent all night looking at reviews and everyone keeps saying the Sony 24-70 GM II is the holy grail of all-around lenses but man I just cannot justify spending 2300 dollars right now my budget is strictly under 1200. My logic was that a zoom is better than primes for travel so I dont have to keep swapping in the wind and rain but then I saw the Tamron 28-75 G2 is way cheaper and people love it.
But then I started thinking... is 28mm wide enough? I read some threads saying that for big landscapes you really miss that extra 4mm from the 24mm side and now I'm back to square one. I also looked at the Sigma 24-70 Art but I heard it's a total brick and I'm gonna be hiking a lot so weight is a huge factor for me. I need something that can handle portraits of my wife but also get those massive waterfall shots without me having to carry a suitcase of glass. Is there some middle ground I'm missing or should I just suck it up and get the Tamron even if it isnt as wide? I'm honestly so stuck and the clock is ticking...
In my experience, everyone obsesses over the spec sheet when they should be thinking about their back. I have spent years hiking with heavy kits and honestly, your concern about the weight is spot on. For a trip like Iceland where you are constantly moving, you want something light and versatile. Over the years, I have found that:
- Third-party lenses have caught up so much in terms of autofocus speed and sharpness.
- Saving weight is more important than having the fastest aperture for most landscapes.
- You can always crop in, but you cant fix a sore neck halfway through a ten-mile hike. Honestly, just go with Tamron Lenses for Sony E-mount across the board. They make several zooms that are significantly lighter than the Sony or Sigma alternatives and they fit your budget perfectly. I have tried many setups and their glass is exactly what a traveler needs. Dont overthink the 24mm vs 28mm thing too much... if you need it wider, just shoot a quick panorama.
