Just found this thread. Before I jump in, are you on full frame or APS-C? It really matters. I once took a massive zoom to Kyoto and my neck was wrecked by day two. Be careful with total weight. You might want to consider the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 because that f/2.8 aperture is a lifesaver for faster shutter speeds at night.

Wait, what camera body are you actually shooting on right now? Like an Sony Alpha 7 IV or one of the smaller APS-C models? It makes a massive difference for the balance, and unfortunately, I have had issues with setups that look good on paper but feel like a total anchor around your neck after three miles of walking through Shinjuku. Ngl, this reminds me of my cousin's big trip to Japan a few years back. He spent months saving up for this one specific piece of gear he thought would change his life. He gets to Shibuya, stops for some ramen, and somehow manages to knock his entire bag off the stool. The lens didnt even break, but the autofocus motor started making this high-pitched whining sound that drove him crazy for the rest of the month. He spent more time worrying about the noise than actually looking at the scenery... just a total disaster of a trip. The worst part was he couldnt even find a shop that would look at it without a three-week wait. Anyway, let us know your camera specs first because I've found a lot of 'all-around' options are not as good as expected lately. Really want to help you get this right so you dont end up like him.

In my experience, kit lenses are basically trash for anything beyond bright daylight. Ive tried many setups over the years for travel and honestly, your instinct about that f/4 being too slow for Tokyo nights is spot on. Tokyo is dark in the alleys, ngl. If you want a real all-arounder that wont break the bank, you really need to look at the third-party stuff.

• Go with Tamron, you honestly cant go wrong with their newer zooms.
• Stick to anything with a constant f/2.8 aperture.
• Check out Sigma too, they have some solid mid-range glass. Ive found that the third-party manufacturers are actually outperforming Sony in that price bracket lately. Just grab one of the fast zooms from those brands and youll be much happier... it makes a huge difference.

> my logic was getting the 24-105 G but then i was thinking maybe its too slow for night shots... what is actually the best all-arounder for under $1200? Youre totally right to be worried about that f/4 for Tokyo. I tried shooting Shinjuku with a slow zoom once and ended up with a bunch of blurry, noisy mess. If you want reliability without spending a fortune, check out the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art. Its a bit heavier than the kit lens but the autofocus is snappy and that f/2.8 is basically essential when the sun goes down. Having that extra stop of light makes a huge difference so you dont have to crank your ISO to crazy levels. The build feels really premium too, like it can actually take a bump or two in a crowded train. Only real downside is the weight, it kinda feels like a brick after a few hours of walking... but the photos you get are worth the neck pain imo. It is way more reliable for low light than the Sony G you were looking at.