I finally pulled the trigger on a Sony A7IV and I am so hyped to take it to Tokyo next month but now I'm stressing about which lens is gonna be my main one for the whole trip. I really dont want to be that person constantly switching lenses in the middle of a busy street so I'm looking for a solid do-it-all option. My budget is capped at like $1,100 since I spent so much on the body lol.
So I was thinking about the Sony 24-105mm f/4 G because everyone says the range is perfect for travel and it has OSS which is nice for handheld stuff. But then my logic was like... wait, is f/4 gonna be enough for night shots in Shinjuku? That led me to looking at the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2. It's faster and cheaper which is huge, but I'm worried 28mm isnt wide enough for architecture. Then there's that new Sony 20-70mm f/4 which looks amazing for the wide end but I lose that reach.
- Sony 24-105mm f/4 (best range?)
- Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 (better low light?)
- Sony 20-70mm f/4 (wider view)
I'm leaning towards the Tamron for the f/2.8 but the extra reach on the Sony 24-105 seems so useful for street photography. Since I'm mostly doing travel and street stuff what do you guys think? Is f/4 a dealbreaker for night street vibes or can the ISO on these newer cameras handle it?
Adding my two cents here, but honestly, everyone sleeps on the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for travel. Superzooms usually have a bad rep for being soft, but this one is legit sharp and actually starts at f/2.8 at the wide end. Its usually around $700, which leaves you like $400 for sushi and gachapon in Akihabara. Having that 200mm reach in Tokyo is honestly a vibe because you can get those compressed street shots that look so cool. Regarding the f/4 vs f/2.8 debate for night... the Sony Alpha 7 IV has such a good sensor that f/4 isnt the death sentence it used to be. Crank the ISO and the camera handles it fine. If you really want that constant f/2.8 though, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary is a fantastic budget pick. Its way lighter than the Tamron or the Sony options, which your neck will thank you for after ten miles of walking. The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS is a classic, but it feels a bit dated and heavy compared to the newer stuff. Maybe grab the Tamron 28-200 or the Sigma and spend the leftover cash on the actual trip experience. You wont regret having the extra money for a nice dinner at a wagyu spot.
Grab the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 and dont look back! This lens is absolutely fantastic and usually under $900. I love it because that f/2.8 is vital for Shinjuku vibes. f/4 lenses just struggle when the sun goes down, honestly. Plus, 28mm is plenty wide for Tokyo architecture if you just step back! TL;DR: Get the Tamron G2. f/2.8 is non-negotiable for amazing night shots!
Honestly its just a joke how much glass costs now. You drop two grand on a camera and the industry basically expects you to sell a kidney just to get a decent zoom that doesnt fall apart when the sun goes down. It drives me crazy how we're forced to choose between a decent focal range and actually being able to shoot at night without cranking the ISO to like 12800.
- Its such a scam how companies gatekeep faster apertures behind these massive price walls.
- You try to be cost-conscious but then you realize the cheaper glass often has terrible chromatic aberration or soft corners that basically waste the high-end sensor you just paid for.
- I'm always super cautious about these so-called do-it-all lenses because there is always some massive technical compromise they dont mention in the marketing.
- It's basically a lose-lose situation where you either spend a fortune or settle for something that feels limited the second you hit a busy street. I really feel for you on the budget struggle... its a total headache trying to balance technical specs with these inflated prices. Its like they want us to be stressed out before the trip even starts.
