Im honestly so over my current setup its driving me crazy. Just got back from this incredible trip to Zion and I feel like I missed half the shots because I was fumbling around with prime lenses in the wind and dust or trying to make that garbage kit lens work. Its just not sharp enough and the range is pathetic. I am actually really excited to finally upgrade and just get one lens that stays on the camera forever but I'm overwhelmed by the options. Ive got about 1300 bucks saved up and I need something for my A7III that can handle everything from wide landscapes to some decent reach. What's the absolute best all-around zoom for Sony right now?
Saw this thread earlier and it reminded me of my own gear nightmare. I actually bought the Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS a while back thinking it would be the perfect one-lens setup for travel. Honestly? It was a disaster. The corners were mushy and the chromatic aberration was just offensive. I ended up selling it at a loss after one trip because it couldn't handle the morning mist at all. It just felt like a massive waste of money. Then I tried the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS which everyone raves about. Unfortunately, it is not as good as expected once the sun starts going down. That f/4 aperture is really disappointing for low light. You are constantly bumping ISO on the A7III and losing that clean look. I also had issues with the zoom creep after only a few months of hiking. Quick tips for your hunt:
- Avoid variable aperture lenses like the plague; you will hate the exposure shifts.
- Focus on lenses with weather sealing since you mentioned wind and dust in Zion. Quick question for you though... are you planning on shooting any video with this thing? Or is it strictly for stills? Some of the best glass for photography has really wonky focus breathing that might ruin your video clips. If you want real quality without the Sony tax, you might look at the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. It is heavy, but the glass is night and day compared to the kit lens garbage.
Honestly, I went through the exact same thing when I first got my A7III. I used to carry around three different primes and ended up missing so many moments just cause I was swapping glass in the middle of a hike. I finally bit the bullet and picked up the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS and I havent looked back. Its been on my body for probably 90% of my shots over the last two years. Since you have a $1300 budget, this fits perfectly with room to spare for a decent filter or a bag. The biggest thing youre gonna notice is the sharpness compared to that kit lens. Kit lenses are basically paperweights once you see what a G-series lens can actually do. The f/4 aperture is constant, which is super nice because your exposure doesnt jump around when you zoom in. I have taken this thing to some pretty dusty spots and the weather sealing has been solid. If you really need more reach tho, the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD is another one to look at. Its cheaper and gives you way more zoom, but the Sony 24-105mm just feels more professional and the 24mm wide end is way better for those big Zion landscapes. Im really happy with how it performs in almost any light. No complaints here at all, it basically lives on my camera.
Re: "Saw this thread earlier and it reminded me..."
- We've discussed why primes and cheap superzooms fail. I think a constant aperture is your safest bet for reliability.
- watch the price Not sure though.
