I've been looking at lenses for my A7IV for weeks and my head is spinning tbh. I'm planning this big trip to Japan in November and I really want to just bring one lens that can do it all because I hate switching gear in the middle of a crowded street. I saw a lot of people recommending the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 Art but then I read it's kind of a brick and really heavy for all-day walking. Then there's the Sony 24-105 f4 G which sounds perfect for the range but I'm worried f4 is gonna suck for those narrow neon alleys in Tokyo at night. Is f4 actually okay with the A7IV's high iso? I just cant decide if I should prioritize the aperture or the extra reach.
My main things:
- Budget: around $1100 - $1300 max
- Use case: street photography, food, and some hiking near Fuji
- Weight: I'm not a gym rat so lighter is better
- Sharpness: needs to look good on a 33mp sensor
I also saw the Tamron 28-200 but is that too much of a compromise on quality? I really want something that stays on the camera 90% of the time. What are you guys actually using as your if you could only have one lens? Or am I overthinking the f4 vs f2.8 thing...
honestly i went through the same nightmare before my last big trip. picking just one lens is a struggle... i would suggest being really careful with the weight of that sigma. the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art is a total chunk of glass and after walking 20k steps in tokyo you might seriously regret it.
- the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 is probably your best bet. it hits that f2.8 for the night stuff but stays way lighter than the sigma. i use it on my a7iv and its plenty sharp for that sensor.
- f4 is honestly fine for noise because the a7iv is so good at high iso, but you might miss the shallow depth for food shots.
- make sure to consider if you actually need the reach. the Sony FE 24-105mm f4 G OSS is a classic but maybe too big for all-day carry? just be careful about going too heavy. japan involves way more walking than people think and weight adds up fast.
