What is actually the most versatile all-around lens for Sony mirrorless because I am honestly losing my mind trying to figure this out and everything I have right now is just making me want to throw my camera out a window. I have the basic a7iii and i thought the kit lens would be fine for a while but its honestly just trash and everything looks like it was smeared with butter if the sun isnt directly overhead and then I got the 50mm 1.8 because everyone says its the must-have lens but i hate it. I hate having to switch lenses every five minutes when im out hiking or just trying to get a decent photo of my dog at the park and then by the time i swap the 50 for the zoom my dog has already run off or the light changed and i missed it completely and now i have dust on my sensor again which is a whole other nightmare to deal with every single week.
I am so fed up with carrying this bulky bag around everywhere and looking like a total tourist just to get some hobby shots. I live in Portland so im usually out in the rain or at least some drizzle and i need something that can handle a bit of moisture without dying on me instantly. I need something that can go from a wide landscape shot at the coast to a decent portrait or even some street stuff without making me stop and fumble with caps and bags and all that nonsense while my friends are all waiting for me to catch up on the trail.
- Must be sharp unlike the kit lens
- Decent in low light for indoor stuff
- Weather sealed because PNW life is wet
- Not a brick that weighs five pounds
My budget is capped at like $1300 or maybe $1400 if i sell my current lenses which i probably will because they are driving me crazy right now. Is the Tamron 28-75mm g2 actually the way to go or should i just sell my soul for the Sony 24-105mm f4? People say the f4 isnt fast enough for low light but the 2.8 zooms are so expensive and heavy and i just dont know what to do anymore and im about ready to just give up and use my iphone...
Honestly, nothing kills the mood faster than realizing you have sensor dust halfway through a hike because you were swapping lenses in the wind. I went through a phase where I nearly quit too. If you're worried about the f/4 being too slow on the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS, dont be. I've shot it in dim PNW forests and the A7III handles the ISO bump just fine. That extra 105mm reach is massive for dog photos at the park. If you really need f/2.8 for low light, look at the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. It's a bit chunky compared to the kit lens, but the build quality is night and day. You can find them used for way under your budget, which is a total win. Selling your old glass will basically pay for a used copy of either lens and save your sanity.
Look, I have been through exactly what you are dealing with and the frustration is real. Over the years I have tried a dozen setups for hiking and dog photography, and for your budget and the PNW weather, you should just grab the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 and call it a day. It is significantly sharper than that kit lens and handles low light way better than the Sony f4 zoom you mentioned. The reason I would steer you toward the Tamron over the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS is that extra stop of light. An f/2.8 aperture is basically mandatory if you want to keep your shutter speed high enough to freeze your dogs movement indoors without your ISO hitting the roof. Plus, the G2 version is surprisingly light for what it is. It wont feel like a lead weight hanging off your neck while you are out on the trails. In my experience, the weather sealing on these newer Tamron lenses is totally solid for Portland drizzle. I have taken mine out in some pretty gross conditions and it never skipped a beat. It covers that 28mm wide end for your landscapes and hits 75mm for portraits, so you wont have to fumble with lens caps in the mud anymore. Sell the 50mm and the kit lens, get the G2, and you will actually start enjoying your a7iii again. It is easily the best value for a one-lens setup right now.
> the f4 isnt fast enough for low light I actually disagree! I went with a slower f4 zoom and honestly it was the best move. Its so much lighter to carry and I saved tons of money, its amazing!
