My main 24-70 glass just broke and I have a street shoot in Chicago this Thursday with literally no cash left for a big replacement. Need something under 250 for my A7iii fast. Been shooting Sony for years but never looked at the cheap stuff... whats the one budget lens thats actually a must-have?
Honestly, if you are stuck in Chicago with no cash and need something by Thursday, your best bet is probably the Sony FE 50mm f1.8 SEL50F18F. Its usually the cheapest way to get full-frame glass on an E-mount and it definitely gets the job done. I have used it quite a bit for street stuff when my main kit was in for repairs. Its not the fastest focusing lens in the world and it can hunt a bit in low light, but the image quality for the price is actually pretty wild. Its tiny and light, which is great for blending in during street shoots without looking like a tourist with a huge rig. If 50mm feels a bit tight for you in the city, look at the Tamron 35mm f2.8 Di III OSD M1:2. You can usually find it under 200 bucks new, or even cheaper if you can find a used one local. Its light, weather-sealed, and surprisingly sharp for a budget lens. The autofocus is a little noisy compared to your 24-70, but for street scenes it works fine. Both of these will feel way different than a zoom, but the constraint might actually be fun for a day. Just lean into the prime life for a bit and use your feet to frame the shots. Good luck with the shoot, Chicago is a killer spot for street photography.
