I just picked up an A7IV a few months back and honestly ive been mostly sticking to my old tamron zoom but the weight is starting to kill my wrist after a long day of shooting. I have a big trip to Tokyo coming up in about 6 weeks and I really want to challenge myself to just bring one single prime lens for everything. Street stuff, food shots, maybe some portraits of my wife. I keep seeing everyone say you NEED a prime to really see what these sensors can do and I'm finally ready to drop some cash on something decent.
Right now I'm basically torn between three very different paths. First is the Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM. Everyone raves about it and the images look incredible online but it's basically my entire budget of $1300 and I'm worried it might be too bulky to carry around Shinjuku for 10 hours straight. Then there's the Sigma 35mm f/2 Contemporary. It's much smaller and way cheaper which leaves me money for more ramen and sushi, but am I gonna regret not having that f/1.4 look for night shots? I feel like the size might make me more likely to actually take the camera out of my bag though.
Lastly I keep looking at the 55mm f/1.8 Zeiss. It’s an older lens I know but people say the rendering is special or whatever even if the tech is a bit dated compared to the new stuff. I’m just worried 55mm might be too tight for narrow streets and indoor cafes. My budget is pretty firm at that 1200-1300 mark and I really want something that stays on my camera 90% of the time. If you had to pick just one must-have prime for a Sony setup that balances size and image quality, which way would you go? Is the GM worth the extra weight or should I stick to something smaller like the Sigma... or maybe even the Sony 40mm f/2.5 G? Decisions are hard lol.
To add to the point above: I actually spent a few months with the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* and unfortunately it was a bit of a letdown. The rendering is fine I guess, but the purple fringing in city night shots is just nasty... super annoying to fix in post. Plus it really is too tight for narrow streets. If you're already worried about your wrist, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM is gonna be a struggle after walking Shinjuku for 10 hours. I made that mistake on a trip to Kyoto and basically stopped taking photos by day three because my arm hurt so bad. Honestly, check out the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 instead. It’s way lighter than the GM and more reliable than the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary which I found had some annoying autofocus hunting in low light. The Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G is also a killer tiny option for travel. Good luck with the choice!
Totally agree about that Zeiss, its definitely old news now! If you want the absolute best but worry about weight, you should just get the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM. It is way lighter than your zoom and the image quality is just fantastic!
- Buy it used to save $300 for sushi
- Get a Peak Design Cuff to help with that wrist fatigue Go for it!
Building on the earlier suggestion about managing wrist fatigue, I am dealing with this exact same dilemma. Over the years, I've tried many setups and my wrist just cannot handle heavy lenses for a full day of shooting anymore. I am also looking for a single, reliable lightweight prime for my next trip. Honestly, I am still trying to figure this out myself, but you should search for it online:
- Search YouTube for Tokyo street photography Sony prime comparison
- Check the Sony Alpha Reddit sub for autofocus reliability threads on these lenses
- Look up the specs on the manufacturer site to compare the exact weights I saw a great video comparison on this exact topic a while back, it should pop up right away if you search.
OMG you are going to have a fantastic time in Tokyo! For a huge trip, I’d stick with a native Sony lens to ensure everything is totally reliable and safe.
- Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM: Amazing quality and the safest choice for pro shots, though its a bit heavy.
- Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary: Fantastic size, but maybe not as reliable for AF. The 35mm GM is just incredible!
