What is the one prime lens you'd consider a total must-have for Sony E-mount systems right now? Ive been a dedicated zoom guy for years, mostly lugging around the 24-70 GM II on my a7IV, but I recently did a long shoot in Seattle and my wrist was actually throbbing by the end of the day. I need to simplify things.
I have about $1300 saved up and I am looking for something that just has that magic look for street photography and environmental portraits.
- 35mm 1.4 GM
- 55mm 1.8 Zeiss
- 85mm 1.8
Im torn because I usually love the flexibility of a zoom but the weight is just becoming a dealbreaker for my upcoming travel plans. What should I grab first?
Man, I feel your pain with those heavy zooms. I carried that same setup for a trip to Tokyo and honestly, my neck was killing me after day two. I really wanted to love the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 Zeiss Sonnar T* because it is so tiny, but unfortunately the chromatic aberration just ruined so many of my high-contrast street shots. It was not as good as expected for the price tag... kinda disappointing honestly. I also had issues with the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 being way too tight for narrow streets. I kept missing shots because I was busy backing up into walls trying to fit everything in. If you want that magic look, you gotta go for the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM. It is basically glued to my a7IV now. It is significantly lighter than your 24-70 and the rendering is just on another level. Quick tip tho: if you do get it, make sure to check the aperture ring every time you pull it out of your bag. I have accidentally bumped mine to f/16 way too many times and ended up with grainy shots because I wasnt paying attention. Just grab the 35mm and dont look back. It literally saved my wrist and the photos look way more professional than what any zoom can do at 35mm.
