I leave for Tokyo in two weeks and I'm honestly so frustrated trying to pick a lens. Stuck between the 35mm f1.8 and the 55mm Zeiss for my a7iv. Budget is strictly under $600 so the GM lenses are out. 35 seems better for street but is the 55 sharper? Which one is the better buy?
Go for the 35mm without a doubt! I spent three weeks in Shinjuku and Shibuya a couple years back and honestly, those narrow alleys in Golden Gai will make that 55mm feel way too tight. You want to capture the signs, the people, the whole vibe... the 35 is perfect for that. I remember trying to use a longer lens in a tiny ramen shop once and I couldnt even get my bowl in the frame lol. The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is a fantastic little beast. Its fast, the autofocus is snappy as hell on the a7iv, and it handles the humidity like a champ. Now, dont get me wrong, the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA is legendary for its sharpness and that specific Zeiss pop, but for travel? Its just not wide enough. Youre gonna be walking miles and miles, and the 35mm is light enough that you wont even feel it on your shoulder after ten hours. Plus, it has a much better minimum focus distance which is huge for those close-up food shots. For under 600 bucks, you really cant beat it. Grab the 35, spend the leftover cash on some top-tier sushi in Tsukiji! You're gonna have an amazing time.
