So I finally upgraded to an a7c earlier this year and I've just been messing around with the 28-60mm kit lens for a bit but honestly I'm kinda bored of it. It's fine for hiking and stuff but I'm heading to Chicago in about three weeks for a short trip and I really want a fast prime for some serious street photography. I mostly like shooting late at night when the city lights are hitting the puddles and all that moody stuff.
I spent like three hours last night reading reviews and everyone keeps saying the Sony 35mm f/1.8 is the gold standard for street but then I see other guys swearing by the 55mm Zeiss. I'm torn because the 35mm seems great for getting the whole scene in but I'm a little shy about getting right in people's faces for candid shots and I'm worried 35mm is gonna be too wide and I'll end up with a lot of empty space. On the other hand, people say the 55mm has that pop but is it gonna be too tight when I'm walking around downtown? I don't wanna be constantly backing up into traffic just to frame a shot.
Budget is a bit tight since I spent way too much on the camera body so I'm looking to stay under $650 if I can. I'm totally cool with buying used from MPB or KEH if it means getting better glass. I also saw some people mention the 40mm G lens because it's tiny but I'm worried f/2.5 isn't fast enough for those low light shots I want.
Basically I just need something sharp and fast that won't make me look like a total tourist with a giant setup. If you had to pick just one prime to walk around a city like Chicago for a weekend what would it be? I'm honestly leaning towards the 35 but that Zeiss 55mm looks so sharp in every sample photo I see...
In my experience, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is the only way to go for the a7c. I've been shooting street for over a decade and while the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA has that legendary contrast, it's just way too tight for narrow city sidewalks. You'll spend half your time trying to back up into the street just to fit a building in. For night shots, that f/1.8 is non-negotiable. I've tried the compact f/2.5 lenses but they just don't cut it when you're chasing moody puddle reflections at 1 AM. The 35mm is sharp, fast, and light enough that you wont look like a pro paps. If you feel too far from the action, just crop in. Its way easier to crop a 35mm shot than it is to stitch a 55mm shot you couldn't frame right.
