Ive been shooting for ages mostly doing landscape work with my trusty 24-105 G lens but man its just too big for the street. I recently switched over to an A7C because I wanted something smaller for my trip to Tokyo in three weeks but now Im stuck on which prime to actually commit to. I tried using a 35mm f/1.8 but it felt a bit too wide when things got busy, but then I worry a 50mm is gonna be too tight for those narrow alleys. I also keep hearing people rave about the 40mm G lens since its so tiny but the f/2.5 aperture kind of scares me since I do a lot of night shooting under the neon lights. Im looking to spend maybe $700ish max. I thought I knew what I liked but actually being out there in the crowd changed my perspective on focal lengths totally. Should I just go for the classic 35 or is there some magic in those weird middle focal lengths like the 40 that Im missing out on for the Sony system?
Building on the earlier suggestion, I had that same issue where 35mm felt too wide in busy spots. I eventually got the Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G and it really is the sweet spot. Dont worry about the f/2.5 too much. Quick tip: the A7C sensor handles high ISO so well that f/2.5 is plenty for night street work. Being discreet in those tiny alleys is worth more than a stop of light.
Honestly I would suggest being careful with that f/2.5 for Tokyo nights because those alleys get dark fast. You might want to consider:
- Samyang AF 45mm F1.8 FE since it hits that sweet spot between 35 and 50 and handles low light well.
- Sigma 50mm F2 DG DN Contemporary which is built like a tank and super reliable. Just dont forget to check the focus speed before committing tho!
Just caught up on the replies here and I have to politely disagree with the idea that f/2.5 is enough for Tokyo after dark. I've shot those alleys many times and once you lose the main street lights, you really need every bit of light you can get to keep your shutter speeds high enough to freeze movement. In my experience, reliability is king when you're traveling.
- Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA: This is my top pick for the A7C. It's tiny, weather-sealed, and the autofocus is way more dependable than most third-party lenses. While 55mm sounds tight, it actually helps you pick out interesting people in a crowd without getting right in their face.
- Zeiss Batis 40mm F2 CF: If you can find one used within your budget, this is the magic middle ground you're looking for. It has that 40mm field of view you're curious about but gives you f/2.0 which is a significant jump over the G lens for night shots. Honestly, for street work, I'd take a slightly tighter frame over a noisy, blurry shot any day. The extra light from these primes makes a massive difference when the sun goes down and the neon lights come on.
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.
