Ive been shooting street stuff on my A7C with the kit lens for a minute now but honestly the aperture is killing me in low light and it just looks too clinical. I know my way around a camera but I'm hitting a wall deciding on a dedicated prime that isnt gonna weigh me down when I'm walking around Tokyo next month.
- fast autofocus is a must cuz people move quick
- under $750 if possible (used is cool)
- preferably small enough to fit in a jacket pocket
Should I just grab the 35mm f1.8 or is the 55mm Zeiss still worth it in 2024? Or maybe something from Sigma?
Yo! I am so hyped for your Tokyo trip! If you want something that feels sturdy but wont break the bank, you gotta check out the Sigma I-series. Im a bit of a stickler for build quality and these things are like little tanks made of metal... super reliable for travel when youre bumping into stuff in busy crowds! Here are my absolute favs for staying under budget:
- Sigma 35mm f2 DG DN Contemporary
- This one is sharp as a tack and the manual aperture ring is just so fun to use!
- Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN Contemporary
- Perfect for those wide street shots and way faster than your kit lens in low light. Getting a used Sigma is the smartest move for a budget-conscious street shooter imo. The autofocus is super snappy on the A7C and you wont feel like youre carrying a brick. Have a fantastic time in Japan!
Unfortunately, the lenses you are considering have some technical flaws that might frustrate you. I found the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA quite disappointing because of its significant axial chromatic aberration and dated motor tech. The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Large Aperture Prime also falls short, as the rendering is overly clinical and the onion-ring bokeh is a mess in street scenes with lots of lights. You should look at these instead for better data-backed performance:
- Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary features SLD glass that vastly outperforms the Sony in corner sharpness.
- Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G Compact Prime has dual linear motors which are objectively faster for tracking quick subjects on your A7C. Honestly, the Sigma is the winner for your budget. Dont get stuck with that old Zeiss glass just for the name if you want modern performance.
To add to the point above: i spent a few weeks wandering through shibuya and shinjuku last year and found that the focal length matters just as much as the size. i started with a bulky zoom but quickly realized i needed something that didnt scream tourist to the locals. i actually ended up tinkering with a few different setups before finding what worked for my flow. i eventually settled on the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G and it basically lived on my a7c the whole time. it fits in a jacket pocket easily and the autofocus is nearly instantaneous which is decent for those quick candid shots. the aperture is only f2.5 so its not a bokeh monster but for street photography you usually want a bit more depth anyway. the build quality is solid and it feels right on the compact body. if you want something wider and even cheaper the Sony FE 28mm f/2 is an older lens but i still use it for night shots because it gathers a bit more light. it has a bit of distortion but nothing you cant fix in post. both are well within your $750 budget especially if you buy used. definitely makes the a7c feel like the compact tool it was meant to be.
I would suggest the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE for your trip. It's super cheap used, but be careful with the weather sealing since it's not as robust as the Sony lenses.
Noted!
Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.
