I recently upgraded to the Sony a6700 and I am absolutely loving it, but I am struggling to pick the perfect one-lens setup for an upcoming trip. I want something versatile enough for street photography and landscapes without constantly swapping glass.
I have been looking at the Sony 18-135mm because it is so light, but I am worried about the slower aperture for evening shots. On the other hand, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 is tiny but lacks that extra reach. I have also considered the Tamron 17-70mm, though it looks a bit bulky for all-day hiking.
Given the a6700 size, which zoom lens offers the best balance of image quality and portability for a traveler?
For your situation, I would suggest really looking at the used market to save some serious cash while traveling. I have been doing this for a long time and honestly, reliability is key when you are miles from home.
I definitely agree with the point about constant aperture. It makes such a difference when youre zooming in and out while tracking a subject, especially for travel video too. Basically, it just takes one more thing off your mind while youre exploring. Heres a couple quick tips to keep your budget in check:
So ngl I have to disagree slightly with the 18-135 suggestion. Its a decent kit lens but if youre rocking an a6700 you really want something that holds its own when the light drops. Variable apertures are just a headache for travel photography imo because your settings keep jumping around. I would actually look at the Sony E 18-105mm f/4 G OSS instead. Its a bit older so you can find them used for around 350 to 400 bucks which is insane value for a G-series lens. Here is why it wins for a traveler:
Adding my two cents here because I went through this exact struggle when I first got into travel photography. I used to be obsessed with having the fastest aperture possible, thinking I needed it for every shot, but a trip to the Swiss Alps totally changed my mind. I was constantly fumbling with lens caps in the freezing wind, and I actually ended up missing a shot of some mountain goats because I was mid-swap between a wide and a tele. It was super frustrating. After that, I decided to prioritize reliability and range over everything else. The one I got was the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD for my Sony a6700 setup. Tbh, I was worried about the weight at first, but not having to expose my sensor to the elements in harsh conditions has been such a relief. Its survived dusty trails and some light sea spray without missing a beat. Having that massive range in one lens just lets me focus on the actual travel experience instead of worrying about my gear failing or getting dust inside the body. For me, that peace of mind is worth way more than a slightly wider aperture... really makes the whole trip more enjoyable.