22/03/2026 12:11 am
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I just pulled the trigger on an FX30 and I am honestly panicking a bit because I spent way more than I should have on the body and now I have like zero budget left for glass. I have this music video shoot for a local indie band next Saturday and I really need a versatile zoom because we're gonna be moving fast through a few different locations in downtown Chicago and I wont have time for lens swaps. I've been scouring forums all morning and everyone keeps pointing towards the Sony 18-105mm f4 since it's cheap used but then I read a bunch of comments saying the image is too soft for 4k and the distortion is crazy without in-camera correction. Then there's the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 which sounds great for low light since we'll be filming some stuff at dusk but people say the autofocus can be jumpy on Sony bodies sometimes? Plus it doesnt have a power zoom which kinda sucks for video work. My budget is strictly under $600 and I am looking at used markets like MPB or eBay to make it happen in time. Is the f4 on the Sony gonna kill me for night shots or should I just risk it with the Tamron and hope the AF holds up for these guys running around? Really need to make a decision by tonight so I can get it shipped...
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22/03/2026 1:17 am
Just saw this. I've been in your shoes where the budget is basically gone after buying the body lol. For a music video at dusk, f4 is a nightmare honestly. I used the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD on a similar run-and-gun shoot and the AF held up fine.
- Low light is king for dusk shots
- Check MPB for a used copy around 550 bucks
- You will appreciate f2.8 way more than power zoom
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22/03/2026 12:22 am
> everyone keeps pointing towards the Sony 18-105mm f4 since it's cheap used but then I read a bunch of comments saying the image is too soft for 4k Yeah, unfortunately those reports about the Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS are pretty accurate. I used it for a documentary project last year and honestly, the lack of sharpness was the least of my problems. The internal electronic correction for the massive barrel distortion basically stretches the pixels so much that your 4k ends up looking like upscaled 1080p in the corners. It is just not a great pairing for a high-end body like the FX30. I had issues with the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD too. While the f/2.8 is basically required for shooting in Chicago at dusk, the autofocus motor on that lens is not as consistent as native Sony glass. It tends to pulse or hunt slightly during slow movement, which is a total vibe killer for music videos. If you're worried about that f/4 aperture, you should be. The FX30 has a dual base ISO, but hitting that second tier at 2500 ISO with an f/4 lens in low light still leaves you with a pretty thin margin for error before things get noisy. Honestly, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is a much better compromise. It is incredibly sharp, fits your budget, and the AF is rock solid. You lose the power zoom and some reach, but it is way more reliable for fast-paced shoots. You can usually snag it on MPB for around $450 used.
