sooo, i've been using the a6700 for a while now and ngl, i totally get the struggle. Japan involves A LOT of walking, so keeping the weight down is basically the goal. For your situation, I would suggest sticking with the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS. I mean, the f/2.8 on the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-VC RXD is highkey tempting for those night shots in Osaka, but that lens is kind of a beast. I found it made my setup way too front-heavy, which gets annoying after 20k steps. The 18-135mm is literally half the weight and the range is basically perfect for travel. I’m super satisfied with how it handles—no complaints about the sharpness either, especially for the price. From a practical standpoint, it’s a great value. You can grab it for around $600, whereas the faster zooms usually cost more and weigh u down. If you really need low light performance, honestly, the a6700 handles high ISO so well that f/3.5-5.6 isnt a dealbreaker for street stuff. If you want a cheaper, tiny f/2.8 alternative, maybe look at the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary for about $500, but you'll lose that sweet telephoto reach you need for temple details. TL;DR: The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is the best balance of weight, price, and versatility. It works well for basically 90% of travel situations and wont kill your neck!! gl!

1. Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS: $350 used, light!
2. Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD: $700, heavy.
I went Sony cuz it has OSS and saved me cash. Best choice for my trip!

I’ve been crunching the specs on the current E-mount landscape, and from a market research perspective, the value proposition has shifted a lot recently. I spent weeks looking at MTF charts and weight-to-cost ratios before my last trip to avoid that front-heavy imbalance on the a6700, and honestly, the third-party market is disrupting the standard choices right now. Here’s the data-driven path I took to save some cash and weight:
- Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary: This is basically the ROI king right now. At ~290g, the weight-to-aperture ratio is technically the best in its class for APS-C.
- Optics: The constant f/2.8 is a lifesaver for those dim Kyoto alleys, and the stepping motor (STM) is surprisingly snappy for fast street shots.
- Budget: It’s significantly more affordable than the high-end first-party glass, leaving more yen in the pocket for the actual trip. Idk if you've looked at the technical dimensions, but it feels way more balanced on the smaller a6x00 bodies. Honestly, unless you absolutely need the massive telephoto reach, this offers the most surgical precision for the price!!!

I totally agree with the points about weight balance being the biggest dealbreaker for long trips. Honestly, I learned the hard way that a front-heavy setup ruins the vibe when you are hiking around shrines all day. Last time I was out there, I took more of a DIY approach to my whole kit to avoid having to find a pro shop if anything went sideways or felt uncomfortable. I basically turned into a traveling gear tech to keep my setup functioning without extra bulk:

• I brought a small self-service cleaning kit because the dust in the subway stations is actually no joke
• added a tiny baseplate extension I found which totally fixed the balance issue for the lens I got
• used a simple wrist loop instead of a neck strap to keep the weight off my shoulders Doing my own minor maintenance and rigging things up myself really helped me stay out longer without getting cramped. Even if the setup feels a bit off at first, you can usually tweak the ergonomics yourself with a few cheap mods instead of worrying about professional service or buying the most expensive glass.

yo, had a moment to think about this more and honestly... for a trip like Japan where you're basically walking 20k steps a day, i think keeping it light is actually the move. i've spent way too much time lugging heavy glass through crowded stations and my neck 100% regretted it lol. Here's what i recommend based on my experience: - **Weight balance**: The f/2.8 zoom you're eyeing is a beast but it's definitely a bit of a chungus. IIRC, it weighs nearly double the compact first-party zoom. On a small body like yours, it might feel super front-heavy and kinda awkward without a cage or extra grip. - **Cost vs. Value**: You can find the lighter zoom for a steal used. Honestly, that extra cash you save buys a whole lot of sushi and train tickets. Lowkey, the budget choice is often the smartest choice for travel.
- **Low light stuff**: Not sure but I think the sensor in ur camera handles high ISO so well that you might not actually need f/2.8 as much as you'd think. Plus, with the built-in stabilization, you can just slow things down a bit if youre careful. - **The "Stealth" Factor**: Be careful with the bulk. The bigger lens makes the whole kit look way more "pro" which isn't always what you want in busy streets. The smaller zoom just blends in better. Basically, I’d suggest prioritizing the reach and the weight. I think you'll appreciate the extra zoom range more than the low-light edge when you're shooting those tiny details on temples. gl!

+1