yo, honestly i tried the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G and it was kinda disappointing for the price... like $1,300?? i also had issues with the bulk of the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD. unfortunately, it's just too heavy for the a6700. i'd go with the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary tho. it's only $500 and weighs just 290g. much better for ur budget i think

> Is the constant f/2.8 worth the extra bulk, or should I look at something more compact like the Sigma 18-50mm? Curious about one thing: how much night shooting are ur street scenes actually gonna involve?? Knowing that helps weigh f/2.8 vs size. Like others said, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is a tiny beast, but for a true 'do-it-all' budget pick, the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is way more versatile. It’s light, pretty sharp, and I've been really happy with it for the price!

tbh I'm still fairly new to all this but I've been doing a TON of research because I'm in the same boat with my a6700. One thing I noticed is that people always focus on the f/2.8 lenses, but from a market perspective, Sony’s own glass sometimes has better integration with that crazy new AI autofocus. Have you looked at the Sony E 16-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* ZA OSS? It’s way lighter than the f/2.8 zooms and gives that classic Zeiss contrast which is AMAZING for street scenes. It usually goes for around $800 new but you can find deals. Or even the Sony E 18-105mm f/4 G OSS—it's a bit older and maybe a bit long, but it’s such a staple in the community for a reason. I’m curious though, what kind of 'street' are we talking about?? Like, do you prefer being a 'fly on the wall' from far away or getting right in the action? If you need reach, the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is basically the king of versatility in the current market, even if it's a bit slower. Just wondering what your priority is between low-light performance vs total zoom range!

TL;DR: f/2.8 is cool for low light but balance is king for all-day street shooting. Re: "> Is the constant f/2.8 worth the extra..." - in my experience, the extra stop isnt always worth the 200g+ weight penalty. I actually got so into weight-saving that I started building my own carbon fiber accessories for the Sony a6700. I was looking at the tensile strength specs of different resins for hours... I ended up ordering this high-temp epoxy from a marine supply shop and the shipping cost more than the actual glue. Then I realized I didnt have a vacuum chamber to degas the mixture, so I tried to rig one up using an old refrigerator compressor and a pickle jar. It actually worked for about ten minutes before the jar imploded and I had sticky resin all over my workbench. What a disaster. Anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.

honestly i'm curious if u do a lot of video alongside ur street photography because if video is even 30% of ur workflow the choice changes a lot especially with that 10-bit color on the a6700! Since u mentioned being worried about balance have u checked out the Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS? It’s a bit of an older lens but u can find them used for cheap and since it’s an internal zoom it never changes length so the balance stays exactly the same which is basically a dream for street shooting. I’m a big fan of the DIY approach to gear so instead of paying the "new" premium for a professional warranty i usually buy used and just do my own thorough decentering tests and sensor cleanings at home it's way more cost-effective and helps u learn ur gear inside out plus u can usually snag something like the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD if u want massive range for travel without the pro price tag. Just gotta be willing to do the legwork urself to make sure the copy u get is sharp and maybe? even do a firmware update via the dock if it's a third party lens just to keep that AI autofocus snappy!

Would love to know this too

Stumbled upon this discussion today and noticed ur already getting some good feedback. Curious about one thing: what's ur actual budget for this?? Knowing if ur looking for the absolute best glass or just the best value really helps. Basically, here's the technical breakdown:
1. Size/Weight: The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary is basically half the weight of the others. It matches the Sony Alpha a6700 body perfectly, but you lose that extra 2mm on the wide end compared to Sony.
2. Stabilization: Since the a6700 has IBIS, you dont technically need the VC (optical stabilization) in the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD, which is why it feels so bulky and unbalanced.
3. Optical Quality: The Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G is technically superior for sharpness and linear motor autofocus, but it's highkey overpriced imo. Does the extra reach or the wider 16mm matter more for ur street stuff? 👍

Seconded!