Best all-around zoom lens for Sony a7 IV and FX3?

Question

I need to pick a lens like yesterday because I have this huge multi-day corporate event in Chicago starting in 12 days and I am currently stuck between a rock and a hard place with my gear setup. Right now I am juggling an a7 IV for the photography side and an FX3 for the b-roll and interviews but I am so sick of swapping primes back and forth when things get fast-paced.

My logic was to just grab the Sony 24-70mm GM II and be done with it since it is native but man that price tag is hard to swallow even with a $2500 budget. I also spent a lot of time looking at the Tamron 35-150mm because everyone raves about that f2 aperture but then I realized 35mm on the wide end might be a total disaster for some of the indoor architecture shots I need to grab. If I am at the back of a room 35mm is gonna feel so cramped and I really dont want to be swapping lenses in the middle of a keynote.

Then there is the Sigma 24-70 Art II which just came out and it looks great on paper but I keep reading conflicting reports about the autofocus motor speed when using the FX3 specifically for video tracking. Does anyone actually use the Sigma for professional high-stakes video work or should I just bite the bullet and pay the Sony tax for the GM? I am super worried about the weight too since I will be on my feet for 10 hours straight...

TommyDug · Accepted Answer

Ngl I was in this exact spot last year trying to figure out if I should drop the cash on the GM II. For corporate stuff, you really gotta think about the reach vs the aperture. Everyone loves f/2.8 but honestly, for a lot of those big ballroom keynotes, f/4 is totally fine because you're using high ISO anyway on the a7 IV and FX3. I've been using the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS for about three years now for these exact gigs. It's a tank. Yeah, its f/4, but having that extra zoom out to 105mm means I dont have to crop in nearly as much when I'm stuck behind the press riser at the back of the room. It has built-in stabilization too which helps the FX3 quite a bit if you aren't on a gimbal. If you really need that f/2.8 but wanna save money for a nice dinner in Chicago, look at the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. Its significantly lighter than the original Sigma Art and even lighter than the Sony GM II. I tried it on a two-day shoot and the autofocus was surprisingly sticky on the FX3. 28mm is a bit tighter than 24mm tho... if you're doing tight architecture shots that might be the dealbreaker. But for under a grand? Hard to beat the value. Just my two cents from being in the trenches with these corporate clients...

Megamah · Answer

I have done a ton of these 10-hour corporate marathons and honestly, just bite the bullet on the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II. In my experience, that weight difference is a total lifesaver for your back.

Sony: Lightest by far and AF is flawless on FX3.

Sigma: The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art is solid but still feels chunkier.

Tamron: 35mm is way too tight for room shots.

MargaretorRealf · Answer

Agreeing with the weight focus. In my experience:Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is way easier on the wrist.AF is reliable for video while saving you serious cash.