Best compact prime lens for travel with the Sony a7C II?

Question

Leaving for my trip to Tokyo in literally two weeks and I still havent figured out my lens situation for the a7C II I just picked up. I moved from a big a7R III specifically because I wanted something lighter for walking 20k steps a day but now I feel totally stuck on which glass to get. I really want a one-lens setup for the street stuff and those close-up food photos at night.

Ive been looking at the Sony 40mm f2.5 G lens which seems perfect size-wise but then I saw a bunch of people on Reddit complaining about the 40mm focal length being awkward and saying the 35mm Zeiss is better for travel even though its much older. But then other people say the Zeiss is overpriced now and the autofocus isnt as snappy as the new G series stuff which makes me nervous for moving subjects. I also looked at the Samyang 35mm tiny series but I'm worried about the build quality holding up in the rain or just getting bumped around in my camera bag.

My budget is about 650 bucks max because I spent way too much on the body itself and the flight out there. I need something that wont make the camera feel front-heavy because the whole point of the cII is that small form factor right? If I put a huge lens on it I might as well have kept my old gear. I'm also worried about f2.5 being too slow for those narrow alleys in Shinjuku at night but maybe the IBIS on the new body makes up for it?

I need to order something by Monday so it gets here before my flight. Is the 40mm G actually too narrow for city streets or should I be looking at something wider like the 24mm or maybe just stick with a 35? Anyone who actually uses the a7C II for travel have a favorite pancake-ish prime that stays on the camera 90% of the time?

Rudolphsmera · Accepted Answer

I have been using the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G Full-frame Compact Prime Lens on my a7C II for a few months now and I am incredibly satisfied with the technical performance. The balance is basically perfect for that body. Here is why it works so well for your specific trip:

It features dual linear motors for near-instant autofocus, which is a huge step up from the motor design in the older Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA.

The 0.28m minimum focus distance is a major advantage for those close-up food shots.

At only 173 grams, it keeps the center of gravity right in the palm of your hand. I wouldnt stress about f/2.5 in low light. The 7 stops of IBIS on the cII plus the clean high ISO performance means you can easily shoot in those dark Tokyo alleys without any issues. The 40mm focal length actually feels very natural for street work once you stop overthinking the numbers... definitely better than carrying heavy glass.

WilliamCat · Answer

I have been thinking about your situation and if you are worried about f/2.5 being too slow for Shinjuku, you might want to consider some f/2 alternatives that still keep the weight down. I would suggest being careful with the pancake obsession because a slightly larger lens often provides significantly better utility for night shots.

Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E: This is my top pick for the a7C II. It is part of their I-series, so the build quality is all metal and feels super premium. It is a bit heavier than the G lenses, but the rendering is stellar.

Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE Lens: If weight is the priority, this is your best bet for low light on a budget. Make sure to handle it gently tho, since the build isnt quite as tank-like as the Sony or Sigma options. Tbh, while the 40mm is tiny, that extra stop of light on a 35mm f/2 makes a big difference in those dark alleys. Just make sure whatever you get arrives by Friday so you can test it before the flight... you dont want to be figuring out the focus settings while you are sitting on the plane.

Idellamqt · Answer

Just catching up on this thread and yeah, I totally agree with the concerns about f/2.5 being a bit slow for the dark alleys in Shinjuku. You might want to consider the Sony FE 35mm F1.8 as a more reliable middle ground for your trip. I would suggest being careful with the tiny G series primes if you plan on doing a lot of night shooting because you lose significant light gathering. The technical reality is that f/1.8 lets in over a full stop more light than f/2.5. When you're shooting handheld at night, that's the difference between a sharp 1/125s shutter speed and a blurry 1/50s, or having to push your ISO to 6400 which starts eating away at your detail. The 35mm f/1.8 is only 280g, so it wont make your a7C II feel front-heavy. Since you're worried about build quality and rain, native Sony glass is usually the safest bet for weather sealing consistency. Make sure to check that whatever you buy has a rubber gasket at the mount... some of the budget tiny series lenses skip that. The AF on this one uses a linear motor which is fast enough to keep up with the a7C II's real-time tracking. It hits your budget perfectly too.