sooo i've actually been in ur shoes before and ngl it's a tough call for a long trip like that. honestly i tried the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS and while the extra reach is nice the f/4 was reallyyy disappointing when i was shooting inside cathedrals or at night... it just didn't cut it. but then i swapped to the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for the speed and unfortunately i had some issues with the weather sealing on mine... it felt kinda sketchy taking it out when it started drizzling in Paris. also lowkey missing that 24mm width is a pain for narrow European streets!! the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is basically the king for quality but it's so heavy u might regret it on a long hike. idk if i can fully recommend any of them without warnings but basically i'd go with the Sony just cuz it's safer and more reliable for a big trip even if the aperture is not as good as expected... gl!

Quick question - what’s ur actual budget for this? Before I dive into specs, I need to know:
* Do u prioritize low-light (cathedrals) or zoom reach?
* How much weight can u carry on those hikes?

The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS has great range, but the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is better value for money. The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is technically superior but way heavier. Let me know ur price cap! cheers

Quick question - what’s ur actual budget for this? Before I dive into specs, I need to know:
* Do u prioritize low-light (cathedrals) or zoom reach?
* How much weight can u carry on those hikes?

The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS has great range, but the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is better value for money. The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is technically superior but way heavier. Let me know ur price cap! cheers

Quick question - what’s ur actual budget for this? Before I dive into specs, I need to know:
* Do u prioritize low-light (cathedrals) or zoom reach?
* How much weight can u carry on those hikes?

The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS has great range, but the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is better value for money. The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is technically superior but way heavier. Let me know ur price cap! cheers

Any updates on this?

Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.

🙌

Honestly, I spent a lot of time testing the optical performance on the a7 IV because that 33MP sensor is actually pretty demanding on glass. If you are looking for the absolute best balance of weight and technical performance for a Europe trip, you might want to look at a couple of options that havent been mentioned yet.

• Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G: This lens is basically a game changer for travel. Having that extra 4mm on the wide end is massive for narrow European streets and huge cathedrals where you cant just step back. My testing shows it is sharper across the frame than the old 24-105mm, especially at the edges where the older lens tends to smear a bit.
• Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: If you can stretch the budget, this is the one. It weighs way less than the Sigma and the autofocus tracking is miles ahead. It stays locked on even in low light situations where the f/4 glass might struggle to hunt. The 20-70mm f/4 is my personal pick for hiking because it handles flare much better than the Tamron when youre shooting into the sun. Tbh, the f/4 isnt a huge deal since the a7 IV sensor is so clean at higher ISOs, and the extra wide perspective is something you definately cant replicate by cropping in later.

Just saw this thread and honestly, weight *really* is the most important factor for travel. I totally agree that fatigue is a trip-killer after a few days of walking. * The 24mm wide end is basically essential for narrow streets; 28mm feels wierdly tight when you're looking at architecture.
* The a7 IV sensor is so good that you can just bump the ISO to compensate for a slower lens indoors (at least that’s what worked for me).
* Balance is key; a front-heavy lens gets realy annoying on a neck strap after 8 hours of hiking. Definitly prioritize the range and weight over the fastest glass for a trip like this!

tbh if youre looking for the absolute best bang for your buck for a trip like this, you should check out the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. i know superzooms usually get a bad rap but this one is actually sharp enough for the 33mp sensor. the f/2.8 at the wide end helps in low light and having 200mm for architectural details or distant landscapes while hiking is a total game changer. if you want something much smaller though, the Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G is a total sleeper pick. yeah the range is shorter but its way lighter than those heavy f/2.8 zooms you mentioned. its super sharp and fits the a7 iv body perfectly for long days of walking. ngl i used to think i needed 70mm all the time but for street photography 50mm is usually plenty.

• tamron 28-200: insane range, great price, surprisingly light.
• sony 24-50: fixed f/2.8, tiny footprint, better build quality. basically comes down to whether you want the extra reach or the compact size... but either of those is way more practical for travel than lugging a massive 24-70 art lens all day.