For your situation, I would suggest being careful with the bigger glass because I found the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM wayyy too front-heavy on that body, and it honestly felt a bit sketchy and unbalanced to hold one-handed!! I’m always paranoid about dropping my gear, so basically I think the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is the perfect, safe middle ground since it’s super lightweight but still fast enough that you dont have to worry about blurry shots when the light gets low, right? The Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA is tiny but I just didnt feel safe relying on f/2.8 for everything... honestly, the 1.8 is AMAZING and fits the a7C II vibe perfectly! anyway, gl!! 👍

Quick reply while I have a sec!! > Honestly, just go with any of the compact series from Sony... Respectfully, I'd consider another option cuz the Sony brand lenses are actually pretty expensive for what you get. Ngl, I've been using these tiny bodies since the original a7C launched, and I've learned that you don't always have to stick to the "official" compact series to get a good experience. I once tried a heavy lens on a friend's setup and yeah, it’s a bit much, but the real issue is usually just the grip surface. Instead of compromising on speed, you might want to consider the Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE. It's super light, way cheaper than the Sony f/1.8, and honestly performs 90% as well. If you want better build quality, the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is another solid mid-range choice that feels premium without the GM price tag. My big lesson? Get a cheap thumb grip or a small base plate. It makes even "front-heavy" lenses feel fine on the Sony a7C II. Gl!!

Ok so, +1 to what was said earlier!! See, these smaller bodies have a tighter flange distance and way less grip surface. Basically, a front-heavy setup creates a pivot point that strains the mount and ur wrist... super sketchy!! Honestly, just go with any of the compact series from Sony or Samyang. They're literally made for this size and wont feel unbalanced. Stick to the small primes and youll love it!!

If youre looking at specs, the Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is basically the sweet spot for the a7C II. At 325g its barely heavier than the Sony but the physical aperture ring is essential since the C series lacks some front dials. If you want the lightest possible setup without sacrificing speed, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE clocks in at only 210g and actually holds its own against the Sony 1.8 in sharpness tests. Those are basically your best bets for balancing optics and ergonomics without the front-heavy feel of the GM.

honestly looking at the current market data for this focal length its kind of wild how much the design philosophy varies between brands and i think that makes the daily carry choice way harder than it used to be. IIRC some of the newer third party designs are actually outperforming the older native glass in terms of weight-to-resolution ratios but im not 100 percent sure if the autofocus motors in those can keep up with the real-time tracking on the a7c ii... maybe?

• certain brands prioritize tactile controls like custom buttons and rings
• other manufacturers focus strictly on shrinking the footprint at the cost of speed
• native glass usually has the edge in peripheral illumination correction Basically you have to decide if youre okay with slightly slower glass to get that perfect balance because as soon as you go for the high-end stuff the physics just dont work in your favor for a small body. I think i heard that some of the newer glass manufacturing processes are helping with this but i dont know if the gains are actually noticeable in everyday shots or just in lab tests??? definitely check the weight distribution specs specifically and not just the total weight before you buy!!!