> tiny 35mm or a versatile 50mm Try the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G! It's smaller than the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8. Sharper too, tho f/1.8 has better bokeh. It's sooo tiny!

Curious about one thing: whats your actual street style? Like, are you more of a "get in the action" wide-angle person or do you prefer keeping a bit of distance? Knowing that helps cuz the 35mm and 50mm feel *totally* different on a compact body like the a7C II. Tbh, I've been sooo happy with the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G lately. It’s basically the perfect middle ground for weight and sharpness. It’s tiny but the optics are highkey pro-level and the aperture ring is clutch for quick changes. If you really need that low light, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is a beast, but it’s definitely longer than the G series. * Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G - Ultra compact, insane build quality.
* Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G - Better for tighter portraits.
* Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 - Faster but less "stealthy". Let me know your vibe and I can help narrow it down! Cheers.

Regarding what #3 said about "Any updates on this?" - i just spent a month shooting with a bunch of different setups, and honestly, i think people overlook how much the motor tech matters. In my experience, the biggest pitfall is buying glass based on a low f-number while ignoring how the lens actually communicates with the camera.

• Be careful with lenses that have old-school stepping motors. The Sony a7C II has that fancy AI chip, but it is basically useless if the lens mechanics cant physically move fast enough to keep up with a walking subject.
• Watch out for the balance. I tried a high-end 35mm that was way too front-heavy, and it made the camera feel twice as heavy as it actually is.
• Avoid glass with poor flare control. If you are doing street stuff at night, those streetlights will create nasty artifacts that ruin the shot. I once lost a really great candid shot of a cyclist because my lens was hunting back and forth. It was super annoying. These days i prioritize focus speed and weight over having a slightly blurrier background... it just makes the shooting experience so much smoother.

Great info, saved!

Ngl I totally agree with what SoskaPat said about how 35 and 50 feel totally different, and honestly thats why I am so stuck too. Saw this thread earlier and had to jump in because I have been dealing with the exact same dilemma for like three weeks now since I got my Sony a7C II. It is so frustrating because I really need something thats gonna be super reliable for quick shots but I keep flip-flopping between the 35mm and 50mm options... I dont want to end up with something that hunts for focus or feels awkward in the hand, but I just cant find a clear winner. Still looking for that perfect answer myself tbh.

Hard to say for sure since it depends on your budget, but here is how the brands usually stack up for that body.

• Sony glass is basically unbeatable for autofocus reliability on that new sensor.
• Sigma options usually have better manual controls and feel more solid, but I think they are slightly heavier than the Sony equivalents.
• Samyang is a decent option if you want to keep the weight as low as possible, tho IIRC their quality control can be a bit of a gamble compared to the big brands. Im not sure if the weight savings on the third-party stuff is worth the trade-off in AF speed for fast street shots, but it depends on if you dont mind a few missed focuses.

Re: "Hard to say for sure since it depends..." - basically the thread is torn between the ultra-compact G series and the faster f/1.8 primes. Honestly, I have this exact same issue and it is driving me totally insane. I have been dealing with this for like three months now and I still havent been able to decide on a single lens for my setup. I have spent way too much time analyzing MTF charts and vignetting data but unfortunately, every option seems to have some annoying technical compromise. I had issues with the vignetting on the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G when I borrowed one, and the bokeh on the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 just was not as good as expected for this body. It is so frustrating because the a7C II has such a killer sensor that I dont want to waste it on glass that isnt perfectly sharp. I keep flip-flopping between the 35 and 50 focal lengths every single day and I am still no closer to an answer... basically I am just stuck in research hell.

Any updates on this?