Seconding the recommendation above! Honestly, I totally agree that the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Full-frame Ultra-wide Prime Lens is the move. It’s basically a GM in disguise but way lighter for hiking. tbh I think the flare resistance is actually better than the 24mm GM, plus you save about $400. Definitely consider it for those long trails! TL;DR: 20mm G is cheaper, lighter, and better for flare.

Check the charts on The Digital Picture! tbh I had issues with Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Full-frame Wide-angle Prime Lens flare; unfortunately it wasn't as good as expected for $1,300... 1. Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Full-frame Ultra-wide Prime Lens - Best value (~$900). Insanely sharp edges.
2. Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens for Sony E - GM quality for ~$800. 20mm is probs your best bet for hiking. gl!

Jumping in here - honestly, before I weigh in on the glass, I gotta ask: how much do you actually rely on autofocus for your landscape work? I mean, with the a7R V, the resolution is so high that even the best AF can slightly miss, so I usually end up manual focusing anyway to be 100% sure. If you’re okay with a bit of a DIY approach to your shooting and maintenance, you can save a ton of money over those "pro-grade" Sony labels:
- Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE - This is a technical beast. It has a built-in LCD screen for manual focus distance which is a godsend for vistas, and it’s way cheaper than the 20mm G.
- Samyang AF 18mm f/2.8 FE - Tiny and sharp enough for hiking. Just make sure you get the Lens Station to DIY your own firmware updates so the AF stays snappy. Basically, are you looking for something that "just works" out of the box, or are you down to do a little technical tinkering with firmware and manual settings to save a few hundred bucks? Well actually, that Viltrox 16mm is basically a GM-tier lens for a third of the price if you don't mind the off-brand name.

In my experience, the a7R V really exposes which lenses can actually handle that much detail. I've been shooting Sony bodies for years and I get the struggle! Honestly, that 61MP sensor is a total beast but it really shows the flaws in older glass, especially near the edges. For your situation, here's what I recommend: **Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G vs Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM** * **Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G**: This is lowkey a 'giant killer.' It's super light for hiking and basically, the corner sharpness at f/5.6 is just insane. The flare resistance is also top-tier for those sunstars!! * **Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM**: This one has that 'special' rendering and slightly better build. It's legendary for a reason, but it's a bit heavier in the pack. tbh, if ur doing long hikes, I'd go with the 20mm G. It’s soooo sharp and handles the resolution perfectly without breaking ur back. Plus, the 20mm focal length is just slightly better for wide vistas anyway... so yeah, love it! gl! 👍

I spent years thinking only the most expensive first-party glass could actually resolve the detail on these high-res sensors. *Wrong.* Honestly, looking at the market right now, the value proposition has shifted massively. I remember being super skeptical of anything non-Sony, but after testing the Samyang AF 24mm f/1.8 FE, I realized I’d been overspending for a long time. It’s a fraction of the price and surprisingly punchy on the a7R V. Definitely light enough for those brutal hikes too. Another one that surprised me during my research was the Tamron 24mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2. It's not a fast prime, but for stopped-down landscapes, the edge-to-edge sharpness is *ridiculous* for the price point. Basically, dont feel like you have to drop $1k+ just to feed that 61MP sensor. The third-party competition is pushing Sony hard these days and saving you a ton of money. Good to have options tho.

Finally someone says it. Ive been thinking this for a while but wasnt sure.

Same here!

Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.