> I am worried about the balance and if the 20mm is gonna be wide enough for those massive peaks... Honestly, im super satisfied with the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G. At just 373g, it balances perfectly on the C II body. The 94 degree field of view works well for massive landscapes if you stitch occasional panos. Plus, you save about $300 compared to your budget limit, which is great for extra batteries or filters. No complaints here.

Building on the earlier suggestion, I totally see why people love that 20mm, but I actually have to disagree about it being enough for somewhere like the Dolomites! Last summer I took my a7C II on a massive trip through the Swiss Alps and I started with just a 20mm prime. Honestly? I felt so stuck. Those mountains are just... freaking huge. I kept backing up until I almost fell off a ledge trying to fit the peaks in the frame lol. It was super frustrating when I just wanted that one epic shot and couldn't quite get the whole scale in. I ended up swapping it for the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD and it was a total game changer for my hiking setup. It only weighs like 420g which is barely more than the Sony prime, but having that 17mm wide end made such a massive difference for capturing the scale of the landscape. The best part for me is the internal zoom. Since the lens doesnt physically extend when you zoom, the balance on the small a7C II body stays perfect even when you are hanging off a trail or using a tiny tripod. It fits so well in a small hip pack too which is amazing for those long 10-mile days. Plus, you can find them for way under your budget now, usually around $800, which leaves you so much extra cash for your trip! I love how sharp it is for the price. Seriously, dont overlook the extra width because once you're standing in front of those massive rock faces, 20mm feels a lot tighter than you'd think...

Been using this for years, no complaints