oh man, congrats on picking up the a7C II!! i literally just got mine a few months ago and i am SO obsessed with keeping it tiny. its like the perfect travel setup, right? i totally get the struggle of wanting to keep it small without sacrificing image quality. since youre looking for a compact setup, i have tried a few things that might work for u. Here is what i recommend based on my own trial and error:

• Option A: Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G Lens

this is basically my favorite lens ever for this body. its tiny, built like a tank, and the image quality is actually insane for the size. the physical aperture ring is sooo satisfying to use lol. it is a bit pricey tho, so if youre on a budget it might feel a bit expensive for a prime.

• Option B: Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE

if you wanna save some cash, this one is basically a true pancake lens. it is super light... like i honestly forget it is even on the camera sometimes. it feels a bit more plasticky compared to the sony stuff, but for the price? it is a total steal for travel photography. for accessories, i highkey recommend getting a thumb grip. i use the SmallRig Thumb Grip for Sony Alpha 7C II / Alpha 7CR 4422 and it makes the camera feel way more secure in my hand without adding any bulk. also, look at the Megagear Ever Ready Leather Camera Half Case for Sony Alpha 7C II if you want that slim protection. honestly i would go with the sony 40mm if you can afford it. its just a fantastic combo. good luck with the new gear! peace

Quick reply while I have a sec! Sooo I've been shooting for years and honestly keeping things light is the way to go, but u gotta be careful with image quality on some tiny glass. I think? For your situation, I would suggest comparing these two lenses:

• Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G: Highkey amazing because it's built like a tank and has a physical aperture ring, but it's definitely pricey.
• Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE: This one is basically weightless and way cheaper, but honestly the build quality is kinda meh and it might hunt for focus in the dark. Also, make sure to grab the SmallRig Thumb Grip for Sony Alpha 7C II cuz it makes one-handed shooting way more stable without adding bulk like a full cage. I'm still kinda new to this specific body but i reallyyy love the tiny setup so far. gl!

Re: "Did this last week, worked perfectly" - honestly it feels so good when you finally get the kit to that perfect size!! I've been shooting for ages and i'm totally obsessed with the DIY approach to keeping things light. One time I actually spent a whole weekend cutting down a vintage leather strap just to make it fit the small eyelets on my compact body... looked amazing but man, my hands were sore lol. just a huge warning tho for everyone looking at those super cheap generic thumb grips or cheap metal cases... i've seen so many people accidentally scratch the finish or even worse, bend the hot shoe pins because the tolerances are just off. its a total nightmare! i once used a bargain bin grip that actually shorted out my flash trigger connection because it sat too deep. if you wanna go DIY or cheap, stick to stuff like gaffer tape for grip or making your own wrist loops. basically just be careful putting metal-on-metal stuff from random sellers on your expensive new gear!!

For your situation, I would suggest:

• go with Samyang, you cant go wrong
• get any generic thumb grip
• stick with third-party accessories basically

saves cash for travel!

Would love to know this too

Did this last week, worked perfectly