13/03/2026 5:01 am
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Man I am totally overthinking this lens choice for my a7 IV but I leave for a trip to Zion in like three weeks and I still havent clicked buy on anything yet. I have been staring at reviews for days and my brain is basically mush at this point. My budget is pretty firm around $700-800 because I already spent way too much on the body itself so I really need to stay in that budget range.
I am torn between the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 and the Sigma 16-28mm Contemporary. My logic was that the Tamron is super light and proven for hiking but then I saw the Sigma has that extra 1mm on the wide end and people say the colors are better on the newer Sigma glass? But then I saw a used Sony 20mm 1.8 prime for around the same price and now im just spinning out.
I mostly do long hikes so weight is a huge deal for me because my back is already toast after a few miles so I dont want a brick in my bag. Is the 20mm gonna be too narrow for those big canyon shots where you just want to get everything in the frame? Or should I just stick with the zooms even if they arent as tack sharp at the edges? I just want something that wont make me regret not spending more later on...
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13/03/2026 5:25 am
Catching up! Consensus favors Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G for amazing reliability.
- Research used market prices
- Prioritize native weather sealing Fantastic, safe choice for Zion!
11
13/03/2026 5:01 am
I took the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD to the Tetons and unfortunately the edge smearing at 17mm really ruined some high-res shots. I had issues with the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary too because the flare control just wasnt as good as expected.
- The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is technically superior.
- Much lighter for hiking.
- Sharpest corners for Zion landscapes. Go with the prime.
3
13/03/2026 5:35 am
Honestly just grab a Sony wide angle prime and dont look back for your Zion trip. I have been using their native glass for years and I am super satisfied with the performance. Primes work well for hiking because they are so light and the image quality is always solid. You really cant go wrong with Sony glass... it handles the in-camera distortion corrections much better anyway.
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17/03/2026 12:00 pm
^ This. Also, I have been looking at the technical sheets for a few hours and I would suggest being really careful about the mount tolerances on whatever you pick. Zion is basically a giant sand pit and if that rear gasket isnt tight you are gonna have a bad time. Before I can give you a solid recommendation tho, I gotta ask: what is your plan for filters? Are you doing a screw-on setup or a big square holder system?
- make sure to double check the internal seal ratings - be careful with the barrel extension if you go with a zoom because they tend to suck in dust over time
- I would suggest looking at how the AF motors handle high heat since it can get cooking out there in the canyons Man, this whole thing reminds me of when my brother-in-law went to Yosemite. He spent like two months debating between different focal lengths and finally picked one out. He gets to the valley, hikes all the way up to Glacier Point for sunset, and realizes he left his memory cards in the laptop back at the hotel. He was so focused on the glass that he forgot the basics and ended up just sitting there watching the light fade without taking a single shot... it was a total mess and he still gets roasted for it at Thanksgiving. Anyway, let me know about the filters and I can see which one handles the vignetting better.
