What is the best all-around travel lens for Sony a7IV?

Question

leaving for my japan trip next month and im honestly stressing over gear. ive narrowed it down to the sony 24-105mm f4 or the tamron 28-200mm since my budget is super tight now. the sony has better build but the tamron reach is huge... which is the better all-around pick for a7IV?

Leo Samuel Harris · Accepted Answer

Saw this earlier and had to jump in because gear reliability is everything when you're thousands of miles from home! > ive narrowed it down to the sony 24-105mm f4 or the tamron 28-200mm Honestly, for a trip like Japan where you might get hit with sudden rain in Tokyo or crazy humidity in Kyoto, the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS is the absolute winner! I love the build quality on the G series lenses. They feel like they can survive anything. The big thing for me is the constant f/4 aperture. On the Tamron, your exposure changes as you zoom, which is such a headache when you're trying to capture a quick moment. It's way more reliable to know your settings wont shift unexpectedly while you're composing a shot. The Sony also has amazing Optical SteadyShot (OSS). When you pair that with the IBIS in your a7IV, the stabilization is just fantastic for those handheld shots in dimly lit shrines or stations. Technical reliability is key when you cant just go home and grab another lens if something fails. If you want a slightly cheaper but super fast alternative for those night walks, maybe check out the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. It doesn't have the reach, but that f/2.8 is incredible for low light and that blurry background look! But really, the Sony 24-105mm is the safest, most reliable pick. It's basically the gold standard for travel because it just works every single time without fail. You're gonna have an amazing time!

Meadow Rain · Answer

> ive narrowed it down to the sony 24-105mm f4 or the tamron 28-200mm Neither really cuts it for that 33MP sensor tbh. The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS has disappointing corner resolution and the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD has pretty bad flare resistance in bright light. If you want quality on a budget, get the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. Its much better at resolving fine detail and that f2.8 is vital for Japan at night.

XenoXylo · Answer

Look, I have been through this exact dilemma for my own Japan trips and gear weight is your biggest enemy over there. Honestly, if the budget is tight, skip the expensive glass for now. In my experience, you are gonna want that extra reach way more than you think when you are spotting a cool building or a deer in Nara from across the park. I have tried many travel setups and the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD is basically the king of versatility for the a7IV right now. Heres why the Tamron wins for travel:

It starts at f/2.8 which is huge for those dim temples or hitting the neon streets at night.

Having 200mm in your pocket without a lens swap is life changing when you are tired.

Its way lighter than it looks and wont kill your shoulder after 25k steps. The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS is a beautiful lens, dont get me wrong, but it feels a bit limiting for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. That extra 4mm on the wide end is nice but you can always just take a step back or shoot a quick panorama... but you cant magically zoom to 200mm with the Sony. Grab the Tamron, save the cash for more ramen, and just enjoy the trip without worrying about swapping lenses every five minutes.