Travel lenses for Sony a7CII?

For travel, I always pack two lenses: the Sony 35mm f/2.8 and the 85mm f/1.8. The 35mm is tiny and perfect for street photography and landscapes, while the 85mm gives me that portrait reach and beautiful bokeh. Total weight is less than most zoom lenses, and the image quality from primes is just superior. You do miss some convenience though.

Don't sleep on the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 + 28-75mm f/2.8 combo. Both are reasonably priced, lightweight, and cover everything from ultra-wide landscapes to portraits. The Samyang/Rokinon 35mm f/1.8 is also a steal - tiny, sharp, and under $350. The a7CII's IBIS makes up for the lack of lens stabilization.

@Reply #3 - good point! Primes definitely have that edge in IQ, but over the years ive found that swapping lenses in dusty or crowded places is just asking for sensor spots. Since you got the a7CII, you probably want to keep things compact but reliable. In my experience, these are the two most dependable picks for that body:

• Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G
• This is honestly the ultimate travel lens. That extra width at 20mm is huge for architecture and tight streets where 24mm or 28mm just wont cut it. Its a G lens, so the build quality is solid and itll survive a bit of rain.
• Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary
• If you really need that f/2.8 for low light, this is the one. Its significantly lighter than the Sony GM or even some of the Tamrons, making it balance perfectly on the smaller C-series bodies. Ive tried many setups and honestly, having a constant aperture or that extra wide end makes such a difference when youre tired and just want the shot... stick to something with internal seals if you can.

Been traveling with the a7CII for a year now. My setup: Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 - it's my do-everything lens. Surprisingly sharp, lightweight, and covers every focal length I need. When I want to go ultra-light, I throw the Sony 40mm f/2.5 G in my pocket. The whole kit fits in a small sling bag!