Honestly, I’ve been shooting with the a7IV since launch and if you're doing pro events plus travel, you gotta think about long-term reliability and gear safety. For your situation, I would suggest the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS as your safest bet. Yeah, f/4 sounds slow but for events, that Optical SteadyShot (OSS) combined with the body's IBIS is a total lifesaver for avoiding blurry shots if your hands get shaky after a long day. Plus, the extra reach means you aren't constantly swapping lenses in dusty environments—definitely safer for ur sensor!

If you highkey need that f/2.8, be careful with older heavy glass. If your budget allows, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is realy the only one I'd trust for a 'do-it-all' role. It’s significantly lighter than the Mark I, which is better for the lens mount and your own back.

A few things to keep in mind for safety:
* Make sure to check the weather sealing gaskets regularly if you're out in the elements.
* I'd suggest getting a high-quality protector like the B+W 82mm Master 010 UV Haze MRC Nano to keep that front element safe from scratches.
* Stick with native Sony glass for the most reliable AF tracking during critical moments.

Tbh, the 24-105mm is the true workhorse. It just works and you wont regret the extra reach when you're stuck behind a crowd at an event... gl!

Stumbled upon this and honestly, dont sleep on the third-party market! The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E is AMAZINGG—basically GM quality for way less cash. If ur realy worried about weight, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for Sony E-mount is a total steal and much lighter for travel. Personally, f/2.8 is a MUST for pro events, so skip the f/4!! Peace.

Tbh I’m still learning the ropes with my a7IV, but I’ve been obsessing over the MTF charts and some real-world sharpness tests lately. One thing I noticed is that everyone mentions f/2.8 or f/4, but what kind of lighting are you usually dealing with at your events? Like, are we talking dim reception halls or well-lit outdoor stuff? That might change which performance specs matter more for your setup. Anyway, based on the testing data I've been looking at:
- Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: Around $2,298. It’s like, way lighter than the original version (only about 695g) and lab tests show it’s basically the sharpest zoom available. It balances so much better on the a7IV than the older heavy ones.
- Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G: Usually $1,099. If you can live with less reach, this is super compact for travel but still keeps that fast f/2.8 speed for when things get dark. So basically, if weight is a huge deal but you need that f/2.8 performance, the GM II might be worth the extra cash if its in your budget. It really pushes the a7IV sensor to its limit!

For your situation, I’ve been wrestling with this exact choice on my a7IV lately! I’m still kinda new to full-frame, but here is what I found based on the specs and my own tests:

- Fast f/2.8 zooms: Seriously good for low light, like at weddings or indoor events. But they’re honestly heavy and feel a bit bulky for all-day travel imo. Sharpness is top-tier tho.
- The f/4 zooms: These are literally so much more versatile for travel. The extra reach is huge, and since the a7IV sensor handles high ISO so well, the smaller aperture isnt a dealbreaker for most situations.

Honestly, just go with Sony. You cant go wrong with their native glass on this body for the best autofocus and data transmission. Tbh, the f/4 version is probably the best balance for weight... basically its a beast. hope that helps!! gl

Just sharing my experience: Watch out for the weight vs light trade-off, cuz it’s a total trap.

- That fast f/2.8 glass I used was sharp but literally killed my wrists during 10-mile travel days.
- The slower f/4 zoom was way too dark for my pro indoor events, unfortunately.

Honestly, I was pretty disappointed with how both options compromised my a7IV setup tho. I just dont think there's a perfect 'do-it-all' lens.

Basically, full-frame zooms usually force a trade-off between zoom range and low-light speed. This matters cuz if ur lens is too heavy or dark, u won't use it. I went through this last year:

- Tried the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS but f/4 was too slow.
- Found the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for about $800.
- It's light, sharp, and fits my Sony a7 IV budget perfectly imo

I've been using my a7IV for quite a while now and honestly I’ve changed my mind about lenses like three times already lol. I used to think I needed that f/2.8 for everything but after having this setup for years I’ve realized weight is basically the biggest factor if you're actually going to take the camera out of the bag. Have you looked at the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G yet? - That 20mm wide end is a total game changer for travel landscapes and tight event spaces, it's way more useful than I thought it'd be and you can fit so much more in the frame.
- It is literally so light compared to those huge f/2.8 lenses so your neck wont feel like it's breaking after four hours of shooting.
- The sharpness is honestly incredible for an f/4 lens and I feel like it matches the a7IV sensor perfectly. I'm still kind of a novice when it comes to the super deep technical stuff but for real-world use this has been my favorite by far, you know? Do you think 70mm is enough reach for what you're doing or do you definitely need that 105mm? Personally I'd trade the zoom for the wider angle any day, right?

Caught up on the thread this morning and it seems the consensus is split between f/2.8 speed and f/4 range. Honestly, looking at the technical performance data and MTF charts, you can actually get that f/2.8 bokeh and sharpness without the weight or price tag of a G Master or the heavy Art series. If ur trying to save some cash while keeping resolution high for that a7IV sensor, definitely look at the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. It is way lighter than the Art version and center sharpness is basically identical. It is a total steal for travel since it wont break ur back or ur wallet. It is basically the best price-to-performance ratio for a fast zoom right now. Another dark horse for budget travel performance is the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. I know, superzooms usually have a bad rep, but the optics on this one are legit impressive on the 33MP body. It starts at f/2.8 too, which is rare. Basically, you get more reach than the 24-105 but with better low-light performance at the wide end for way less money... definitely worth checking the used market for these to save even more.

Stumbled upon this discussion today and I think hwgoekiwqv is right about the weight trade-off. ^ This. Also, you really gotta be careful about autofocus tracking speeds with third-party glass on the a7IV body. If youre shooting fast-moving events, the native Sony glass generally handles the high-speed bursts and tracking more reliably than some third-party options that might lag under pressure. I would suggest looking into the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II specifically if you can stretch the budget. It actually solves the weight issue Reginald mentioned earlier because its way lighter than the first version, but you should definitely double check if the price makes sense for your ROI. Quick tip: before you buy, make sure to check if the lens supports the a7IV Focus Breathing Compensation feature. It makes a massive difference for event video, and honestly some of the older f/4 zooms dont support it at all. Just something to keep in mind for long-term compatibility...

Seconded!