GeneinChi Loc: Chicago, IL

Going to Scotland for 17 days in October. As I see it, there are all sorts of photo ops from inside abandoned castles to city scenes to gorgeous landscapes and everything in between. I only want to take one lens on a Sony a6400. If you’ve been to Scotland, what lens would you recommend? Thank you in advance..
Gene

anotherview Loc: California

24-105mm zoom lens.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I've been to Iceland, took only my 18-200.
Iceland, Scotland, Maine, location doesn't matter to me.
Wherever I go, the 18-200 will go, along with the 50mm.
But that's me. I like to travel light.

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

Your camera is an APS-C sensor camera. Therefore the available lenses are the 18-105 EZ PZ and the newer 18-135 . There is also an 18-200mm lens. When I shot APS-C Sony I had the best quality with the 18-105 over the 18-200. My 18-200 was not as good in bad weather as the 18-105. Why are you so stuck on only taking one lens?

jimopho Loc: Maine

In the canon realm, the 24 to 105 worked well for me in Scotland. That range of focal length will cover a lot of situations.

GeneinChi Loc: Chicago, IL

At 75 I’m done schlepping! Want to keep,it as light as possible.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

What lenses do we get to choose from? I'm finding myself happier and happier with a 24-120mm f/4 lens on my D500 on "traveling light" situations. It's also a DX camera. I stitch a panora if I need wider. I have other lenses that are wider and closer to perfect. Experornce is teaching me that the difference mostly doesn't matter that much when on vacation.

anotherview Loc: California

My experience, too.

MT native Loc: Big Sky Country — Montana

My Tamron 16-300mm (on my Nikon D7500) is my go to all around lens. Just returned from a week’s trip to Washington D.C. Couldn’t have been happier with the results. Tamron now has a 18-400mm that has great reviews.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

The most versatile is the 18-300 mm by Tamron. I have a Sigma 18-300 on my Canon APS-C camera most of the time. Next is the 18-200, then the 18-135. It all depends on your desire for the longer end.

BB4A

Apologies in advance if I offend, but… you’re not giving us a chance to give real World feedback (I’ve lived and travelled extensively in Scotland on a variety of photography expeditions) because you haven’t actually given us a clue on what you want to do with a camera, in those 17 days?

1. First question, why are you going to Scotland? Vacation (and what’s the theme & locations of the stay), Work, Visiting Family, Other? It would be useful to know how much time (for travel and shooting) & where in Scotland you can take time for your photography.

2. What do you want to shoot? What’s your favorite genre, that your “photographers eye” would be most naturally drawn to? Moody, wet & windswept Landscapes? Foxes and Red Deer photographic stalking in the subpolar western highlands? (BTW, both those locations will feel VERY subpolar, in October…). You mention Abandoned Castles; there’s some wonderful photo opportunities, but there’s a reason why all of them are abandoned… most of them bring a whole new meaning to the phrase “off the beaten track”.

3. Where? Obvious, but if you want to shoot the seabirds of Stac an Armin, then that’s going to take a lot more planning and prep than an impromptu walkabout & street photography shoot in the Royal Mile. Have you considered your travel needs to get to those locations, and how that will affect the equipment you need to bring?

4. Finally, what photographs are your highest priority? As you have a maximum of 17 potential days to shoot, and Scotland is a very large country, with nearly every variation of terrain you can find in NE Europe, you will probably have to prioritize your objectives. You also need to consider the weatherproofing of your camera equipment; Scotland is the windiest and the wettest country in Europe.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow, I didn't know photography life could be so complicated.

BB4A

It doesn’t have to be, but I do get a little passionate when someone asks what one lens they should bring to shoot my home country. I’m sure it would be the same if I asked you “what one lens should I bring to shoot New England”?

All & any answers to the How Long, Where, and Favorite Genre questions are valid… and would help suggest an approach. If nothing else, I can suggest camera equipment rental options?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It depends greatly on what one may shoot, and how well one knows how their lenses perform.
Yes, those questions are valid.
And you'll make recommendations based on what you would do.

I'll never ask anyone what should I take, I know my equipment and an idea of what I could possibly shoot.

Notice I didn't "recommend" anything? I simply stated what "I" (did/would) use.

No, I would never recommend what lens you should bring to New England as I have no idea of what you like (what may interest you) nor your style of photography, and how you shoot. And if I did, I would be recommending based on how "I" shoot.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

A standard zoom will be enough for most outdoor shots but indoor shots really require a wide, bright lens. If you make that a wide, moderately bright prime lens it shouldn't be too big or heavy, especially if you can get a crop sensor version for your camera. If you insist on taking just one lens you'll have to settle for a compromise.