Best Walk-around Sony Lens for New England/Canada Cruise This Fall: I am going this fall (October). I have seen the places to go provided by other HOGS -- have noted them and it is...

arobi44 Loc: Delaware

I am going this fall (October). I have seen the places to go provided by other HOGS -- have noted them and it is appreciated. I cannot seem to find any lens suggestions, though. I plan to take my Sony A6000, but need a suggestion, or two, on a good walk-around lens. I have a 30mm and a 50mm prime, and of course, the two kit lenses. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks in advance.

le boecere

arobi44 wrote:

I am going this fall (October). I have seen the places to go provided by other HOGS -- have noted them and it is appreciated. I cannot seem to find any lens suggestions, though. I plan to take my Sony A6000, but need a suggestion, or two, on a good walk-around lens. I have a 30mm and a 50mm prime, and of course, the two kit lenses. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Much of the answer will depend upon your needs and tastes (such as comfort). I find that the shorter and lighter the lens, the better ~ therefore, I tend to "walk around" with a 24, 35, or 50mm prime, depending upon the shooting environment, and what I hope to capture. The shortest and lightest "zoom" may be your E PZ 16-50mm kit lens (if the questionable image quality of this lens satisfies your tastes).

And, of course, the "Zony" 16-70mm (Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS) might be absolutely ideal for you, if it's comfortable to carry every day.

So many choices!

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

Edited: On your APS-C E mount camera body the two prime lenses you mention are equivalent to a 45 mm and a 75 mm in full frame field of view. I would think that, for a single walk-around lens, a wider angle to modest telephoto would be preferable. Your camera accepts E mount lenses and mine take only A mount so I cannot recommend from actual usage a good lens choice, just the W/A to tele zoom idea. However, If you already have an appropriate LA-EA* adaptor then I could suggest a Sigma A mount lens (Sigma DC 17-70 2.8-4 Macro HSM) which I find to be a very good walk around lens. The 17-70 is the full frame equivalent of 25.5 to 105

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

On your APS-C E mount camera body the two prime lenses you mention are equivalent to a 45 mm and a 75 mm in full frame field of view. I would think that, for a single walk-around lens, a wider angle to modest telephoto would be preferable. Your camera accepts e mount lenses and mine take only A mount so I cannot recommend from actual usage a good lens choice, just the W/A to tele zoom idea. However, If you already have an appropriate LA-EA* adaptor then I could suggest a Sigma A mount lens (Sigma DC 17-70 2.8-4 Macro HSM) which I find to be a very good walk around lens.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I think the primes will be quite limiting. You are either going to be shooting from a fixed location on the boats or among throngs of tourists when onshore. I have a Panasonic lens for my mirrorless G7 that is 14-140 mm, and it is hugely versatile.

I don't know the Sony equivalent, but my lens is 1/3 the bulk, length and weight of the Canon EF-S 18-135 I used to have for my dslr

arobi44 Loc: Delaware

Thanks for the input so far. I don't have the adapter. Have been checking out the Sony 16-70mm, though. Might be my choice.

no nameJoe

Sony 18/to 105 lens

le boecere

photogeneralist wrote:

Edited: On your APS-C E mount camera body the t... (show quote)

This lens appears to be a bit larger/heavier than the Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens, but for half the price? Certainly a viable alternative, I would think. Thanks for posting this reply.

UncleBuck Loc: Malvern, Arkansas

arobi44 wrote:

I am going this fall (October). I have seen the places to go provided by other HOGS -- have noted them and it is appreciated. I cannot seem to find any lens suggestions, though. I plan to take my Sony A6000, but need a suggestion, or two, on a good walk-around lens. I have a 30mm and a 50mm prime, and of course, the two kit lenses. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks in advance.

My wife used our Sony a6300 on our last Canada New England Cruise. The lenses we took were the Sony 35 f/1.8, Sony 18-105 f/4, and the Tamron 18-200 f/3.5-6.3. The one that saw the most use was the 18-200 Tamron, but all did an excellent job.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I did a cruise from Montreal to Boston back in 2011 and used my Nikon D50 with the 18-200 VR lens. (Yes, I know you have Sony, but I think they are comparable.) That lens did everything I wanted, even inside buildings (I've learned how to stabilize the camera without a tripod). If you're interested, my photos from that cruise are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/collections/72157632660401716/.

If you have it, a wide-to-medium telephoto lens is what I'd recommend. I like to photograph flowers, for which a macro lens is usually recommended, but I've found that the 18-200 I have does a pretty good job for those, too.

arobi44 Loc: Delaware

As I expected, good suggestions! Looks like most are in the 16-100mm+ range. I guess I have some research to do now. Sony 16-70, 18-105, and Tamron 18-200 to check-out now. Thanks again.

arobi44 Loc: Delaware

David --
Nice set of photos. I shall put these stops on my itinerary for October.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

arobi44 wrote:

David --
Nice set of photos. I shall put these stops on my itinerary for October.

Thank you. I hope you get some memorable photos.

Ob1 Loc: Utah

The 18-105 would be perfect. Take a serious look at this lens. Great for video as well as stills.

arobi44 Loc: Delaware

Ob1 --

That is on my list. Many pros that I have read. Also looking at the Tamron 18-200.