Sony lense options: Hi all. I am taking a trip next month (A river cruise in Europe) and have been trying to resolve a dilemma. To all SONY users' I am trying to decide the better...

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

Hi all.

I am taking a trip next month (A river cruise in Europe) and have been trying to resolve a dilemma.

To all SONY users'

I am trying to decide the better option with the goal better IQ.

1) Trade my 2 kit lenses; 16-55 and 70-210 for an 18-135

2) Trade my NEX-6 for a A6600 and keep my current lenses.

Yes, I would like to do both, and probably will. but I am playing with a tight budget, and may have to wait.

I am aware that I am giving up a lot of reach going from 210 to 135, but my experience in Europe leads me believe I will rarely need that much. I do not want to change lenses. I am more concerned about going from 16mm(24) to 18mm (27) since there are so many landscape and architectural opportunities.

Any input from Sony users who have experience with the 135 would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

If architectural & landscape photography is your primary genre I’d go for the wider side of lens possibilities, I’ve also used long lenses for landscape, don’t forget about a “fast” wide lens like the 11f1.8 for interior shots. Have you thought about what landscape shots might be possible from the boat while cruising the river, I’m sure you’ll see some amazing images from the river in which case your going to want something a little longer.

Wasabi

The 18-135 is a great lens. Have used it on my 6500 for years. Planning a trip in December and the 18-135 lens is the one lens I will take. Read someplace not long ago, that it probably qualified for a 'G' classification. Enjoy!!

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

Thanks for sharing. I was worried that the image quality would not be any better than the two that I have. Not that they are bad, not just as sharp as i would like.

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

Jeffcs wrote:

If architectural & landscape photography is your primary genre I’d go for the wider side of lens possibilities, I’ve also used long lenses for landscape, don’t forget about a “fast” wide lens like the 11f1.8 for interior shots. Have you thought about what landscape shots might be possible from the boat while cruising the river, I’m sure you’ll see some amazing images from the river in which case your going to want something a little longer.

I agree that a wider and faster lens will serve me well, but I really would like to stick to one lens only.

Thanks for the good input.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Nortfish wrote:

Hi all. br br I am taking a trip next month (A ri... (show quote)

Why don't you take your camera and 16-55mm lens outside. Take a few shots at 16mm, then zoom to 18mm and take those same shots again. Now come inside and repeat the same experiment again. Look carefully and see if that 2mm or so represents a critical difference to you. And yes...I know...you will have to estimate where 18mm is on the zoom ring.

I don't have any Sony cameras. But I shoot with both full frame and crop cameras. Each of them has a identical 24-120mm zoom most of the time. I've been shocked at how rarely I've encountered any inconvenience at the wide end.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Nortfish wrote:

Hi all. br br I am taking a trip next month (A ri... (show quote)

No experience with the 135 but the 16/18 'problem' is easily resolved by shooting pix for panoramas.

bwa

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Nortfish wrote:

I agree that a wider and faster lens will serve me well, but I really would like to stick to one lens only.

Thanks for the good input.

I’ve done the 1 lens trip big mistake especially sense some of the small fast Sony lenses are light as well
I think I’d run with the 18-135 or 18-105 and take the 11f1.8 in my bag

Basil_O Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Being a Sony shooter since 2008, I have used a wide array of Sony bodies, including a NEX 6. I would keep the lenses and upgrade the body. The A6600 is way ahead of the NEX 6 in terms of performance. You can shoot at a higher ISO and not worry. The IBIS is worth the price of admission alone. You can also use the panorama feature to compensate for not having an ultra wide angle lens. Clear Image Zoom will give you all the reach you would need. Granted, these last 2 features are for JPEG only, but the trade off is worth it. The JPEG files are highly manageable if you desire to use them. There is always RAW for the rest if that's your usual setting.

JacksonHD Loc: NorCal

I have a Sony 18-135 on my A58. It is my do-everything travel lens. For me, it is a very good lens. If I need more focal length (seldom when traveling), I have the 2x CIZ (Clear Image Zoom) built into the camera.
I also have a Sigma 10-20mm, which I like alot, but I don't carry it when travelling. If I need wider view, as noted above, I use the internal panorama function, which works very well.
I also have a Tamron 28-300, but it is heavier and I seldom use its reach when travelling. (I do like using in a zoo.)
I just prefer not carrying multiple lenses, and changing them, when travelling.
I do often carry a +1 or +2 close-up "filter" as well as a polarizer, both of which, for me, occassionally come in handy.
In the film days, I travelled to Japan and Panama with a nifty-fifty and a 70-210 zoom, which covered everything I needed (from poison frogs to Mt. Fuji). The 18-135 on crop-frame gives me more range in one lens, with equal or better IQ (from observation, not testing).
I highly recommend it. I bought mine used at KEH. Hope this helps.

MDI Mainer

Basil_O wrote:

Being a Sony shooter since 2008, I have used a wid... (show quote)

I agree. Conventional wisdom says upgrade the glass before the body. But in this case the NEX line has been so substantially eclipsed by the A6xxx models (even by the now-venerable A6000 let alone its entry-level replacement the A6100) in image processing, autofocus, ISO etc. that I'd go for the new body.

But I'd consider the just-released and best-selling A6700 in the mix too. Not much more money than the A6600 and much closer to state-of-the-art in 2023.

In fact they are the same price at Amazon and elsewhere, but you may well find the older model discounted by some vendors.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-6700-Interchangeable-Recognition/dp/B0CBN8Y77Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1D51TRIX2FYJ&keywords=sony%2Ba6700%2Bbody&qid=1696138759&sprefix=sony%2Ba6700%2Bbody%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.17f26c18-b61b-4ce9-8a28-de351f41cffb&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-A6600-Mirrorless-Camera/dp/B07X43B6FD/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3LWPY7RDEMYJJ&keywords=sony%2Ba6600%2Bbody&qid=1696138701&sprefix=sony%2Ba6600%2Bbody%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.765d4786-5719-48b9-b588-eab9385652d5&th=1

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

larryepage wrote:

Why don't you take your camera and 16-55mm lens ou... (show quote)

Good idea. I will do that. Thanks.

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

bwana wrote:

No experience with the 135 but the 16/18 'problem' is easily resolved by shooting pix for panoramas.

bwa

True. Thanks

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

MDI Mainer wrote:

I agree. Conventional wisdom says upgrade the glas... (show quote)

Definatly a possibility. Yes, you can find the 6600 at about $400 less now. Thanks for the thought.

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

JacksonHD wrote:

I have a Sony 18-135 on my A58. It is my do-everyt... (show quote)

My hope is not to carry more than one lens when touring. Changing lenses in a group tour is a problem. Thanks for the input.