One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
p.1 #1One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
needing some real world advice here because I keep going in circles.
I shoot an A7IV. Right now I've got the 55 1.8 Zeiss, 35 1.4 GM, Sigma 85 1.4, and the 16-35 f4 G. Love them all at home. Problem is we're doing Japan for a few weeks, and later an Alaska cruise with young kids. Lugging around primes while holding a small person's hand all day sounds... not fun. Also really don't want to be changing lenses on a windy ship deck.
So I want one lens (zoom?) to just live on the camera for both trips. Light weight matters more than anything. I've been looking at the 20-70 f4, 24-50 2.8, the sony 24-70 F2.8, sony 28-70 F2, Tamron 28-75, and the 24-105 f4. Every time I think I've decided I talk myself out of it — the 20-70 is light and wide but f4, the 24-50 is tiny but stops at 50...etc
For anyone who's traveled with little kids — what did you actually wish you had? Is f2.8 worth carrying the extra weight or is f4 honestly fine?
Budget isn't really the constraint, weight is.
Thanks in advance, really appreciate any real experience here.
I shoot an A7IV. Right now I've got the 55 1.8 Zeiss, 35 1.4 GM, Sigma 85 1.4, and the 16-35 f4 G. Love them all at home. Problem is we're doing Japan for a few weeks, and later an Alaska cruise with young kids. Lugging around primes while holding a small person's hand all day sounds... not fun. Also really don't want to be changing lenses on a windy ship deck.
So I want one lens (zoom?) to just live on the camera for both trips. Light weight matters more than anything. I've been looking at the 20-70 f4, 24-50 2.8, the sony 24-70 F2.8, sony 28-70 F2, Tamron 28-75, and the 24-105 f4. Every time I think I've decided I talk myself out of it — the 20-70 is light and wide but f4, the 24-50 is tiny but stops at 50...etc
For anyone who's traveled with little kids — what did you actually wish you had? Is f2.8 worth carrying the extra weight or is f4 honestly fine?
Budget isn't really the constraint, weight is.
Thanks in advance, really appreciate any real experience here.
Nov 11, 2026 at 01:55 AM
p.1 #2One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
Just jumping on here to say if you value weight, don't get the 28-70 - I have one and it's fantastic and whatever but it's a big lens, and it doesn't balance great on an ungripped body. My recommendation would be the 24-70 GMii, but I'd say it's best to rent it and the 20-70 or 24-50 and see what works for you. Let me know if you end up with the 20-70 as well, it's been tempting me for a while now!
Nov 11, 2026 at 02:44 AM
p.1 #3One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
20-200 Sigma for everything and 35 for low-light
Nov 11, 2026 at 03:02 AM
p.1 #4One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
I just got myself a7cII for family trips and going to get one lens to cover trips - that new Sigma 20-60mm, so wanted to suggest this lens.
For me, who shoots mostly at 20mm (push my family in center of frame and get huge coverage of what we are visting in the background
), this lens is alsmot perfect - light, starts at 20mm and gies me some zoom if i need to bring stuff closer.
If you need longer reach, then maybe that Sigma 20-200mm. People really like it for travel photography. Some look at Tamron 25-200mm, but I think Sigma would be better.
For me, who shoots mostly at 20mm (push my family in center of frame and get huge coverage of what we are visting in the background
), this lens is alsmot perfect - light, starts at 20mm and gies me some zoom if i need to bring stuff closer.If you need longer reach, then maybe that Sigma 20-200mm. People really like it for travel photography. Some look at Tamron 25-200mm, but I think Sigma would be better.
Nov 11, 2026 at 05:15 AM
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p.1 #5One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
FWIW, as a parent, my first choice would be a 24-70 f/2.8. A little bigger and heavier than ideal but very useful in a lot of situations. It could live on the camera. If you're willing to take a second lens with you, either the 35GM (or a smaller prime of your choice) or a Tamron 70-180 f/2.8 (or 70-200 f/2.8 or similar, perhaps an f/4 variant), depending on whether you think a wider aperture or longer focal length would be more useful to you in the places you will be going. You could try a superzoom, but personally I would want a wider aperture available than a superzoom would give me.
Nov 11, 2026 at 05:59 AM
p.1 #6One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
The sony 20-70/4 is extraordinarily sharp wide open, you don't need to stop it down. This one lens will do most of what you'll want, and you won't need to change lenses.
Sure, bring the 55/1.8 za too, if you want a fast lens, but chances are you'll never use it.
Sure, bring the 55/1.8 za too, if you want a fast lens, but chances are you'll never use it.
Nov 11, 2026 at 06:05 AM
p.1 #7One lens to rule them all? Japan + Alaska trip with kids
What about the Sigma 28-70 ?
On a ship, maybe a lens with good weather resistance would be a good choice. So the 20-70 G is a really good choice (I have it). This is my travel lens. For the evening and low light situation I use the Sigma 45mm or the Sigma 35mm F2, way more compact. The 35 GM is amazing, but the 55 ZA would be better a better choice when traveling (more compact, but not weather resistant…).
On a ship, maybe a lens with good weather resistance would be a good choice. So the 20-70 G is a really good choice (I have it). This is my travel lens. For the evening and low light situation I use the Sigma 45mm or the Sigma 35mm F2, way more compact. The 35 GM is amazing, but the 55 ZA would be better a better choice when traveling (more compact, but not weather resistant…).
Nov 11, 2026 at 06:11 AM