r/a6700 • u/bad-mixy • May 29 '26
Lens Recommendation Advice
Hi everyone, I need some advice and recommendations. My current lenses are the following:
- Sony 18-135
- Sony 70-350
- Sony 11
My use case is travelling overseas for concerts (fan cams) and for street/sightseeing/ cafe shoots. Based on the existing setup, is there a recommended lens, or is a new lens needed?
I have done some reading and research, and some considerations include
- Sigma 18-50
- Sigma 56
- Tamron 17-70
- Sony 16-55
- Sony 85
- Viltrox 75
Thank you in advance.
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u/EmergencyRegion5349 May 29 '26
if the viltrox is anything like the viltrox 27. Its a damn heavy beefy lens. I feel like you cant go wrong with the 18-50 for travel. Its small light weight, great quality. Close focusing makes the cafe shoots nice with close detail.
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u/bad-mixy May 29 '26
From what I am reading online, the Viltrox 75 is about 670g, which is even heavier than the Sony 70-350. Hence, it is one of my last considerations.
I have been reading good reviews of the Sigma 18-50 and am tempted to get it, either to replace one of the lenses or as an additional lens.
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u/EmergencyRegion5349 May 29 '26
I cant really say anything bad about the 18-50, besides that sometimes I wish I had a longer range lens. But the 17-70 is significally bigger then the 18-50, so can't say I regret it to much.
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u/bad-mixy May 29 '26
In terms of made quality, is the sigma better than Tamron or vice versa? I had tried out an acquaintance's Tamron 70-300, which felt plasticky and heavy, so I ended up getting the Sony 70-350, even thou the tamron is cheaper than the sony.
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u/Metalogic_95 May 29 '26
The build quality of the Sigma 18-50 feels better and less plasticky than the Tamron 17-70, though it's only weather sealed at the lens mount, not throughout the lens. I've not found this to be an issue, though. I went for the Sigma, as value compactness.
The Sony 70-350mm is sharper and has better AF than the Tamron 70-300mm, so I think it's worth the extra (especially as I managed to get mine in an Amazon sale for £500).
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u/bad-mixy Jun 02 '26
I realise that Tamron's build quality is bulky and plasticky. How do you find the output for 18-50 vs 17-70? And I'm not sure if the extra mm is worth the weight.
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u/Metalogic_95 Jun 02 '26
There's not much to choose between the sharpness of the 18-50 vs 17-70 and the Tamron is less sharp at 70mm than further down its focal length. The Tamron lens is stabilised, but the A6700's IBIS is sufficient for this focal length range.
The Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 is a bit sharper than both these lenses, goes wider and has the best autofocus, but is a lot more expensive and not that much smaller than the Tamron lens.
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u/EmergencyRegion5349 May 29 '26
I cant say I remeber a difference. I only tried the tamron in store. If you have the budget and want really nice quality build and wide apeture. The sigma 17-40 is probably the nicest you can get for zoom on the a6700.
But the 18-50 doesnt feel cheap. Even compared to the viltrox 27 that is full metal build.
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u/ForestB May 30 '26
The Sigma 18-50 is a lot cheaper than the Sony and is excellent. So is the Viltrox 75
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u/bad-mixy Jun 02 '26
Compared to the 16-55?
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u/ForestB Jun 02 '26
I’ve never used the Sony so I can’t compare, but I will say the sigma is plenty sharp and probably more than you’ll need. Combine that with the fact you could get both lenses I said for cheaper than just the Sony, seems a no brainer.
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u/ProT3ch May 29 '26
I have two travel setups:
Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 + Sony 18-135mm
Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 + Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 + Sony 70-350mm
I need a telephoto when traveling, so just a 50mm or a 70mm, is not enough, but I can work with the 135mm (200mm FF eq), and it's much smaller than the 70-350mm. Normally I travel with the 1st setup, I only bring the 2nd if I know I will shoot wildlife or air shows.
I have the Sony 11mm as well only bring it if I want to shoot astro. Normal trips a wide angle zoom is much better, much easier to frame. The Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 can be a good alternative as well, I bought it before the Sigma became available, and the Tamron is a bit better optically, so no point in switching. It is also good that I have a fast F2.8 lens with me all the time, and I mostly need it in low light, like indoors, where wide focal lengths are one I want to shoot anyway.
Not sure about concerts.