A7C zoom lens for an enthusiast

stevie1965

stevie1965

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Hi all. I've sold my FZ2000 and I want a new camera for holidays, and learning more about photography. I really like the A7C, but I'm struggling to choose the right lens. I like to zoom, as I've got some great photos in the past. I know I won't get a big zoom, but due to being a beginner/ enthusiast, I'm struggling to decide what lens to get. I only want 1 lens, but maybe that's the problem also. Can someone tell me what lens to get, & why ? I'm also open to an APSC camera & lens, if anyone can give me a reason.

Open to questions, thanks
 
If you want a single lens with a large zoom range then I'd recommend having a look at the Tamron 28-300mm lens which is the longest zoom in E-mount I believe:

petapixel.com

Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD Review: Going Back To Its Roots

All-in-one means compromises somewhere, though.
petapixel.com petapixel.com

I've not used this lens myself but I was a big fan of the Nikon 28-300mm in F-mount because it was a single lens I could carry around with me and gave a good range, I now heavily use a 28-400mm lens which similarly I find really handy when I just want to carry a single lens with me.
 
stevie1965 said:
Hi all. I've sold my FZ2000 and I want a new camera for holidays, and learning more about photography. I really like the A7C, but I'm struggling to choose the right lens. I like to zoom, as I've got some great photos in the past. I know I won't get a big zoom, but due to being a beginner/ enthusiast, I'm struggling to decide what lens to get. I only want 1 lens, but maybe that's the problem also. Can someone tell me what lens to get, & why ? I'm also open to an APSC camera & lens, if anyone can give me a reason.

Open to questions, thanks
Click to expand...

Several questions spring to mind:

Do you just want a slightly 'better' camera, and if so, do you have a way to recognise better when you see it?

What kind of focal length do you usually take pictures at? Long telephoto, wide angle, in the middle?

What limitations of size, weight and budget do you have?

What kind of photos do you want to take?
 
My history for my "walkaround" or general purpose zooms

Sony 24-105 f4 (+100-400mm) - the latter zoom is large
Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6 - wasn't wide enough for me
Sony 20-70mm f4 + 70-200mm f4ii - latter zoom is really nice but also larger than I liked plus I used it with 1.4x TC a lot
Sony 20-70mm + tamron 50-300mm - really nice combo, would have kept it if it wasn't for the newly released....
Sigma 20-200mm - this is what I use now. Not as sharp as my previous setup but it's adequate for my purposes and for times when I want to maximise sharpness i use my prime lenses.

I do miss the 300mm end a little from time to time.... :(

But on a 24mp sensor not sure you'll be able to see the difference between 20-70 f4 and 20-200mm. So I can recommend the 20-200mm for you.
 
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I shoot Fuji (another option worth considering if you like the styling of the A7C), but the compromises are the same for all camera systems - you can have a “do it all” lens, it will be medium sized and you won’t need to change lenses, or you can have a few lenses - a wide lens (could be the “kit lens” that comes with the camera) and a telephoto zoom. The shorter lens will be smaller than a do it all lens. But the difference will mainly be from a better telephoto zoom, you will be able to zoom closer (longer focal length) and likely get more light in. I tend to be set up to shoot either wide or zoomed and stick with it depending on what I am doing that day.
 
Thank you all so much. I am interested in the Sigma 20-200 lens but I'm uncertain due to its' size. I am still obsessed by zoom, after having the FZ2000, and I think that's swaying my judgement. Should I go for a less bulkier lens, and then zoom in on my laptop after to get what I want ? Also....I have £1200 max & I don't think I'll get the Sigma for that.

Please advise me what you would buy, and put someone with ' ZOOM-ITIS ' out of his misery

Orrrr...should I swap to the A6700 + 18-135 lens, which I can buy for £1100 at the moment ?
 
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18mm on APS-C is about 27mm FF equivalent. Can be OK.
And yes the A6700 is a great camera, especially at this price point.

Going FF has its benefits, but for sure you will spend more money on your gear, and it will be heavier!
 
stevie1965 said:
Thank you all so much. I am interested in the Sigma 20-200 lens but I'm uncertain due to its' size. I am still obsessed by zoom, after having the FZ2000, and I think that's swaying my judgement. Should I go for a less bulkier lens, and then zoom in on my laptop after to get what I want ? Also....I have £1200 max & I don't think I'll get the Sigma for that.

Please advise me what you would buy, and put someone with ' ZOOM-ITIS ' out of his misery

Orrrr...should I swap to the A6700 + 18-135 lens, which I can buy for £1100 at the moment ?
Click to expand...

with 18-135mm you get a considerably less wide lens and considering on APS-C its not particularly fast
in both cases it'll be less "bulky" than panasonic.

Screenshot 2026-06-11 at 08.37.16.png
 
If you can I'd suggest going to a shop and trying the lenses.
The bodies are basically the same size.

Sigma 20-200mm in surprising small and light for a lens of its range and quality. But it's also relative, my previous lenses were larger and/or didn't provide the same range. Plus i also own f1.2-1.4 lenses. So the sigma is amazingly small and compact to me :D
 
Thanks all again.

Soooo...which is better for me ?

The camera will be used for Holidays, & increasing my knowledge. I take a lot of seascapes & landscapes, but also parts of buildings that I 'feel' I need to zoom-in on.

A6700 + 135mm for £1069
A7C/A7C 2 ( silver )+ 20-200mm for approx £1300...still negotiating

I have to admit that I love the look of the Silver version of the A7C, & the portability for holidays.

TIA, Steve.
 
If you can afford it A7c2. That one no doubt

Sigma 20-200mm is a better lens than Sony 18-135mm, I think you'll benefit from the extra range at wide end for landscapes.

If I was shooting Sony APS-C it wouldn't for that lens (or that body for that matter). There's some amazing APS-C lenses from Sony like 10-20mm or 70-350mm but 18-135mm isn't one of them.
 
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I've never understood the mindset of getting an interchangeable lens camera & only getting one lens for it. Last night wandering round Harwich waterside with my A7ii I used three lenses a fisheye, 28-70 & 70-300mm (using the 300mm end) & I had a 500mm with me just in case. The 300 was indeed used for architectural details.
I guess a 20-200 would cover most of what I took (the carvings just needing a crop in post) & the fisheye shots may not be to your taste anyway.

I do sometimes head out with only one lens, but that's more likely to be on a family stroll that a photographic trip. On such occasions I'll usually have a normal or telephoto zoom, but I have gone out with just a 50mm/1.4.

I can't help thinking that increasing your knowledge encourages the use of some extra lenses. Even if they are only toy things like the fixed focus macro lens I got from Temu recently (it gives about 1.3 times lifesize at a fairly short working distance, so NOT a lens for any of your listed subjects, but a fun challenge. Getting the most out of restricted optics does a lot to boost your knowledge & such lenses can be quite cheap. Sometimes they end up opening subject types you wouldn't have considered previously...
 
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Petrochemist said:
I've never understood the mindset of getting an interchangeable lens camera & only getting one lens for it
Click to expand...

Can't say I'm fully convinced myself but I can kinda understand.... you can't get FF quality (dynamic range, noise performance) with a fixed lens camera, especially if you are not a prime shooter.

In the past use to carry 3-4 lenses but recently on our family trip to Scotland I only carried two lenses 20-200mm and 16/1.8. Used 20-200mm like 90% of the time.

Given how much latitude I get out of my A7RV RAWs I wouldn't get same results from a RX100 series for example.

Of course I also own other prime lenses and shoot other things... but just saying it isn't a bad place to get started with one decent zoom lens if that gets OP going
 
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I think you need to consider your answers to @ancient_mariner questions.
The problem with coming from bridge cameras is that you don’t link the convenience with the negatives.

They’re great for zoom range and portability.

But the zoom range and portability is a direct result of a smaller sensor and compromised lens design. So the instant you want to get ‘better IQ’ you need a larger and less convenient camera. But you’re clinging onto the idea of a single lens solution, which will spoil some of the advantages you’re buying with the better sensor.

Your choice, but I’d go for two 3x zooms to take full advantage of the bigger sensor.
 
Sorry @ancient_mariner, I missed your reply.
Q1. It's simple really..,& you are probably going to GROAN...I love the look of the A7C/A7C silver camera. I've just had 2 Cataract operations & can now see brillant, so I want better image than my FZ2000. I also want to learn more about Photography, & I feel rightly or wrongly that I need a better camera, with the ability to add other lenses in the future. I did have a Fuji XT 30 for about a month & the image quality was amazing. I sold it as I was fixated to the ability to zoom. And lastly, after the awful time I've had with my eyesight I want to treat myself.
Q2. I take photos at all diferent focal lengths, & this is why I'm looking at a Superzoom ( 20-200 ) recommended on this thread.
Q3. I actually go on 3 foreign holidays a year, so portability is somewhat important. Budget is £1500 max.
Q4. I take all types of photos, but I'm not into portraits or too bothered about blurry backgrounds...but obviously that might change.

Hope this helps, and sorry once again for no reply, as you took the time to answer my question.

PS, If you think I'd benefit from a different Camera & lens then I'm open to that. I have been looking at the Panasonic S5/D/Mk 2, due to it being considerably cheaper.
 
For pure aesthetics I’d go with a Fuji or an Olympus.
For size and weight from that the Olympus would be better, and a couple of lenses wouldn’t take up much space / weight.

BTW I’ve also just had a cataract done, we also do several holidays a year, and my camera bag whilst small weighs a ton. I have a full frame camera with a 24-70 2.8, plus whatever other gear fits the need of the destination. I’ve considered downsizing but I can’t quite let go. But if I could, it’d be for a Fuji
 
stevie1965 said:
Sorry @ancient_mariner, I missed your reply.
Q1. It's simple really..,& you are probably going to GROAN...I love the look of the A7C/A7C silver camera. I've just had 2 Cataract operations & can now see brillant, so I want better image than my FZ2000. I also want to learn more about Photography, & I feel rightly or wrongly that I need a better camera, with the ability to add other lenses in the future. I did have a Fuji XT 30 for about a month & the image quality was amazing. I sold it as I was fixated to the ability to zoom. And lastly, after the awful time I've had with my eyesight I want to treat myself.
Q2. I take photos at all diferent focal lengths, & this is why I'm looking at a Superzoom ( 20-200 ) recommended on this thread.
Q3. I actually go on 3 foreign holidays a year, so portability is somewhat important. Budget is £1500 max.
Q4. I take all types of photos, but I'm not into portraits or too bothered about blurry backgrounds...but obviously that might change.

Hope this helps, and sorry once again for no reply, as you took the time to answer my question.

PS, If you think I'd benefit from a different Camera & lens then I'm open to that. I have been looking at the Panasonic S5/D/Mk 2, due to it being considerably cheaper.
Click to expand...
There's nothing wrong with wanting a one lens solution you can add to later, it's whatever suits your needs. Many years ago when I bought a D700, it mostly stayed at home because the 24-70mm/70-200mm were too large and inconvenient to carry around so it mostly stayed at home and instead I used a GH1 with the 14-140mm lens. When the Nikon 28-300mm lens came out that transformed the D700 for me since it meant I had a relatively compact and flexible walkabout solution. I was delighted when the 28-400mm came out and used that lens extensively because again it's relatively compact and flexible so I just take it everywhere particularly when I have nothing in mind.
 
Petrochemist said:
I've never understood the mindset of getting an interchangeable lens camera & only getting one lens for it.
Click to expand...

Maybe because the lens aperture and focal length combination and the size and weight and general quality of the combination at the price point just isn't available in a fixed lens system.
 
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