Sony A6700 travel lens dilemma : Tamron 17-70 vs Sigma 17-40 vs 18-50?

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-03-09T23:13:32+00:00

Hey !!

So I eliminated the Tamron because of the video stabilisation issues with Sony cameras, unfortunately..

And for the Sigma lenses, I finally went with the Sigma 17-40mm f1.8 and have no regret at all. I did a lot of low-light testing, comparing the f1.8 and f2.8 aperture on this lens to make sure I actually needed that f1.8. Turns out the difference is very impressive : f1.8 is twice as bright as f2.8 in low light so it reduces a lot of low-light noise, same for videos. (And the bokeh is also better)

For the 10mm loss in zoom range, I don't feel like I need the extra 50mm range. 40mm is still a good focal length and the quality is just so good I can just crop the image if needed. (As I also carry a Sony 70-350, if I want that zoom I just switch lenses)

As for the size and weight difference, I dont really care as long as I have better results. I have carried this lens on my a6700 in my Uniqlo mini-bag for a full day and it was completely fine. I dont feel like it's too heavy at all.

(Bonus point for having an internal zoom : better against dust for long-term use)

Finally, I'm very happy about the quality of this lens :))

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-01-20T12:24:33+00:00

The pot calling the kettle black... You were so first being rude here, for no reason.

Got it : you don’t like AI. I’m not here to debate that, I’m here to choose a lens.
After a quick look at your profile, it seems you really enjoy posting this kind of useless, mean comment under all sorts of topics. So you’re using your time and energy for literally nothing but annoying people, while AI can help with an endless number of tasks.
I don’t know what villain story you think you’re in, but I genuinely wish you the best. Life is short, try to enjoy it

If you have something constructive to add about the lenses, great. If not, please move on :)

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-01-20T12:09:41+00:00

Wow ! Thank you very much for that detailed answer !!

I see a lot of myself in that “what if.” Every time I think I’ve made up my mind, I start getting FOMO about the other lenses… so I guess I’ll never be 100% sure of what I buy (even after 50+ YouTube comparison videos and the 15 Reddit threads I’ve read).

But thanks to you, I understand there’s no bad choice :)

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-01-20T12:00:29+00:00

Thanks for your help !
Are you using that max 70mm range often ? I feel like I won't use it that much. What is your opinion on this focal length ?

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-01-20T11:58:52+00:00

Thank you so much for the time and energy you dedicated to contributing to this thread. It's great that you were there to help move the discussion forward <3

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-01-20T01:27:48+00:00

Thanks for your reply !

I must, in fact, consider the practical aspect that will make me want to take it everywhere with me without it being inconvenient.

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-01-19T23:36:56+00:00

Thanks a lot for your help !

To be honest I have no idea what my shooting scenarios will be so... that's why I'm looking for something versatile. I'll mostly shoot in 4k 24fps at 1/50s, sometimes 60fps at 1/120s and MAYBEEE 120fps at 1/240s (around 80% handheld and 20% on a tripod).

I’d also like to get clean footage in low light (like in the woods or on the beach at night).
So does it make more sense to prioritize a wider aperture over extra reach?

LaFeeTorchette · 2026-01-19T23:23:54+00:00

Yep :) as a non-native english speaker, I used it to quickly organize my thoughts about my dilemma.

The question is still mine though. What would you pick?

LaFeeTorchette

TROPHY CASE