25/03/2026 1:51 am
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im finally taking that trip to Italy in three weeks and im super stuck on what lens to grab for my Z6II. i really want a one lens setup because i hate swapping glass when im walking around cities like Rome and Florence all day. i've narrowed it down to two Tamron options but i cant decide if the extra weight is worth it.
basically i am looking at:
- Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD
- Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2
the 35-150 seems like the ultimate travel lens but honestly it looks massive and i'm worried about my neck after 10 hours of walking around. plus it stretches my budget a lot... i found a used one for like $1600 which is already over what i wanted to spend (trying to stay under $1300). the 28-75 is way cheaper and lighter but will i miss that extra reach for architecture or candid street shots? i keep going back and forth because i dont want to regret not having the zoom range but i also dont want to be miserable carrying a brick.
anybody used both on a Z body? is the 35-150 really that much better for general travel stuff or should i just stick to the lighter 28-75 and maybe crop in? gotta buy something by next week so i can test it out before the flight...
3 Answers
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25/03/2026 1:51 am
honestly if you're trying to stay under $1300 then the 35-150 is already out of the running. i've spent weeks walking around florence and rome and trust me... weight is your biggest enemy. that 35-150 is a gorgeous piece of glass but its a total brick. i used one for a weekend and my shoulder was toast by sunday afternoon. here is why i think you should grab the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2:
- budget is king here. you can find the 28-75 g2 for way under your limit, usually around $900-1000. it leaves you enough cash for an extra battery or even a decent travel tripod like the Peak Design Travel Tripod Aluminum.
- 28mm vs 35mm is a big deal for italy. those streets in rome are tight. 35mm is often too narrow for architecture unless you're standing way back, which you usually cant do because of the crowds.
- weight savings will literally change your trip. the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD weighs over 1100g. the 28-75 is about 550g. cutting your lens weight in half is massive when you're doing 20k steps a day.
- you can always crop. if you need 150mm just crop the 75mm shot in post. the image quality on the g2 is sharp enough that you wont lose much for social media or small prints. dont overthink the reach. for a single lens setup in europe the 28-75 is just way more practical and wont break the bank.
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25/03/2026 2:55 am
This is exactly what I needed to hear. Youre a lifesaver honestly.
3
05/04/2026 9:35 pm
Honestly, I had a pretty disappointing experience trying to lug around a massive setup on my last trip. Unfortunately, the weight really ruined the vibe when I was trying to enjoy the architecture and I mostly just ended up with a sore back. It is just not as good as expected for a walking holiday and I felt pretty let down by the whole experience of carrying a brick. If you are worried about the budget, definitely stay under that limit. You will want that extra cash for actual food and wine in Italy anyway. Honestly, just get a standard zoom from Tamron and you will be fine. They are way more manageable for these kinds of trips than the oversized alternatives. Maybe even look at what Nikon has in their entry level lineup if you want to keep it light. Seriously, dont overthink the reach... you can always walk closer or crop a bit.
