I don’t even know where to start.
Maybe from the beginning. A year ago I bought my camera — the Sony Alpha 7 IV — and little by little started building my setup around it. The kit lens, Sony FE 20–70mm f/4 G, came with me from day one. It’s a solid piece of glass, no doubt. Versatile, lightweight, reliable.
But let’s be honest — it’s not top-tier.
And I’m not a top-tier photographer either (yet 😄). But I’ve always believed in one simple thing: good gear won’t make you a genius, but it will forgive you when you’re not one. And that matters.
For months I had this idea in my head — upgrade the lens. Replace the very first one. Something faster. Something sharper. Something that would give me more flexibility, especially in low light. I kept postponing it… until today.
Today I finally walked into BIG CAMERA, the Thai photo & video store where I’ve bought all my gear so far. And once again — no regrets.
Honestly, I’m even ready to give them a small shout-out this time, because they didn’t just sell me a lens — they loaded me up with gifts.
Let’s start with those.
They added lens cleaning pens for optics and filters, a proper microfiber cloth, and a soft magnetic cleaning kit that included lens cleaning spray, a brush, wipes, and an air blower. Everything packed neatly, matching in design, materials that actually feel premium in your hands. Small details — but photographers know how satisfying those small details are.
And now… the main character.
👉 Sony FE 24–70mm f/2.8 GM II
A flagship in its range. Fast. Sharp. Professional-grade glass. The kind of lens that many consider a “workhorse” for serious shooters.
The moment I got home, I mounted it on my camera. No hesitation. It just feels right. Balanced. Solid. Purposeful.
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As for my old Sony FE 20–70mm f/4 G, I’ve decided to put it up for sale. It’s in perfect condition — box, caps, everything included. It treated me well, but it’s time to move forward.
So far, I haven’t taken a single shot with the new lens. And that makes it even more exciting. There’s this quiet anticipation before the first frame — like the calm before something new begins.
Part of me is even hesitating to shoot with it just yet, because my filters are still on the way. This time I decided not to scroll through endless forums or reviews. I just asked for a top-tier recommendation — and went with:
1️⃣ B+W Master HTC KSM MRC Nano Circular Polarizer 82mm
2️⃣ B+W Master MRC Nano Clear 007 82mm
If you’re going premium, you go premium all the way.
I’m especially curious to see how the f/2.8 aperture will change my evening photography. My old lens at f/4 was good, but low light always demanded more compromises than I liked. This one should give me more flexibility, more separation, more control.
I don’t expect miracles. But I do expect progress.
And that’s what this is really about — moving one step forward. Investing not only in gear, but in growth.
Thanks to everyone who made it to the end.
The next post should already include the first shots with the new glass.
Let’s see what it’s capable of.
I write my texts myself, correct mistakes and translate via ChatGPT (which is not a violation on Hive)!
All photos were taken by me personally - I am a beginner photographer, so I ask professionals not to judge strictly.
Thank you for sharing these moments with me! Until new stories and new holidays! ✌️.
Camera 📷: Sony Alpha 7 IV full-frame
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 70-200mm F: 2.8 GM OSS II
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Lens 🔭: Sony FE 24–70mm f/2.8 GM II
Processed 🛠: Lightroom
photo by openai
