tldr; GAS is real, and what you have is good enough
I have always known that I like to shoot hybrid ie. hiqh quality photos and videos. I have also known that I wanted one small camera to do it so that I can take my setup anywhere. I am an enthusiast and not a pro, so my "wants" are different than the "needs" of the pro. That description puts me at odds with a lot of people on this forum, but I am ok with it, because I have learned a lot here.
I started with an EOS M3 22mm and 50200 and moved on to m43, GX85 and 1232, combos I appreciate a lot more today than I did then. Neither system gave me that look that warranted all the money I spent on gear back then. I then moved to the a7c and then the a6700 but I found the core of what I wanted in the A7CR and 50GMf1.2. I wanted it Leica sized, but the pictures were easy to make and looked professional and it is the core of what I want when I do photography. As a side note, that lens also does well in low light video, especially when it is high action sports.
So the only question is what do I get to compliment it? I knew I needed a zoom and always preferred 10x, got the 24-240, 2070G, 70350G, the Twins, and a few others. But came to the conclusion I wanted a 10x that went to 300mm. That lens wasn't available for FF until the Tamron 28300. Shoots good enough photos, that I can clean them up in post, and great video, so that was done. I wish it was a Sony and had more buttons, but it is the best I can get today.
I also knew I viewed the world at 24mm (from my time with the lumix 1232 zoom), so used the Rokinon 24/2.8, Sony 35/1.8, 28/2,50/1.8, 20/1.8, some manual focus lenses, etc... But things didn't click until I got the 24GM. Now things look the way I want, the weight is less than the 50GM, and it handles better on the a7cr. It isn't as small as I would like but otherwise I am glad I have it especially in low light cramped quarters where I can't use my 50GM.
Lastly I discovered a love for wide angle with the 1020pz on my a6700, but rarely do I want to shoot at 15mm, but when I want that look I have to have it. 20mm isn't wide enough (20mm and 35mm are like no mans land for lenses for me). So I am going to hold on to the 1020pz until the first of the year to gauge how much I use it and/or want to use, and then will either stop buying glass or get the 14GM or the 1625G.
But that's it. I know I don't want/need anything else because I have tried so many lenses that I know when it is right. It is funny because if I could only have two lenses, logic says get the 50GM and the FE24240, but reality keeps pointing me back to the 24GM and the Tamron 28300.
So what's the point of all this besides my having a brain dump? I realized that if I just add a flash to any of these lenses, I get more than good enough pictures. And that the differences in glass is so minor as to not be worth the time/investment other than educating one's self, and realizing at the end that you always had what you needed. If money is an issue, make sure you have explored using a flash with your slow lens. You can really do a lot of things, and simplify your experience, with an f8 zoom and flash or sunlight.
I have always known that I like to shoot hybrid ie. hiqh quality photos and videos. I have also known that I wanted one small camera to do it so that I can take my setup anywhere. I am an enthusiast and not a pro, so my "wants" are different than the "needs" of the pro. That description puts me at odds with a lot of people on this forum, but I am ok with it, because I have learned a lot here.
I started with an EOS M3 22mm and 50200 and moved on to m43, GX85 and 1232, combos I appreciate a lot more today than I did then. Neither system gave me that look that warranted all the money I spent on gear back then. I then moved to the a7c and then the a6700 but I found the core of what I wanted in the A7CR and 50GMf1.2. I wanted it Leica sized, but the pictures were easy to make and looked professional and it is the core of what I want when I do photography. As a side note, that lens also does well in low light video, especially when it is high action sports.
So the only question is what do I get to compliment it? I knew I needed a zoom and always preferred 10x, got the 24-240, 2070G, 70350G, the Twins, and a few others. But came to the conclusion I wanted a 10x that went to 300mm. That lens wasn't available for FF until the Tamron 28300. Shoots good enough photos, that I can clean them up in post, and great video, so that was done. I wish it was a Sony and had more buttons, but it is the best I can get today.
I also knew I viewed the world at 24mm (from my time with the lumix 1232 zoom), so used the Rokinon 24/2.8, Sony 35/1.8, 28/2,50/1.8, 20/1.8, some manual focus lenses, etc... But things didn't click until I got the 24GM. Now things look the way I want, the weight is less than the 50GM, and it handles better on the a7cr. It isn't as small as I would like but otherwise I am glad I have it especially in low light cramped quarters where I can't use my 50GM.
Lastly I discovered a love for wide angle with the 1020pz on my a6700, but rarely do I want to shoot at 15mm, but when I want that look I have to have it. 20mm isn't wide enough (20mm and 35mm are like no mans land for lenses for me). So I am going to hold on to the 1020pz until the first of the year to gauge how much I use it and/or want to use, and then will either stop buying glass or get the 14GM or the 1625G.
But that's it. I know I don't want/need anything else because I have tried so many lenses that I know when it is right. It is funny because if I could only have two lenses, logic says get the 50GM and the FE24240, but reality keeps pointing me back to the 24GM and the Tamron 28300.
So what's the point of all this besides my having a brain dump? I realized that if I just add a flash to any of these lenses, I get more than good enough pictures. And that the differences in glass is so minor as to not be worth the time/investment other than educating one's self, and realizing at the end that you always had what you needed. If money is an issue, make sure you have explored using a flash with your slow lens. You can really do a lot of things, and simplify your experience, with an f8 zoom and flash or sunlight.
