Okay this is not an urgent matter, I am not buying anytime soon but I am planning a trip back to Hong Kong early 2024 and am throwing around a few ideas for a new lens. Last time for wide angle duties I had Samyang 14mm f/2.8, Samyang 18mm f/2.8 then Tamron 28-75mm. All good lenses for their respective budgets. This time I want something a little better and here are my current thoughts/options:
1:
Sony 20mm f/1.8G (£588) Probably a sensible option as being in amongst the skyscrapers you often don't have much room to step back to get more in the frame. It's small, light and has great IQ and sharpness with minimal distortion. On the downside 20mm may be a little limiting and too wide for some situations.
2:
Sony 24mm f/1.4GM (£799) Small, fast, light, GM badge

, I am sure I would get lots of very good photos with this lens. It has similar qualities to the 20mm above but a bit tighter and more expensive. The 24mm I feel would be a little tight for certain shots I have planned but I think it would be amazing for lots of others, not being super-wide would make it more adaptable for different shots.
3:
Sony 16-35mm f/2.8GM (£1229) An older lens, and maybe showing it's age somewhat. Very useful focal range for the city and good solid build quality. I do feel though, that it's become outshone by some of the newer and cheaper alternatives.
4:
Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 (£509) I've used the brother of this lens (28-75mm f/2.8) for years and on the whole been happy with it. This wider version shares it's same qualities and quirks. Sharp, light, affordable but with a slightly limiting focal range for a zoom lens.
5:
Sony 12-24mm f/4G (£999) Probably the perfect focal range for what I want. I am slightly put off by the f/4 maximum aperture but the lens is well regarded for it's image quality with very good sharpness. The curved front element set up is a bit annoying for filters but I rarely ever use them.
6:
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN A(£929) Great focal range, faster than the Sony 12-24 being f/2.8 and wonderful IQ and sharpness. Quite tempted by this one, compact for what it is, nice build etc.
(all prices are current from E-Infinity and grey imports, with the exception of the the Sigma where the price is from Cotswold Cameras)
Interested to hear your thoughts, like I say it's not an imminent purchase so I have plenty of time to mull it over (and save up

)