Mirrorless cameras have been making waves in the photography world in recent years and Sony may be the leader of the pack. The a6500, a6300, and a6000 are mid-range mirrorless options in the Sony lineup. These APS-C (crop sensor) cameras are compact, but powerful, pieces of equipment that are good for people who want to take excellent photos but don’t want to haul around a heavy DSLR. But what are the best lenses for the Sony a6500, a6300, and a6000 cameras?
E Mount Flexibility
All three of these cameras use Sony’s E Mount lens system. These cameras have the same size sensor and mount system and benefit from the same lenses. These cameras work with all Sony E Mount lenses and can work with other mounting systems with the use of an adapter. Photographers who are switching from a DSLR to the Sony system or those who have a specific lens they love often use adapters so their E Mount cameras can work with almost any lens. With a good adapter, lens options aren’t a limiting factor with these mirrorless cameras.
The a6500, a6300, and a6000 are all sold as standalone bodies or as part of a kit with Sony’s 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. The 16-50mm kit lens covers a versatile focal range and isn’t a terrible performer but it can certainly be improved upon. The 16-50mm is a decent place to start but other lenses can offer different perspectives, wider apertures, better bokeh, and faster autofocus. If you’re serious about photography you’re probably going to want to go beyond the kit lens.
The Best Lenses for the Sony a6500, a6300, and a6000
With all this in mind, let’s take a look at the best lenses for the Sony a6500, a6300, and a6000 cameras. We’ll be breaking this list into prime and zoom lenses – each of which have their own benefits. Zoom lenses give you the versatility of multiple focal lengths in one package. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length but are known for being exceptionally sharp.
- Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS
- Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 A Mount Lens (Requires Adapter)
- Sony 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS
- Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS
- Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS
- Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3
- Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8
- Sony E 20mm f/2.8
- Sony 24mm f/1.8 E Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar
- Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN
- Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS
- Sony 100mm f/2.8 A Mount Macro (Requires Adapter)
2018 Update: New Best Lenses for Sony a6500, a6300, and a6000
Here are a few of the newer E mount lenses to try:
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS E Mount Lens
This versatile zoom has an Optical SteadyShot image stabilization system that minimizes camera shake when shooting at slower shutter speeds in low light. A linear autofocus motor delivers quick, quiet, and accurate performance that’s suitable for video recording. With a relatively close minimum focusing distance of 1.5′ on a lens with this much range, the Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is ideal for a variety of subjects and is especially great for travel.
Zeiss Batis Prime Lenses for E/FE Mount Lenses
These primes have innovative OLED displays that highlight the focus distance and depth of field range for a quick assessment of your focusing parameters. Their fast maximum apertures make these lenses particularly good for interiors as well as nightscapes. The linear motors provide fast and quiet autofocusing, which is good for video.
Sigma 70mm f/2.8 DG Macro Art Lens for Sony E Mount
This is the first macro in Sigma’s esteemed Art collection. It delivers lifesize 1:1 magnification and a new coreless motor for the smoothest possible AF.
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 and Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary E Mount Lenses
Sigma’s Contemporary line of lenses blends compact design with high performance for both video and photography shooting, with a special emphasis on quiet performance and corrected optical distortion. For this reason, Sigma’s Contemporary lenses are ideal for multimedia/multidisciplinary projects and for travel.
Best Lenses for the Sony a6500, a6300, and a6000: Zooms
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| Lens | Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS |
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 for A Mount |
Sony Vario-Tessar T* 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS |
Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS | Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS | Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 |
| Focal Length | 10-18mm | 16-50mm | 16-70mm | 18-105mm | 18-200mm | 55-210mm |
| Widest Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/4.5 |
| Stabilization | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 10″ | 12″ | 1.2′ | 1.5′ | 1.6′ | 3.3′ |
| Weight | 8 oz | 20 oz | 10.9 oz | 15 oz | 16 oz | 12.2 oz |
| Weather Sealing | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost* | $750 | $750 | $1,000 | $600 | $750 | $350 |
| Weekly Rental* | $50 | $55 | $66 | $44 | $45 | $30 |
Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS Lens ($50 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
The Sony 10-18mm f/4 is one of the best E Mount landscape lenses for Sony a6000, a6300, and a6500 users; especially those who like to shoot ultra wide. The 10-18mm f/4 is tack-sharp in the center with only minor softening at the sides of the frame. Distortion is minimal for a lens this wide. The Sony 10-18mm f/4’s stabilization system uses gyro sensors built into the lens to prevent blur caused by camera shake. This lens uses extra low dispersion glass to prevent chromatic aberration and increase contrast. The Sony 10-18mm f/4 is super solid and well-built. It’s good for landscape photographers out in the elements.
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 A Mount Lens ($55 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
Sony’s 16-50mm f/2.8 A Mount lens is one of the best all-around lenses for these three cameras. On an APS-C camera, this focal length is incredibly versatile. It produces both reasonably wide-angle shots and a good amount of mid-range zoom. It lacks the focal range of the kit lens but it has better sharpness and low light performance.
This lens has some light falloff at the edges. This is more noticeable at wider apertures and is generally a minor problem. At the longer end this lens produces nice, smooth bokeh. While this lens has an A Mount it can be used on the cameras with an adapter. The adapter adds additional cost but for the improvement in image quality compared to the kit lens of the same focal length, we think it’s worth it.
Sony 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens ($66 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
The Sony 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS is the best E Mount zoom lens for the Sony cameras. This lens has a wide focal range, allowing it to capture all types of subjects. Want to take close up portraits as well as wide landscape shots? This lens will let you do it. The 16-70mm f/4 lens has Carl Zeiss anti-reflective coatings to cut down on glare and ghosting.
This lens has a small amount of chromatic aberration (purple fringing) near the edges of the frame. Manage this by stopping down your aperture. The 16-70mm f/4 has some barrel distortion typical of wide-angle lenses but it is not severe. If you want a versatile lens to take on your travels, this is an excellent choice.
Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens ($60 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
Sony’s E Mount 18-105mm f/4 G OSS lens is a well-priced option for photographers wanting an upgrade from the kit lens in terms of quality and focal range. For this price, this is really good glass. This solidly built metal-barreled lens has a quiet motor and smoothly-turning focus rings. Shooting both photos and video is a breeze.
This lens produces images that are very sharp near the center, especially when shot between f/4 and f/5.6. Sharpness near the edge of the frame deteriorates at apertures f/18-22. But it is not enough to be a problem for most people. This is a versatile lens that performs well in a variety of conditions.
Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS Lens ($45 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
The Sony E Mount 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 is a good option for photographers looking for a high-quality wide to long-range zoom. This lens produces sharp images, especially at the long end. But its biggest asset is its wide focal range, allowing for one lens to be used in a variety of settings. It has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 when zoomed out to 18mm (f/6.3 at 200mm). It is not as adept as others in very low light. But if you are shooting in well lit areas, it is more than capable.
This lens produces no noticeable fringing throughout most of its focal length and only a tiny amount at 18mm and 200mm. Some barrel distortion is evident in photos, especially near 18mm. Post-processing in Lightroom or Photoshop may correct these effects. The wide focal range makes this one of the best travel lenses for these Sony cameras.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens ($30 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
The Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 lens may be the best sports lens for these cameras. This E Mount lens’ 210mm maximum focal length lets you zoom in on your subjects from far away so that you never miss the action. This lens doesn’t have significant distortion but it does exhibit a fairly large amount of sun flare when the sun is near the frame.
This lens has Sony’s built-in image stabilization which does an excellent job of preventing image blur. While this lens may not be able to handle low light as well as some others, when it comes to well-lit sports and wildlife shooting it does a good job, especially for the price.
Best Lenses for Sony a6500, a6300 and a6000: Primes
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| Lens | Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 |
Sony E 20mm f/2.8 | Sony 24mm f/1.8 ZA E-Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar Lens |
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN |
Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS |
Sony 100mm f/2.8 A Mount Macro |
| Focal Length | 12mm | 20mm | 24mm | 30mm | 50mm | 100mm |
| Widest Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 |
| Stabilization | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 7″ | 8″ | 6.2′ | 12″ | 1.3′ | 1.2′ |
| Weight | 9.2 oz | 2.5 oz | 8 oz | 4.8 oz | 7.2 oz | 17.6 oz |
| Weather Sealing | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost* | $700 | $325 | $1,000 | $170 | $300 | $750 |
| Weekly Rental* | $60 | $52 | $58 | $18 | $27 | $55 |
Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Lens ($60 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
Zeiss is known for making high-quality lenses that take crystal clear photos and the Touit 12mm f/2.8 is no exception. This E Mount lens is designed for landscape photographers who love shooting ultrawide prime lenses – and it excels at its job. While this lens does produce some moderate barrel distortion, this can be almost entirely corrected in post-processing.
Ghosting and sun flare are very minimal with this lens although its bokeh leaves something to be desired. If creamy backgrounds are your thing, this isn’t the lens for you but if you’re looking for a wide-angle lens with sharp optics and the highest build quality, look no further than the Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8.
Sony E 20mm f/2.8 Lens ($52 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
One of the primary reasons people purchase mirrorless cameras like the a6000, a6300 and a6500 is because of their small size – which is largely negated when you put a heavy lens on the front. The Sony E Mount 20mm f/2.8 is a “pancake” style lens that represents a solid upgrade from the kit lens in a tiny, flat package.
This lens produces images that are fairly sharp in the center at f/2.8 and very sharp by the time you hit f/5.6. The 20mm f/2.8 weighs in at just 2.5 ounces, making it a really good choice for people whose primary concern is weight. Photographers who want their mirrorless camera to feel like a point and shoot will love this lens.
Sony 24mm f/1.8 E Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar Lens ($58 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
If you are upgrading from the kit lens and only the best will do, the Sony 24mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar lens is an excellent choice. Sure, you’ll be losing some flexibility by switching from a zoom to a prime lens, but you will be rewarded with sharper images and better low light performance. The 24mm focal length is wide enough for landscapes but not so wide as to be unusable for portraits – and Zeiss glass is some of the best in the business.
This lens has strong light falloff at f/1.8 which can be mitigated by enabling the camera’s “shading compensation” feature. This lens’ minor pincushion distortion can be controlled with in-camera distortion compensation. This E Mount lens produces good bokeh, especially for being so wide. If you are the kind of photographer for whom only the best will do, this is the way to go.
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens
Is the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN as high quality of a lens as some of the others on our list? No, but it isn’t meant to be. Instead, it’s a very affordable prime lens for Sony E Mount cameras that offers super sharp optics for under $200. This lens produces sharp images with only a hint of softening near the corners when shot wide open.
A very minimal amount of barrel distortion is present near the edges of photos shot with this lens. The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lens is a great gateway to prime lens photography. It’s a versatile focal length that works well for street photography, portraits, and more!
Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS Lens ($27 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
Every company seems to be making a version of the “nifty fifty”—a fast, inexpensive 50mm lens that is a great entry point for many photographers into prime lenses or upgraded glass. Sony’s E Mount version of the nifty fifty delivers with good low light performance and bokeh.
This lens is very sharp around f/4 and, for the price, produces very good bokeh. This is one of the best portrait lenses for the Sony a6500, a6300 and a6000, especially when you consider the price. This lens gets the job done and does it without breaking the bank.
Sony 100mm f/2.8 A Mount Macro Lens ($55 for a 7 Day Rental – See More)
The Sony 100mm f/2.8 A Mount Macro is one of the best macro lenses for the Sony a6500, a6300, and a6000, especially if having autofocus is important to you. This lens is able to focus at just a foot away from the subject, making tiny objects look big with a 1:1 reproduction ratio. This lens produces clear images for those who like taking up-close photos of tiny things and has the ability to shoot at magnification levels from 1:1 to 1:10.
Fringing is fairly heavy at f/2.8 but pretty much gone by f/5.6. If you shoot using any of these three lines, this is your macro lens. This is an A Mount lens but it can be used on E Mount cameras with an adapter.
Conclusion
With so many good and affordable options on the market, picking the best lenses for the Sony a6500, a6300, and a6000 can be a challenge. If you’re having hard time deciding which lens to buy, renting provides you a more informed decision. Few things will give you the confidence to know you made the right choice like getting your hands on these lenses and taking them for a spin!
Zoom Imagery:
10-18mm f/4 OSS CC Image courtesy of John Shedrick on Flickr
16-50mm f/2.8 A Mount Lens CC Image courtesy of ROMA-94 on Flickr
16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS CC Image courtesy of Jonas Wagner on Flickr
PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS CC Image courtesy of alans1948 on Flickr
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS LE CC Image courtesy of Dennis Jarvis on Flickr
55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 CC Image courtesy of naql on Flickr
Prime Imagery:
Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 CC Image courtesy of WEi WEi on Flickr
20mm f/2.8 CC Image courtesy of AZEN HUANG on Flickr
24mm f/1.8 E Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar CC Image courtesy of Miguel Discart on Flickr
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN CC Image courtesy of CC Image courtesy of Miguel Discart on Flickr
50mm f/1.8 OSS CC Image courtesy of TSTS Sheng on Flickr
100mm f/2.8 A Mount Macro CC Image courtesy of Papooga on Flickr
*All pricing as of this writing and subject to change.
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Hi, I noticed the Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS Lens is not on the zoom list. Is it because it’s a full frame lens so maybe not necessarily designed particularly for the 6300 series? Or do you not like it as much?
That lens is also suitable for a crop sensor camera and will provide a field of view closer to 36-360mm when paired with something like an a6300. That lens is on the more expensive side to purchase (or at least it was when this was published) so I believe the author was trying to keep the list below $800-ish for each lens (with the exception of the Sony Vario-Tessar T* E Mount 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens, but at f/4 across the entire zoom range, that is a relatively fast lens and those always ring up a little higher brand new).
For macro i prefer the zeiss 50mm macro.
Hello this is really good information but which lense would you recommend for video??
This list might help narrow it down for you. These are good, portable crop sensor-specific E mount lenses that are designed for video shooting while still being perfectly suitable for still photography as well: https://www.borrowlenses.com/products/Mount+Type/Sony+E+Mount/blp_hybridlens/hybridlens?sortBy=numOrders
These Sony are worthless to me for what I want as there is no equivalent and small 35mm or 50mm equivalent lenses. Deal breaker as it makes the camera big. Even aps-c dslr like canon have smaller available lenses.
What about the 35 mm ONS f1.8?
In addition to a 35mm f/1.8mm for a low light prime lens. Are both 2. Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 A Mount Lens and 3. Sony 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS serving a similar purpose of replacing a mid-zoom kit lens? And if so, other than price is there any reason to recommend the 16-50 over the 16-70 presuming I’ll sacrifice zoom for the 35mm prime lens in low light?
Yeah, that’s a little tough. You are losing a little reach with the 16-50, but it is faster at f/2.8 (note that I mean faster from a light-gathering perspective – not necessarily from an AF perspective). However, the 16-70 f/4 is made with Zeiss glass, which is high quality, and has image stabilization. As you said, they both serve the purpose of being a mid-range zoom that you can just leave on your camera and use in just about all situations. I personally think the 16-70 f/4 is a little more versatile in this respect. But people really love the 16-50, too. Of course I would say this working here, but – really – you can just rent both and get a feel for which one is truly right for you.
I want to take really good action photos. Which lens should I purchase for the Sony a600. I would like it for basketball and soccer.
Hi, I am looking to move to an A6500 from A-mount.
I have currently
Tamron 17-50/2.8 Aspherical LD XR DiII SP
Sony SAL35F18
Sony SAL20F28
Tamron 28-300/3.5-6.3 Macro Aspherical XR LD (IIF)
Are any of these worth using on an A6500 with the LAE-A4 adapter, or should I just bite the bullet and go E-mount all at once? ( I use the SAL20F28 and the Tamron 17-50 the most)
thanks
Other folks – please feel free to disagree with me since saving money is definitely a good thing. But, personally, I’d bite the bullet and go E mount. That’s a super great camera that could use some glass that’s designed specifically for it. I used the a6300 and the 16-70mm E mount lens on a trip last year (https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-VarioTessar-T-E-Mount-16-70mm-f4-ZA-OSS-Lens) and if I HAD to only buy 1 lens for an a6500, that would probably be it. Here are some sample images: http://www.alexandriahuff.com/Sony-a6300-1670mm-Sample-Images/n-3PNxQZ/
Thank you…. great article and very helpful…..
One question, I have Sony A6000 with lens kit and I’d like to upgrade the lenses….
I need:
1. Portrait with great bokeh
2. Mid Wide (not too wide), at least can take average landscape
3. Prefer can zoom, not fix
I know there is no perfect lenses for all my wishes…. I put number 1 to 3 following my most priority.
which lenses will you recommend for me?
Ok, some things for you to think over:
I really love this lens when paired with anything in the a6000 series: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-VarioTessar-T-E-Mount-16-70mm-f4-ZA-OSS-Lens
It is the equivalent to about a 24-105mm lens in full frame terms (see this article if you don’t know what that means: https://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/new-dslr-owners-what-you-must-know-about-full-frame-vs-crop-frame-sensors-before-choosing-a-lens/), which is a really standard range for just about any portrait/event/landscape/everyday shooter.
However, it doesn’t have a super wide maximum aperture. f/4 is good but not great – and if you really like that bokeh/out-of-focus background look, you’ll want something “faster”. Unfortunately, the lenses with the widest maximum apertures tend to be primes, or “fixed”, which I know you don’t want.
So another option would be to go with an FE lens. The Sony FE lenses are designed for full frame cameras, like the a7 series, but mount perfectly fine onto crop sensor cameras like your a6000. But they are expensive. Here’s an example lens that has a nice maximum aperture of f/2.8 and an “equivalent” field of view of 24-52.5mm for a camera like yours. Wide enough for landscape and just long enough for portraits: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-FE-16-35mm-f-2-8-GM-Lens
But do test out the 16-70mm. This isn’t a fantastic example since I didn’t take a lot of portraits in Iceland, but you can see the out-of-focus background quality on this candid shot at f/4 and it’s pretty ok, especially on a crop sensor camera: http://www.alexandriahuff.com/Misc-Photos-for-Blog-Posts-Comments-Etc/n-TtM55p/i-wrpC4HC/A
Which is a good lens which i could use on my A6000 to shoot interview videos? Will 50mm 1.8f do the job? Anything that keeps two people in focus with a bit of bokeh thrown in.
I bought a Sigma, 30mm, F1.4 lens with an e-mount so it adapts directly to my Sony a6500. Overall, it is a good lens for indoor photography when used in the aperture, shutter, or manual mode of the a6500, because it tends to give lower ISO values allowing for larger prints. When used in the “auto” mode, the software of the a6500 seems to select higher ISO in favor of short shutter speeds. I’m not a professional photographer and this is my first attempt with an interchangeable lens camera. I bought the Sony 18-105mm, F4 at the recommendation of the camera shop where I purchased my camera, but for indoor photos the ISO values are much higher with F4 than the Sigma 30mm, F1.4. Still learning how to use both lenses with a recently acquired external flash. Perhaps, my opinion will change, but I think lower ISO offers greater clarity and detail especially when people are in the photos.
Thank you for the very informative post! I want to try to take some close up videos of insects but I can’t seem to find the right lense. I have a Sony A6300. And when I say close up, I mean to the point of being able to see detail on an eye of a fly. Kind of like the Sony 100mm f/2.8 A Mount Macro lense which is the last on your list but a little bit closer would be even better. And would it even be possible to shoot video at that close range? Any suggestions would be awesome! Thank you!
I have an A6000 – trying to determine which adapter I should get to use my SAL18250 from old A55 that no longer works…should I get the LAE3 or 4
thanks for your assistance
I would go with the LA-EA4 because it has more expansive AF support over the LA-EA3. You can compare the 2 here: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/LAEA3-Sony-AMount-Lens-to-EMount-Camera-Adapter vs https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/LAEA4-Sony-AMount-Lens-to-EMount-Camera-Adapter-with-Translucent-Mirror
Thank you … appreciate the quick response
Thanks for the article, an excellent summary of what’s available. Still pathetic and makes absolutely no sense given m4/3 and Fuji.
I received the the Sony a6000 with the 16-50mm and 55-210mm kit lenses. I purchased the LA-EA4 adapter so I can use my old (Minolta Maxxum 7000i) AF 50mm f/1.7 and ProSpec (Minolta licensed) FA 28-200mm f/3.6-5.6 on my a6000.
My wife and I are going on a vacation trip to travel by canal boat in France this summer and I’ve been binging YouTube to better understand what is possible with the lenses I already own, and whether I should consider adding to, or replacing the lenses I already have. It is also possible that we will meet a friend in Istanbul, Turkey for a few days.
From what I’ve gathered so far, the old Minolta 50mm f/1.7 prime lens is the only low-light lens in my collection, which is a bit to limiting for inside shots, considering with the a6000 it is really a 75mm. My other concern is that I have my kit 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 lens and my old 28-200mm-infinity f/3.5-5.6 lens which are different in many areas of consideration, yet have similar reach.
Based on all the research I’ve done, I narrowed the search for the low-light/indoor lens candidates to the Sony 35mm f/1.8 and/or the Sigma 16mm f/1.4. Given the wide vistas along the canals and the close-quarters, hustle-bustle of Istanbul, I’m not sure which is best, or if I’ve missed another great candidate all together.
I guess you could boil all this down to a single question. If you had this existing equipment, and were going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip such as this, what lenses would you bring with you? I should also add that i may only be able to spend between $300-$500 max.
You’ll always be a little caught in the middle when it comes to reach vs speed (at least, where budget is also an issue). Primes are famously faster and great candidates for low light shooting. But they are, as you mentioned, limiting on the road (granted – some people love that constraint for artistic reasons). I think you have to ask yourself some questions before you decide. For example, if I am taking a trip where I will mostly be going to museums and churches, will mostly be just walking around in cities, and taking portraits of who I am traveling with, then I will most certainly take a fast-maximum-aperture prime – maybe even several. If I am going to be mostly on-the-go and bouncing around various kinds of transportation and environments and generally just trying to take in the sights (while mostly being outside), then you’ll thank yourself for only take 1 good-for-most-stuff style zoom lens, even it the max aperture isn’t astounding. I pack really differently if I am going to be in 1 spot for a long time vs trying to soak in a bunch of locations. If your trip is more the latter, I’d try and narrow down to a single wide-range zoom, since carrying this stuff around gets to be a bit much. Ok, rambling over. My recommendation? I personally love the Sony E mount 16-70 f/4 (it’s outside your purchasing price budget but it can be rented: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-VarioTessar-T-E-Mount-16-70mm-f4-ZA-OSS-Lens). I took it to Iceland and Jordan and was pleased with its versatility: http://www.alexandriahuff.com/Sony-a6300-1670mm-Sample-Images/n-3PNxQZ/
I shoot with the sigma 16mm 1.4 I have to tell you it’s very sharp even at 1.4. Now I’m comparing it too my Sony 50mm 1.8 witch is fantastic very sharp also but the sigma has it beat.
I’m not a pixel popper or a pro at this. But I have eyes and you can definitely tell the difference. Maybe the Sony A6300 can get a software update one day and take care of the small dogs.
Great article. Hoping for recommendation for a lens for my A6000 to take sports/action pics. I have traditionally done landscape and have a couple of wide angles but looking to branch out.
If you’re not worried about staying portable, this is a great choice: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-FE-70200mm-f28-GM-OSS-Lens. But, again, it’s a pretty big lens and on the a6000 the balance might not be comfortable. If you’re going to be mostly stationary, though, then pairing the lens collar with a monopod would be a great setup for sports (https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Induro_monopod).
thanks – was looking for something a bit less expensive. may try out the F4 version though. any other suggestions? in the 100mm type range?
This one might be more suiting for you: https://www.borrowlenses.com/Product.do?code=Sony-E-Mount-55-210mm-f45-63-OSS-Lens. You’re sacrificing a bit on maximum aperture but if you don’t plan on shooting wide open anyway then it won’t be missed. It has a lot of range flexibility and is a lot more affordable.
Hi! What would be the equivalent or closest to a 35mm full frame on the Sony a6000
Also, what do you suggest as must haves for wedding photography?
This 24mm will “read” more like a 36mm on the a6000 and would be a good prime lens choice for street photography and candids: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Zeiss_24mm_sony
For weddings, if you want to stick with just 1 lens for your a6000 for the entire event, I would consider a zoom. A good option to rent is this one: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-EMount-PZ-18105mm-f4-G-OSS-Lens
Is there a reason the Sony 18-135 mm lens wasn’t mentioned on here? I’m undecided what to get for travel lenses for all purpose (portraits, landscape, street, indoor). Which one is better among these: 18-105mm / 18-135 mm/ or 18-200mm?
I have sigma 30mm f 1.4 and canon manual FD 70-210 mm for now
This was written in 2016 and the new Sony 18-135mm (rentable here: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/sony-18-135mm-OSS-E-Mount-Lens) hadn’t been released yet. It is very suitable for all-purpose shooting and it’s very compact for its focal range.
Hello everyone,
i have a Tamron 70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD DI which i bought for my Pentax k-30(no more in use).
I want to know if i can i use it for my Sony A6000?
You cannot. Pentak uses a K mount system and the a6000 series uses an E mount system. Here are some lenses to consider instead: https://www.borrowlenses.com/products/Lenses/Sony+E+Mount/Photo/APS-C+Coverage
Harry, you can buy adapters on amazon and use lenses that are of different mounts. I have a6500 and use Pentax and Canon lenses besides mount E lenses.
I am a Nikon user with several lenses. I recently purchased a refurbished Sony Nex 7 to see if I like the size of the alpha camera. I do; I like it very much. I bought the 16-50mm pancake lens and the 55-210 lens. Going to the sea shore soon for a vacation and want a nice mid wide lens. So thinking of the Sigma 30mm 1.8. I am assuming it fits the Nex 7.
A 30mm on the crop sensor of the NEX-7 will “read” more like a 45mm, which is closer to a normal field of view than a wide one. If you want to use a semi-wide prime, I would consider the Sigma 16mm for E mount (https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sigma-16mm-Contemporary-E-Mount-Lens). It will read like a 24mm on your camera. Learn more about that here: https://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/new-dslr-owners-what-you-must-know-about-full-frame-vs-crop-frame-sensors-before-choosing-a-lens/.
I appreciate any help or comments. I am looking for a relatively long zoom lens for one of these camera bodies that is particularly good in low light conditions (volcano at night, northern lights). Given all of the trade-offs, which would you recommend, price not being a consideration? Many thanks!
Why was the 100mm macro f2.8 A-mount chosen over the 90mm macro f2.8 FE-mount for best Macro lens? The 90mm macro f2.8 needs no adapter and IMHO is the sharpest lens available for E-mount.
Good day,
I have the Sony-E-Mount-55-210mm / f4.5-6.3 Lens with an a6000. I want to do a bit more wildlife shooting and while this lens has been fine, I find that I want a longer range.
This is a great write-up and the comments section has been extremely informative. Is there a specific higher zoom lens you’d recommend for my purposes?
Thanks in advance.
It’s a jump in price for sure, but do check out (even if just renting for a bit) this lens: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-FE-100-400mm-GM-OSS-Lens. People really love it for birding and wildlife. But it is a beast and will especially feel so on your a6000. This lens is designed for full frame sensors, like on the a7 series cameras, but it will definitely mount to the a6000. It will just provide a narrower perceived field of view due to the smaller sensor size inside the a6000. Your effective focal range with this lens will read more like 150-600mm. If you do spring to purchase it, then you have a lens that will work with your existing camera as well as any full frame E mounts you may upgrade to in the future.
What is the difference between
Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS and
Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS LE Lens
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:2.9 // 1:3.7
Magnification
0.35x // 0.27x
Minimum Focus Distance
11.81″ / 30 cm // 1.64′ / 50 cm
Weight
18.48 oz / 524 g // 16.23 oz / 460 g
Rather – how significant are these differences
They are not significant differences at all. The LE is a little newer, so it’s a little more compact. The non-LE has a slightly closer minimum focusing distance but not enough to appreciably change how close you’re going to stand to your subject.
Hi i recently bought the Sony a6500 with the 35mm prime lens. I am looking for a lens that could take good indoor family photos and landscapes as well for vacations. Something not too large. I would appreciate any recommendations you have. Thanks you
Sounds like you should invest in a zoom that is suitable for a wide variety of scenes. You’ll need something with a relatively fast maximum aperture and built-in stabilization for low-light indoor shots but also can go wide enough for landscapes. Explore this option: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-EMount-PZ-18105mm-f4-G-OSS-Lens. It retails just shy of $600.
Hello, I would like to make portrait pictures , with blurred background. Besides the kit lens, which lens do you suggest me to buy, the cheapest (but still good) option please. Thank you.
I would check out the 50mm f/1.8: https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-FE-50mm-f18. Nice, fast maximum aperture and no distortion. However, it’s a prime lens so you’re limited to just the one focal length. It retails for around $250.
This web site really has all the info I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I just got the a6300 body and couldn’t be more stoked.
I tend to take a lot of candid photos of people, oftentimes across the table from them at a restaurant, etc. Any recommendations on a lens that would take great images at that range indoors?
I am stoked for you. The a6000-series of cameras are among my absolute favorite. My favorite lens for these cameras is the Sony Vario-Tessar T* 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS E Mount Lens (https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-VarioTessar-T-E-Mount-16-70mm-f4-ZA-OSS-Lens). See samples taken with it from a vacation of mine: https://www.alexandriahuff.com/Sony-a6300-1670mm-Sample-Images/n-3PNxQZ/
I own the Sony a6000 and would like to purchase a very good quality lens to use for indoor portraits. What is the best recommendation?
My favorite lens for the a6000-series of cameras is the Sony Vario-Tessar T* 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS E Mount Lens (https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony-VarioTessar-T-E-Mount-16-70mm-f4-ZA-OSS-Lens). See samples taken with it from a vacation of mine: https://www.alexandriahuff.com/Sony-a6300-1670mm-Sample-Images/n-3PNxQZ/
Hello, I’ve owned my Sony a6000 for about two years now and I have the 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses. I love taking pictures of landscapes and so I want to purchase a lense that will capture sceneries very well. What lense(s) would be recommended for landscapes? Thank you.
If you want to stick to zooms for the flexibility, I’d explore the Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS E Mount Lens (https://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Sony_1018mm_f4_OSS_Alpha_Emount_WideAngle_Zoom_Lens).
Also, make sure that it is the proper size and that it is affordable within your budget.
Do Sony do any macro lenses with an inbuilt light source, like this Canon?- https://www.canon.com.au/camera-lenses/ef-s-35mm-f-2-8-macro-is-stm
I have just purchased an A6000 and am making my first foray into mirrorless so I can take better insect pictures. Getting close to the subject usually obscures good light so a lens with its own lighting would be really helpful.
I don’t believe so. I think with all the of the E mount macros, you’d need to use a separate ring light.
Hello Alexandria,
Currently I only got the basic 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6, for my a6000
Would like to upgrade with a lens to support my hobby of filming butterflies and other insects
Typically, keeping a distance of ~3 to 5 meters from the butterfly helps keep it friendly and calm.
Fast fucus might be a wish as well …
What zoom lens are recommended to get a fair quality images?
The sony 18-105mm constant f4, fast focus, is the best lens for video in my opinion.
Great article! but unfortunately I’m not into cameras and still don’t get it. I’m quite frustrated with this camera and I’m just thinking to sell it and get something better.
I use it to make videos at my store and the final result is a very poor quality image, I think my phone can do it better. Here is my channel so you can see how the videos are recorded:
https://www.youtube.com/user/wwwRockMa/videos
I have the A6000 with a SELP1650 Lens Kit. I also use this photography lightning kit I purchased to see if the problem was that the light was not enough:
http://amzn.eu/d/a15MuGK
But still nothing. What can you recommend me?
Thanks!