best lens for travel photography sony a6000

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The Best Travel Lens for Sony A6000 Series

One of the questions I often see online is “ What is the best travel lens is for the Sony A6000?” This includes the rest of the Sony Alpha series as well. (A6000, A6300, A6400. A6500, etc.)  I figured I’d take a stab at answering that question!  I’ve divided the post into prime lenses and the best all in one lenses for the A6000 (or others) as that’s often the first choice you have to make.

Whether your travel photography is predominantly in cities or in the wilderness there’s an option for you.  This post outlines some of the best prime lenses and some of the best all in one lens options for the SonyA6000 series.

Table of Contents

• 1 How to Choose a Travel Lens
• 2.1 Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS
• 2.2 Sony 16-50 Kit Lens
• 2.3 Sony 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens
• 2.4 Sony 18-135 f3.5-f5.6 OSS
• 2.5 Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3
• 3.1 Rokinon/Samyang 12mm f2.0
• 3.2 Sigma 16mm F1.4 DN Contemporary
• 3.3 Sigma 30mm f1.4, Sigma 30mm f2.8, or Sony 35mm f1.8

How to Choose a Travel Lens

As I’ve talked about in other posts, and in outlining my own gear choices, travel photography is a bit of a balancing act and really comes down to your personal preferences. You don’t want to bring so many lenses with you that you’re spending more time swapping lenses than enjoying the moment.  On the other hand, you also need good, sharp lenses that can capture the memories of your adventures.  Nothing is worse than getting home and looking through your pictures only to realize that they’re soft or out of focus, knowing that it would cost thousands of dollars and time you probably don’t have to go back.

The lenses you choose to take with you on your travels are a personal choice based on your own travel style and your photography preferences just as the way that everybody packs for a trip is different.  I recommend that before buying anything the first question you seriously consider is if you think you’ll prefer prime lenses for their sharpness and low light abilities or an all in one lens for its versatility.  If you’re not sure, it may be a good idea to rent or borrow a lens first and see how it handles at home before buying it and taking it abroad.

Another question to consider is where you will be using it and what you like to take photos of.  Do you like large, dramatic landscapes?  Colourful city action?  Maybe you like to capture the local culture.  Whatever the choice it will inform your lens preferences.

I should be clear that I haven’t tried all of these lenses (I’m not rich!), but I’ve scoured the web for recommendations for the best travel lenses for Sony Alpha cameras and put it all together, so let’s get into it!

All in One / Zoom Lenses

If you’re not convinced that you want to carry around and swap a group of prime lenses then an all in one lens is probably for you.  If you think you’d like to take videos on your travels and suspect you’ll want to have different focal lengths available during those videos, same thing.

All of these lenses won’t be as sharp as an equivalent prime, and they won’t be as effective in low light, but this goes back to picking the lenses that fit your travel and photography style.  Not everyone wants to be constantly swapping lenses.  In general, people are too obsessed with theoretical sharpness anyways.

If you just want to take some good quality photos of yourself and your family and you don’t have aspirations to shoot for National Geographic, you will probably be more than happy with an all in one lens for your travel photography with any Sony 6xxx camera.  While I went the prime lens route I think that most people fall in the zoom group or should at least start here.

Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS

Quick to focus, sharp, a zoom with a variety of useful focal lengths, and all in a small package.  What’s not to like?   Here’s a well-done review where it’s run through the full gamut of tests.

A popular native lens offering from Sony, this is a versatile ultra wide angle lens option.  It would be perfect for photos when you are travelling in cities, and for sweeping landscapes.

It has autofocus and Sony’s Optical SteadyShot Stabilization allowing you to use slower shutter speeds at night.  At F4.0 it is maybe a bit slower than some would like but still perfectly capable.  This is certainly a wide angle lens worth considering for your travel needs.

Sony 16-50 Kit Lens

Many disparage the sharpness of the kit lens that comes with the Sony A6000, to the point where some say you should throw it out immediately but it actually can take some pretty good photos, especially if you’re not a pixel-peeper.

The lens is small and compact, to the point where you can practically fit your camera in your pocket when it’s attached.  The focal range is perfect for a wide variety of travel photography so it certainly warrants consideration.  They say that the best camera is the one that you have with you and that applies to lenses as well.

Sony 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens

Lens names sure are a mouthful, aren’t they?  This is one of the most popular all around lenses for the A6000 and it would be great for travel photography.  It’s bigger and heavier than the kit lens, but it’s much sharper and faster.  Those that have this lens say that they almost never take it off their camera.  Indeed, you could likely travel with this as your only lens.

Sony 18-135 f3.5-f5.6 OSS

So many lenses with similar focal lengths!  What’s the difference with this one?  This is one of the latest additions to the Sony lens lineup and while at first glance, it seems very similar to the 18-105, it’s in a much more compact body.  If you like the idea of an all-around lens but don’t want something that’s too big and bulky this would be a good upgrade from the kit lens.

Can’t decide between these two?  Here’s a great comparison video of the Sony  18-135 and Sony 18-105.

Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3

If you’re looking for even greater variety in the focal lengths of your one lens solution this is an option to consider.  To fit everything from 18mm to 200mm in one lens definitely comes with some compromises so it’s not going to be as sharp as the other lenses on this list.  But what it lacks in sharpness it makes up in versatility and convenience.

Prime Lenses

If your travel photography preference is to have the sharpest, best lenses possible then you’ll probably be looking to pick up a series of Prime lenses. To be clear, there is still a compromise here as it can be a pain switching between prime lenses.  Switching often exposes your camera’s sensor to potential dust, meaning you may need to clean it more often, or you may even decide that you need to invest in a second camera body.

If you decide that your preference is prime lenses you’ll have to learn to zoom with your feet!  Prime lenses only have one focal length and because of that fact, manufacturers can optimize everything in the glass’ design to make the lens as sharp as possible.  Prime lenses typically are able to provide lower f-stops for low light performance and that creamy bokeh look.

Rokinon/Samyang 12mm f2.0

This is one of my personal favourites and it’s a very popular lens for the Sony Alpha system.  In fact, when I asked favourite travel lenses on a Sony A6000 Facebook Group it was the clear winner.  It’s affordable and sharp beyond its price tag, great for landscapes.

It does not have Autofocus and is completely manual focus, but that’s not a huge drawback for travel photography with this lens as pretty much everything is in focus when it’s set to infinity.  In fact, I pretty much just leave it at infinity and don’t have to worry about focusing.  This lens is pretty much always on one of my cameras when my travels take me into the wilderness as it’s fantastic for capturing sweeping landscapes.

With a maximum aperture of f2.0, it’s perfect if your travels take you to the backcountry and you aim to try some Astrophotography.  But don’t take my word for it, read the review at Lonely Speck where they are much bigger Astrophotography experts than I am!

Sigma 16mm F1.4 DN Contemporary

This lens wasn’t really on my radar until I posted in the Sony Alpha Facebook Group asking for opinions on the best travel lenses and it came up a couple of times as a recommendation.  A little bit less wide than the Rokinon, it has autofocus and is also tack sharp.  Again, it’s well suited for taking photos within cities, of vast landscapes, and even astrophotography.

Sigma 30mm f1.4 , Sigma 30mm f2.8 , or Sony 35mm f1.8

When looking for an everyday travel lens one of these three lenses will inevitably come up in your search.  All three are similar enough that I’m grouping them together.

Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list.  I personally think these are the lenses that warrant the strongest consideration but there are so many other options.  With mirrorless cameras like the Sony Alpha series you even have the option to adapt legacy glass so there’s no shortage of lens options.  Whatever you use, if you’re happy with the results, more power to you!

So there you have it, my recommendations on the best travel lenses for the Sony A6000 and the rest of the Sony Alpha series.  Do you have a favourite that I didn’t mention?  Let me know in the comments and I’ll check it out!

One Reply to “The Best Travel Lens for Sony A6000 Series”

You’re missing the most important point. When traveling you want to be light and compact. You havent mentioned a single pancake lens or small lens in general. Sony has the SONY SEL20F28 20mm 2.8 which is of great value. Instead you mention the kit lens. Thanks for the article. Theres room for improvement here.

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The best lenses for Sony A6000 cameras in 2024: Sony APS-C primes and zooms

The best lenses for Sony A6000 cameras deliver amazing optical performance and good value for money

The Quick List

• Best everyday lens
• Budget everyday lens
• Best wide-angle zoom
• Best ultra-wide prime
• Best super-telephoto
• Budget super-telephoto
• Best for the streets
• Best for macro
• Best for portraits
• How to choose
• How we test

The Quick List ↩ 1. Best everyday lens 2. Budget everyday lens 3. Best wide-angle zoom 4. Best ultra-wide prime 5. Best super-telephoto 6. Budget super-telephoto 7. Best for the streets 8. Best for macro 9. Best for portraits How to choose How we test

The best lenses for Sony A6000 cameras will help you to expand the possibilities of your camera. When you buy a new Sony A6000-series camera like the Sony A6600 , it will likely come bundled with a kit lens. This is OK for when you start taking photos, but soon you might want a wider zoom range, a faster aperture, better image quality, or all three! 

The best lenses for Sony A6000-series cameras come in different sizes, including standard zoom lenses, wide angles, telephotos, and prime lenses. You'll find a range in this guide, and we've tested and reviewed almost every lens so that you can be sure our recommendations are accurate. Find out more about how we test at the bottom of the guide.

The lenses is this guide are appropriate for the entire Sony A6000 series of cameras, from the A6000 up to the A6700.

Read more: Sony A6000 vs A6100 vs A6300 vs A6400 vs A6500 vs A6600 vs A6700: how to choose

Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews Editor. He has used practically every interchangeable-lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium-format cameras, so he has the expertise to select the best Sony lenses for you.

When you want to move beyond your kit lens, the 16-55mm G offers shooting convenience with sublime image quality. Read more below…

If your budget doesn’t stretch to the 16-55mm G, this comes in cheaper while providing a far greater focal length range. Read more below…

With a combination of a wide aperture, near-silent autofocus and excellent image quality, this is a great-value zoom. Read more below…

This is a terrific option for outdoor shoots, with weather-sealing for protection and a wide aperture to cope with low light. Read more below…

Here’s a quality optic for when you have to keep up with fast-moving but distant subjects like sports and wildlife. Read more below…

This telephoto doesn’t have the reach of the 70-350mm, but it costs much less, and is surprisingly light and compact. Read more below…

View the full list ⤵

Add this prime to an A6000-series camera, and you’ve got a combo you can keep in a pocket, with great image quality. Read more below…

This prime lens provides lifesize magnification at an affordable price, but don’t expect too much from its non-macro shots. Read more below…

That wide aperture means you can achieve some dream-like bokeh blur, and autofocus and image quality are top-notch too. Read more below…

The best lenses for Sony A6000, A6100, A6300, A6400, A6500, A6600 and A6700 in 2024

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Best everyday lens for A6000 cameras

1. Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If you like the focal range of your kit lens but want to make a leap to something offering better image quality, this is it right here. The Sony E 16-55mm f2.8 G lens is a sublime optic, with a constant f/2.8 aperture that gives you amazing shooting flexibility in all different lighting conditions. Images are sharp as a tack across the board; there's a little barrel distortion at the very widest end, but it's easy to correct with software. 

The lack of optical image stabilization might be a shame for some, but equally, that would only serve to bump up the price of the lens, and we think the cost is well-judged where it is. For day-to-day shooting on a Sony A6000 camera, this is fantastic – and if it's too expensive, check out our next entry...

Read more: Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G review

• Back to the top ⤴

Best budget everyday lens for A6000 cameras

2. Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony's pro-level 16-55mm f/2.8 is a great lens, but it only has a 3x zoom range and it's pretty heavy. For half the cost you can get the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS. 

It's cheaper than the 16-55mm G, it's got image stabilization built in and its zoom range is way longer with an equivalent span of 27-202mm. The lens is also compact and portable and still performs well at its telephoto end. 

It has a narrower, variable aperture from f/3.5-5.6 but you'll only notice that in dimmer lighting. Like a lot of lenses, this one relies on digital as well as optical corrections, so you may need to check your raw processing software is applying a correction profile. This is a great lens that we use all the time.

Read more: Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS review

Best wide-angle zoom lens for A6000 cameras

3. Tokina atx-m 11-18mm f/2.8 E

Tokina 's ATX-M 11-18mm f/2.8 E goes straight in at number one for wide-angle lenses. What it lacks in features such as optical image stabilization, it makes up for with its fast aperture, quality build, and high performance. 

For such an ultra wide-angle lens, there is very little distortion and what there is can easily be corrected. Color fringing is negligible, and sharpness levels are excellent across the entire image frame. 

It's only slightly heavier and a little more expensive than the Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS, so if the aperture is more important than stabilization it could be worth the extra cash. With its virtually silent autofocus, refined finish and impressive image quality, it really is excellent value.

Read more: Tokina atx-m 11-18mm f/2.8 E review

Best ultra-wide prime lens for A6000 cameras

4. Samyang AF 12mm f/2.0 E

The Samyang AF 12mm f/2.0 E somehow packs into an impressively lightweight 224g body. At a price significantly lower than a lot of Sony's native offerings, this is a tempting lens for any A6000 photographer who wants to expand their repertoire a little. Its wide perspective (18mm equivalent) is hugely versatile and can be very effective once you get used to using it. 

The fast f/2 aperture rating also makes the lens useable for astrophotography. Handling of the lens is good, with a pleasingly robust build quality that's also weather sealed.

There is some lateral chromatic aberration in the corners of frames, and a little barrel distortion, but all of this is easy enough to correct. This is an impressive lens for the price and the size and makes for a solid addition to any A6000 stable. 

Read more: Samyang AF 12mm f/2.0 E review

Best super-telephoto lens for A6000 cameras

5. Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS

Considering how new this lens is and its impressively broad telephoto zoom range, the price it's set at is incredibly reasonable. The Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS is well-suited to a huge range of fast-paced photographic genres like wildlife and sports, making it a perfect partner for the speedy A6000 cameras. 

Its optical design includes an aspherical element and three extra-low dispersion elements, all of which contribute to superb image quality right through the zoom range. Controls are customizable too, and Optical SteadyShot expands usability in low light. This is a fantastic lens for a good price.

Read more: Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS review

Best budget super-telephoto lens for A6000 cameras

6. Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS

If the Sony 70-350mm lens above is a little outside your price range, this 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS lens should do perfectly. Its maximum zoom range is a little shorter, but thanks to the 1.5x crop factor of the A6000 and other Sony APS-C format E-mount camera bodies, the lens gives an ‘effective’ zoom range of 82.5-315mm in full-frame terms, so it still gives a pretty powerful telephoto reach at the long end. 

This lens is light and compact for a telephoto, mostly thanks to the fairly narrow aperture rating, which shrinks from f/4.5 to f/6.3 as you extend through the zoom range. Physically, it enables a much better balance on an A6000 camera, though sharpness drops off a bit at longer zoom settings and could be better at the widest available apertures.

Best street photography lens for A6000 cameras

7. Sony E 20mm f/2.8 Pancake

So called 'pancake' lenses are really popular for street and travel photography because they extend only a small distance from the camera body and can stow away in small bags or even jacket pockets. A mere slip of a thing, this pancake lens measures just 63x20mm and weighs a mere 69g.

The effective focal length of 35mm is ideal, and the outfit is small enough for you to shoot candidly without drawing attention to yourself. Like almost all prime lenses it lacks Optical SteadyShot but the f/2.8 aperture rating is faster than that of most zoom lenses. 

The only catch is that, when shooting wide-open, sharpness is merely good rather than great and vignetting (darkened image corners) is quite noticeable. At apertures of between f/4 and f/8, though, the image quality really comes alive.

Best macro lens for A6000 cameras

8. Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro

This is both a nifty fifty and an affordable macro lens with 1:1 magnification. It’s not a Zeiss or a G Master, so it’s designed as an affordable workaday lens for amateurs and enthusiasts. That’s not to say it’s a poor performer – far from it – but with no aperture ring and a modest f/2.8 maximum aperture, we would characterize this more as a macro lens than a 50mm (even though that is the focal length). 

If what you want is a fast 50mm prime for regular use, you would probably cross this off the list – but a great choice if you want to photograph insects, flowers or anything else where you want to get in really close for big magnification. Be warned that this lens is showing its age in terms of its autofocus performance!

Read more: Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro review

Best portrait photography lens for A6000 cameras

9. Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Portraiture and still-life can be a struggle with a crop-sensor camera, especially if you want nice creamy bokeh, giving a sumptuous smoothness to defocused areas. With an effective focal length of 85mm on a Sony A6000-series body, this becomes a classic lens for portrait photography, at a competitive price. 

The f/1.4 aperture rating of the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN | C lens gives you full control over depth of field, allowing you to create beautifully blurred backgrounds, to isolate your subject. In our tests, we remarked that it’s well-built but small and light, and feels right at home on a compact mirrorless body. Even so, it goes large on performance, with rapid autofocus and superb image quality. 

Read more: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary review

How to choose the best lens for Sony A6000 cameras

All A6000-series cameras use the Sony E lens mount. Sony’s own E-mount lenses have either FE or E in their model names: all work on A6000 cameras. Very broadly speaking, an FE lens will be heavier and more expensive than an equivalent E lens, but deliver better image quality. E lenses (again very broadly) will tend to be smaller and lighter.

For shooting at shorter focal lengths and wider angles of view – specifically kit lenses or ultra-wide zooms – you are probably better off with an E lens. The APS-C crop factor of A6000 cameras means that FE lenses offer a reduced angle of view, curtailing their wide-angle capability with the smaller sensor.

If you are buying a third-party E-mount lens, check whether the lens is designed for use with APS-C Sony cameras like the A6000 series, or with full-frame Sonys.

Check out our guide to the best Sony lenses if you want to know more

How we test lenses

The lens experts in our testing lab run a range of tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.

We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the centre of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths.

There's more to it than just the technical side, though! Beyond the lab, our reviewers test lenses in real-world environments – and sometimes on professional shoots! We work with lenses both indoors and outdoors, in studio conditions and in natural light, with as many different subjects as is possible (or appropriate – there's no point testing a landscape lens' ability to shoot a portrait!). 

We take into account everything from handling and ease of use to speed of autofocus and the overall quality of the images produced. 

Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World

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Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.

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Travelfornoobs

The Best Travel Lens for Sony a6000

• Advanced 24.2MP back Illuminated 35 millimeter full frame image sensor
• ISO 100 25600 (expandable to 51200). Lens compatibility: Sony E mount lenses
• Hybrid AF with 179 point focal plane phase detection and 25 contrast detect points

What is the best travel lens for Sony A6000?

So you’re planning on travelling and wondering which lens is best for travel photography with your Sony A6000?

These days, most travelers use their smartphones to take pictures and post them on Facebook or Instagram. Don’t get me wrong, you can make impressive pictures with recent smartphones and they are very useful to document little details of your trip, but they are limited to one perspective.

So you’ll probably need a lense with a focal range that will allow you to get shots that are impossible to get with your cell phone (zoom or wide angle).

What makes a good travel lens?

Well, this is extremely subjective and depends on the type of photo you will make when you will be on the road. It also depends on how often you’re going to use it. Any lens can be good for travel, but having to commute by train, bus, plane, and moving around all the time makes it hard to carry a huge bag dedicated to your favourite lenses. There are always the risks to pay extra fees for them, to break them during the trip or to get your bag stolen.

Hence, most photographers like to travel light, with the lightest and most versatile setup possible. Getting the most out of one or two lenses is probably the way to go, with a range .

You may not know for sure what kind of shot you are about to make during your trip. If you plan on taking portraits, wildlife, street scenes but also landscapes, a zoom lens will be perfect since they offers the advantage of allowing close-ups and scenery shots, to some extent. For a more versatile use, this kind of lens will be the perfect fit.

Travels are full of surprises, and you may want to grab your Sony a6000 and shoot as quickly as possible. For this situation, the best lens will be a bright wide angle lens since they are usually a good choice for street photography. They allow for close-ups and large scenes, and are generally pretty small and convenient to carry. If you are planning a city trip, this kind of lens should be attached in permanence to the body of your Sony a6000.

Every photographer has its own favourite setup for snapping on the go. But if you are not sure on what travel lens to choose for your Sony A6000, this small selection is suitable for most photographic opportunities while traveling.

Note: the product links in this article lead to Amazon.com

Sony 18-105mm f/4 OSS (All around travel lens)

Sony 10-18mm f/4 oss (wide angle), sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 oss (zoom lens).

• Useful accessories

Here’s the Top 3 travel lenses you should consider for your Sony A6000:

The 18-105mm f/4 is far from being a lightweight, but if you want to do without several lenses when travelling, for example, it’s one of the most versatile lenses available for the Sony a6000, with a fairly wide focal range that ranges from wide angle to zoom. For the pluses: it has integrated optical stabilization and the zoom is done internally (i.e. it does not extend when zooming), which is convenient if you want to put your camera on a camera pod to film. Small reproach: when you turn off your camera, the lens goes back to 18mm and does not stay at the last focal length used.

Even if the image quality is very good, don’t expect photos to be as sharp and with a background blur as beautiful as a fixed focal length that will have a larger aperture (quite a bit of distortion at 105mm). That said, it offers great video performance and if that’s the main use you’ll make of it, for example for vlogging, you’ll be happy with it (a little heavy at arm’s length though!).

In short, if you are looking for a versatile lens for your Sony a6000, this 18-105mm is something to consider if you are aware of its limitations.

• High performance E mount lens with excellent contrast; Minimum Aperture (F): 22
• Minimum Focus Distance : 1.48 (Wide) 3.12 ft (Tele), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.11x, Focal Length : 18 105 mm
• Versatile 27 158mm (35mm equiv.) zoom range. Angle of view (APS C): 76° 15°. Number of aperture blades are 7

Let’s start with the positive points: we have here a surprisingly light wide angle considering its size, compact and therefore easy to take with us on a trip, with a fixed aperture of f/4. The focal length range of 10-18mm is very useful for vlogging, especially since it’s stabilized, or for architectural photography, for example.

Let’s move on to the negative points: the most annoying thing is that some copies are bad and deliver a rather weak dive. Remember to check the sharpness of the image in the first few days of your purchase, and get another copy if it’s defective! The fault lies with Sony, which did not carry out adequate quality control. Given the high price at which it’s sold, it’s rather annoying (to be polite). Finally, a rather curious little thing, without being problematic, is that it lengthens by almost 1cm when you are at 10mm, and retracts when you go to 18mm….

Otherwise, another wide-angle option is the Rokinon-Samyang 12mm f/2 ( see on Amazon.com ), which costs three times less than the 10-18mm but with manual focusing. But overall, the 10-18mm f/4 remains a very good wide angle for the Sony a6000 provided you get a good copy!

• Angle of View (APS-C) - 109 ° – 76 °
• Minimum focal length of 10 mm (15 mm in 35 mm-camera equivalency)
• Minimum Focus Distance : 0.82 ft (0.25 m), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.1x

An interesting lens to have in your bag to take pictures from a distance. So yes, the aperture is not incredible and you should not try to use it in low light, but during the day with enough sunlight it offers really correct results. On the positive side, it’s stabilized and therefore allows you to shoot freehand, and its quality of construction is strong enough to carry it on a trip. The focal length from 55 to 210mm is versatile and offers a lot of possibilities if you are creative.

In short it’s a good zoom for the Sony a6000, yes it doesn’t produce as beautiful images as with a fixed focal length and it offers better images at 55mm rather than 210mm, but its focal length is really practical if you want to shoot subjects from a distance. And it’s sold at a very affordable price.

• Wide zoom range (82 - 315mm 35mm equivalent) ideal for sports or nature;Aperture blades : 7
• Internal focusing for smooth, quiet operation - perfect for video capture.Direct manual focus with non-rotating focus ring during AF: ideal for precise, comfortable manual focus adjustments
• Optical Steady Shot image stabilization for stable video capture and low light performance

☛ ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

• For more travel lenses options, check this out: The best lenses for Sony A6000

Useful accessories for travel photography

Travels can be hectic, so you want to make sure that your lenses are safe and sound all along the trip. A good quality carry bag is mandatory to protect them from the weather and bumps. A UV filter will also help protect your lens by adding a layer of glass that can be scratched or dripping with water with no harm to the lens. Finally, a polarizing filter is always useful to get a glare-free result in any shooting scenario you might face.

Here is a small selection of useful accessories to complement your lenses and your Sony A6000:

If you want to go on a trip soon and are wondering what is the best travel lens for the Sony A6000 , think in advance about the types of photos you plan to take mainly: landscapes, portraits, night shots… Think about the focal lengths you need for that.

You can also go on Google, type in the name of the country or the tourist sites you want to visit and you will see which focal lengths are mainly used. This will give you an idea of what equipment you will need to bring but remember that taking a single lens with you might be too limiting. The flexibility of an all-around lens is very useful but generally they offer a lower image quality than a fixed focal length.

Another thing, if you plan to do a lot of walking or hiking, take into account the total weight with the camera body and the lens. If the whole thing is too heavy or bulky and lacks discretion, you won’t want to bother with it and would rather just take your smartphone with you. You may also not want to risk damaging an extremely expensive lens.

And finally, perhaps the most decisive point about choosing the perfect travel lens for your Sony A6000 will be if you need to get a portfolio of professional quality travel photos or videos (it may be your business or it may become your business who knows?).

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Best Travel Lens for Sony A6000 & A6400 (Landscape, Portrait & Zoom)

Last Updated on December 5, 2023

by Michael Rozenblit

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If you’re an amateur photographer going travelling, the Sony A6000 or Sony A6400 is a fantastic mirrorless camera choice. However, as the standard kit lens has several limitations, it leaves many people searching for the best travel lenses for Sony A6000 cameras.

Choosing between all the available lenses can be a daunting task, particularly if you haven’t got a lot of experience taking photos. After all, there are zoom lenses, prime lenses, landscape lenses, portrait lenses and many others that can be suitable depending on the type of photography you think you’d want to take on your trip.

This guide will break down what we think the best lenses are based on different shooting situations, as well as some options for secondary lenses to take with you if you want to focus on a particular style of travel photography.

These lenses are designed not only for Sony A6000 but also for similar models such as the popular Sony A6400 and the older A6300 & A6500 cameras.

They are all E-Mount and use an APS-C sensor (unlike the Sony A7III cameras ) so are fully compatible with this camera series and don’t require any adapters.

Table of Contents

Sony A6000 Travel Lenses Comparison

What to look for in travel lenses.

When deciding on which travel lenses to choose, it’s important to think about the type of photos you want to take.

After all, if you’re travelling somewhere like rural Scotland or Iceland you’ll want to be taking epic wide-angle shots. However, if you’re on a safari in Africa, it’s going to be more important to have a great telephoto lens that can take wildlife shots.

The standard kit 16-50mm lens that comes with the Sony A6000 has a reasonable range and you can take some wide-angle shots and general street photography. However, the quality of this lens isn’t the best so if it’s certainly worth considering upgrading before leaving for your trip.

If you are unsure about what type of travel photography you want to take on your trip or simply like to have a wide range of different shots, then I would suggest choosing an all-in-one lens.

Alternatively, if you want to focus on a specific type of photography, then I would consider one of the more specialised lenses listed below.

Best Travel Lenses for Sony A6000 Cameras

These are my choices for the best travel lenses, each with its own advantages depending on the type of photography you want to take.

Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 – Best Overall All-in-One Lens

If you’re looking for an all-round upgrade to your standard kit lens then you can’t go wrong with choosing the Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ).

This travel lens offers travellers the ability to take a wide spectrum of shots from wide-range landscapes at 18mm to portrait and telephoto shots at the upper end of the range.

This lens is lightweight at 325g/11.5oz given its shooting range and has Optical SteadyShot (OSS) in-built to help avoid any blur in your travel photography.

Ultimately, this lens is ideal for people who are unsure about the type of photography they want to take on their travels and don’t want to be constantly switching between lenses.

The Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 will work in the majority of shooting scenarios and you can easily get away with this being the only lens that you take on your travels, particularly if you’re not planning on doing much low-light or night photography.

Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G – Best Premium All-in-One Lens

If you’ve been happy with the shooting range that the standard kit lens provides and you simply want a significant improvement in photo quality then you should certainly consider purchasing the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ).

One of the best premium travel lenses available on the market, this lens offers supreme photo quality which allows photographers to take a range of shots from landscapes to portraits.

The lens is lightweight at 494g/17.5oz and gives users more customisation options on the lens including options for specific settings as well as the ability to easily switch between auto and manual focus.

The Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G is not ideal for wildlife or super-zoomed in photography, but you’ll be able to use this lens in the majority of day-to-day situations so there won’t be a need for changing lenses.

Furthermore, apart from the improved photo quality, this lens with its constant f2.8 aperture will perform better in low light compared to the standard kit lens.

Sony 18-105mm F4 G – Alternative All-in-One Lens

The Sony 18-105mm F4 G (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ) is an alternative lens to those listed above and is ideal if you’re looking for a lens that can shoot both great stills and videos but prefer the constant aperture.

It has a similar weight to the 18-135mm and 16-55m lenses, coming in at 427g/15.1oz and also has apower zoom feature which is fantastic for taking videos.

The Sony 18-105mm F4 G lens is certainly one to consider if you plan to take a lot of videos during your travels and are looking for a mid-range option.

Sony 10-18mm F4 – Best Zoom Landscape Lens

If one of the main reasons you love travelling is to take epic wide-angle landscape shots then you can’t overlook the Sony 10-18mm F4 (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ) as one of the best landscape lenses for Sony A6000.

This lens is ideal for capturing breathtaking scenery and landscapes, offering a minimum focal range of 10mm which most other lenses compatible with the Sony A6000 are not able to do. This lens is also lightweight at 225g/8oz and has Sony’s Optical SteadyShot technology built in.

The Sony 10-18mm F4 can potentially be used to complement the standard kit lens, as you’ll be able to get better quality wide-range shots with this lens, while still having a larger focal length to shoot with day-to-day for standard street shots.

Given its weight and range, this lens is ideal for travellers looking to improve their landscape photography while still keeping their luggage light.

Sigma 16mm F1.4 – Best Prime Landscape Lens

If you prefer a high-quality prime lens for your wide-angle shots, then the Sigma 16mm F1.4 (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ) is a great option.

While this Sigma lens doesn’t have the Optical SteadyShot feature that most other lenses on this list have, it takes great quality photos and is ideal if you’re looking for either a bit of extra range from the 18-135mm or if you want the flexibility to take landscape shots at low-light.

The Sigma 16mm F1.4 is a bit large for a prime lens and not as compact as some of the Sony primes but as there isn’t a great wide-angle prime lens from Sony, this is the best option if your want to take a second lense on your travels that focuses on low-light landscape shots.

Sony 50mm F1.8 – Best Portrait Lens

If you’re looking for a pure portrait lens for your Sony A6000 then you can’t go wrong with choosing the Sony 50mm F1.8 (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ) .

This prime lens allows you to take a range of portrait shots in different circumstances. Its f1.8 aperture means you can take shots in low light, particularly as its Optical Steadyshot functionality helps with ensuring your images are blur-free.

This lens has a focal length ideal of portrait photography and your shots can get that beautiful shallow depth of field and bokeh that you want when taking portraits.

The lens is also lightweight enough at 202g/7.2oz that you can take it with you as a second or third lens without adding a lot of weight to your backpack .

Overall, the Sony 50mm F1.8 makes a strong case for being one of the best portrait lenses for Sony A6000 cameras if you want to purchase a lens solely dedicated to taking portrait shots.

Sony 35mm F1.8 – Best Complimentary Prime Lens

The Sony 35mm F1.8 (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ) is a great choice for people who are happy to take a second lens to complement their all-in-one lens.

This lens allows you to take beautiful night photography, making it ideal for travellers who might be heading into the great outdoors or shooting the Northern Lights. It’s not a lens I would recommend as an all-in-one option but is ideal as a second or third travel lens to pack in your bag.

Weighing 154g/5.5oz, it is not as compact as other prime lens options but its ability to take low-light photography means you are gaining the opportunity to take photos that most other lenses will struggle with.

With the the Sony 35mm F1.8 you’ll also be able to get some great portrait shots with a shallow depth of field given its f1.8 aperture.

Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G – Best Premium Zoom Lens

While most of the other travel lenses mentioned so far are ideal if most of your photography is street or landscape photography, none of them is ideal if you want to super-zoom capability for an upcoming safari trip.

This is where the Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ) comes in.

This lens is a premium zoom lens that works best if used as a complementing lens to the 16–55mm F2.8 G or any other all-in-one travel lens. I would only consider purchasing this lens if you have a specific purpose for its telephoto capabilities, such as wildlife photography.

It weighs 625g/22.1oz which is reasonably light given the range that this lens offers and also has Optical SteadyShot built-in.

It has various other perks built-in such as a shake compensation switch and the ability to easily switch between auto and manual focus which can be quite handy if shooting wildlife.

All in all, if you’re looking for a travel lens because you want to shoot wildlife from a distance, then the Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G is the best choice for a great telephoto lens.

Sony 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 – Best Budget Zoom Lens

If you are looking for an affordable zoom lens for your Sony A6000 to complement the standard 16-50mm kit lens or the 16–55mm F2.8 then the Sony 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here ) is an ideal choice.

This budget lens actually comes included sometimes in purchases of the Sony A6000, however, if this wasn’t the case for your camera, purchasing this lens allows you to easily extend your zoom range.

While the image quality won’t be as good as some of the other premium zoom lenses on this list, the lens still is lightweight enough at 345g/12.2oz that it’s not a burden to pack even for the minimalist traveller.

This lens doesn’t have many of the additional features on the lens such as the auto and manual focus switch that you see on other lenses in this article, which isn’t really a surprise given it’s on the budget end of zoom lenses for the Sony A6000 cameras.

If you’re not looking to spend a lot and simply want an affordable way to increase your range then the Sony 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 is certainly a good option to consider.

It’s no surprise that there are several great travel lenses for the Sony A6000 series available on the market, regardless of what type of photos you plan on taking on your upcoming trip!

Are you searching for a travel lens for your upcoming trip? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!

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About Michael Rozenblit

Michael is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Both solo and with his partner, Maggie, he has travelled to over 50 countries across the globe and has a particular affinity for the Balkans and Eastern Europe. He’s lived in numerous countries worldwide but currently resides in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Read more about Michael

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The Best Travel Lens for the Sony A6000 Series

• By Shimona Carvalho

This is a fantastic travel camera – it really packs a punch with its small size. If you’re going for an APS-C sized sensor, it’s one of the best options out there. One way to really make it work for you is to select the best travel lens for the Sony a6000 – the one that works for you and your style and budget.

The lenses in this article will work interchangeably with any camera in the A6000 series, so that includes the Sony A6000, A6100, A6300, A6400, A6500 and A6600.

Sony A6000 Series

The a6000 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C sized sensor. If that sounds confusing, here are a few definitions.

Mirrorless cameras don’t use the mirror present in SLR cameras, so they are smaller and more compact.

Interchangeable lens cameras allow you to swap out the lens as needed. This is great for versatility.

APS-C is a sensor size that is smaller than a full-frame sensor but still a lot larger than a cellphone or point and shoot.

Selecting the Best Travel Lenses

Everyone has a style of travel and for me, lightweight is the way to go. I mean, within reason.

I’m not really a one-bagger but I never check any of my camera gear in. I just don’t want to end up at my destination with my gear pilfered or damaged.

I also like to take my camera everywhere while traveling. My first SLR, I bagged in a gallon ziploc and took to Burning man! Which is about the dustiest place I’ve ever been.

Need a tripod for the trip?

If you want to capture the city at night or even the stars, check out these affordable tripods that are compact enough to travel in your carryon luggage!

So I tend to look for budget lenses that do a great job, rather than the best of the best premium lenses. I want to hit that sweet spot of price and quality.

To start with, let’s go over some of the factors you should consider when putting together the ideal travel lens kit.

As I mentioned before, a lightweight kit is best for travel. Not just for the flight, but even on longer hikes.

I used to carry a Canon 70d and 4 lenses but I am too damn old for that now. My neck and shoulders are killing me after a day or two of lugging all that around.

Equally important is knowing what you don’t need. If you really don’t care for wildlife photos, don’t lug a giant telephoto around.

Now with mirrorless cameras, we can go so much lighter, why, why would we cancel that out with multiple massive lenses? I see people do this all the time!

So keep in mind the weight of the lenses as you pick them. And not just the weight of each one, but the total weight of your kit as well.

Focal Length

Another key factor to consider is the focal length ranges of your lenses. The focal length of a lens is basically how zoomed in or out you are.

You want some versatility there. It would be sad to get to Iguazu Falls and realize you don’t have a lens that really gets it all in.

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Or if you go on safari, you’re really going to want to zoom in with a long focal length to get those wildlife pics. You might really miss out without a good zoom.

The best travel lens really depends on you, the photographer and your personal style of photography.

Equally important is knowing what you DON’T need. If you really don’t care for wildlife, don’t lug a giant telephoto around. It’s a waste of space!

Remember – APS-C has a 1.5x crop factor , so a 50mm lens is effectively 75mm. Do the math when you figure out what ranges you want to cover. You can check out various crop factors here .

The largest aperture on the lens tells you how much light in can gather in low light conditions. Since you can always stop down the aperture, it would seem you should get the largest aperture and go from there. But, this feature comes at a price so you have that balance it against cost.

The other nice thing about a wide aperture is that nice creamy bokeh that smoothes the background and highlights your subject more clearly.

Lenses that have a wide aperture like f/1.8 and under tend to cost a lot more than those with f/4 as the largest aperture. Just do yourself a favor and take one lens with an f/1.8 aperture.

You know those moments in the yurt with your new buddies sampling mongolian horse milk vodka for the first time? It is really nice to have at least one lens that can do the job in low light.

My tip here is to consider a fast prime for the job. You can get a wide aperture at a great price, and it will give you that beautiful bokeh that can really isolate your subject.

Weatherproofing

Weatherproofing may or may not be important to you. Honestly, it’s not important to me. The Sony a6000 range of cameras is not weatherproofed so there’s not much value in weatherproofing the lens.

I mention it here because I know people fret about it but in over 20 years of shooting in rain, dust, and humidity, I’ve really not had much of a problem.

And you know what? You can’t really shoot in rain anyway – those pesky water droplets still ruin the shot even in a weatherproofed camera.

Keep your gear safe

A padded case can protect your gear during travel, and be popped into a backpack for the day. Buy this great accessory as a gift or just for yourself!

Best Travel Lenses for Sony A6000

1. sony 18-105mm f4.

The 18-105mm is what I call a superzoom . It covers the whole range of landscape through telephoto, so if you’re lazy like me, and looking for just one best travel lens, this is the one.

The lens is really quite sharp and incredibly versatile. Most photogs find they keep this lens on 90% of the time. This one’s great for the photographer that wants to keep moving and shooting, rather than swapping between several primes.

I recently went to Yellowstone and a superzoom was really a great choice because at times your zooming out to capture some surreal orange thermal pool and then you see a bison in the distance and bam, you zoom in to shoot that.

Buy Sony 18-105mm f/4 Now

The kit lens is actually a great walkaround lens as well, and it weighs in at just 116g. So don’t rule that out as an option. This is heavier but covers a huge focal range in comparison.

The kit lens has a focal range of 16-50mm so while you gain some wide angle, you lose quite a bit of zoom. But if your shooting style is more landscape than wildlife, maybe you don’t need all that zoom. In that case, the kit might be the better lens for you.

But if you like to isolate your subject and get that nice narrow DOF sometimes, the extra zoom helps with that.

2. Sony 35mm F1.8

The next lens I usually recommend in a travel kit is a lowlight prime . The reason being that the kit or walkaround lenses tend not to have the best lowlight performance.

The walkaround lens is an f/4 lens so it’s not especially fast. This isn’t much of a concern when you’re hiking about during the day, but at night it’s great to have a lens that can capture the moment without resorting to flash. Because, who wants to be that person?

This prime is pretty compact, and nice and light at 1.8g

3. Sigma 30mm F1.4

This is another lowlight prime that’s a great option. Amazingly it’s an f/1.4 lens that costs a good bit LESS than that Sony. As I mentioned earlier, the wider aperture usually costs a good bit more.

While this is a great lens that will capture gorgeous shots with natural light, you might want to note that the lens is about double the size and more than 100g heavier than the Sony.

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And you know what, you probably won’t notice less that one stop more light coming in, but you will notice the weight.

However, as this is quite a bit more affordable, this is a good budget option.

4. Sony 10-20mm F4 (Updated for 2024)

This ultrawide zoom is a great choice for landscape shots. If you’ve never shot with an ultrawide, trust me, they really pull you into the image with that frame of view.

Buy Sony 10-20mm F4 Now

I like the dramatic nature of ultrawide shots. And since this one’s a zoom, you’re not stuck at one focal length but have some versatility.

5. Rokinon 12mm F2.0

The Rokinon 12mm f/2 is an ultra wide angle lens. It’s manual focus but honestly, with such a wide lens, it really doesn’t matter. It’s really easy to get most things in focus with such a wide angle.

This lens is a really great deal as well, it’s just a hidden gem in my opinion. A lot of people don’t consider it because of the manual focus and the Rokinon badge.

But now you know the secret – buy this fantastic lens.

Buy Rokinon 12mm F2.0 Now

It’s a great choice for landscape and architecture, of course. And should an incredible starry sky appear above you, you can try some astrophotography.

If you haven’t tried astro, you actually don’t need a ton of equipment for a simply starry shot. You just need to follow the rule of 500.

The rule of 500 says the longest shutter speed you can use before your photo gets blurry is equal to 500 divided by your lens’ effective focal length.

So with the Rokinon 12mm lens, that’s effectively 18mm with the 1.5x crop factor. The 500 rule says you get 500 / 18, so upto 27.7 secs to capture the stars. Paired with the f/2 aperture, that’s plenty of time to get a great shot of the milky way.

6. Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3

If you are going on a safari, it helps to have a lot of reach, so I definitely want to include a telephoto.

However, you should know, this one is quite heavy and quite expensive so unless you really need the reach, it might be overkill.

Buy Alpha 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Now

If I were to spend on a safari like trip, I would go ahead and buy this one, but not for an average trip.

Best Travel Lenses for the Sony A6000 series

So here we are, that’s the rundown of all the great lenses that would work for different travel styles.

Remember the goal is not to buy all of them but come up with a 2 or 3 lens kit that works for you. So the question is, which kit is for you?

I’ll summarize the lenses here and then we can combo them up into a few kits.

Kit Combinations

The biggest mistake new owners of mirrorless cameras make is to buy too many lenses and end up with just as big and heavy a kit as an SLR.

And then the camera bag, full of lenses, ends up stuck in the closet because it’s just too inconvenient to take places.

You definitely don’t want to do that. So pick a lightweight solution that works for you.

If you’re going to go with one lens, for sure it should be the Sony 18-105mm. This lens is just great quality in a great package, with tons of versatility.

The Do It All – Sony 18-105mm f/4 Huge focal range · One lens workhorse Weight: 427g Cost: $$

Two Lens Combo

The shots you will most likely miss, with one lens, are those late night low-light shots so a great two lens combo is the superzoom and a lowlight prime.

So another great kit is this lowlight upgrade:

Lowlight Upgrade Kit

Superzoom – Sony 18-105mm f/4 Huge focal range · One lens workhorse Weight: 427g Cost: $$

Low-light Prime Sony 35mm f/1.8 Incredible image quality Large aperture Weight: 155g Cost: $$

If you’re early to bed and early to rise to catch the sunrise, maybe you don’t need a lowlight normal lens. Instead go for a great ultrawide lens as your second lens:

Ultrawide Upgrade Kit

Superzoom Sony 18-105mm f/4 Huge focal range · One lens workhorse Weight: 427g Cost: $$

Ultrawide Rokinon 12mm F2.0 Dramatic landscape shots · Astrophotography gem Weight: 245g Cost: $

These are some examples of a kit you can build with these recommendations. Obviously not all the possible combos, but hopefully you have the info to build your own.

I hope this has helped you pick the perfect travel kit to take on your next trip . The best travel lens for the Sony a6000 is a very personal choice – what you love to shoot and how you like to travel are an important part of the equation.

Always remember that you want to consider the overall weight of the kit and go easy. It’s better to have a few lenses you take everywhere than a lot of lenses that sit in the closet.

Stay shooting.

This post has affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The opinions presented are my own.

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5 Sony a6000 Lenses You Need (APS-C Alpha e-Mount)

Investing in the best lens for Sony a6000 is a fun and affordable way to breathe new life out of the top-selling mirrorless camera of all time.

Camera Gear Guides | Lens Guides | Sony Lens Guides | By Mark Condon | Last Updated: February 23, 2024

The Sony a6000 is already ten years old, but it’s still the best-selling mirrorless camera of all time.

To get the most out of your a6000, you need to invest in the best Sony E-Mount lenses .

Affordable, lightweight, compact and fun. Blur the background of your photos to make your subject *pop*. This lens is the best bang for your buck.

After shooting over 5,000 images with this powerful camera, I know exactly which lenses are best for Sony a6000 owners.

The a6000 works best with compact prime and zoom lenses to keep its overall dimensions small.

Fast maximum aperture lenses will help you take advantage of the a6000’s 10/11fps burst rate without having to resort to high ISOs.

If you want the best all-round Sony a6000 lens, tap the button above to get my top pick.

Otherwise, keep reading to see all the recommendations.

Table of Contents

What are the Best Lenses for Sony a6000 in 2024?

Below, you’ll find my reviews of the five best lenses for the Sony a6000.

All of them are Sony APS-C E-mount lenses , which can be used on any other Sony mirrorless camera , but I’ve concentrated specifically on those that perform best with the a6000.

To add some variety to my recommendations, I also reviewed a selection from the competitively-priced non-Sony-branded lenses, which work well with the Sony a6000 mount type.

Here are some of the Sony a6000 best lenses.

1. Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS | All Round Best Sony a6000 Prime Lens

Focal Length: 35mm (equivalent to 52.5mm) Weight: 154g (5.5 oz.) Size (Diameter x Length): 63 x 45mm (2-1/2 x 1-13/16in.) Filter Diameter: 49mm Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3m (0.99ft)

Check Amazon Price Check B&H Price

I’m a big fan of prime lenses and recommend them to all levels of photographers.

They’re the quickest way to get better at composition, simplifying the picture-taking process by removing the variable of multiple focal lengths (as offered by zooms).

Don’t get me wrong, zooms have their place in photography. However, I believe every photographer should have at least one small, fast prime lens… and for Sony a6000 owners, this Sony 35mm 1.8 OSS lens is it.

If you own a mirrorless camera as small as the Sony a6000, it seems silly to put an enormous lens on it.

Paired with this dinky 35mm lens, the camera will be a pleasure to shoot and still fit into a jacket pocket – something DSLR camera owners can only dream of (see my mirrorless vs DSLR buyer’s guide ).

On the cropped sensor ( APS-C ) Sony a6000, this lens will give roughly a 50mm field of view, which is ideal for a whole range of subjects.

50mm is a popular focal length since it gives an undistorted view of the world and can be flattering for portraits without making the subject feel detached like a longer lens can.

By ‘fast’ prime lens, I mean that the lens aperture (as represented by the f-number) is wide enough to allow faster shutter speeds and lower ISOs in low light.

In other words, the f/1.8 of this Sony 35mm f/1.8 lens will allow you to take photos with the Sony a6000 in low light without a flash, much easier than with a ‘slower’ lens such as the Sony a6000 kit lens. (The smaller the f-number, the larger the aperture).

An aperture of f/1.8 also means that you’ll be able to get that coveted blurred background look that really separates lesser cameras.

Sure, your iPhone ‘portrait mode’ may be able to do something similar, but the process is much slower with the mobile phone and its fancy AI.

Sony 35mm f/1.8 | 1/640 f/4 ISO 200 | © Marc Bergreen

As for image quality, the Sony 35mm f/1.8 lens delivers images that simply aren’t possible with the kit lens that comes with your a6000.

Sharpness is impressive at f/1.8 and continues to improve to around f/4, where the sharpness and overall contrast excel for a lens of this price.

On the topic of price, at around $400, you may hesitate, especially as several Sony Alpha a6000 lenses can be found cheaper…

However, a camera is only as good as its lens, and by investing in the Sony 35mm f/1.8, you’re really making the most of your a6000’s abilities.

The ‘OSS’ refers to Optical SteadyShot (image stabilization), a feature that is rare on prime lenses.

In combination with the fast f/1.8 aperture, this makes the lens excellent for low-light shooting, allowing you to keep the ISO of your Sony a6000 as low as possible to create noise-free images.

Overall, the Sony 35mm f/1.8 lens is the best prime lens for Sony a6000 owners who want a small and lightweight setup with excellent optical performance – it’s the perfect travel camera/lens combination and the best Sony a6000 35mm lens.

• Sony 35mm f/1.8 Review

2. Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN | Best Portrait Lens for Sony a6000

Focal Length: 60mm (equivalent to 90mm) Weight: 190g / 6.7oz. Size (Diameter x Length): 60.8mm x 55.5mm / 2.4in x 2.2in Filter Diameter: 46mm Minimum Focus Distance: 50cm / 19.7in

Here’s a bit of a curveball from Sigma in this guide to the best lenses for the Sony a6000. Remember that you don’t always need to match brands when buying lenses for your camera.

If this Sigma lens for Sony a6000 users didn’t exist, I would have included the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS lens – it’s faster, includes image stabilization, and is great value for money now that it’s dropped in price to under $300.

However, this Sigma has changed all that – the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN is quite simply the best portrait lens for Sony a6000 owners.

With an APS-C equivalent focal length of 90mm, your subject will look in perfect proportion, with their features compressed like reality (as opposed to distorted by a wide-angle lens ).

Medium telephoto focal lengths such as this one allow you to stand about 6 feet away from your subject and still fill your viewfinder’s frame with their head and shoulders for a flattering headshot.

Does that mean this Sigma is only suitable for portraits? Not at all – it just means that you’ll need to be able to stand back far enough to fit everything into your frame.

Telephoto lenses can be used for landscape photography to provide beautiful compression of the scenery, making background mountains appear closer to a foreground element, for example.

Despite being solidly built, the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN is actually rather light, making it another ideal prime lens companion for your Sony a6000.

Being lightweight also means focusing is silent and completely unobtrusive – something that video shooters will appreciate.

Images taken with the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN are incredibly sharp and contrasty, with vivid colours straight out of camera .

The f/2.8 aperture combined with the focal length delivers beautiful, creamy bokeh, which will help separate your subject from the background.

There’s no noticeable vignetting, distortion or chromatic aberration… basically, this means that your photos will look pretty darn good, with no fiddling necessary afterwards in Lightroom!

As for the price, well at a little under $250, this impressive little lens is by far the best value lens you can attach to your Sony a6000 – see more of the best Sigma lenses .

Note that this Sony a6000 portrait lens is also available with a different mount for micro-four-third cameras , so be sure you select the correct one for your a6000 when ordering (check the box marked ‘Sony NEX’). It’s also available in black or silver.

3. Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Best Zoom Lens for Sony a6000

Focal Length: 28-70mm zoom (equivalent to 40-105mm) Weight: 295g (10.5oz.) Size (Diameter x Length): 72.5 x 83mm (2-7/8 x 3-3/8in.) Filter Diameter: 55mm Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3-0.45m (0.99-1.48ft)

With Sony a6000 compatible lenses, there are a lot of confusing abbreviations and naming conventions you’ll come across.

For the purposes of this best lenses for a6000 owners article, all you need to know are ‘FE’  and ‘E’.

The ‘FE’ as opposed to ‘E’ in this zoom lens’ name refers to the fact that this is actually a lens meant for professional full-frame Sony E-mount cameras .

It actually comes bundled as a kit lens with the Sony a7 camera. So, why am I recommending it here as one of the best lenses?

Normally I wouldn’t recommend buying an ‘FE’ lens for the APS-C sensor Sony a6000, since they’re much more expensive. However, with the suprisingly affordable Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS , it’s an offer too good to miss.

At less than $300, this Sony zoom lens is an absolute bargain and perfectly suited to the Sony a6000.

It also means that if you ever decide to upgrade to a full-frame Sony camera, you’ll already have the best Sony a6000 zoom lens waiting in your camera bag!

The 40-105mm equivalent focal length makes the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS zoom particularly useful for subjects that change distance frequently, such as when photographing children or for sports photography.

Using a Sony FE lens on a cropped sensor camera basically means that the edges of the lens won’t be in use. On wide-angle lenses, this ‘missing width’ may be an issue, but on longer lenses such as this one, it doesn’t really matter.

As an additional bonus, in using the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS on a Sony a6000, you’re actually ‘cropping’ the edges of the frame, thus eliminating any edge softness that may have otherwise existed on a full-frame camera.

The image quality is impressive, as can be expected from a lens that’s meant for pro-grade full-frame cameras . It’s sharp, contrasty and produces great bokeh – more due to the focal lengths at which you’ll be shooting as opposed to the aperture.

On the topic of aperture, you won’t be shooting much after dark without a flash since this Sony a6000 telephoto lens is restricted to f/3.5-5.6.

However, I do appreciate the inclusion of Sony’s excellent Optical Steady Shot, which compensates for the minor hand movements that are particularly common when shooting at longer focal lengths and can cause blurred images.

Another nice feature of the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is weather-sealing – a rare feature on Sony a6000 zoom lenses – but unfortunately, you won’t be able to take advantage of this since the camera body isn’t weather-sealed.

However, a weather-sealed lens also means that it’ll be built to last, no matter what camera body you attach it to.

If you’re looking for a great zoom lens for your Sony a6000 at a bargain price, look no further than this little beauty. This is one of if not the best budget lens for Sony A6000.

I’d also go as far as to call it the best multipurpose lens for Sony a6000 owners since it covers such a wide focal range and can do away with 2 or 3 other lenses.

• Best accessories for Sony a6000

4. Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS | Best Wide Angle Lens for Sony a6000

Focal Length: 12mm (equivalent to 18mm) Weight: 245g (8.64oz.) Size (Diameter x Length): 72.5 x 59mm (2.85 x 2.33 in.) Filter Diameter: 67mm Minimum Focus Distance: 7.87”(0.2m)

After adding a small, fast prime and a telephoto zoom to your Sony E-Mount lens collection, the next one you’ll want in your camera bag is a Sony a6000 wide-angle lens… or, in this case, an ultra-wide angle lens!

The Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS has been made especially for mirrorless cameras (be sure you get the correct one for the Sony a6000 here ). This is a popular Sony a6000 wide angle lens.

For a wide-angle lens to remain wide angle on a cropped sensor body like the a6000’s, it must be truly WIDE.

With its equivalent 18mm field of view, you can create some really compelling, immersive images with this fun lens.

The obvious use of wide-angle lenses is for shots of vast landscapes, but another usage is to tell more of a story in one image by including a foreground element and multiple background elements.

At 18mm, you can place a subject in the centre of the frame (to minimise distortion), and still have enough ‘room’ around them to show their environment – it’s a skill, but a great way to really improve your photography.

One thing to note is that the Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS is a manual focus lens (i.e. it doesn’t have autofocus).

Normally I wouldn’t recommend lenses that you need to twist yourself to focus, but with a wide-angle lens, not having autofocus is excusable since so much of the image will fall into focus without much fine-tuning – any objects from about 2 metres away to infinity will be in focus simultaneously.

With an aperture of f/2, you can use the Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS in lower light too without needing to bump up the ISO of your Sony a6000.

Another advantage of wide-angle lenses is that small movements when photographing aren’t as noticeable in the final image, meaning you can also benefit from slower shutter speeds without needing to raise the ISO.

Sony offers several wide-angle lenses, but none of them are as affordable, nor as fast as this one from Rokinon.

Rokinon 12mm Sample Image | Matthew Saville

Part of the price difference is admittedly due to the lack of motor to power any AF, but also the cost-saving is due to the brand name itself. Sad but true.

As for image quality, shots out of the Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS really impressed me for a lens of this price.

Images are sharp and rich in colour and contrast, with surprisingly low distortion. Zooming into your images reveals just how sharp the details are resolved, particularly in the centre of the frame.

Some photographers completely discount this lens when they read the words ‘manual focus’, but I really recommend that you give it a second thought.

Spending almost twice the price on an alternative with autofocus just doesn’t make sense to me, especially when the focus on wide-angle lenses like this is so forgiving… and the quality of the Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS is so impressive.

If you want to create images that include more of the surroundings and tell more of a story with every click, this is my recommendation for the best Sony a6000 wide-angle lens.

• Rokinon 12mm f/2 review

5. Sony E 20mm f/2.8 | Best Travel Lens for Sony a6000

Focal Length: 20mm (equivalent to 30mm) Weight: 69g (0.15 lbs) Size (Diameter x Length): 62 x 20 mm (2.4 x 0.7 in.) Filter Diameter: 49mm Minimum Focus Distance: 0.2 m (0.6 ft)

I love ‘pancake’ lenses and wish that Nikon made one (I’d definitely include it in my roundup of the best Nikon lenses if they did!) Canon has one (reviewed here ), and now Sony does too thanks to this little gem of a lens.

At only 69g (0.15 lbs) and barely thicker than a lens cap, the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is a great combination with the Sony a6000, or any cropped sensor Sony mirrorless camera in fact.

It’s my pick as the best a6000 lens for travel, or any situation where you want the most compact and lightweight camera set up possible.

Having a smaller, lighter and more pocketable camera isn’t just for portability’s sake though – you’ll be much less obtrusive and noticeable when using this combination, meaning more candid photos and a subject who’s more at ease.

The Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is a hugely popular lens for travelling a6000 owners and for street photography, where remaining incognito is paramount to a truly candid shot.

It’s definitely among the best travel lenses for Sony a6000 owners who value the compactness of their camera set up over the convenience of a zoom.

The 30mm equivalent field of view also lends itself well to run-and-gun style shooting on the street.

There’s a little distortion, and images could be a bit sharper when shot wide open at f/2.8, but stopping down your aperture to around f/5.6 yields better performance.

As with other pancake lenses , the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 isn’t renowned for delivering stellar image quality. It’s more a popular lens for photographers who put a priority on keeping their small mirrorless cameras… small. If this is what you’re looking for then this is Sony a6000’s best lens.

I fall into this category since I know that any issues with sharpness or contrast can be largely fixed after the fact with one click in Lightroom.

Having a tiny lens on the end of my Sony a6000 really makes using it more of a pleasure than any other more capable lens might.

35mm on a full-frame camera is my preferred focal length since it’s just so versatile.

Using the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 took a little getting used to (that ‘extra’ 5mm is more noticeable than I expected), but it’s still ideal for almost everything I need to shoot in an average day.

Obviously, for purely flattering portraits, something like the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN discussed previously would be the best lens for a6000 shooters.

Also, if you’ve got a little more to spend, look to the Sony 20mm f/1.8 – a full frame lens that works just as well on the crop sensor a6000, and can provide more subject separation than the f/2.8 variant.

If you’re looking for a good value lens that will make your Sony a6000 feel exactly as it’s intended, look no further than this. Yes, there are certainly Sony lenses that perform better optically, but none of them can be mistaken for a camera lens cap!

• Sony a6000 Battery Recommendations

What Lenses Are Compatible with the Sony a6000?

The Sony a6000 lens mount uses standard E-mount lenses (as opposed to full-frame FE lenses), originally designed for the Sony NEX (‘New E-mount eXperience’) series of mirrorless cameras.

The Sony a6000 was actually the first of the new breed of E-mount cameras to lose the NEX branding, even though it still looks much like its NEX predecessors.

There are more than 40 Sony E-mount lenses in production (far more than the number of Fujifilm lenses ), giving Sony a6000 owners a great selection to choose from, with more being added each year.

Sony produces ‘FE’ and ‘E’ lenses for its ‘E-mount’ mirrorless camera bodies. (There’s also the A-mount, which is for Sony Translucent Mirror-type camera bodies.)

If you see a Sony lens that contains an ‘E” (as opposed to an ‘FE’), this means that it’s been designed for their APS-C sensor range of mirrorless bodies – i.e. the Sony Alpha a6000, and all the other a6xxx series cameras.

Sony ‘FE’ lenses on the other hand cover the entire 35mm frame of a full frame camera, and as such, can be used on the entire range of Sony mirrorless cameras, even the Sony a6000 (at a 1.5* focal length multiplication).

It’s generally advisable to take advantage of lenses made specifically for the APS-C sensor (i.e. Sony ‘E’ lenses). However, occasionally it does make sense to invest in an FE lens, even if you own the Sony a6000… as you’ll have seen in my lens recommendations above.

Sony Lenses for a6000: FAQs

What lenses work with a6000?

The Sony a6000 uses standard E-mount lenses, designed for its APS-C sensor.  It can also use FE-mount lenses, designed for full frame Sony mirrorless cameras.

What’s the best lens for Sony a6000?

The best lens for the Sony a6000 will depend on your requirements. Our top pick is the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS , an affordable, lightweight, compact and fun e-mount lens that allows you to blur the background ‘on the cheap’.

Can I use FE lenses on a6000?

Yes, you can. All Sony FE-mount lenses are compatible with the Sony a6000, and often provide much better image quality than standard e-mount lenses, albeit at a much higher cost.

Can Sony a6000 use A-mount lenses?

No, it cannot, unless you use an adapter, although this isn’t recommended. There are so many good lenses designed for the Sony e-mount, that it’s not necessary to try and use a-mount lenses on a Sony a6000.

Can I use a full-frame lens on APS-C?

Yes, using full-frame lenses on cameras with APS-C sensors is OK. However, the photo frame will be cropped.

How many megapixels is the Sony a6000?

The Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera has an actual sensor resolution of 24.7 Megapixels. Yet, the effective resolution value is 24.3 Megapixels.

How to record video on a Sony a6000?

To record a video using the Sony a6000 camera, follow these steps:

• Power the camera on
• Press the small red button on the upper right corner of the camera
• Note the time running, meaning that the video is recording
• Use the same button to stop recording
• To retrieve the recorded video, press the button with the play icon to enter the preview mode

Is Sony a6000 full frame?

No, the Sony a6000 is not a full-frame camera. It has an APS-C size sensor, which is smaller than a full-frame sensor. Full-frame cameras from Sony are generally found in their A7 and A9 series, such as the A7 III or A9 II.

These full-frame cameras offer a larger sensor size and can deliver higher image quality, especially in low light conditions, but they also tend to be more expensive than the cameras with APS-C sensors like the a6000.

Final Words

The Sony a6000 is widely regarded as the most popular mirrorless camera of all time.

In this roundup of what I consider to be the best Sony a6000 lenses, I’ve concentrated on those that I feel reflect the price of the a6000 itself.

It seems counter-intuitive to me to buy a camera that’s around $500, then spend 2 or 3 times the amount on a lens.

I also tried to stick to lenses that won’t look and feel ridiculous on the small-bodied Sony a6000… although at times (with zoom lenses), this was difficult to achieve.

Sony created the E-mount lens line-up specifically for its mirrorless cameras, and in doing so, created lenses that all function very well on cameras like the Sony a6000. If you look at the reviews of any of the Sony E-mount lenses, you’ll see mostly 4 or 5 stars, from thousands of happy users.

It was tough to choose just 5 lenses from such an impressive selection, but I believe that the ones reviewed in this lineup will stand you in the best stead with your beloved little camera :-)

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below – do you agree with my selection?

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Mark Condon is a British wedding photographer and editor of Shotkit. When he’s not taking photos or reviewing the latest camera gear and software, Mark can be found cycling around the northern rivers.

263 Comments

It is a good review. If this had not been updated I would have said great review. Saying this is the 5 best for the Sony a6000 in 2023 and you still include the Sigma 60mm and not the Sigma 56mm, this is very misleading to new photographers. The Sigma 60mm has slow autofocus compared to the Sony 50mm. When using the Sigma 60mm on a moving object, it could not keep up and you will get a lot of blurry pictures. The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 is a very sharp lens with fast autofocus. It is better to actually revise the article instead of just changing the title to 2023 and making it appear current when the article is actually not. The article was well written though.

Thanks for your comments Eric.

Well, someone has to say it, so here goes.

Not everyone uses or requires autofocus when shooting on the A6000. I’m currently enjoying the Nikon 50mm AF-D f1.8 mounted on my Sony A6K. This gives the FF equivalent focal length of 75mm, allowing me to be close – yet not too close – to the subject, perfect for this photographer.

Manual focus is a slick.

Bokeh is awesome.

Colours pop.

Results are wonderful.

Cost? Less than $50-100.

There, I said it.

thanks for the very well laid out article. Curious to hear why you went for the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS instead of the Sony (Zeiss) 16-70 mm, f/4. I believe weight and size should be similar. Would not the F/4 provide superior speed and bookeh effect in most situations?

Hi Mark, thank you for your great informative article. I have a question: what lens would you recommend for capturing the full beauty of Northern Light with my Sony a6000. I want to be prepared, when I am going to see it next year. Thank you

Thanks, Yuliya – the Rokinon 12mm mentioned in this article would do nicely!

Thanks so much for your review, very interesting! I do have a question though, and would be very grateful for advice. I have the Sony a6000 with the standard 3.5 – 5.6 /16-50 lens. However, I have a large painting and want a detail crisp image to zoom right in for maximum detail. What lens would you recommend? I will be shooting in natural light (cloudy) to keep as close as possible to the colour. I look forward to your reply Best wishes Clare

Great article ;) I bought the a6000 with both kit lenses when it first came out, to replace my Canon G12 (loved that camera!). I love the size, weight, and feel of the a6000, but found I would get frustrated having to change lenses for different shots. I ended up shelving it, and buying a couple of Canons with fixed lenses…one for all around photography, and the other with a 600 zoom. I am thinking of selling the a6000, but after reading your article, wondering if I should! Is there a great “all around” lens, with decent zoom capability, that I could just mount on the a6000, instead of changing lenses? Always afraid of getting dust, etc. on the sensor when I take a lens off…

I have an a6000 and several lenses. It would depend upon what you’re mainly going to do. The 20mm or 35mm ones work great for walking around a city, not having to change a lens, and they’ll be lightweight, and easy to use. If you’re looking at more landscape photography, the 55-210mm zoom kit zoom lens works decently enough for a lot of that. Another portrait option is the Sigma 56mm 1.4. You could use that for a lot of photography options on the a6000. Could easily say if you were leaving home, knowing what you were looking for that day, you could use select a lens for that purpose and be happy.

Great review. I have been using the A6000 for years with the lenses it came with. I am now planning on repurposing the camera to use in my dental office for intraoral and extraoral photography. I ordered the Sigma 70mm macro lens and the Nissin Macro Ring Flash to add to the camera for crisp intraoral photos. Is this the set up you’d go with or would you recommend something else in terms of the lens and ring flash?

Sounds like a decent setup, Micah – the ring flash and macro lens will work well together. All the best with your dental practice!

Hi Mark, Before I switched to the Sony 6000 mirrorless I used Canon 35mm. For sports shooting, like grandkids soccer games I used the 70-200mm f2.8 lens. What would you recommend as an equivalent for the Sony 6000?

Hi David – do you want extra reach? With the crop factor of the a6000, a Sony 70-200 could work if you don’t mind having a ‘longer’ lens.

Hello… what would you recommend for shooting under / close to the goal in basketball?

Something with a wide-angle, Karen, assuming you will be close to the action.

Hello Mark,

Thanks you so much for this review and the other ones as well!

I’m an amateur photographer and I would like to focus on portrait photography,. Why did you choose the Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN over the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS lens? I’ve heard that the OSS of the Sony helps a lot, as the a6000 doesn’t have a built in stabilizer.

Are there any other lenses you’d recommend to look into around this price range?

Thanks a lot again, Ben

They are both great lenses, Ben. For portraits, the 60mm just gives a slightly more flattering field of view, but there’s not much in it. As you said, the OSS is useful on the a6000. As for other lenses, there are some great f/1.8 Sony FE options, but it depends on your budget. All the best!

Hi Mark, I bought a Sony 6000 last year with the two kit lenses, 16-50, 55-210. I have been using it very steadily for travel and for birding and wildlife locally. I really like the light, small size as it isn’t a burden to carry and I therefore use it more. I really want sharp images and am frustrated that most of what I am trying to photograph is far away, at the end of the 210 lens and I am not getting clear images. I am torn between the Sony FE GM 100-400 and the Sony FE G 200-600. Will the 200-600 give me the clarity I want or is the G vs GM and the weight and size going to be an impediment to that? Thank you very much!

Hi Alicia, if you tend to be shooting at the long end of the zoom range, you need to ensure your camera is very stable and there is good light, so you can keep your shutter speed nice and fast. I’d try that first before buying anything new!

Hi, Mark Can the FE 20mm f/1.8 G be used full function on A6000? I choose this lens is because I might get the rumored Sony’s FF A5/A6 camera.

Can the FE 20mm f/1.8 G EXIF be read out by A6000 as it’s a 2020 released lens on a 2014 camera?

Thankyou for your time.

Hey Ian, yes that shouldn’t be a problem! It’s a wise idea investing in FE glass if you have the intention of upgrading to a full frame Sony.

Hi, which one is better the E16mm or E20mm? Going to use it for interior photos/architecture and sometimes shooting a vlog

I’d be tempted to stick with the 20mm for interior, as 16mm would distort straight lines more.

Hi there – I like to take pictures of runners at road races. What would be a good lens for me to use. This is something that I’ve done for about four years and looking to get better. I’ve looked at several lenses. A “real” good one run upwards of $2,000. Looking for some input.

Thank you, in advance.

How close are you able to get to the runners, Donna?

Great, informative article. My situation is I want to buy an a6000, but only buy a couple of quality full-frame lenses with it, since I plan to eventually buy an A7rlll. I can’t spend thousands on lenses at this point, but would like to maximize image quality per landscape (with a dedicated lens), and another lens for newborn portraiture, which means something in the 35-55mm range, since pics have to be taken relatively close (and bokeh is good here) Any suggestions?

Thanks Wesley! Google ‘best lenses for Sony a7III’ and look for the Shotkit result – those are my suggestions ;-)

Hi Mark! I have had my Sony a6000 for about a year now and have been in the market for a new lens! After much research I decided to go with the Sigma 60mm….However, I’m finding that it was discontinued and not readily available. (even looked on ebay, but all for micro 4/3rds. Any thoughts/suggestions? I do a lot of landscape/nature photography, but really wanted to have a good lens that focuses really easily for portraits as well. Thanks in advance!

Hey Katie, ah yes, it appears that it’s out of stock in the US. Here in Australia, it’s still available. Here’s a great alternative .

Hi Mark, Darn! Okay, thank you. One last thing, with it being a different lens at this point than the 60mm, would you still recommend the 56mm you just gave me the link to? Or going with the sony 35mm prime? Thank you for all of your help!

They’re both great lenses Katie, so it boils down to the focal length you need – will you be more comfortable far from your subject, or near? How much do you want to include in the frame? How much space do you have? Hope that helps!

Mostly my photography consists of travel and pictures I take while hiking – mountains, landscape, etc. So, typically far away. However, I also love to get up close with flora and fauna while in the outdoors and have also begun to do some food photography….my own food of course. :)

Sounds like the 28-70mm mentioned above would be good for you then Katie – as long as there’s enough light, this lens will be versatile enough for your needs.

What lens would you recommend for jewellery photography – fairly close up but easy to use with the a6000 ? Many thanks

The 60mm should do you well, Elsa!

I don’t necessarily agree with your lens selections. Zoom lens choice is Sony 16-55 2.8. Portrait choice is Sigma 56 1.4. Wide angle choice is Sigma 16 1.4 and Laowa 9 2.8. Another zoom I would recommend is the Sony 18-105 f/4.

Also spend the extra for the a6400. Much better focusing and a unbelievable powerful processor that never overheats during video sessions.

They’re all good lenses, Brian! Definitely a tough choice. There’s quite a price jump to the a6400, though. FYI we have a best lenses guide for that camera too if you’re interested. Thanks for the comment.

I really appreciate this post. It’s very in formative and I’m ready to purchase the Sony A6000 with the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS lens. Do you recommend me to purchase the camera without the kits lens and just the body?

Hey Philly! Get the kit lens first as it’s good value, and then upgrade to one of the lenses recommended here when you feel confident with your camera and have gotten to know what focal length you use most – the kit zoom lens will help you work that out.

Thanks for this post, Mark. I’m a beginner with the 35mm f/1.8 lens. Usually when I read about it, it’s mentioned that it’s a wide-angle lens. But when I use it, it always feels like everything is too close. Like if I’m trying to take a picture of a wall mural, I have to step back quite far to get the whole thing in frame. Am I doing something wrong here?

Hey Jonile, it’s because there’s a ‘multiplication factor’ of roughly 1.5x when you use lenses on the a6000 (and other APS-C sensor cameras). This means the field of view is actually more like 50mm.

I wonder why you left out the following: – Sigma 16mm f/1.4 – Sigma 30 mm f/1.4 – Sony E 18-105 f/4.0 OSS G

They’re good lenses – we’re writing individual reviews on the Sigmas soon.

What do you think about Sony-SEL-50F18F for a Sony a6000? I found it at a good price on Amazon while searching for the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS. Now I don’t know what to choose :)

It’s a good lens, but 50mm on an A6000 may be a little long (tight) for most situations.

Hello, thanks for the great article! I love my Sony a6000! I bought the kit with the 2 standard lenses but I would like to find something better for birding, however, I dont have an extra $1,000 -2,000 to spend. Can you recommend something under $1,000 for bird photography? Thank you, Connie

Hi Connie, what are the two lenses you currently own?

Mark, There is some great info here…thanks! My wife and I started traveling extensively when I retired 6 years ago. We have been on 6 continents and almost 50 countries since then. My normal camera carry is a Sony A6000 with a Tamron 18-200 and I love it, It has worked on everything from African safaris to the St Petersburg subways. Next month we are headed above the Arctic Circle in Norway to see the Northern Lights. A professional photographer friend said I need a good wide angle f2 lens less than 16mm. I see where you have recommended the Rokinon 12mm. I studied it and it looks good to me even tho it is manual. Do you still feel it would be a good way to go?

Thanks for all the info here.

Thanks Dean, I appreciate the kind words. Sounds like you’re enjoying life on the road with your wife after retirement :-) The Rokinon 12mm is great value for money, and a nice match for your a6000. To shoot the northern lights, you’ll be needing a static shot (obviously!), so a manual focus lens shouldn’t be a problem – just set the focus distance to infinity and have a play around with your shutter speed and ISO. Good luck!

Really good article thanks for all the lenses recommendations.

I have and upcoming trip to iceland next week! So far i have a sony A6100 with a Sel35f18 and the rokinon 12mm. Main pictures are going to be walking thru the city landscape and If lucky capture the northern lights =). Am i safe with these two lenses!?

Sounds like a good combo, Oliver! Let us know how your get on!!

Mark, not to be a PIA but a somewhat related question. Filter or no? I’m not talking about for an effect like a polarizing filter, I mean for protection. I have read many articles. Some purists say that a filter may degrade or negatively alter the image where others advocate for filters to protect the investment of a lens, the benefits outweighing the risks. I have also read that “UV” filters are not really necessary anymore since the cameras are digital rather than film so what is called “UV” is really a protective cover of the lens. There are some very strong opinions on either side of the issue. I also read that the filters are more fragile than the lens themselves making them prone to breaking and therefore an ongoing (unnecessary??) expense. Thoughts?? And IF you recommend them, it seems there are quite a few choices with similar questions as to the lens themselves; which ones do you buy? Thank you in advance!!!

Definitely not a PITA, Brian – happy to help where I can! I’d say that unless you’re planning to go to an environment with excessive sand/dust, a filter purely for protection isn’t necessary. Modern lenses can take a lot of abuse, and you’re right in thinking that anything you put in front of the lens can only degrade the final image quality (albeit a small amount). If you’re thinking of using ND filters, these are another question entirely, but for protection alone, they’re not necessary IMO. As for UV filters, if you’ll be shooting through water (from above it) or glass often, they can help, but for the most part, they’re unnecessary. Hope that helps!

Thank you, as always. OK, now that you mention it. Should I want to have a ND filter(s) available in the ‘ol gear bag, which ones do you recommend??

I’ll be posting a filters roundup review soon, Brian ;-)

Hi Mark! I love that you keep updating this article. I bought the A6000 at your recommendation, and have bought a few of the lenes above. I think i need to stop now and just upgrade to the big guns, but for now my A6000 has been so fun. Your website & emails are lifesavers, and entertaining! Thanks for sharing your magic with the rest of us :) Bre :)

Aww thanks Bre! That means a lot to me!! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment, and I’m so glad you’re finding the content useful. What ‘big guns’ are you thinking of this year? :-)

Hi Mark! Ah not quite sure, but def want to move over to a full frame Sony. I love the mirrorless feel. I am still trying to figure out my fav style of shooting, I love astro, landscape, people but not portrait if that makes sense. I will definitely be reading through all of your recommendations though :) I bought my A6000 after reading a few of your articles a few years ago :) And I LOVE IT!

Ah so happy I could help, Bre! Stick around – lots more Sony articles coming out soon ;-) Thanks so much for your continued support!

The lovely portrait lens Sigma 60mm aren’t on sale anymore on Amazon.com! (Jan. 2020) For quality/Price it was (and still) the best lenses for portrait. Get one if you can! In Canada they are warranty for 6 years.

Many who have the Sony Axxx, should consider that lens vs the Sony 85mm f1.8 for portrait; The Sony 85mm are made for Full Frame vs Sigma 60mm are made for APS-C This Sigma is equivalent to 90mm on FF. I love-it!

Thanks for your insights, Claude.

There is now the Sigma 56 f1.4 instead and it is highly rated and still not very large.

Hi Mark, I bought my GF the A6000 so she can take pictures of her boys wrestling tournaments. At the recommendation of the store where I bought the camera I bought her a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 di iii rxd. I never realized that the lens I was recommended was not specifically made for her camera. It takes good pics but not as sharp as they should be. Which lens(s) of those above would you suggest? Or should I just bite the bullet and get her the Sony full frame camera to match the Tamron lens. She takes about 1,000 pics a tournament weekend. Thanks,

Is she earning money from the camera Pete? If so, I’d be tempted to upgrade to a full frame Sony. Either way, it’s unlikely that the lens is the cause of the un-sharp images on the a6000.

Great Article, gives me renewed faith on my purchase 4yrs ago! I have a few questions if you could help. I’m going on two vacations soon Vegas and Florida will be shooting Indoor/Outdoor/Landscape/City/Kids. I currently have the 6000 with the 18-105 F4 Lens, along with a Sony RX1R. Would I be better off getting the 35mm F1.8 rather than bringing two cameras? and is the 18-104 F4 still a good lens or is there another you’d recommend for Theme parks/Kids? I’ll be traveling light so what to try and keep it just two Lenses for all my needs Also on software end is there any software anymore like Express Digital Darkroom that has a bunch of Templates/Borders/Etc? or is it all Web Based now

Thanks Mike. I’d get the 35mm if I were you, and as long as you’re in good light, your zoom will be fine for the theme parks. Re. image editors, we review most of them here on Shotkit – my preferences are Lightroom and Luminar, although template/border support is limited. Enjoy!

I’ve had an a6000 for awhile with the kit lenses, but have been longing for more. Definitely will be upgrading the prime lens based on your recommendations here. I’ve recently moved to Utah where the landscape and nature opportunities are stunning. I was considering the Sony e 70-350 for a telephoto. Is there a better alternative (with a similar or less pricepoint)? Thanks for the great article!

Hey Melissa, have a look at the Tamrons for great alternatives.

Hi Mark! Thanks for this helpful article. Nice of you to update it regularly as I keep going back to it for insights from your replies. I already got the 35mm in addition to the kit lens. Sometimes I just run out of space to move back to when I shoot group photos inside the house. If I were to get just 1 wide angle lens and choose between the rokinon 12mm and the 20mm sony, which would you advise I get? I usually shoot family members’ photos during gatherings and travel. And as much as possible I avoid using flash.

Glad to hear that, James. I’d go for the 20mm Sony since it has AF – the Rokinon is better for landscapes or static subjects, but for shooting family members, manual focus would be tricky (especially if your family is anything like mine, and won’t stand still for a second!) Try bumping the a6000 ISO up to 800 to compensate for lack of flash. Hope that helps.

I saw a sigma 19mm f2.8 which is almost the same (tho not as thin) as your recommended sony 20mm f2.8 but much cheaper. Would you know how it compares in performance, image quality, and durability?

The Sigma for Sony mount lenses are great value, James. We’ll be reviewing them all in a separate article soon.

Thank you for this super well written and informative post. I learned so much but of course still have some questions. I have been using the package 16-50mm lens for travel and want to up my game to sharper images but I do enjoy the wide-angle for landscapes. Curious how you think the 16mm f/2.8 lens compares to the 20 f/2.8 for this purpose. One thing that confused me a bit with regards to your review of the 20mm f/2.8 and the 35mm f/1.8 (which I really want) is how you say the equivalent focal distance is 30 and 50 respectively. I understand the physics of the crop sensor and the 1.5 magnification but I thought the E lenses were designed specifically for the APS-C sensor and would reflect the actual focal distance? Clearly I’m still learning so sorry if this sounds really dumb! I just wonder, does one always have to get a shorter focal length then they actually want when buying lenses for the APS-C?

Thanks Cherene – sorry if my article was confusing. A lens labelled ’50mm’ on a full frame camera is 50mm, and a lens labelled ’50mm’ when placed on a crop camera is still 50mm. However, whatever lens you use on your crop sensor camera, you’ll need to multiply the focal length by 1.5 (or 1.6 for Canon) to give you the same ‘look’ as it would have on a full frame sensor. In other words, a 35mm f/1.8 lens would give the field of view of roughly 50mm when used on an a6000, despite it being labelled as ’35mm. Does that make sense?!

THANK YOU so much for this information. Based on your insight (& other sources), I took advantage of the Black Friday sales & pulled the trigger on the a6000. I realize this isn’t a lens question but if u would indulge me. The other camera I was considering, at the current market price point was the Panasonic GX85. I want to, within a budget, try my hand at some concert photography (for fun, not pro because I know to do it otherwise is costly). I went with this due to what I read regarding the APC sensor (vs micro 4/3) & low light/action. BUT, I have also read RAVE reviews of the IBIS, w/ potential for dual IS depending on lens. Sony does not have IBIS. Sony glass is more expensive as well. Did I make the right decision? I actually bought the 50mm Sony lens because of the OSS & decent Aperature (used the link in your article). Since I’m not shooting from the pit like the pros, thought the length might be decent as well? What do you think? One last question, I see the 50mm FE version is 2/3 the price of the version I got. Should I return mine & get that one? Seems very similar spec wise except I don’t see OSS (maybe because the FF models have IBIS, not sure)? And if that’s the difference, is OSS worth $100?? Thanks in advance!!

OSS is useful, especially on APS-C cameras (or MFT cameras like the Panasonic), since it allows you to use lower ISO settings, which could help you get a ‘cleaner’ image in your low light concert photography. I’d say you should use the a6000 with as fast glass as you can afford (f/1.8 is a good sweet spot), and then if it doesn’t meet your requirements, reconsider the OSS body options. Does that help?

This is great! I’ve done so much research and I think you have some great finalist. However, I’m curious why didn’t the Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens make the cut? I’ve heard A LOT of great things about it but I’m wondering if you have used it and what your thoughts are on it.

Hey Robin! Thanks for the kind words :-) I’m so glad it helped you. Re. the Sigma, it’s an awesome lens and we have a separate review coming soon. However, since it’s more expensive than the a6000 body, I wasn’t convinced it was the best bang for the buck in this instance. For something like the newer a6600, or other Sony APS-C cameras of that price point, it’s probably a better match. Having said that, if you can afford it, I’d say go for it!

Hi Mark Thanks for this really helpful article as well as the recent a6000 review. Really helped in my decision to get one. I’m going on a trip to Iceland soon and my main goal is to try some nighttime photography. It sounds like the 12mm mentioned here would be perfect for that, correct?

Thanks Zaheer! Yep, it’s a great bang for your buck wide angle lens that’s good for starscapes. Good luck!

I shoot mostly indoors for school theater productions, what is the best lens for what I’m doing? None of these seem quite right?

If you can get close enough to the stage Ally, how about my top choice above? The 35mm is a fast lens, ideal for indoor use.

Thanks so much for this article – it has helped me immensely in learning about the a6000 & it’s lenses. I am a beginner in photography and was looking into getting the Sony a6000 after hearing such wonderful things. I’m hoping to get a bit of insight on what lenses to buy. To give you a background, I will mostly be using this camera for traveling. I have a wide variety of things I’ll be photographing – landscapes (including night photography!), wildlife, street photography, food, and portraits.

After reading through your article, and some other research it seems the Rokinon 12mm is a must. What other lens(es) would you suggest from my description of travels above?

Hey Joanie! Thanks for the comment :-) I’d recommend this zoom lens for traveling, as it gives a lot of flexibility in focal lengths and won’t break the bank. I’d also recommend this prime lens for when the light becomes low and you don’t want to use a flash. I hope that helps. Happy travels!

Thanks Mark! I appreciate it!

Question: I found this lens during my searching – I believe it is manual though. What are your thoughts on this one?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07D33QLJL/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=AXIU85VG19YP3&psc=1

Neewer are ok for lighting and the odd budget-priced accessory, but I generally wouldn’t recommend them for lenses… despite this price being v. tempting!

Hi Mark – really appreciate this article and your patience with our questions. I have the kit 16-50 and 55-210. Really intrigued by the recommended prime. I’m addicted to zoom but trying to train myself to get the best shot and do more in post. My real question is about a lens for the a6000 for capturing swimming shots of my kids. Indoor pool lighting is usually terrible, focusing can be an issue with the splashing and swimmers in adjacent lanes, etc. Any lens/settings/technique advice would be fantastic!

No problem, John. Hmm indoor pool photography is a tough one! Terrible lighting, moving subjects, water splashes to confuse the Auto Focus, difficulty to get close to them… what a nightmare! If you’re able to get close enough to your kids’ lanes, I’d recommend a prime lens, simply because the larger aperture (f-number) will greatly assist you in getting a clear shot at higher ISOs (to compensate for the higher shutter speed you’ll need to freeze their motion.) If you have the budget, an f/2.8 Sony FE zoom lens would be the best bet (note the 1.5x crop factor which will make the zoom ‘longer’ on your crop sensor a6000). Unfortunately, in tough conditions, you really need the best lenses (which often means expensive ones) to make the most of your camera. Hope that helps a little?!

Hi Mark, I have the A6000 with the kit lenses and I’m not wowed by them. I am going to Africa in 2020 and I was wondering if you had any advice on what lenses I should get for my trip. We will be gorilla trekking with low light, landscapes and wildlife near and far. I’m a beginner and appreciate all your insight. Thank you!

Hi Kimberly! Wow, am jealous of your upcoming Africa trip – sounds amazing! If I were you, I’d opt for this lens for taking photos in low light and because it’s a great, lightweight combo for your a6000, and this lens for when you can’t get close enough to the gorillas – I realise it’s expensive, but it sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so I asssume you want the best way to capture the animals. For a cheaper alternative, this is great too.

Take care! Mark

Hi Mark, Thank you for the input. I am totally excited to go!! I went to the store to check out the lenses and ended up getting the Sony A7 III in addition to my A6000. Our guide recommended two cameras with two different lenses, one for long range and one with wide angle for close shots so I didn’t have to mess with changing lenses and missing shots. I am going to rent the Sony GM lens (100-400), but I was wondering would you change your recommendation of the other lenses with the A7III? One thing I forgot was we are supposed to be able to see some amazing night sky shots with the Milky Way, I have never shot anything like that. What would be the lens to shoot that on a tripod? Thank you again for your advice and input! Take Care, Kim

Excellent article, I’ve read several you’ve posted about the a6000 and am thinking this might be the camera for me. I’m upgrading from an old 2006 Canon and haven’t used lenses since film was a thing, and am trying to keep my set up small (I don’t want to travel with a suitcase of lenses) and lightweight (luggage weight restrictions). I’m planning a big trip to Australia and want to be able (attempt) to take photos of the Milky Way if the locations work out, as well as standard street/landscape/nature/wildlife photography. I’m wondering if you think the Rokinon 12mm F2.0 NCS CS Ultra Wide Angle Lens and the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 would be adequate for my needs, or does another need to be added in? I *think* I understand that the Rokinon would be great for wide angle and low light (night sky) and the little pancake would be a good standard lens? The price of the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS makes me cringe, but I’m wondering if it would be a necessary lens. Appreciate any feedback you have time to give!

You hit the nail on the head, Jasmine – those two would be great options. Remember the Rokinon is manual-focus, but don’t worry – taking photos of the milky way and other ‘static’ subjects will allow you plenty of time to focus manually, and when you have your shot set up on a tripod, you’ll be ready to go ;-) Enjoy Australia!

Great article, but still a little confusing for beginner. Will be traveling to Europe where my daughter wants some senior pictures taken (from full body to head shots). For these I like the look with bokeh, but also want plenty of portraits in front of scenery where both are crystal clear. I’ve also found on previous trips we miss out on indoor photo opportunities in lower light conditions due to flash prohibitions. Is there one or two lenses that make a great travel companion yet can take some great senior portraits?

Hey Jason, my pick would still be this lens – it’s an excellent all rounder and will see you well for travel and for portraits.

I’ve been looking over your guide quite a bit, and I’m going to get a couple of these lens. While looking at the Sony SEL-20F28, I saw a combo included with an extra wide converter, Sony VCLECU2 12-16 MM,f/2.8 Petal Shaped Fixed Ultra Wide Converter for SEL16F28 and SEL20F28. I planned to get the Rokinon 12mm, was curious if worth getting the converter in a combo also. I mainly do landscape and outside shots, being in the Pacific Northwest. Thinking get the Sony 35mm, the Rokinon 12mm, and the Sony 20mm.

Sounds like a great combo, Russ – you’ll be all set with those focal lengths. Probably no need for the converter on the 12mm.

And did you see they just announced this new lens ? With the new replacement a6100 for the a6000 and the a6600 to replace the a6500. I’m liking how much Sony is invested into these E-mount series of cameras. I just got my a6000 this year, but down the road might look at one of those other new ones. Was mainly just looking at that converter as part of a package deal from Amazon. Would not buy it if it was not included in a package deal.

Yes, Sony is definitely invested into their APS-C line up, Russ! And that new lens looks great for long-range shooters!

I ended up getting the Rokinon 12mm, Sony 20mm, 35mm, and 50mm. Now I’m waiting to decide if I want to get that new super telescope 70-350mm when it releases. I have two kit lens that are 16-50mm and a 55-210mm. I’m still mostly doing landscape photography. Any other super telephoto lenses you would recommend or thinking wait on that new one?

Wow, sounds like you’re really kitted out there Russ :-) I’d probably wait for the new one – seems like an incredible focal range for the money. All the best!

Hi Mark, thanks for those two huge guides for a6000, I decided to buy my first camera. Have you looked at Sony 18-105mm, f/4 G Power Zoom ? I know that it can be a bit worse in some situation than on certain fixed lens. I decided to use only one various lens until choose what length I’m using more and where I need a better picture. Thanks

Hey Yaroslav, yes it’s a useful lens – great focal range, but slightly ‘slow’ when the light is low.

Best potrait is Sigma 56mm 1.4, not the 60mm f/2.8. 2 stop difference and you can’t go wrong for low light prowess especially with crop sensor that has worse low light performance compared to full frame.

Rather than buying sony pancake, you should go for samyang 24mm instead. Same 2.8, no OSS, bit bigger but still tiny but you get almost standard 35mm equivalent, come with full frame future proof so you can toss out that FE kit zoom lens and think ahead for tamron 28-75mm. There’s no best zoom lens for apsc sony (I know there is one, the 16-55 2.8, but that’s a whooping $1400 worth of craziness) or you can make do with 18-105 f4 if you’re video oriented or 18-135 if you’re stills oriented.

Hi, I have the 35mm f1. 8 lens and is looking for something for landscape. I’ll also be going to take photos of the northern lights. Would you help to suggest something? Thank you! :)

Hey Sandy, how about this one ? Here’s the Rokinon 12mm review that will tell you more about it.

This is very interesting, May I ask you why do you think the 20mm f2.8 is in this list being and old lens accord to some reviews not really sharp, biggest advantage just the size.

Do you have any review about this specific lens? I am interested to know more about this lens

It pairs really well with this size camera, and being razor sharp isn’t absolutely necessary with all lenses in our opinion! I’ll try and get a review of the lens on the site soon ;-)

Hi there Mark,

Ive just stumbled across your page while searching for best lenses for my sony a6000. Ive had the camera for quite some time and looking to up my lens game for a upcoming trip to Japan. Ive done a bit of research and found that a wide angle lens would be best for the photography on this trip. Could you suggest something? Also not wanting to completely break the bank haha. A lens that will photograph the bamboo forest in Kyoto well would be awesome!

Ahh I’ve been to those forests in Kyoto, Nicola! I’d go for this one – it’ll have the added benefit of making your a6000 feel like a toy! Ganbatte!

Hi Mark, I have had an A6000 for several years now. I have used both kit lenses and I also have a f1.8 50mm prime. I have had great success with daytime flag football games. (I am truly an amateur). My son has moved to high school and will be playing nighttime tackle football with typical poor lighting. I would like to stay less than 1500$. Do you suggest a prime1.4 or 1.8 or should I break the bank for a Sony 70-200 f2.8. I am part of a parent volunteer photography group so I will be allowed to be on the sidelines and move around the line of scrimmage as best I can staying out of the players way. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated! I love taking shots of wide receivers as they catch the ball especially with 11 frames/second. Then when I print them out, I frame them in order so it’s a great memory for the kids. Thanks again!

Hi Anita, thanks for the detail – it helps when I recommend gear! You’re probably not wanting to hear this, but I think you’re right in toying with the idea of this lens . With side line sports photography as you know, you obviously can’t get ‘closer’ to the subject, and when they come closer to you, you need to get ‘further away’ – i.e. move back physically, or zoom out. All this to say that, zoom lenses really shine when it comes to sports! And yes, in low light with the ISO capabilities of your a6000, you’re going to need that f/2.8. I imagine you shooting no higher than ISO800 at a fast enough shutter to capture your son in motion (1/200~1/250), which means you’ll need your aperture at f/2.8. One alternative – if you’re lucky, you can sometimes find this lens at a great price. Not quite as good as the Sony, but really great value! (If you find this advice useful, it’d be great if you could use these links to purchase! Helps to keep the lights on here ;-) All the best, Anita!

I will definitely use the link! Thanks very much for all the great information. It looks like I can get the Tamron but it is an A mount. I don’t think they’re interchangeable but I’m not sure. Do I have to get an adapter? I have the A6000 so it is e mount.

Ah sorry Anita, my mistake. Yes, you can get an adapter like this one , but unless you plan to get more A-mount lenses (probably not, I’m guessing?!), it may be better to bite the bullet on the f/2.8 model I’m afraid! One saving grace – f/2.8 G Master lenses hold their value very well – even if you were to sell after a couple of years of use, you’d still get a decent second hand price. The other option, which is slightly crazy but imo better long term if you plan to take your photography further, is to invest in an a7III ( this bundle is great value), and the f/4 version of the 70-200mm . You’d be saving on the lens, but spending more overall… BUT you’d have a much more powerful set up. Feel free to drop me an email (INFO > Contact) if you need more advice on this route ;-)

I’ve had my A6000 for about a year and it’s great for capturing shots of my family. I use the Sony 35mm 1.8 and also have the Kit Lens.

My friends have asked me to photograph their super low budget wedding. At first I insisted that they pay for me to hire something like a Sony A7iii and a few lenses but the price is adding up, especially if I want a backup body. I’m hoping to make the A6000 work by hiring a couple of extra lenses and perhaps buying a speedlight to help with the difficult lighting I’m expecting. My friend owns one too so hopefully I can use that as a backup body.

What would you suggest to go alongside my 35mm 1.8? I’m very keen on the fairly new 56mm 1.4 Sigma and possibly the Sigma 16mm 1.4. Any thoughts?

Both of those are stellar lenses Sam. For a wedding, I’d be tempted to say the 16mm though, since it’d be more versatile to shoot the majority of your friends’ big day. Let us know how it goes!

I am buying a Sony A6000 but not keen on the kit lens. In general looking for a single lens in the range of 18-200 or 18-135 which I thought would be useful for travel (landscapes+decent potraits). Could you please recommend any such 3rd party lens in this case?

Hi Aarthy, may I ask what it is you didn’t like about the lenses recommendations here? With this info, I can better advise you on a 3rd party option.

Why not 18-135 OSS? Great picture quality, very light and fairly small when collapsed. I don’t see anything comparable from 3rd party.

You’re right, Pil – it’s a great lens and great value too.

Many thanks for all the reviews and advice above. I’ve fairly recently bought an a6000 and I’ve now invested in 3 of the lenses you recommend (Sony 35mm, sigma 60mm and the Rokinon 12mm) although very much an amateur I’m enjoying what each of them offers and feel they’ve really lifted my photography.

I’ve been using a circular polarising filter on the Sony 35mm. I’ve read that these filters don’t work well for Ultra wide angle lenses as the polarising effect will vary across the width of the shot. Any thoughts or experience of using a polarising filter with the Rokinon 12mm ?

Drop a comment on the Rokinon 12mm review here Paul – the author may be able to help.

That’s excellent feedback – thanks Paul. Great choices too – those primes will really make the most of the a6000 ;-)

I bought the Samyang F2.0/12mm ultra wide angle lens for my a6000 to take photos of my house for real estate (selling my home). It doesn’t seem to make a difference in the shots so I thought maybe I should have gotten a different lens. I’m not sure where to look to see how to utilize this correctly if this is actually operator error on my part… Also, I thought Samyang is the same company as Rokinon but apparently that is incorrect? Obviously I am not savvy about this so any links you could provide to help me know where to go for more information or tutorials would be appreciated!

Hey Trish, what do you mean by ‘doesn’t seem to make a difference in the shots’? And no, Samyang and Rokinon are different companies.

Great article, I was thinking of getting the Rokinon 12mm since I want to have a wide angle lens. However, I’m based in Sweden and when I search for that lens I only get the Samyang option. Do you think that still gives the same quality? Thank you!

Hi Susanne, thanks! Yes, the Samyang lenses are virtually the same – just different branding! All the best :-)

Hi Mark, I absolutely love this site! So informative and helpful.

I have been using my a6000 for a few years now with the kit lens and ready to upgrade my glass. Which 2 lens combo would you suggest covers all bases (street, portrait, landscape)? The 35mm and 28-70mm?

Thanks Ryan, that’s great to hear! Please share it with a photographer friend ;-) I’ll email you with my suggestions…

I just came across a significant flaw in some Sony Alpha cameras, including the a6000, a7 and more. I found it when I was researching the FE 70-300mm tele for my a6000. You may already be aware of this. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59019127 This does not affect a6300s, a6400s or a6500s.

The lens mount is a two part construction, with the critical component that holds the lens in place made of PLASTIC. This is why any lens you attach to an E mount camera (older models) is prone to wiggling, especially longer pro lenses. Many of the E-Mount cameras also leak light around the mount itself! Over time plastic will wear out and won’t last as long as metal. https://fotodioxpro.com/products/snye-toughe-p-lt This is especially important if you have a moderate to heavy lens attached to the camera.

There is a $50 solution that most anyone can do with a high quality jeweler’s phillips head screwdriver. The replacement lens mount is available on Amazon either in stainless($49) or brass finish($59), or from fotodixpro.com($39). I have already completed this mod and it was easy peasy–done in 5 minutes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZPHfjQzdhc&t=3s

I apologize if I missed it on your website, but found no mention in the discussion or after 5 years review and thought it would be of great value for your many readers since the a6000 is still so popular after 5 years.

Compatible Cameras All Sony Alpha NEX E-Mount Camera Bodies, Including: Sony Alpha α7, α7r, α3000, α5000, α6000, α3500, α5100 Sony NEX-3, NEX-5, NEX-C3, NEX-5N, NEX-7, NEX-F3, NEX-5R, NEX-6, NEX-3N, NEX-5T Note: The Sony α7s and many of the pro E-Mount video cameras already have an all metal mount and do not benefit from this modification.

Hi David, thanks for your informative comment. I haven’t actually experienced this myself, nor ever met anyone who has either, but I’ve left your comment just in case anyone here has the issue.

I had a small wobble, before I changed out the lense mount, it is now gone. But why take the chance especially since Sony decided to only use all metal lens mounts after the a6000/a7 etc.

Have had the a6000 for some time now. Tempted to think this is a scam. Never have I ever had those issues, whatsoever. Sony isn’t that stupid to craft such a critical component out of plastic.

Hudson, have you taken the time to look at your a6000 mount, you might be surprised at what you find—the mount is 1 part metal and 1 part plastic.

I have a a 6000 and I’m looking to get FE lenses for it because at sometime in near future I might buy or upgrade to An A7iii and wanna get your opinion on any drawbacks of going with mainly FE lenses on the A6000. Great website, great info. Thanks, David

Thanks David. There aren’t any major drawbacks, as long as your budget allows for it! Investing in FE lenses is a good bet, not only to future proof yourself (if you think that one day you may upgrade), but also to get the most out of your crop sensor.

I have Sony a 6000 with a kit lense and a zoom lense of 55-210. Now I want to buy a wide lense which gives me auto plus manual focus option with perfect low light shot too. What lense do you suggest for me which I can use for landscape and video both purpose . shall I opt for 10-18 or 16-35.

Waiting for your reply.

ooh that’s a big wish-list, Pamela! Are you willing to invest a bit of money? If so, this one’s unbeatable.

Hey Mark! By the way, love your website; it’s so informational, and has really helped me out.

I have the a6000, and am on the lookout for a decent telephoto lense. Amazon isn’t much of a help; tons of junk, or incompatible stuff. Maybe there aren’t any for the a6000, but just had to ask.

Thanks! Hudson

Thanks Hudson! Check this post out: https://shotkit.com/sony-a6000-lenses/

Thanks, I actually have read that article many times now. It’s great, but doesn’t mention any real big ones… I’m thinking 300-4/500 mm. But maybe those don’t exist.

Ahh, there are plenty of longer Sony lenses – that article was aimed more at good all-rounders. If you can hire, check out the new 400mm ;-)

Hi Mark, Nice one! Was wondering, why has there never, to my knowledge at least, been released an adapter for this venerable little camera body that allows good, useable AF with Canon’s EF and ef-s lenses? Is it for some technical reason PDAF/CDAF or did I miss something here? Just imagine how many units a maker could sell if one could use his/her ef and especially ef-s lenses on their a6000….. If only……..

Hi TimTom! Do you mean other than the Metabones adaptors?

Hi Mark, By chance I stumbled onto your website, and I’m glad I did. I must say, you definitely have a wealth of knowledge in your field. I was wondering if I can ask for some advice and my apologies for all the questions. I have just started out in photography and I am very eager to experiment with my camera and to learn as much as I can about photography. I have a Sony A6000 and I am looking at buying a long zoom lens for possible safari trips in the future, long distance wildlife and for action sports. What would you recommend in this type of lens. If you can recommend a couple of it would be great? I just want something that’s a good all rounder zoom lens. Also what would you suggest for a landscape lens and for a portrait lens. And lastly what are your views on the speedlite “Godox V860IIS TTL Li-Ion Speedlite for Sony A6000” Thanks heaps and my apologies once again for all the questions. Hope you don’t mind. Peter from Australia

Hey Peter! Sounds like you’re really kitting yourself out :-) It’s hard to make recommendations without knowing a budget – there are plenty of great lenses that fit your needs, but some are several times the cost of the camera body. It’s definitely a sound investment if you plan to use them a lot. As for the Godox, it’s a great, affordable flash – I have something similar for my Sony body. As you’re in Australia, I’d recommend heading in to Ted’s to try out a few lenses – when you’ve got a budget in mind, let me know and I’d be happy to advise.

Hey Mark, Do you thing buying a Sony a6000 in 2019 is worthwhile? Isn’t there any other more interesting option in the market for a similar price? I’m a bit concerned about making the purchase because this camera has been launched in 2014, and it might became obsolete soon. What’s your opinion? Thanks!

Good question, Josué! I think it’s definitely still worthwhile, despite its age. Sure, there are cameras with better features available, and several newer versions in the a6 series, but none that are as good value for money. If you can stretch your budget, you will get a better camera with the a6500, a6400, etc, but they’re double the price. At the price point of the a6000, it’s impossible to get a Fujifilm that can compete, for example. With the other brands, they don’t even offer an APS-C mirrorless for around $500. Hope that helps.

Hello Mark, thanks for replying me. After having considered your recommendation I made up my mind and bought this camera. It’s definitely a great device. I loved it. Cheers!

Great Josué! I hope it brings you many years of enjoyment.

Hi, i have a sony a6000 but after a recent drop (while in an inderwater housing) the camera has been a little off. I was thinking of getting the a6500 with the 18-135 mm lens. Was wondering what your thoughts are on this. Thanks.

That’d be a fantastic upgrade, Gui, and that lens would serve you well as an all rounder, as long as you have decent light. We’ll be publishing a review of the a6500 soon, but in the mean time, this article on lenses for the a6500 might be of interest.

Hi Mark, I became fan of Sony mirror less camera when my friend introduced it to me 2 years back. After watching your review now I strongly in a mood to buy a6000. But I have my budget constrains and would request your suggestion. Im a beginner and do not know much about photography. My wife is due for delivery and asking me to buy a camera so we can take pics of new born kid in house and may be some outdoor/travel/functions. If I buy a6000 along with its own lens (16-50mm/55-210mm) which is around 650$. Do you recommend it? I may be asking you very basic question but your advise matters :)

Hey Kumar, I hope this gets to you before your baby is born! The 16-50mm will be good for documenting the birth – the 55-210mm will be good for later in life, when he/she starts to run around a bit (and there’s some distance between you!) All the best, and wish your wife good luck!

I have the A600 16-50mm kit lens, which has been great as a starting lens. However, I have realized I am ready for a new and improved lens. My main subjects are snakes, salamanders, and frogs (some of which I have to keep a safe distance from). Due to how small my subjects can be or needing to keep a safe distance, do you have any recommendations on a good/decently priced ($500 or less) macro lens? Something that I can use at a distance, but also get a sharp and easily focused picture where the magnification ratio is around 1:1.

This one would be my choice! Cheers

Hi Mark, I have a Sony a6000 mirrorless camera. I have the 16-50mm lens and the 55-210mm lens. I am looking for a one stop solution lense which can be useful for my travel plans. I am going to Spain soon , so want to take architecture pictures, portraits, street photography. which lense do you recommend adding to my kit? Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime or Rokinon 12mm F2.0. I want something under 500$. Thanks

If you don’t mind manual focus, this one is probably better for your travel in Spain since it’s wider. If it were me though, I’d prefer making use of the a6000’s excellent AF, so would stick to this one , which is also smaller and lighter. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the super informative post! Can you clarify the two lenses you linked above? Both links are leading to the Rokinon 12mm F2.0 NCS CS Ultra Wide Angle Lens Sony E-Mount (manual focus) and I’m super interested in knowing which one you meant that is an auto focus.

Hi Elizabeth, yes the Rokinon 12mm f/2 is a manual focusing lens. Sorry for any confusion.

bruh what is the auto focus one

Can we use a6000 for video shooting more than 29:59 minutes Please.

No max 20mins. You’ll need this one for that

FYI, there is a hack to allow longer recording. 2 caveats, it may void the warranty, and running the record video too long can cause overheating. Check out the YouTube video, search: “ Sony a6000 Video Tutorial Hack: How to Record Longer than 30 Minutes Record Limit“

I have a Sony a6000 mirrorless camera. I have the 16-50mm lens and the 55-210mm lens. Love both. I would like to get just one lens, and if possible, one that is good in low light that will give me a range of 16-210? Do you have a recommendation? thanks so much!

Hey Alison! The Sony long range zoom lenses are generally f/4 or slower unless you’re prepared to invest a fair amount of money, in which case there are some that are f/2.8 (or primes that are f/1.8), but not in that exact focal range you require on an APS-C sensor body like the a6000. If you let me know a budget, I can probably advise a little better, but in general, if you want a lens that’s best in low light, you’d need a prime (one focal length) lens.

Prime lenses are great for low light shooting. I use a sigma 30mm/f1.4 and a 16mm/f1.4 Alison. Both are nice but the there’s no zoom! The 16 being wider than the two it’s all in what you like to shoot. Mark, I to would like a zoom lens. My friend has the SELP18105G which he loves but is a solid f4. As Alison asked, what would you recommend but under $1000 if possible?

Hey Tito, if you’re looking for faster than f/4, you’ll need to spend more than $1000, unless you find a good second hand bargain I’m afraid.

Hi Mark, I’m a beginner in photography but understanding things in simple terms. I have just purchased the A6000 which came with the 16-50mm lense, I love taking photos of architecture and wildlife. I’m going on my first safari and would like your advice on which lense would be suitable for me to use.. Maybe the 24-240mm or 55-210mm?? Many Thanks Jan UK

Hi Jan, congrats on your purchase! For safari, I’d recommend the longest lens you can afford. ‘Fast’ lenses (i.e. ones with large mazimum apertures) aren’t necessary since safaris usually take place during daylight when ‘slower’ lenses are fine, so you can save some money here. This particular lens you mentioned is great for your needs. If you can stretch the budget a little further, this lens with a longer focal length is also excellent for safaris, and any other photography where you need a lot of ‘reach’. I hope that helps? Have a great trip!

Hi Mark, i’ve Been using a Sony alpha 6000 with Sony 55-210 for 1 year now, and I started thinking to upgrade to Sony a6400 with Sony FE70-300. This means I have to spend a lot of money, but since I like wild photography the most I think it will be worth. What would recommend? Thank you. Raffaele.

The a6400 is a great camera – I’m currently testing it right now for a review. You’ll notice a big leap in functionality over the a6000, but arguably not a huge difference in image quality. I guess you have to weigh up the benefits. Hope that helps you, Raffaele.

Hi! I’m new to photography and hoping to get a lens for multiple purposes (all for work) – I need it mainly for sport photography (athletes on different apparatus’ like the balance beam or parallel bars), but also need to use the lens for portrait shots and videos. Is there a lens you’d recommend for that? After reading your article, I thought the Sigma 60mm F2.8 EX DN Art (Black) for Sony SE might be a good option. Thanks in advance.

Hey Mark! I totally agree, and have the 35mm and the 12mm myself! But I have a question that I am having trouble finding the answer to. When I got the 35mm, I assumed that since it was made for aps-c, that I wouldn’t have the cropped fov. My go to on my DSLR is my 35mm, so I am really disappointed that i’m at 52.5mm. It was my understanding that a crop lens on a crop camera, would negate any cropping. I normally shoot Canon and am new the the Sony mirrorless world, maybe I should have done more research!?

It’s a bit confusing, isn’t it Julie?! The whole crop vs full frame lens nomenclature still gets me too sometimes. If you want a 35mm-ish fov, I’d recommend you try this one – it won’t break the bank, and it’s absolutely tiny, so will make your a6000 feel even more like a toy. Don’t worry about your 52.5mm field of view – it’s great for portraits. Am sure you’ll grow to like it. All the best!

Thanks Mark!

Hi Mark, thanks for the precious article. Well written! I’m a beginner in the cameras world but not a beginner in the photos world: I travel a lot and I put effort on taking pictures with my phone (@leonardorignanese on Instagram). I wanna buy the a6000 because looks like the best I can get as a beginner. I don’t know if to buy the bundle with the lens or only the body with one of you suggested. I mainly take travel pics, landscapes and nature pics. What do you think? Better invest now or wait?

Hey Leo, thanks for the kind words. This particular bundle is great value for money, and will mean you have 2 high quality lenses to shoot with right away. If you find limitations with these lenses, I’d recommend upgrading to a ‘prime’ lens, such as the ones I recommend. With the 2 zooms from the bundle and a fast prime, you’ll be ready for anything ;-)

Hey Mark! Thanks for this article. I’m new with the a6000 and have the 18-105mm e mount f4 lens. I want to capture some sharper quality landscape shots. Will be going to Iceland soon and wanted to possibly get a prime lens that takes good landscape shots. I’m leaning towards the 35mm (1st pick you have listed). I feel like I have a good lens for landscapes and outdoors but not great for low light areas. I guess I just need a good suggestion for a prime lens with a lower aperture that pairs well with the lens I have. Can you suggest one that’s priced under $500?

Hey Jehan, I’d go with the one you mentioned that I recommend – it’s definitely worth the money. Your 18-105mm will still be fine, as long as you have a good tripod (some affordable ones here ) – just shoot with a longer shutter speed at lower ISO, and your shots should be sharp. Does that help?

Hi Mark, thank you for all this information! I’m getting ready to purchase an A6000 and am very new to photography. Which lens would you recommend for everything as I am just getting started? I’m looking to do mostly portraits, indoor and outdoor, family shots and landscaping? Is there one that will be a good starter for now?

Hey Ashley, as long as the locations where you do your indoor shots are well lit, the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers good flexibility. Once you’ve shot with it for a while, I’d recommend one of the prime lenses in this list, to take advantage of a faster aperture. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the recommendations. I purchased the Samyang 12mm f2.0 (same as the Rokinon 12mm) after reading this review. The lens works perfectly for landscape and night photography. Being an inexperienced photographer I was a little nervous using a ‘MF only’ lens but the lens really is forgiving when kept focused to infinity. The lens also works well taking photos in tight spaces (with the help of Lightroom to remove some of the distortion), and being light and compact it was very easy to carry through museums/buildings while travelling. Couldn’t be happier with the lens!

Ah that’s great to hear, Amy! Yeah, MF lenses aren’t quite as scary as they sound, especially when you can use the focus peaking feature on mirrorless cameras! Thanks for the feedback :-)

Thank you very much for this useful information. I own a Sony A6000 and would like to buy a lens to use for family phtotography, portraits, and travel. Is there one lens that is great for these for purposes or should I buy two? Thank you!

Hi Estrella, thanks for the comment. I’d recommend you get the 28-70 I recommended here – it’s a flexible zoom range that will be useful for your family photography, portraits and travel. If you have the budget, it would be great to also get this one , which will be better in low light/indoors where the light isn’t as good. I hope that helps!

Hi Mark – I’m interested in shooting interiors for my blog. I’d like to be able to capture clear & crisp images of full room as well as be able to photograph smaller scale vignettes. Is there a particular lens that you would recommend?

Hey Ali, a wide angle lens is essential for interiors, so the Rokinon would be good for that. WHat do you mean by ‘smaller scale vignettes’?

I am Very new to the photography world. I used a Canon DSLR before buying my Sony A6000. I take photos at fashion shows and wondered what lens would give me good sharp pics in low lighting that highlights only a runway? I would like it to Be able to pick up the details of the clothing on the model if possible.

It’d need to be something fast (large maximum aperture) and long (85mm+). If you’re ready to invest in a great lens, I’d recommend this one – it’s actually a full frame lens, but will work well on your a6000, and give you about 125mm of reach. Depending on how close you are to the runway of course, this lens should be long enough for your needs.

Hi Mark Thanks for the guide! I am a big bokeh fan and mostly into street photography and wide portraits. Would the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 be a good lens for this purpose ? Or the 35mm lens would be better. Keeping the budget constraints in mind . Thanks

Hey Mehak, sure thing! I’d go for the 35mm then, even though it’s not as wide as the 20mm, obviously. As you said you’re a fan of bokeh, the slightly longer focal length and faster aperture of the 35mm would create more out of focus areas. If you really do need the widest lens for your portraits, get the 20mm and just get closer to your subject to create more bokeh. Hope that helps!

Hi, I have the Sony A6000 camera and the 55-210 lens. I always want to get ‘closer’ to my subjects (birds, wildlife, waterfalls in the fall distance…). A friend just recommended the Sigma 15-600mm lens. It looks really good. But, the camera store just told me it wouldn’t be compatible with my Sony. Do you know if this is true? Do you have a recommendation for an excellent high-zoom lens? Thank you.

Hey Dani, if you mean the Sigma 150-600mm ( this one ), it’ll only work with an adaptor such as this one . It’s a great combo, but I’d recommend you use it with a tripod in low light. Cheers!

Hi, I have an a6000 kit with 16-50/f3.5-5.6. It is generally good but items in distance never seem sharp , day or night even with tripod. I’m not sure if this is the limit of camera or lens. Also, if I want to get a better lens for close portraits (not standing people 5 meters away) what is a good lens? Thanks.

I’m not 100% sure without knowing other variables Mario, but using a prime lens with a fixed aperture will help a lot. The one I recommend at the top of this article would be good for portraits ( here ).

Great lenses, but I think your recommandations need a major update! I’m thinking the Sigma recent series for E mount APS-C even recent Sony APS-C E mount!

I’ll be adding to the recommendations here very soon, Claude!

I really like your reviews, I recently bought an a6000 and I need to get going learning and discovering this fascinating world.

Thanks Samuele! Yeah, get stuck in with your a6000 – it’s a great little camera!

Hi Mark Thanks for your helpful reviews. I am about to buy an a6000 and trying to decide on a lens. Which would you recommend for travel photography? Particularly hiking landscapes and outdoor shots, but also to take photos of people/local sights. Thanks

Hi Alexandra, I’d go for this one which is great for travel photography – lightweight, small and a versatile focal length. Hope that helps!

Hi Mark, The article was great, I am a Nikon user gone Sony for both leisure and professional work. I am slowly making the transition into light equipment for working with. I was hoping you could suggest a good wide angle lens for the alpha 6000 for interior photography. I am use to working with a 10-22mm for this but wasn’t sure if thats my best option with the Sony. What are your thoughts/suggestions. Thanks! -E

Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for your comment :-) For interior photography, manual focus lenses aren’t usually an issue since the subject is static, so I’d recommend you look at the Rokinon 12mm mentioned above (see here ).

‘Oh Hi Mark’ (The disaster artist(J Franco)). Thanks for this great piece on the a6000, echoing others, just what I needed. I am a newbie (I bought a DSLR Pentax *ist DS 6MP, with an 18-125 lens back in the day when it won the best entry level DSLR), I always meant to buy lenses never did etc. I will most likely buy the a6000 or may (big ? mark) stretch to the a6500, Which lens should I be looking at if I want to shoot mainly wide angle with a small amount of Zoom, I also tend to shoot in low light and would love to be able to video in low light also (hosting the family xmas eve party this year… yeah!). I really want something a little versatile as I know I may end up not buying a second lens.

Thanks Marv. We’ll be publishing an indepth review of the a6500 soon, so you may want to hold out for that. The 28-70mm should be fine for you – wide angle to telephoto.

Great review, thanksMark! I have the Sony 50mm but am looking for something more practical for shooting my kids indoors. Did you happen to compare the sigma 30mm 1.4 or 2.8 to the Sony 35mm?

Thanks Tara! I haven’t done a direct comparison yet, no, but the Sigmas I’ve used on my Nikon are always on par with the Nikon alternatives, so I’m imagining it’s a similar case with Sony too.

Your articles are wonderful and have been a great resource. I’m looking to buy the a6000 body alone and will buy lenses separately. I’m definitely interested in purchasing the 35mm f/1.8, but do you have any recommendations for your favorite lens for astrophotography?

Thanks Cecilia! My pick would be this one due to its compact size, but you could get away with a kit lens at the wide end too.

just wondering if you will be adding the images shot with each lens. thanks

Thank you for sharing your awesome list! I am definitely more excited to use my Sony a6000 knowing there’s plenty of lenses I can choose from. Really, the good thing about mirrorless camera is they’re compact and lightweight, also their lense are, likewise, compact and lightweight. Perfect for travelling light.

I agree Bethzy! The lighter and smaller they are, the more likely you are to take them with you! All the best with your a6000 ;-)

Very informative article; wish I found it earlier before my trip to Japan. I have the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS and while I love it for portrait, I found it very hard to step backward for landscape and street photography (found that out in Japan; thought I can just step backward haha). I’m going to HK in a few months, which one lens would you recommended for travel (portrait, landscape, street photography)? Sony 35mm maybe? Thanks

Yep, the 35 would be a better bet I think Deion.

We’re interested in the a6000 camera body. Can you give me an idea of a good “general purpose” lens to take pictures of our soon to be here baby? Something that can be used for both inside and outside pictures?

Hey Allen, I’d recommend this 35mm prime lens – due to its fast aperture (f/1.8), it’s ideal for both indoor and outdoor photography. It’s also very light and compact, making it a great lens to use with your a6000… and won’t tire you out to hold when you have a baby in your other hand!! Good luck :-)

Thanks Mark. This was so very helpful. This gives me a great place to start. What are your thoughts on the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 vs the Sony E 20 mm f/2.8?

Regarding the FE 28-70 lenses… when this is used on a cropped frame camera of 1.5, then the effective fstops have to be multiplied by 1.5 also, and you also loose pixel density. I’d prefer the 16-70 E-Mount f4 lens anyday.

Very helpful article. Just picked up a barely used a6000. What is your opinion of combing it with the a mount 70-200 with the latest Sony adaptor

Great! It’d make the camera very unbalanced but can be a good combination if you need the reach.

Wow, you have no idea how much this article helps! Any thoughts on the Sigma 30mm f1.4 contemporary lens?

haha glad to hear that Albeartoe! That Sigma is a great lens – Sigma have great optics and can compete with the bigger brands, but for more affordable prices. f/1.4 will help a lot too in low light.

Hi Mark! Would the sony 35mm at 1.8 still be better than the sigma 30mm at 1.4 for indoor, landscape, and children photography? (Though the sigma is really cheaper) Thanks a lot!

They’re both great lenses, Pam, but if you’re on a strict budget, the Sigma is your best bet (if you mean this one ). The slightly faster aperture will get you out of trouble in low light too :-)

Hi Mark, thoroughly found your articles on the Sony A6000 useful. I’m thinking of getting one! What’s your opinion on Sony SEL50F18F lens if I like taking night shots/photos in low light? As an alternative in case my budget can’t afford the #1 lens you recommended in this list. Thanks.

Hi Angeli, thanks for the comment and so glad you found this useful. If this 50mm is the lens you mean, yes it’s great for low light (being f/1.8). The only small concern is that it’d be the equivalent of an 85mm field of view, which may restrict you depending on how much room you have to ‘back up’. If you’re outside or in a big room, it should be absolutely find though :-) Good luck!

I have had the 50mm for two years, amazing, you won’t have any buyers remorse. Sharp at 1.8 and it can practically see in the dark. Using it for video, though, can be challenging because there is an additional crop.

Thanks for the useful tip Paul. Yep, 50mm (~85mm) would be challenging if you can’t move far enough backwards to frame your shot.

Hi Mark. Great article by the way. I’m still struggling with lenses though. I already have the sony a6000 body, plus the fantastic prime lens 35mm 1.8, which I’ve been using since I got the camera. The problem is that sometimes you cannot reach the desire subject with that lens, so I thought on buying a zoom lens, but can’t decide on which one yet. Since there are so many different opinions on this matter. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Regards from Argentina!

Hi Pablo! Wow great, a reader from Argentina! For zoom lenses, there are a few good ones available. Is there any reason you don’t like the 28-70mm recommended here? Let me know what you need out of the lens and I’ll see if I can help.

Really useful, as a new user of the camera, this will hopefully get me going in the right direction. Thanks

Glad to hear it Stephen!

What will you comment upon Sony 55-210 zoom telephoto lense? Is it a good zoom lense for a beginner photographer?

It’s ok but that focal length isn’t very useful for anything that’s closer to you.

Thank you for this article, it was exactly what I was looking for! I am trying to narrow down to one or two lenses. I plan to use it for travel and enjoy taking some landscape and scenery shots, but also love taking more up close and portraits with blurred background. Is there one that does both? Or which two would give me the best variety? I think have it narrowed down to the 20mm, 35mm or the Sigma 60mm. Am I on the right track? I appreciate your help!

I’d got for the 20mm there Michelle since the focal length gives the most flexibility for your needs.

Thank you, Mark!

Fascinating. I’m a first time camera buyer. I just got back from the store comparing Rx100iii, a5100, and a6000 after previously researching for 2 weeks! I was ready to go a5100, and then rx100iii in that order but after trying them, I gotta have the viewfinder (disqualifies a5100) and the rx100iii is….TINY! I mean there’s portability, which I want, but it’s microscopic. Also the a6000 (with retracted lens) was smaller than I’d expected.

Anyway I’m looking for a camera for noticeably better night photos than iphone 6 and for some sort of noticeable minimal zooming compared to iphone 6. I do value portability, but also want the basic, minimal zoom capability and good night photos (relative to a phone–not relative to other high end camera). I mostly want to shoot graffiti, city monuments at night, random friends at parties, and occasional trail hike. I’m not a pro or student, this is completely casual. Would you suggest I go a6000 + Sony E 20mm f/2.8 instead of the kit lense, for what I’m looking for?

TLDR: Can you zoom a Sony E 20mm f/2.8 pancake lense via a6000 body controls and can it shoot acceptably at night compared to kit?

Hi Will, yes that’d be a great setup. No, you can’t zoom it as it’s a fixed focal length (20mm).

So sorry, I didn’t read thoroughly and answered my own question.

Do you recommend A) the 20mm lens + 60mm lens B) the 18-105 zoom lens for having the most variety of pictures? Thanks for your input. Im just starting out.

Hey Carlos, no problem. I’d always recommend primes (the 20 +60mm), especially if you’re just starting out. Good luck!

Are any of these specifically great for taking ones of people close up? Thanks!

What lens would be the most versatile? I have one for portraits. But I’m thinking for traveling, people, landscape, sunsets, beaches etc. any help is appreciated!

I’d go with this one Sara!

Ok, I got this one and am LOVING it. Now I’m deciding between the Sigma 60mm and the Sony 35mm. If you had to choose just one?! :D

Great! This one since its a much more versatile focal length.

I am leaving Monday on an around the world trip. Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Sri Lanka, Oman, Dubhai, Cairo and Paris. Two most needed lenses?

Lucky you :-) Take your pick depending on what you want to shoot!

Great article. I bought the sony a6000 with a E 4/PZ 18-105 G OSS for use shooting pets in action since it has a faster fps than my nikon dslrs. I *think* that is not as sharp as I would like for professional use but I know I need to practice with it more. Your thoughts? thanks!

Hey Julie, thanks for the kind words. That’s a great lens – I think you’ll have no problems using it for pro work. Any lack of sharpness can be corrected very easily in Lightroom, as long as the original shot isn’t blurry of course.

Thanks for the recommendation Mark, very informative and useful for new starter like me. I’ve just bought a Sony a6000, what do you think of the Sigma 19mm f/2.8? Is it any good? I saw online that many people recommend this lense, I have tight budget so I was thinking whether this is a good substitute for the Sony 35mm f/1.8. Thanks.

Thanks Brandon. Yep it’s a good lens – I almost included it here actually. The difference between f/2.8 and f/1.8 is noticeable though in low light, so if you don’t plan on shooting a lot after sunset or in poor lighting conditions, the Sigma should be fine.

Well written and useful . Thanks!

Glad you found it useful, Nandan.

Hi Mark, thanks for an informative article. I love photography as a hobby (usually on my phone) but I have been think of advancing a little bit.

I have been considering a6400 for a while but it is on the pricey side. Plus I don’t shoot video very much, yet. But I heard the colour profile is better on the a6400. What would you recommend? I have thought about a6000 so it won’t dent my wallet as much 😅

Hi Ellen, they are two completely different cameras – so many differences! They are both great, but the a6400 is a huge step up – it’s hard to compare them. Unless you need professional level performance, the a6000 should be a great starter camera – I’d recommend you invest in that first, and see if it limits you in any way.

Hi Mark, I’m looking at buying the A6000 and not sure on what lens… I’ll be using it mainly for landscape. Thanks! Loved your review!

Any of the lenses here would work – to simplify the decision, maybe try and decide how ‘wide’ you’d like the final perspective – the lower the length of the lens, the wider the shot (i.e. 12mm – include LOTS of elements; 70mm include fewer elements, since you’re ‘zoomed in’ on the subject matter). There’s obviously more to your choice than that, but at hopefully this way of thinking should help you initially!

Yes, thank you for this article AND especially for your ongoing commitment to it & us!!!! Thank you also for responding so promptly to my question a month or so back. I kept my a6000 (vs swapping for the Panasonic & don’t regret it :)

Based on your recs, I bought the 50mm, the 35mm & the Sigma. Yes, yes, I know, gear acquisition syndrome…BUT, in my defense, it was Black Friday season & I got some really terrific deals :)

Shamefully, when I got the a6000, it also came with the (I believe it’s 50-200mm) zoom lens, (I don’t have it in front of me right this second). Although considered a “kit” lens, I have read many a positive reviews of it, many buying it separately & seemingly happy.

I was a bit disappointed in it though. I know I have much to learn & it probably has to do with focal length, etc, but at full zoom, the image was not substantially larger than when I used the 50mm prime lens???

Anyway, all that being said, would the 28-70mm zoom you recommend be a substantial addition to the gear (IF I can find on sale ;)

Thanks again for everything!!!!!

Ah happy to hear that you bought some great new lenses, Brian! Re. the zoom lens, that’s odd that the final image isn’t ‘larger’ – by that, I’m assuming you mean the subject in the frame isn’t much more ‘zoomed in’ as the 50mm… with a 200mm, you would need to stand back much further than a 50mm, which may account for some of the similarity in the resulting ‘zoomed area’, but even so, I’d expect the 200mm to result in a different image. Good luck with finding the 28-70mm on sale – it’s a great everyday lens!

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12 of the Best Travel Lenses For Sony a6000

This ultimate guide tells you absolutely everything you need to know about buying the best travel lenses for Sony a6000. Read on to find out which piece of glass is right for your next adventure. 

Are you looking for the best travel lenses for Sony a6000 (…or another one of the Sony APS-C series)? Look no further- this guide is about to cover 12 of the best lenses you can get as far as lightweight travel photography is concerned!

The Sony a6000 was released in 2014, but there’s a reason why this bad boy is still a winning favorite amongst both casual travelers and travel bloggers alike. The camera itself is lightweight, compact, and produces high-quality images at a very affordable price. 

But as great as the Sony a6000 may be, no camera is anything without its glass! When I was first delving into the world of photography, I was beyond overwhelmed by all of the Sony a6000 travel lens options for my first camera.

To zoom or not to zoom? To go with official Sony products or try some off-brand lenses? 

And now I want to help YOU not make the same mistakes- or get caught up in the same stress- that I did.

From shooting 14,000 feet above sea level in India’s remote Spiti Valley to getting some street-action on 100 F days in Lahore , I’ve used a number of these lenses to capture all types of moments in all kinds of climates. 

So without further ado, let me walk you through the 12 best travel lenses for Sony a6000- for every kind of adventurer. 

Note:   While this article is specifically focusing on the a6000, all of these recommendations apply for the entire A series… which includes the a6300, a6400, a6500, and the new a6600!

12 of the Best Travel Lenses For The Sony a6000 

Psst! This post contains affiliate links which help me keep this blog running. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read my full disclosure here .

• Sony 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6 OSS 
• Sony 16-50 mm F3.5-5.6 
• Sony 18-105 mm F4 G OSS
• Sony 16-55 mm F2.8 G
• Sony 10-18 mm F4 OSS
• Sony 18-200 mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
• Sony  55-210 mm F4.5-6.3
• Sigma 30 mm F1.4
• Samyang 12 mm F2.0
• Sony 50 mm F1.8
• Sigma 16 mm F1.4
• Sony 35 mm F1.8

But first… what to consider when buying a travel lens for Sony a6000?

Price of a Sony a6000 Travel Lens

As aforementioned, breaking the bank should never be your goal, BUT you should invest in a lens that you see yourself using for a while.

Once you make that purchase, you’ll (unfortunately) never be able to resell it for the exact price you paid. So committing to an expensive lens as a newbie might not be the best bet. 

On the other hand, you do tend to get what you pay for when it comes to glass- but as you’ll come to see, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some great value deals!

As a rule of thumb, you should consider the best quality lens that you can afford, while still considering what it is that you hope to accomplish with your shots. 

Weight of a Sony a6000 Travel Lens

For me personally, this was one of the biggest struggles I encountered on my first long-term backpacking trip to Pakistan. I was carrying my camera and THREE lenses, one of which I barely even used. 

I soon learned that I preferred a zoom lens to a prime, and certainly should not have set out on such a long trip with so much weight dragging me down.

If you’re a long-term traveler like I am, I definitely recommend keeping your lens collection to two, unless you’re absolutely certain that you’ll need any others!

Versatility of a Sony a6000 Travel Lens

Unless you’re only looking for one type of shot, you’re going to want a lens for your a6000 that’s versatile.

By design, zoom lenses tend to be more versatile than primes, but it’s absolutely true that a sharp prime can and will produce higher-quality images than most zooms. 

Nevertheless, you most definitely want to have a lens (or multiple lenses) that can be used in a variety of settings and scenarios. 

Low-Light Capabilities of a Sony a6000 Travel Lens

Don’t overlook this– lenses that aren’t great in low-light can be a real bummer. Though I absolutely loved it during the day, the Sony 18-135mm F 3.5-5.6 simply failed me at night.

Even with ISO bumped all the way up and my aperture at 3.5, I was unable to capture clear images of a village wedding I attended.

If you think you’ll use your camera indoors or after dusk, you’ll undoubtedly want to choose a lens with a low aperture. 

Your Travel Style

Are you heading out for a week of RV-ing across the US, or are you more of a Eurotripper who plans to spend a ton of time in museums? 

What you hope to shoot is perhaps the most important thing to consider when choosing from the best travel lenses for the Sony a6000.

The best lens (and camera) is the one you have with you, but ensuring that that one will help you achieve your photography goals is KEY. 

Best Travel Zoom Lenses for Sony a6000

Though zoom lenses tend to be less sharp than primes, the versatility and range they produce are well worth the trade-off.

These lenses can be used for a wide variety of shots, and also keep you from having to change lenses often, which protects your sensor from dirt, dust and other unfortunate events. 

1. Sony 18-135 mm F/3.5-5.6 

• Incredible range
• 11.5 ounces

The 18-135 mm OSS is an excellent all-around zoom, and it virtually never came off my camera. It’s exceptional range allows you to capture everything from vast landscapes at 18mm to sneaky street shots from many feet away at 135mm. 

Since the Sony a6000 doesn’t come with in-body optical stabilization, it’s another major plus that this lens provides it, which is a must for those of you looking to do any type of filming on your travels. 

Despite having both wide-angle and slight telephoto capabilities, this lens is also extremely light, which I definitely appreciated. 

While the aperture is certainly not the lowest, images remain sharp and you can even get a bit of bokeh action, too!

• Doesn’t perform well in low-light as the aperture does not go below 3.5
• Aperture is not constant
• Not as sharp as some of the primes on this list, but that’s to be expected with most zooms!
• A bit pricey if bought alone, but now comes as a kit-lens with the a6400

What type of a6000 travel photography is it best for?

This lens is ideal for so many different types of scenes. I used it everywhere from markets to beaches to portraits! As such, it’s perfect for any type of trip… except astrophotography, that is.

If you plan/hope to capture the stars, you can use the 18-135mm as your main squeeze, but you’ll need a backup more suited for Astro to get the shots you desire!

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2. Sony 16-50 mm F3.5-5.6 

• Very affordable

This kit-lens might not be the *absolute* best travel lens for Sony a6000, but there’s a reason it’s included in this review. This lightweight and relatively cheap lens is ideal for beginner photographers, as its focal range is excellent for wide-angle landscape shots, street scenes, and portraits, too. 

Though its aperture might not be the widest, it will certainly do in most settings. This lens typically comes with the Sony a6000, but if you purchased another model or are buying your body separately, this lightweight zoom should definitely be considered. 

With a quiet zoom AND optical steady shot, this lens is great for all kinds of photography, and would also make a great vlogging lens if video is more your thing!

• Not great for astrophotography or low-light environments
• You might notice some softness and/or distortion 
• Some blur may occur when zoomed all the way in

This lens is ideal for landscape shots, portraits, and street scenes. Due to its relatively limited focal length range, getting those far-away shots might be a bit difficult. Astrophotography would also be a challenge due to the fact that the aperture does not go below 3.5

3. Sony 18-105 mm F/4 G 

• Constant F/4 Aperture
• Internal Zoom

With its constant aperture, internal zoom, and generous focal range, this lens might just be the best overall travel lens for Sony a6000. 

Though it comes at a higher price tag than many of the other options on this list, the versatility and sharpness of this all-around-zoom are virtually unbeatable as far as APS-C lenses go. 

The constant F4 ensures that you won’t lose sharpness whilst zooming in, so even at 105 mm you’ll be looking at significantly more crisp shots than what you can achieve with the 18-135 mm, which does not have that coveted constant aperture. 

The OSS and internal zoom also make this lens a great choice for vloggers- if you had to choose just one travel lens for your Sony a6000, you simply can’t go wrong with this beast!

• Slightly heavier and larger than some of the other options
• A bit pricey 
• Inflexible depth of field 
• Not the absolute best in super low-light settings

This lens is a travel photography jack-of-all-trades. Street scenes, portraits, festivals, animals, landscapes and more can be captured easily thanks to its generous range.

Like the other lenses we’ve covered thus far though, this wouldn’t quite make the cut as far as astrophotography is concerned, but you can deff count on keeping it on your a6000 for virtually all other circumstances!

4. Sony 16-55 mm F/2.8 G

• Extremely sharp
• Weather-sealed
• Constant 2.8 aperture
• 17.4 ounces

If you’re looking for the absolute best quality travel lens for Sony a6000- this is for you. This premium lens takes the sharpest photos possible as far as crop-sensor lenses are concerned. 

Though the range is quite limited compared to some of the other zooms I’ve discussed, don’t be fooled- this lens is quite the upgrade from the 16-50 mm 3.5-5.6. 

But quality glass comes at a price, and this bad boy is no exception! Though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this for newbie photographers, for those who want to exclusively concentrate on landscapes and portraits, you can’t go wrong here. 

It’s also weather-sealed unlike many other Sony a6000 lenses and contains a nifty focus hold button as well as an AF/MF switch.

The constant, wide 2.8 aperture ensures that you’ll be able to capture those low-light moments that would otherwise be lost in the grain with almost any other zoom. 

• Does NOT have OSS, though a good tripod could easily circumvent this issue
• Very expensive compared to virtually any other a6000 travel lens
• Pretty heavy compared to its counterparts

This lens is perfect for any type of landscape shot, astrophotography, portraits, and general low-light scenes too! Both city days and scenic hikes can be crisply captured with it, making it relatively versatile. 

Nevertheless, if you’re someone (like me) who might want to take far away shots on your travels, you might get frustrated with this lens’ limited range. 

5. Sony 10-18 mm F/4

• Constant F/4 aperture
• Excellent for video
• Can handle a gimbal well
• 7.94 ounces

Landscape photographers- this one’s for you! If you’re looking for the best wide-angle lens for Sony a6000, look no further because it doesn’t get better than this super-wide-angle Sony-brand lens. 

The ultra-wide focal length range allows you to truly capture everything in a scene, which is ideal for virtually any type of landscape, architecture, or Astro shot. It’s not just the range though- the constant F/4 aperture keeps photos and videos sharp.

This lens comes with OSS- another plus for travel vloggers- and it’s lightweight. Though I wouldn’t recommend this as your only tool, it’s a must-have lens for those that are serious about getting those super vast scenes. 

• Limited focal-distance range means most photographers couldn’t use this as their only lens
• Pretty expensive
• Slight distortion at 10mm

As previously mentioned, this lens was made for vast landscape shots. Though other Sony a6000 travel lenses can be used for a variety of shots, this one is definitely more niche. It’s a bit too wide for portraits, though street scenes could still be nicely captured with it. 

This lens is also ideal for astrophotography- you’ll be able to shoot more of the sky than with any other lens on this list. 

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6. Sony 18-200 mm F/3.5-6.3

• Impressive focal range
• 16.1 ounces

The focal range on this telephoto zoom lens makes it one of the best all-in-one lenses for the Sony a6000. Though it’s quite similar to the 18-135 mm that I reviewed above, it gives photographers an additional 65mm of focal range- which can definitely be useful on the road. 

From epic landscapes to sneak long-distance street shots, this lens can do just about everything… aside from astrophotography, that is.

While 18 mm would work well for the night sky, the variable aperture only goes down to 3.5, meaning this lens is not the best choice for low-light moments. Even so, it *could* be successfully paired with a wide-aperture prime.

• Heavier than most zooms
• Varying aperture range that isn’t the widest
• Could be sharper
• Relatively expensive compared with other options

As previously mentioned, this lens can (almost) do it all. It can be used for most types of travel and is a great solution for those looking to minimize their kit.

Landscapes, portraits, festivals, street scenes and day-time action shots can all be captured with this lens, making it ideal for any country or travel style. 

7. Sony  55-210 mm F/4.5-6.3

• Extremely affordable
• 12.6 ounces

This budget-friendly zoom is one of the best telephoto travel lenses for the Sony a6000, especially for new travel photographers. The price is truly unbeatable compared with any other APS-C zoom on the market, and the focal range allows for a wide variety of shots.

The lens also comes with built-in OSS, and has a variable aperture. While its photos won’t be as crisp as constant aperture options like the 18-105mm G, the versatility coupled with affordability is quite the selling point if you ask me.

Though it’s a bit larger than some other zooms, it ain’t too heavy, which is something I always look for in a lens as a backpacker. 

Nevertheless, this lens won’t quite make the cut as far as night photography or wide-angle scenes go. But that can easily be remedied by pairing it with a high-quality prime. 

• Relatively narrow, variable aperture
• Photos are not the sharpest
• Cannot reasonably be used for landscape or astrophotography 

Like other telephoto zooms, this lens can be used for a wide variety of travel photography. But unlike some of the other options on this list, this one can’t quite capture landscapes or wide-street scenes.

Portraits, foodie shots, animals, and sneaky street moments all *can* be nicely photographed with this piece of glass, making it ideal for any type of urban exploration. 

Best Prime Lenses for Sony a6000

8. sigma 30mm f/1.4.

• Crisp bokeh
• Can be used in low light situations
• 9.28 ounces

This superb prime is one of the best travel lenses for Sony a6000- and perhaps the best overall prime on this list! Its focal length makes it a great overall walkaround lens, and its impressive maximum aperture means that you’ll actually be able to capture some late-night scenes.

I found this lens to be great for portraits and street photography and kept it on my camera often.

Though some grain is to be expected with APS-C cameras, I was pretty happy with the below shots I was able to get at a festival in Lahore, Pakistan that was cursed with horrific lighting.

The lens is a great value for its price point, and is versatile enough to be used in an assortment of travel scenarios. Overall, its fast aperture and little to no distortion make it a great Sony a6000 travel lens. 

• Does not have internal OSS
• Slightly larger and heavier than the Sony 35mm competitor
• Focal length isn’t quite wide enough for landscapes

This lens is ideal for street photography as it really forces you to get up into the action. It’s also great for portraits and architectural shots.

Unlike virtually all of the zooms discussed above, this prime can also be used in low-light scenes thanks to its 1.4 aperture.

Despite its wide and fast aperture, it isn’t the best choice for astrophotography as it wouldn’t quite be able to capture as much of the sky as you’d need!

9. Samyang 12 mm F/2.0

• 98.9 degree view
• Fast aperture
• Compact and light

This is by and far the best astrophotography lens for Sony a6000- and perhaps the best ultra-wide-angle lens too! Though some might be put off by the fact that it’s a manual focus lens, rest assured that you will quickly and easily adapt. 

With its fast f/2.0 aperture and extra-wide focal length, this Sony a6000 travel lens was practically made for the night sky. But- it can also be used for other types of travel shots too!

I particularly loved the colors this lens is capable of producing- I took the photo below using it and was floored by the quality and vibrancy.

The manual focus can be adjusted with a ring, which quickly becomes intuitive after a few uses.

While this lens is certainly not for every day or walkaround use, I couldn’t recommend it enough for those looking to capture the Milky Way as well as vast landscapes. And the best part is, for the quality, it’s extremely affordable too!

• Doesn’t have OSS
• Notable chromatic aberrations
• Robust vignetting when shooting wide open
• Not versatile at all- it definitely needs to be paired with a second lens

As previously mentioned, this lens is IT as far as astrophotography is concerned. It certainly isn’t something I’d take into a city center or use for portraits, but it holds up well for landscapes, too. 

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10. Sony 50 mm F/1.8 Pros

• Very versatile

This lens is widely known as the “nifty fifty” for a reason- it’s lightweight, sharp, and can be used in a variety of travel scenarios. This is definitely a lens you should have in your a6000 travel photography arsenal.

Its wide aperture means you’ll be able to get those low-light shots, and the 50 mm focal length is perfect for streets, portraits, museums, and architecture. 

This perfect walkaround lens also offers little to no distortion- something you definitely want to read in any lens review!

• Not ideal for vast landscape shots or far away scenes
• AF is not the fastest
• Focal length is a bit tight compared to the 30 mm or 35mm

This lens is perfect for museums, food photography, street scenes and portraits. A city-heavy trip would likely see it on your a6000 daily.

On the flip side, this lens will NOT work for landscape or astrophotography, though it will work for low-light scenes. 

11. Sigma 16 mm F/1.4

• Great for vlogging
• 14.24 ounces

Yup another Sigma lens- and this one might just be the best landscape travel lens for Sony a6000. The depth of field is amazing, it’s extremely sharp, and produces crisp and colorful images. 

This lens is perfect for landscape shots and even better for travel vloggers given its fast autofocus and wide focal length. 

Though it’s a bit pricey, this lens performs wonderfully in low-light and astrophotography situations, making it a great addition to any landscape photographer’s bag. 

Though it might not be *that* versatile, you can easily photograph both cityscapes and mountains with this winning Sigma-brand lens.

• Expensive compared to the Sony 16mm
• Heavier and bulkier than most lenses on this list
• Not very versatile

This lens was made for landscapes, nighttime shots, and vlogging. You can also certainly capture some crisp skies with it too!

It can be used for portraits, though it’s not exactly the best choice if you exclusively focus on them. Trips that involve a lot of epic views will love this lens- though you’ll certainly be forced to get up into the scene if you’re trying to use it as a street photography lens. 

12. Sony 35 mm F/1.8

• Compact & versatile
• Fast autofocus

And we’ve made it to the last lens on this roundup! This classic 35 mm focal length is ideal as it’s considered to be closest to the human eye. This makes this lens a great choice as far as primes for the Sony a6000 go. 

While it is a bit pricier than the Sigma 30 mm, it does have built-in OSS where the Sigma does not. It’s also notably lighter than its Sigma counterpart- though its maximum aperture is not quite as wide. It’s also known for its fast and silent autofocus, 

Overall, this lens is a great walkaround option- especially for city-focused trips. However, if you’re planning on needing a low-light workhorse at this focal range, the Sigma 30 1.4 performs slightly better. 

• Focal length is not that versatile
• Not the cheapest prime on the block

The Sony 35mm is great for portraits, street photography, food photography, museums, and architectural scenes.

While it might be perfect for cities, it won’t quite make the cut as far as landscapes or astrophotography is concerned. It would work best paired with a versatile zoom. 

The Best Travel Lenses for Sony a6000: Wrap Up

Now that we’ve reviewed 12 awesome lenses, it’s time to discuss which ones truly are the best.

This answer will undoubtedly be different for different travelers though- the type of shots you plan to take and the types of locations you plan to travel to are what matter most when making this understandably difficult decision.

But nevertheless, here are my picks for the best overall lens, the best prime lens, and the best budget lens for Sony a6000 travel photographers!

Best All-In-One Travel Lens for Sony a6000– 18-105 mm F/4 G 

This jack-of-all-trades is my pick for the best walk around travel lens for the Sony a6000. While it’s not quite as sharp as some of the other zooms on this list, its incredible focal range, constant aperture and internal stabilization make it a winner. 

This lens can do pretty much anything aside from astrophotography, and the internal zoom ensures its stays compact 100% of the time. 

Best Prime Lens for the Sony a6000– Sigma 30 mm F/1.4

As far as primes go- I’m going to have to go with the Sigma 30mm for this one. The 1.4 aperture ensures sharp results and the colors it produces are unmatched. 

This focal length is perfect for general city and street use, and it can also be utilized in low-light as well. 

Its relatively affordable price point is another plus, as is its lightweight feel. I personally used this lens all throughout my recent long-term backpacking trip and loved it for a variety of scenes. 

Best Cheap Travel Lens for Sony a6000- Sony  55-210 mm F/4.5-6.3

It’s cheap, it’s versatile, it’s easy to carry- what else could you want in a Sony a6000 travel lens? I chose this as the best budget lens because its price point is simply unbeatable… and look at that range!

This is the perfect buy for a newbie photographer who isn’t quite sure what they’ll primarily be shooting- plus that 210 mm maximum focal length means you’ll be able to get all the sneak shots and some animal shots, too. 

While you might end up needing something a bit wider for landscapes, you can easily pair this affordable piece of glass with one of the primes listed above!

Samantha is the founder of Intentional Detours. Originally from the USA, she’s been backpacking the world since 2017, and is passionate about slow, adventure travel that puts local communities first. She has visited 19 countries and has been living in the Karakoram Mountains of Asia’s Hunza Valley since 2021. She’s super passionate about helping people get off the beaten path anywhere (on a budget of course), and her travel writing has been published in the likes of BBC Travel, CNBC, Business Insider, and more.

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Best Lenses for Sony Alpha a6000

An in-depth look at the top prime and zoom lens options for the a6000 from wide angle to telephoto.

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. Read more about us . 

The Alpha a6000 is part of Sony’s latest generation of mirrorless cameras that are extraordinarily well-liked for their small size and impressive image quality. When choosing lenses for the a6000, the two kit options will get you out the door and shooting photos in no time, and there a number of other E-mount prime and zoom lenses that offer superior optics. In particular, the primes from 19mm to 60mm below are nice values. Keep in mind when evaluating lenses that the Sony a6000 has 1.5x crop factor, and to make things easier we’ve listed the equivalent focal length on a 35mm full-frame camera in the specs.

Kit Lenses for the Sony a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ($598 with the a6000).

The Sony 16-50mm Power Zoom is sold in a kit with the a6000, and many people choose to go this route. The 16-50mm is very compact—similar to a pancake lens when powered down—and versatile for travel and everyday use. Optical performance is decent overall but weakest at the wide end where there is noticeable distortion and softness. It performs best from about 20mm on, so those who frequently shoot landscapes and other wide-angle photos should consider adding one of the wide-angle lenses below. See the Sony 16-50mm Kit  

Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS ($940 for the two-lens kit)

If you get the 16-50mm kit lens above, it makes a lot of sense to add the Sony 55-210mm telephoto zoom for a complete set-up. Taken together, the two lenses have you covered all the way from wide-angle to telephoto at an equivalent of 24 to 315mm. The 55-210mm lens is sharp throughout its range and comes with Sony’s OSS image stabilization technology. And given that it sells for $348 on its own, it’s a good value at about $150 with the two-lens kits. See the Sony 55-210mm Kit  

All-In-One Lenses

Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 oss ($848).

We have mixed feelings about all-in-one lenses: they are extremely convenient and can serve as the only lens in your bag, which is great for travel and walking around. They don’t, however, excel at any particular focal length like a purpose-built lens. The Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS does capture sharp images and comes with OSS for when natural light is low. It also focuses quickly and is faster than the 55-210mm above. The lens is somewhat heavy at over 18 ounces, particularly on a lightweight body like the Sony a6000, but that’s normal for an all-in-one lens.  ​See the Sony​ 18-200mm  

Wide-Angle Lenses

Sony 10-18mm f/4 oss ($848).

The pricey Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS is the top wide-angle zoom lens for Sony E-mount cameras. This lens is sharp, has minimal distortion, focuses quickly, and weighs only 7.9 ounces, which is considerably lighter than comparable lenses for digital SLRs. We don’t love the maximum aperture of f/4, but it does have Sony’s OSS image stabilization to help offset camera shake. Another wide-angle prime for the a6000 is the Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8, which is a nice lens but also getting up there in price. ​See the Sony 10-18mm  

Mid-Range and Portrait Lenses

Sony vario-tessar t* e 16-70mm f/4 oss ($998).

For those who can afford it, the Sony 16-70mm f/4 OSS is our favorite lens for the Sony Alpha a6000. You can buy the camera body, add this lens, and you’ll have superb image quality from 24-105mm for everything from landscape shots to portraits (this a terrific travel option). This long name is a result of Sony’s partnership with Zeiss, which is most obvious in the T* coating that results in great clarity and color. The obvious downside of this lens is its cost, which brings you to around $1,500 total for the camera and lens. ​See the Sony 16-70mm  

Sigma 19mm f/2.8 ($199)

You have two lens options in this focal length range: the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 and the Sony 20mm f/2.8. Both lenses are lightweight, sharp, focus quickly, and have the same maximum aperture. We prefer the Sigma simply because it’s about $150 cheaper. The ridiculously low profile of the Sony 20mm is nice—it's less than 1-inch thick and only 2.3 ounces—but the Sigma is no slouch at 1.8-inches and 4.9 ounces. If the physical difference is important to you, grab the Sony. Otherwise, the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 is a better value.  See the Sigma 19mm  

Sony 35mm f/1.8 ($448)

The 35mm f/1.8 is Sony's leading portrait lens for its E-mount series cameras with an equivalent focal length of 52.5mm. This lens is sharp, performs well in low light, and has OSS image stabilization, making it a great option for those who frequently shoot portraits. It’s true that this lens is expensive compared to the 50mm DSLR lens options from Nikon and Canon, but that’s not uncommon in the mirrorless world. The Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 is even sharper but too pricey for our taste. See the Sony 35mm  

Sony 50mm f/1.8 ($298)

The Sony 50mm f/1.8 is one of the best values of any E-mount lens—it’s sharp all the way to the corners and strong in low light with a maximum aperture of f/1.8. One consideration is that the focal length, which is equivalent to 75mm equivalent on a 35mm camera, has specific uses including close-up portraits and head shots. It’s great for kids and people photos, but it’s not necessarily an ideal travel or walk-around lens.   See the Sony 50mm  

Sigma 60mm f/2.8 ($209)

With impressive optical performance and a low price tag, there’s not much to dislike about the Sigma 60mm f/2.8. This lens is best suited for close-up portraits with a focal equivalent of 90mm, and does everything relatively well. It’s sharp, focuses quickly, and can produce a shallow depth of field and good bokeh. One consideration is that the lens does not have image stabilization, but you won’t need it often with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. See the Sigma 60mm  

Telephoto Lenses

Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 oss ($348).

There are few E-mount lens choices at the telephoto end of the spectrum, and this model has the farthest reach at an equivalent of 315mm (second is the 18-200mm above at an equivalent of 300mm). The Sony 55-210mm OSS is listed above as part of a two-lens kit above, or you can buy it on its own for around $350 (it’s a much better value at part of the kit). The only thing to complain about here is low light performance with a maximum aperture of f/4.5, but you do get OSS image stabilization. Perhaps we will see a faster E-mount telephoto lens down the road, but until then the 55-210mm does just fine. See the Sony 55-210mm

Sony Alpha a6000 Lens Comparison Table

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7 Best Lenses For The Sony a6000 (…and 2 to avoid)

The a6000 is Sony’s entry level mirrorless camera and a great way for many to jump into the world of photography, but if you choose the wrong lens then you might be disappointed.

My pick as the best lens for the Sony a6000 is the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens because of its combination of versatility, image quality and wide f/1.8 aperture make it unique and an exceptional choice for crop sensor Sony users.

But keep reading for my full breakdown of that lens and more options that might be a better fit for your specific needs.

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1. Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | C

The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | C lens is a great choice for Sony a6000 users due to its versatile focal length range, constant aperture, excellent optical performance, compactness, and affordability.

This lens is a standout and one that I would recommend for all of the Sony crop sensor cameras. It’s basically a crop sensor version of the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens that can be found in the bag of many professionals.

The 18-50mm focal range on a crop sensor camera gives you the full frame field of view of 27-75mm so you’re getting a very versatile and useful focal length.

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | C Specs

• Lens Mount: Sony E
• Format: APS-C
• Aperture Range: f/2.8 – f/22
• Minimum Focus Distance: 12.1-30cm / 4.8-11.9in.
• Filter Size: 55mm
• Lens Construction: 13 elements in 10 groups
• Diaphragm Blades: 7
• Stabilization: No
• Dimensions: 65.4 x74.5mm / 2.6in.×2.9in.
• Weight:  290g / 10.2oz

The constant f/2.8 aperture allows for excellent low light performance and a shallow depth of field, which is great for creating bokeh (background blur) in portraits and other subjects.

This also opens up more potential for shooting in low light and is one of the major upgrades compared to some of the kit lenses that Sony packages with this camera.

But unlike those kit lenses, this is going to give you excellent optical quality and sharpness. You can produce everything from wall worthy landscape photos to professional level portraits.

Overall, you’re getting a very high quality lens at an affordable price that can do everything except long telephoto shots.

But if you want an even bigger focal range, then check out this next lens…

2. Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD

This lens covers a big zoom range and still delivers excellent image quality.

With a 17-70mm range (25.5-105mm full frame equivalent), it covers a wide to short-telephoto perspective meaning you can shoot just about anything with this lens.

In fact these top two picks could really be 1a and 1b because it really depends on whether you want the extra reach of the Tamron or the smaller and lighter Sigma, so I’ve done a little bit of comparison below.

Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Specs

• Minimum Focus Distance: 19-39cm / 7.5-15.4in.
• Filter Size: 67mm
• Lens Construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
• Diaphragm Blades: 9
• Stabilization: Yes
• Weight:  525g / 18.5 oz

Like the Sigma, it has a constant f/2.8 aperture which is great for low light shooting.

It also has built in image stabilization, which is helpful because the a6000 does not have in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This will let you shoot stationary subjects at slower shutter speeds than you could normally do handheld.

Two big reasons I put this lens in the runner-up position rather than the top spot was the size and cost.

At 1.2lbs/525g it’s almost double the weight of the Sigma which comes in at 10.2oz/290g. The Tamron is also about 10mm wider and 55mm longer. That’s enough of a difference that you’ll feel it on a long hike.

The Tamron lens also costs about $150 more than the Sigma.

In terms of image quality, you would be hard pressed to notice any difference on casual viewing, but my job here is to pixel peep so you don’t have to and I would give a very slight edge to the Sigma in terms of sharpness, even though both deliver excellent image quality.

Note For Video Shooters : If you want to shoot a lot of video, then go with this Tamron lens. In addition to the image stabilization (which matters a lot when shooting handheld video), the lens is parfocal (it doesn’t lose focus while zooming in and out) and has almost 0 focus breathing.

3. Sony FE 50mm f/1.8

Affordable and fast lens with great optical quality.

The combination of a fast aperture, effective focal length, compact design, and affordability makes the 50mm f/1.8 an attractive option for both beginners and experienced photographers looking for a high-quality yet budget-friendly lens.

I think every photographer should have a ‘nifty fifty’ in their bag and it’s a great lens for someone getting started who is budget conscious.

I started my portrait photography business with a crop sensor camera and a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Specs

• Format: Full Frame
• Aperture Range: f/1.8 – f/22
• Minimum Focus Distance: 45 cm. / 17.76 in
• Filter Size: 49mm
• Lens Construction: 6 elements in 5 groups
• Dimensions: 68.6 x 59.5mm / 2.75in.×2.375in.
• Weight:  186g / 6.6 oz

On the a6000’s APS-C sensor, it offers an equivalent focal length of 75mm, making it ideal for portraits and other applications where a slightly longer lens is beneficial.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture is excellent for low-light photography and allows for a shallow depth of field, creating a pleasing bokeh effect in the background. This is a great way to get that “pro look” without spending much on a lens.

Most primes are excellent optically and despite the low price tag, this is no exception. 50mm lenses are easier for manufacturers to make well and the result is a lens that is very sharp across the frame.

It is notably small and light, making it an easy lens to carry around, particularly when paired with the compact a6000. Despite the small size it has a decent basic build quality.

This lens provides smooth and relatively quiet autofocus performance which makes it a solid choice for video as well. But there’s no stabilization built into the lens.

Overall, this is an amazing option and one of the first lenses an aspiring photographer should pick up.

But if you want something that is a bit longer and more geared towards shooting portraits, then this next lens might be right for you…

4. Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN | C

This lens has a portrait-friendly focal length, wide aperture, high optical quality, and compact form that are great for photographing people.

The 56mm focal length might seem like an odd choice but it was specifically chosen to provide an equivalent field of view of approximately 84mm in full-frame terms on a crop sensor camera like the a6000.

This makes it an excellent choice for portrait photography, offering a flattering perspective and natural-looking compression.

This is coupled with a wide maximum aperture of f/1.4 allows for exceptional low-light performance and offers great control over depth of field, facilitating a pleasing bokeh effect (background blur), ideal for portraits and subject isolation.

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN | C Specs

• Aperture Range: f/1.8 – f/16
• Minimum Focus Distance: 50cm / 19.7in.
• Lens Construction: 10 elements in 6 groups
• Dimensions: 66.5mm × 59.5mm / 2.6in. × 2.3in.
• Weight:  280g / 9.9 oz.

The design of the lens elements and the rounded diaphragm blades contribute to a smooth and aesthetically pleasing bokeh that looks great when shooting shallow depth of field photos.

Sigma’s Contemporary line is known for its advanced optical design, minimizing aberrations and flare while providing sharp, clear images. This ensures high-quality imagery across the entire frame.

The lens is relatively small and light, aligning well with the compact nature of the Sony a6000, making the overall package easy to handle and ideal for travel or day-to-day photography.

It also offers good build quality with a design that is resistant to dust and splashes, enhancing its durability for various shooting environments.

5. Sony E 16 mm F2.8

A small, inexpensive and lightweight prime lens that is perfect for getting started with landscape photography.

I like this lens for shooting landscapes because it will give you decent image quality at a very low price and is small and lightweight to compliment the a6000.

This 16mm lens will give you the full frame equivalent of 24mm which is a useful focal length for shooting landscapes.

The image quality is good for this price. It can be a bit on the softer side when shooting wide open, especially around the edges of the frame. But once you stop down to f/5.6 or f/8 its pretty sharp.

If you’re using this primarily to shoot landscapes on a tripod, then you’ll want to use it at those apertures anyway. For photography that

Alternative Option : If you’re looking for a wide angle prime but 16mm isn’t cutting it, then check out this Samyang 12mm f/2.0 E lens .

If you want a little more versatility and better image quality then try this wide angle zoom that’s up next…

6. Sony E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G

This lens delivers the perfect focal length for shooting wide angle landscapes on your a6000.

The Sony E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G is a great lens for the Sony a6000, particularly for users looking to explore the realms of wide-angle photography.

The 10-20mm focal range on an APS-C sensor like the a6000’s offers an ultra-wide to wide-angle field of view, equivalent to approximately 15-30mm in full-frame terms. This is ideal for landscapes, architecture, interior photography, and creative wide-angle shots.

The f/4 constant aperture provides consistent exposure across the entire zoom range. While not as wide as some other lenses here, it still allows for a decent amount of light and if you’re shooting landscapes then you’ll probably be shooting between f/8 and f/16 anyway.

Sony E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G Specs

• Aperture Range: f/4 – f/22
• Minimum Focus Distance: 13-17cm / 5.16-6.7in.
• Filter Size: 62mm
• Lens Construction: 11 elements in 8 groups
• Dimensions: 69.8mm × 55mm / 2.75in. × 2.25in.
• Weight:  178g / 6.8 oz.

I was really happy with the optical performance as well. It produced good color and contrast and was very sharp all across the frame.

For adventure landscape shooters, this lens is compact and lightweight which makes it great for hiking out to remote landscape shooting locations. But that doesn’t take away from its build quality and weather sealing.

A unique feature that’s popular among video shooters is the power zoom. This allows for smooth zooming providing a cinematic quality to zooming movements.

7. Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

A full frame lens that works perfect with the a6000, this telephoto is perfect for sports and wildlife.

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is a telephoto zoom lens that’s part of Tamron’s lineup designed for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, but it’s also compatible with APS-C models like the Sony a6000. This lens is notable for its relatively compact size, fast aperture, and high-quality optics.

The 70-180mm range provides a telephoto reach, which on the Sony a6000’s APS-C sensor, translates to an effective 105-270mm. This is ideal for shooting subjects like sports and wildlife, and portrait photography.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Specs

• Minimum Focus Distance: 27-85cm / 10.6-33.5in.
• Lens Construction: 19 elements in 14 groups
• Dimensions: 81mm × 149mm / 3.2in. × 5.9in.
• Weight:  810g / 26.6 oz.

The constant f/2.8 makes shooting fast moving subjects easier because you can use faster shutter speeds even when you’re not shooting in bright daylight.

Compared to other f/2.8 telephoto lenses this Tamron lens is relatively compact and lightweight, making it more manageable for handheld shooting and travel.

While the optical quality isn’t quite as good as the pro-level 70-200mm GM lens, its still exceptional in its own right. You have to zoom in significantly to see any difference and this lens is much much less expensive.

One feature that was a pleasant surprise was the close focusing capability, which will let you explore macro photography as well.

Upgrade Option : If you want the best possible image quality plus an extra 20mm at the long end (and are willing to pay a big premium for it) then check out the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II .

2 Lenses You Should Avoid For Your a6000

These aren’t necessarily bad lenses, but I listed them here because they seem to be pushed a lot by retailers and you can do a lot better for a similar cost with the options above.

Sony 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 OSS

This is the kit lens that usually comes with the a6000. It’s not a terrible lens, but there are better options for you at around the same price.

The problem here is that Not the best optics but is very versatile when I want to travel with only one lens.

Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS

Lenses with huge zoom ranges and a variable aperture in this range are usually less expensive but you’ll be compromising image quality.

And that’s the case with this lens. It’s great for snapshots or traveling if you only want to take one “do it all” lens. But you’re just not going to get the image quality or the ability to use wider apertures to control depth of field in your photos.

So if you just want a less expensive lens, then its an ok choice, but if you want to get the most out of your camera, then I would recommend saving up for the lenses on this list.

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What are you looking for?

13 best lenses for sony a6000 [full 2024 buying guide].

The Sony A6000 may date back to 2014, but this camera is still among the best, beginner-friendly mirrorless cameras you can get.

It’s also a great blogging camera that you can easily pack for your travels and backpacking trips.

But if you’re looking to elevate your photography and produce high-quality, professional shots, you may need to get a new lens!

Don’t worry, we’ve rounded up the best lenses for the Sony a6000, currently available.

From a versatile lens fit for travel to one that could take stunning shots of the night sky.

We will give you a rundown of exactly which ones are best and which is the right one for your upcoming adventures at home, or abroad.

Want a quick answer? Our top pick is the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 .

**Wherever possible I have included prices below. These are accurate at the time of publication but may change over time. Also, some links below may be affiliate links. This means that we receive a small commission if you click one of these links and make a purchase; but this comes at no additional cost to you. However it does help support our blog, so thank you! You can learn more about this here .

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Quick summary of the best lenses

Things to consider when choosing a good lens

There are a few factors that you should think about before choosing the right lens for your Sony a6000.

The first is aperture, which is often denoted by the letter “F” and a number. The aperture is basically how much light that can enter a lens due to its opening. A low aperture number (like F1.8) means the sensor can open wide and therefore allows you to take detailed images in dark environments.

On the other hand, a high aperture number (such as F4) means that the aperture is quite narrow. This means the lens doesn’t perform as well in low light conditions, though they’re often more affordable in price.

Focal length

A lens’ focal length is measured in millimetres and denotes its capacity to capture a scene, as well as the magnification. A shorter focal length means it can capture a wider field of view, which is great for taking landscape and architectural shots.

You may want to choose a longer lens for shooting sports and wildlife, while 50mm is often a popular length for portraits. That’s because this is close to the human’s natural viewing angle. The minimum focus distance is also determined by the focal length.

Another essential point to consider is the type of your lens. Do you need a prime lens that is usually more compact for travelling? Or are you looking for something more versatile like a zoom lens?

All in all, choosing the right lens for you is all about knowing what you’ll be using it for. Do you plan to step up your vlog quality or focus on macrophotography? We’ll be discussing the different lens types below!

Price is also critical to your choice, as this will highly depend on your budget and how much you’re willing to spend on a camera lens. While the Sony a6000 is pretty reasonably priced, you may want to budget for the lens too!

There’s no need to go for the most expensive lens if you won’t end up using its full features. For example, you can save a lot by buying the F2.8 instead of the F1.4 version of the same lens. Especially if you know that you’ll be mostly shooting outdoors or in well-lit conditions.

Image stabilisation

The Sony a6000 doesn’t come with built-in image stabilization, which can be a deal-breaker for some people. But we would say there’s nothing to worry about because most of the lenses we are recommending today feature optical image stabilization. This will help you take sharp images every time!

Don’t forget to consider the size of your lens before buying it! Some lens types like telephoto are generally bigger and longer than smaller ones, such as a prime or portrait lens.

Remember that the Sony a6000 is a mirrorless, which means it’s pretty compact and easy to pack. You may not want to contradict this benefit by getting a bulky lens. Oh, it may help to get a good camera backpack to properly carry your camera and lenses too!

Of course, size comes hand-in-hand with weight. This can be especially important to factor in if you’re packing for an epic trip abroad. As you’ll have to carry around the camera, lens, and other accessories, you might prefer a more lightweight lens.

Build quality

Finally, don’t overlook the build quality of your lens. Sony itself has confirmed that the a6000 doesn’t have weather-sealing features. However, many users have claimed that they’ve been using the camera under light rain and snow with no problems.

With that said, we still recommend getting a lens with weather sealing and dust resistance. This will definitely help ease your mind when shooting outdoors!

Most common Sony a6000 lens types

These are some popular lens types you can find for a Sony a6000.

When you think of a lens that you can zoom in and out by turning it, you’re thinking of a zoom lens. It’s one of the most versatile types of lenses because it lets you reframe your scene without having to physically move.

A standard zoom lens has varying focal lengths with the midpoint often being around 50mm. They’re sometimes also categorized along with parfocal lenses, which can stay in focus even as you change the focal length.

In contrast, lenses that have a fixed focal length are known as prime lenses. This means your lens is fixed at a certain focal length and cannot be zoomed in or out. You’d have to move closer or farther away from your subject to reframe your scene.

While it may immediately seem like a less versatile choice, a prime lens is actually great for professional photography. It’s because they excel with regards to focal length and can produce super crisp and sharp photos.

Technically, any lens is capable of shooting human subjects. But a portrait lens would have the ideal combination of focal length and aperture range to produce the most lifelike recreation of the human face. It’s great if you love telling stories about people, especially on your travels!

Try going for a shorter lens if you want to highlight the background of your subject, or a longer one to create close-up shots that focus on the details of your subject’s facial features.

Next up, there are macro lenses, which are used for macro photography. The technical definition involves taking photos with 1:1 magnification (aka life-sized), but people often take macro photography to include anything that captures extreme details of small objects.

For some, a macro lens allows them to capture the stunning details and textures of various subjects. From textile, leaves, rocks, and water droplets, to tiny insects!

Imagine the stereotypical pictures captured by paparazzi with their super long, heavy lenses. Those would be telephoto lenses. These are a long-focus lens that lets you capture faraway subjects in extreme detail and close-up.

It’s a great type of lens for those who want to document sports or wildlife in their natural habitat. Though we have to say that it can be quite expensive, heavy, and large, which may not be suitable for beginners.

Last but not least is the wide-angle lens, which can capture a lot of the scene in front of you. Ultra-wide-angle lenses can even take in 180-degrees of the view. They’re great for showing the entirety of a landscape or architecture.

Not only that, we love how a wide-angle lens is also excellent for low-light photography, including astrophotography!

13 best lenses for the Sony a6000

1. tamron 17-70mm f2.8 - best all-round lens for the sony a6000.

Minimum focus distance : 0.19 m

Focal length: 17-70 mm

Max aperture: f/2.8

Filter diameter: 67 mm

Weight: 525 g

Size (diameter x length): 74 x 119 mm

Looking for a versatile, multi-purpose zoom lens that can do it all? The Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 offers extraordinary image quality, low-light performance, and super autofocus.

It’s our top pick overall because of the great value for money it offers and varying capabilities. From taking the sharpest, most stunning stills, to smooth and high-quality videos.

Whether you want to capture landscapes, portraits, events, or some macro shots, this Tamron lens sure won’t disappoint.

Not only is it the first 17-70mm F2.8 lens in the world , this wide aperture, everyday zoom lens also features the innovative VC (Vibration Compensation) technology to ensure shake- and blur-free photos.

The one drawback to this lens is that you have to go through the menu pages to control the focus and stabilization settings, as the lens doesn’t have any physical button for those.

Pros Of The Tamron 17-70mm F2.8

• Great value for money
• Close focusing distance
• Excellent for low-light photography

Cons Of The Tamron 17-70mm F2.8

• Onion ring bokeh is visible
• Doesn’t have physical control for stabilization

2. Sigma 56mm F1.4 - Best Prime Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.5 m

Focal length: 56 mm

Max aperture: f/1.4

Filter diameter: 55 mm

Weight: 280 g

Size (diameter x length): 66.5mm × 59.5mm

The Sigma 56mm F1.4 is part of the brand’s proprietary Contemporary line and comes with some of the world’s most advanced technologies.

It combines optical design and stepping motor for the smoothest AF in both video and photo mode. Not to mention the precise AF tracking and eye function , you’ll get results that are always in the sharpest focus.

This is also an excellent choice for portrait photography, thanks to the sharp and crisp images that it produces. Additionally, the creamy and stunning bokeh can make for the most stunning shots too.

This Sigma lens is quite affordable and makes it a beginner-friendly choice, especially for those wanting to elevate their portraits and everyday photo quality.

Even when using the max aperture at F1.4, this lens can deliver edge-to-edge sharpness. That’s why it’s also a winner in the low-light shooting department, as you can still enjoy smooth, stable videos even in dark environments.

Pros Of The Sigma 56mm F1.4

• Compact and lightweight
• Wide aperture for low-light shooting
• Excellent autofocus

Cons Of The Sigma 56mm F1.4

• No image stabilization
• No weather-sealing

3. Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G - Best Zoom Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.33 m

Focal length: 16-55 mm

Weight: 494 g

Size (diameter x length): 73x100 mm

If your priority is versatility and being able to reframe your shot just by a turn of the wrist, then the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G is probably it for you.

It’s a great lens for professionals and amateurs wanting to step up the game, although the steep price point may not be the most ideal for beginners.

Boasting high photo quality with upgraded physical controls, it also has minimized flaring, ghosting, and chromatic aberration.

Plus, this Sony lens comes with XD Linear Motor that ensures fast response time and low vibration for an extraordinary autofocus performance.

Another thing that we love is its super sharp images even in low-light conditions, as well as professional-grade weather-sealing that lets you brave the rain!

And thanks to its instant AF/MF switch, you can conveniently change the focus modes simply by flipping the switch. This can make your photo session much more efficient and fast.

Pros Of The Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G

• Outstanding photo quality
• Professional weather-sealing
• Sharp in all focal length

Cons Of The Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G

• Not ideal for macro photography

4. Sony E 50mm F1.8 - Best Portrait Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.39 m

Focal length: 50 mm

Max aperture: f/1.8

Filter diameter: 49 mm

Weight: 202 g

Size (diameter x length): 62 x 62 mm

It’s always worth it to have a dedicated portrait lens, especially if this is something you want to pursue.

The Sony E 50mm F1.8 is undoubtedly a top contender for the best Sony a6000 portrait lenses. It’s very affordable and gives you a truly marvelous value for the money.

With f/1.8 aperture and a fast autofocus, you can be sure of getting stunning shots of your human subjects anytime, including in low-light conditions!

Better yet, this lens is both lightweight and compact, making it a great one to have for a trip to countries like India , where you get to meet lots of interesting people from different backgrounds.

It also comes with optical SteadyShot image stabilization that ensures smooth stills and videos at low speeds. Plus, this makes it a multi-function lens that can also help you take high-quality videos.

And while there is no visible distortion, you may notice some chromatic aberration if you shoot at the max aperture. But don’t worry, it’s nothing a little post-processing can’t fix!

Pros Of The Sony E 50mm F1.8

• Stunning bokeh effect
• Also good for videos

Cons Of The Sony E 50mm F1.8

• Chromatic aberration at wide open
• No weather sealing
• No zooming capability

5. Sony 10-18mm F4 - Best Wide-Angle Zoom Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.25 m

Focal length: 10-18 mm

Max aperture: f/4

Filter diameter: 62 mm

Weight: 225 g

Size (diameter x length): 64 x 70 mm

The Sony 10-18mm F4 is an excellent camera to have if you’re wanting to capture wide-angle shots of landscapes and architecture.

This is a travel-friendly lens that’s super light, compact, and high performing. It has impressive optics with a versatile focal range and stellar sharpness even at wide open.

Despite the F4 max aperture that may not be as low as some of the other lenses, this constant setting is still able to give you noise-free photos in low-light shoots. If you ever end up under a stunning night sky, you can still get cool shots with this!

With that said, it may struggle with accurate focusing in darker conditions, or when your subject is low-contrast.

Another great feature is the super ED glass , which ensures that there is minimal distortion so you can enjoy sharper images.

You can also take beautiful, handheld vlogs with this Sony lens as it comes with image stabilization.

Pros Of The Sony 10-18mm F4

• Travel-friendly wide-angle lens
• Super sharp image quality with no distortion
• Built-in stabilization

Cons Of The Sony 10-18mm F4

• Poor AF performance in low-light conditions
• Can be expensive

6. Sigma 16mm F1.4 - Best Wide-Angle Prime Lens for the Sony a6000

Focal length: 16 mm

Weight: 405 g

Size (diameter x length): 72.2mm × 92.3mm

Here’s another wide-angle lens option for you, which is the Sigma 16mm F1.4 . This prime lens is perfect at handling low-light situations too, thanks to its fast and wide aperture.

What we also love is the sturdy build and weather-sealing, which can prove useful if you like to shoot outdoors or are travelling.

Its cutting-edge design ensures fast and smooth autofocus for both stills and video, whereas the Fast Hybrid AF also features face recognition.

Moreover, Sigma’s trademark technologies can digitally correct any distortion so you don’t have to spend too much time and effort on post-editing.

If we had to nitpick, this lens doesn’t come with image stabilization, but it’s actually not a huge problem considering the fast max aperture of this lens. Plus, you can always get a DSLR gimbal for any video-related purposes.

Pros Of The Sigma 16mm F1.4

• Impressive sharpness even at max aperture
• Sturdy build and weather-sealing
• Superb AF performance

Cons Of The Sigma 16mm F1.4

• No physical switch for AF/MF
• No built-in stabilization

7. Sony 18-105mm F4 - Best Video Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.45 m

Focal length: 18-105 mm

Filter diameter: 72 mm

Weight: 427 g

Size (diameter x length): 78mm × 110mm

If you plan to use your Sony a6000 for making vlogs and videos , then the Sony 18-105mm F4 would be great for you. It’s a versatile lens with a useful focal range, image stabilization, and fixed aperture for better video quality.

The main highlight is definitely its focal range. From 18 to 105mm, you can use this lens for a variety of videos, including vlogs (using the shorter range) and close-up shots (using the longer range).

The fixed f/4 aperture also means that you can have consistent lighting or exposure throughout the video, even as you move between locations and zoom in or out. This also makes for a smooth and natural-feeling video!

Admittedly, this lens may not be the best in terms of photo quality, but that’s exactly why it’s perfect for videos!

Pros Of The Sony 18-105mm F4

• Great for vlog and close-up videos
• Fast and precise autofocus
• Fixed f/4 aperture

Cons Of The Sony 18-105mm F4

• No edge-to-edge sharpness
• Visible distortion
• Relatively big and bulky

8. Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 - Best Telephoto Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 1.1 m

Focal length: 70-350 mm

Max aperture: f/4.5

Weight: 625 g

Size (diameter x length): 77mm × 142mm

The Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 is an excellent telephoto lens for anyone wanting to dive into close-up photography without getting near your subjects. This may include wildlife, sport events, and discreet street photography.

What’s most impressive is the fact that it is relatively lightweight compared to other telephoto lenses while still being able to pack a punch in terms of performance and photo quality.

In addition to image stabilization that will ensure blur-free photos, there is also superb ghosting and flaring control, as well as chromatic aberration.

This lens features Sony’s own XD Linear Motor to ensure good response and minimal vibration for fast, accurate, and quiet AF. Also, there is an aspherical element and three ED glasses that give you high-resolution images in all focal lengths.

No need to worry about sharpness, which the Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 delivers perfectly however much you zoom in or out and at all aperture settings

Indeed, the slow aperture doesn’t make it the best option for low-light shooting, but you can still get stunning, creamy bokeh at the longer end of the focal range.

Pros Of The Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3

• Edge-to-edge sharpness
• Has some macro capabilities
• Superb bokeh at the long end

Cons Of The Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3

• Unexceptional low-light performance
• Pincushion distortion
• Quite a far minimum focusing distance

9. Sigma 30mm F1.4 - Best Budget Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.3 m

Focal length: 30 mm

Filter diameter: 52 mm

Weight: 265 g

Size (diameter x length):   64 x 73 mm

The Sigma 30mm F1.4 certainly raises the standard for F1.4 lenses with its exceptional optics and compact design, which is perfect for a mirrorless camera like the Sony a6000.

This is not only our top pick for budget lenses, but also a strong contender in the portrait lens category. We especially recommend it for those who prefer a closer field of view that can include more of the background behind your subject.

That also makes it ideal for everyday photography, including street shots and environmental scenes!

Moreover, Sigma has optimized the lens’ ability to balance light for such a compact camera body with a short flange back distance.

Not to mention its superb sharpness even at wide-open and a great image quality. Meanwhile, the fast aperture ensures noise and blur-free shots even in dark environments.

Better yet, it also delivers creamy and stunning bokeh that can elevate your portraits!

Pros Of The Sigma 30mm F1.4

• Very budget-friendly
• Excellent for portrait and everyday photography
• Excellent sharpness even at max aperture

Cons Of The Sigma 30mm F1.4

• Not ideal for videos

10. Sony 90mm F2.8 - Best Macro Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.28 m

Focal length: 90 mm

Weight: 602 g

Size (diameter x length): 79mm × 130mm

It’s time to talk about macro photography , aka detailed, close-up shots of tiny subjects where the magnification is equal to or greater than life size.

In this category, the Sony 90mm F2.8 is an unrivalled winner especially in terms of quality and performance. We can recommend this for those wanting to get serious in macro photography.

It can offer truly stunning results with impressive sharpness, and we might even say that it is one of the sharpest lenses for the Sony a6000 out there.

Plus, it also comes with Direct Drive DDSSM to ensure a highly precise focus control.

This lens lets you work super close with your subjects, whether that is small insects or textured objects like a tree bark, leaves, or fabric.

Another great thing about this Sony lens is its user-friendliness and the AF/MF switch for easy operation. And the very smooth and creamy bokeh effect you can get!

Pros Of The Sony 90mm F2.8

• One of the sharpest lenses for the Sony a6000
• Fast and superb autofocus
• Outstanding low-light performance

Cons Of The Sony 90mm F2.8

• AF is noisy
• May be costly
• Quite heavy for a mirrorless camera

11. Sony 30mm F3.5 - Best Budget Macro Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.09 m

Max aperture: f/3.5

Weight: 138 g

Size (diameter x length): 55mm × 60mm

If you want an affordable alternative to the previous lens, your answer is the Sony 30mm F3.5 .

It’s very budget-friendly and thus suitable for those wanting to get into macro photography or simply dabble in it.

Boasting a very close minimum focus distance, this lens allows you to go even closer with your subject than the Sony 90mm F2.8 and have your photos remain in precise focus.

But we have to say that one of our favorite things about the Sony 30mm F3.5 is its ultra-compact design that weighs almost nothing!

The Sony 30mm F3.5 also comes with aspherical lens elements and ED glass that will maximize the photo quality.

Lastly, this lens is actually also good for everyday photography, thanks to its versatile field of view!

Pros Of The Sony 30mm F3.5

• Very affordable
• Ultra-lightweight
• Also good for everyday photography

Cons Of The Sony 30mm F3.5

• Not ideal for low-light conditions

12. Sony 35mm F1.8 - Best Travel Lens for the Sony a6000

Focal length: 35 mm

Weight: 156 g

Size (diameter x length): 46 mm × 63.5 mm

Planning to travel to a beautiful place like Bali and wondering what the best lens may be for you?

The Sony 35mm F1.8 may be what you need to bring along your trip and document all the diverse beauty and unique destinations you encounter!

It is absolutely made for street photography, thanks to its super lightweight and compact design that will allow you to travel in local areas without necessarily attracting too much attention.

Of course, that also makes it very easy to carry around, wherever you go!

The built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization will ensure that you get blur-free and steady shots, whether you’re taking stills or videos, whereas the fast aperture ensures excellent performance in low light.

While this may not offer as much focal range versatility as a zoom lens, the 35mm length is actually quite a good one to have for everyday photography.

Furthermore, this lens is relatively affordable and can be a great choice to pair with your zoom lens to complete your lens gear!

Pros Of The Sony 35mm F1.8

• Great for street photography
• Extremely travel-friendly
• Excellent at low light

Cons Of The Sony 35mm F1.8

• Not ideal for telephoto or macro purposes
• Doesn’t offer a zoom range

13. Tamron 11-20 mm F2.8 - Best Landscape Lens for the Sony a6000

Minimum focus distance : 0.15 m

Focal length: 11-20 mm

Weight: 335 g

Size (diameter x length): 73mm x 86.2mm

The Tamron 11-20 mm F2.8 is an obvious choice for anyone who is planning to shoot beautiful landscapes , especially during their travels.

Marketed as the world’s first-ever 11-20mm F2.8 zoom lens, it offers spectacular perspectives and viewing angles. 

Its weight is also quite impressive considering the ultra-wide-angle capability and wide aperture of f/2.8. This means it can work well in low-light conditions, including for shooting night skies and the twinkling stars!

The close minimum focusing distance, at just 15 cm, also lets you get close-up with your subject for optical details that you wouldn’t have imagined possible with a wide-angle lens!

It can also be a great lens for videos too, although we still recommend using a gimbal for optimal results, as it doesn’t come with image stabilization.

There’s also the XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) glass that gives ultimate sharpness and compensates chromatic aberration for stunning photo results.

Pros Of The Tamron 11-20 mm F2.8

• Super fast aperture
• Ultra-wide-angle capability
• Excellent sharpness

Cons Of The Tamron 11-20 mm F2.8

• No optical image stabilization
• Not the most affordable

Sony a6000 Lens FAQ

What video lens is best for the sony a6000.

The best video lens you can get for the Sony a6000 is hands-down the Sony 18-105mm F4 . This is an all-rounder when it comes to videos as it can produce excellent results whether you’re shooting vlogs or detailed close-ups.

Does the Sony a6000 take good photos?

Yes, if you’re looking for a good camera to take stunning photos, the a6000 is what you’re looking for. The 24.3mp sensor is excellent, even at low ISO and dark environments. Plus, the camera can produce natural colors to make post-processing easier.

How do I take better pictures with my Sony a6000?

Check out our tips to improve your travel photography , which can also be applied to the Sony a6000 and taking better photos in general. When shooting in dark conditions specifically, aim for 1600 in ISO but never above 3200. Meanwhile, you can produce a blur effect by setting the speed to 1/40th of a second or less!

Can you use an FE lens on a Sony a6000?

Yes! You can use an FE-mount lens on your Sony a6000 as they are compatible. Plus, they may even give you better photos than the regular E lenses, though they may cost a bit more.

What lens does the Sony a6000 come with?

If you buy the Sony a6000, it will come with a kit lens, which is the PZ 16-50mm F3. 5-5.6 OSS. This is an E-mount lens with a standard optical zoom ratio of 3.1x and focal length range of 24-75mm.

Which lens will you go for?

We’ve covered some of our top recommendations for your Sony a6000.

We tried to be as comprehensive as we can and covered a range of lenses.

Our roundup includes everything from an all-round lens to specific types for travel, video, or even astrophotography.

Hopefully, you were able to find the best lens for you!

So, which of these lenses do you think you’ll get?

Do you think we’ve missed any great lenses?

Other lens reviews:

• ‍ Sony a6300 lenses
• Sony a6400 lenses
• Sony a6500 lenses
• Sony a6600 lenses
• Sony a7 lenses
• Sony a7ii lenses
• Sony a7iii lenses
• Sony a7riii lenses
• Canon 80D lenses
• Canon 90D lenses
• Canon M50 lenses
• Canon 6D Mark ii lenses
• Nikon D3100 lenses
• Nikon D3200 lenses
• Nikon D3300 lenses
• Nikon D3400 lenses
• Nikon D3500 lenses
• Nikon Z6 lenses
• Nikon D750 lenses
• Nikon D850 lenses
• Nikon D5600 lenses
• Panasonic GH5 lenses

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Best lenses for the Sony A6000: Primes and Zooms

Introduction

With no replacement yet for the NEX-7 , Sony’s reimagined version of the upper-mid-level NEX-6 , now called the A6000 , sits at the top of the range of the firm’s discrete APS-C mirrorless models. Although the built-in 1.44 million-dot OLED EVF may be seen as a downgrade from the 3.36 M-dot unit in the NEX-6 , the new model offers several benefits over its 16- MPix predecessor, including the same 24-Mpix CMOS as the NEX-7 and an upgraded hybrid AF system with much greater coverage. Comprising 179 on-chip phase detection points and 25 contrast-detection points, it covers close to 90% percent of the frame with subject tracking.

The A6000 also has continuous shooting of up to 11fps, a tilting 3-inch (921k dot) rear LCD, and improvements in video capture. Enhancements include the addition of zebra-pattern exposure warning and uncompressed 1080i/p AVCHD at 24/50/60 fps with an HDMI output option. It is, however, the sensor performance that we’re interested in here, along with how the expansion of the dedicated on-chip AF phase detection pixels affect image performance (if at all).

We’ve tested over 23 lens models from Sony and third-party maker Sigma, including the new stabilized FE 70-200mm f4 G OSS ; however, we’ve yet to assess the pro-video oriented FE 28-135mm f4 G OSS model and the new Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f4 ZA OSS – all stabilized full-frame models built essentially for the A7 series, yet compatible with the A6000 .

With a DxOMark lens score of 27, the best-performing model on the Sony A6000 is the Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f1.8 ZA . As an FE series full-frame lens intended for the A7 series, it has an approximate field of view of a 85mm short telephoto on the APS-C A6000 . At $1,000, it’s somewhat at odds with the price of the body, but it comfortably outperforms the similarly-priced Sony FE Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA , in joint 4 th place with 23 points and a lower peak sharpness of 11-Mpix.

In second place is the new Art-series Sigma 60mm f2.8 DN A model at just $239. While it lacks the high speed of the Zeiss 55mm , it’s also designed with a smaller image circle (for APS-C). It has higher peak sharpness than the Zeiss, excellent uniformity, low levels of vignetting , and excellent control of chromatic aberration .

In joint second place with the Sigma is the stabilized Sony E 50mm f1.8 OSS . It’s the equivalent of a 77mm on the A6000 , but it’s still a good choice for portraits. Wide-open, it lacks corner sharpness but it’s sharper in the center than the Zeiss. In fact, there’s a good central core of sharpness to f2.8, but it can’t quite match the peak sharpness or the uniformity of either the Zeiss or the Sigma. Nevertheless, it’s a well-rounded model with a good blend of features, price, and performance.

As for shorter focal lengths, the Sigma 30mm (45mm equiv.) f2.8 DN models stand out for their price and optical quality. Despite the maker’s claims that the optical construction remains unaltered, we were surprised to find that the newer Art or “A” series reimagining of the EX version isn’t quite as good a performer as previous models. Sony’s highly-regarded 24mm (35mm equiv.) f1.8 is strong optical performer, yet at $1000, it’s a pricey option for 35mm fans.

The best-performing zoom on the A6000 is the one the latest additions to the range, the stabilized full-frame 70-200mm (100-300mm equiv.) f4 . At close to $1,500, it’s not going to appeal to everyone, but image quality is very high and it will work with the full-frame A7 series (which it was originally designed for), so it’s arguably a good value in that context. It’s a great performer in the mid-zoom range (135mm) at the initial aperture , but sharpness declines rapidly towards either end. Stopping down improves both sharpness and uniformity, while both chromatic aberration and distortion is very low.

In second place is the relatively accessible full-frame FE 28-70mm f3.5-5.6 OSS . It’s the equivalent of a 42-105mm on the A6000 and a slightly better performer overall than the wider, constant-aperture 24-70mm f4 OSS at $1,200. Uniform sharpness across the field isn’t exactly a strong point even on the A6000 , but it is sharp centrally at all focal lengths. Chromatic aberration is a little high at shorter focal lengths, but otherwise it’s a good performer.

In third place is the recently-reviewed Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 (see the review here ).

In fourth place is the APS-C-only E-mount 10-18mm f4 . It’s the equivalent of a 16-35mm f4 — a highly desirable range for the A6000 . At $850, it’s not exactly cheap, considering its only average performance (relatively low sharpness and presence of lateral CA) at full apertur,e but sharpness levels and uniformity improve from f5.6 onwards. 

One of the best all-round performers is the collapsible E-mount 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 , which is often bundled as a kit lens. It’s sharper at the shorter end of the zoom range (like most models), and it requires stopping down a stop, but it’s very compact and lightweight.

If you have a Sony A6000 and a favorite lens, we would very much like to hear from you. Please leave a comment below about the lens you have and why you like it.

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• Buying Guide

Top 8 Affordable Travel Lenses for Sony a6000 in 2024

This is our review of the best travel lenses for Sony a6000  in 2024.

Photographers love to argue about camera gear, but most agree that the Sony a6000 is an ideal camera for travel photography. Being a mirrorless camera, this is a light and compact choice that produces fantastic images to remind you of your vacation highlights. This blog post features the lenses for the Sony a6000 that offer the  best  value. No one will question why you want the Sony a6000 to capture photos of your travels, but with such a great range of affordable lenses available, they might fight over which lens you should attach to it. We’ll help you win the argument with our list of the top 5 travel lenses for Sony a6000 cameras.

And we found that   Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS .   is the best overall  travel lens for the Sony a6000

Every photographer and people have different requirements. So, we’ve included reviews of the best brands for every category of travel lenses for Sony a6000.

Let’s get started.

Our Best Travel lenses for Sony A6000

Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS ​  (Best travel lens overall)

Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS​ ( Best portable and compact travel lens) Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens​ (Best travel lens for traveller who want large apeture)

Sony 20mm f/2.8 ​ – (Best versatile lens)

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8​ (Best travel lens for travellers who want excellent bokeh)

Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS​ (Best landscape lens)

Sony 10-18 f4.0 OSS Wide Angle ​ (Best travel lens for travellers who want ultra-wide perspective)

Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3 ​(Best versatile lens for travellers who want high-quality images)

We’re reviewing prime lenses and zoom lenses .  With their fixed glass elements, prime lenses are cheaper to manufacture than zoom lenses, which means you get fantastic optics at a bargain price. Zoom lenses are usually better for travelers, but their high cost makes them unaffordable for the photographer on a budget. Be aware, though, just because prime lenses are at the low end of the price spectrum, it doesn’t mean they are poor quality; all of the ones we’ve chosen give exceptional results. We’ve reviewed a comprehensive range of lenses, from ultra-wide to ‘normal’ focal lengths.

Table of Contents

Prime Lenses​

Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 ncs cs.

• The small size of this lens means you can carry it around all day without tiring, and you won’t draw attention to yourself as you photograph street scenes. Even though it has a lightweight build, it seems sturdy enough to cope with everyday bumps and knocks
• The NCS part of this lens refers to its Nano Coating System, which suppresses lens flares and ghosting, giving greater clarity, better contrast, and improved color to each
• The f/2 aperture allows adequate shutter speeds in dim conditions to overcome hand-held camera shake. Put it on a tripod, and you’ll get amazing shots of the Milky Way above landscapes and seascapes
• The aperture ring rotates with positive clicks at each half-stop ranging from f/2.0 to f/22
• It’s very affordable and produces sharper images than many dearer lenses
• It doesn’t have autofocus, so you are at the mercy of good eyesight, but as with most ultra-wide lenses, you can set it to infinity, and most things will be in focus anyway
• Being a manual lens, there is no EXIF metadata, so you can’t review the settings used on a particular shot
• The aperture is controlled mechanically by the ring on the lens, so there is no control of this setting through your camera’s dials
• There is noticeable vignetting at f/2, but it improves at f/2.8
• It lacks optical image stabilization, but if you are mindful of this, you can still produce sharp pictures in all forms of lighting conditions

Unless you are doing travel photography on a professional level, it’s best to travel as light as possible, and  this lens  is as light and compact as you can get. Weighing at just 9.12 ounces (260 g), when you put this pancake lens onto the front of your camera, you hardly notice it’s there. 

The camera (with lens attached) can fit into a large pocket or medium-sized handbag. On the Sony a6000 with its APS-C crop sensor, this lens has an equivalent focal length of 18mm, making it ideal for architectural photos, interiors, and landscape shots. It’s an ultra-wide lens that gets everything into the picture. 

This lens copes with all forms of travel photography, from the hustle and bustle of vibrant cityscapes and tight street scenes to the vast interiors of cathedrals. And if night photography is important to you, this lens will prove to be even more suitable for your needs because its fast f/2 aperture is perfect for low light situations. It may not suit everyone, though, so check the following list relating to the advantages and disadvantages of this lens.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens

• You’ll be grateful for this lens when you use the large f/1.4 aperture to capture low light images at concerts, indoor events, and the glow of neon lights in big cities.
• Having quick and accurate autofocusing takes it a step above the Rokinon
• It has outstanding optical performance. It’s hard to believe that images this sharp come from a budget lens
• The stepping motor delivers quiet and smooth autofocus during video shooting
• Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting even when images are backlit
• You can’t expect much bokeh from a wide-angle lens, but we thought you’d have more from this one with its f/1.4 aperture. There is still some detail in the background, even at its widest setting
• There’s no image stabilization, which isn’t usually a problem for a tiny lens, but it would have been handy for a lens designed for low-light photography. It will be fine for those Sony cameras with IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), but the Sony a6000 does not feature it

This  lens is for people who need a wide-angle lens with a large aperture. Its wide f/1.4 opening gives it incredible low light performance, and when you combine it with the fast autofocus, you get brilliant results. On the Sony a6000’s APS-C sensor, you have the focal length equivalent of a 24mm lens, so it’s ideal for nature, landscapes, and event photography.

This Sigma lens is almost double the weight of the Rokinon 12mm lens. It’s 14.29 ounces (405 g), but it’s ergonomically comfortable on the front of the camera, making it suitable for everyday use. The longer focal length gives it more flexibility than the ultra-wide Rokinon. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens is useful when traveling because it’s wide enough for landscapes yet handy for street photography too.

Sony 20mm f/2.8

• This lens can be used for still shots and impressive videos too.
• It has smooth and quiet autofocusing
• The aspherical lens elements reduce distortion and chromatic aberration
• This is an excellent lens for standard wide-angle shots, taking your angle of view to just over 70 degrees
• The perspective of this lens is more natural than the ultra-wide lenses previously mentioned, and there is only a moderate level of distortion, which is fantastic for this type of wide-angle lens
• With its maximum aperture of f/2.8, you can’t expect much bokeh, so the out-of-focus range for the background is pretty average
• The manual focus ring is very narrow, which sometimes makes it hard to grip and turn

The Sony 20mm f/2.8 is another pancake lens that offers terrific value with sensational results. With its 20mm focal length, which on an APS-C camera brings it to 30mm, you have a multi-purpose lens for the Sony a6000 that is so compact you hardly know it’s on the front of the camera. The ultra-slim lens has a metal finish but weighs only 2.4 ounces (69 g).

When you purchase this lens for its discreet size and its corner-to-corner richness of detail, you’ll soon discover its incredible value as a travel photography lens. It easily handles landscapes, seascapes, interiors, and when you get back home, you’ll appreciate its versatility in areas such as wedding photography too.

Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS

•     This is a robust lens with an aluminum outer skin and a manual focus ring

•     The abbreviation OSS stands for Optical SteadyShot, which means it has optical image stabilization created from a n internal gimbal . This optical image stabilization moves the lens unit and image sensor simultaneously, making it highly effective at correcting camera shake

•     It has fast and silent autofocus, but if you want to override it, you have the option of direct manual focus too

•     The m inimum focus d istance is 0.99 f ee t (0.3 m) , which is perfect for flower photography

•     The Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS is the type of lens you can comfortably leave on your camera for days at a time without feeling the need to change it. It’s great for everyday snapshots as well as being ideal for serious travel photography during the day and night

LThe only disadvantage of this lens is its lack of weather protection. Weather sealing would give more flexibility to your travel photography

Being equivalent to a  50mm lens  on a full-frame camera, the Sony E 35mm has an angle of view of 44 degrees. It’s light and compact, weighing just 5 .4 4 ounces ( 155 g) . Its wide aperture of f/1.8 works great in any light conditions. The Sony E 35mm f/1.8 lens is the perfect walk-around lens for almost any occasion .  

We recommend it for travel because it captures reasonable views of landscapes while also being suitable for street photography and architectural details. It’s handy for food photography in restaurants too. However, the most significant benefit of this lens is that you can take realistic and stylish portraits with superb background blur. And to top it all off, for a native lens,  it  has a relatively cheap price tag attached.

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8

• This is an excellent lens for low-light interior shots and night photography
• On the f/1.8 aperture setting, the smoothness of the out-of-focus areas is beautiful
• The Sony FE 50mm lens does not distort images.
• It’s remarkably sharp with minimal chromatic aberration
• This lens is great value for money
• The autofocus isn’t as fast as the other lenses mentioned in this blog post, and it makes some noise as it finds focus
• It’s not the perfect travel lens because its focal length rules out landscapes and interior shots where you are attempting to capture wide spaces

When the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 lens is used on the a6000 camera, it sees the same angle of view as a 75mm lens on a full-frame or 35mm camera. With its tiny weight of 6.6 ounces (186 g), it’s worth attaching this to your mirrorless camera for travel photography. The 7-blade, circular, f/1.8 aperture produces excellent bokeh, and combined with its superb optics, it is ideal for taking portraits of the friends you make as you journey around the world. The short-telephoto focal length of this lens is suitable for nature photos and non-imposing candid shots in street photography.  

Zoom Lenses

Sony zeiss 16-70 vario tessar f4 oss.

• This lens feels very sturdy and well-built

The lens is compact and easy to carry around

Zoom ring works well

The bokeh of this lens is very impressive

quite an extreme distortion

The Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS is indeed considered one of the best zoom lens choices for traveling. This lens shares some similarities with its predecessor, the Sony Zeiss 24mm f1.8. It has compact dimensions, measuring approximately 2.95 x 2.64 x 2.64 inches and weighing 10.9 ounces, making it suitable for travel and easy to fit in your travel bag.

Furthermore, if you are a user of the Sony A6000 camera, this lens performs well with autofocus and ensures accurate focusing. The zoom ring of the lens is also reported to be easy to operate, enhancing the overall user experience.

the Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS is a popular choice for travelers due to its portability, autofocus capabilities, and user-friendly zoom ring.

Sony 10-18 f4.0 OSS Wide Angle

A durable and robust metal construction

known for its quick and accurate autofocus acquisition

Comes with a 4-stop optical image stabilization system

A wider field of view

A limited zoom range compared to some other zoom lenses

A slight amount of distortion

A maximum aperture of f/4

Sony 10-18 f4.0 OSS is small and compact wide-angle lens, measuring approximately 2.5 by 2.8 inches (height x diameter), and it weighs just 7.9 ounces. This lightweight and portable design make it easy to carry and handle while traveling. But the lens doesn’t come with dust or splash protection. You should be care of your camera lens when travelling. Additionally, this lens comes with a optical stabilization, ensuring photographers taking pictures without worrying about camera shake. This lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 9.8 inches. While it may not be classified as a dedicated macro lens, this close focusing distance allows you to capture subjects at a relatively close range with good detail. When it comes to its autofocus, it works well.

Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3

11x zoom offers an extensive zoom range

Producing sharp and detailed results acquisition

1:2.9 macro focus

Adjustable speed power zoom

The power zoom mechanism can introduce some noise into the soundtrack

Resolution and light-gathering drop when zoomed in

Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3 offers an angle of view equivalent to using a 27-300mm lens on a 35mm camera. This wide zoom range makes it versatile for capturing a variety of subjects, from wide-angle shots to telephoto perspectives. The lens also features optical stabilization, which helps to minimize camera shake and produce steadier images, particularly useful when shooting handheld or recording video. The auto-focus performance of this lens is generally fast and accurate in various lighting conditions. It can efficiently lock onto subjects and ensure sharp focus in most situations.

Each lens we reviewed is considered suitable for travel photography. We looked for lenses that were compact in size and had minimal weight because travel photographers don’t want to be carrying heavy equipment all day. Other considerations included the quality of the optics and the sharpness of the images. 

We also looked at the size of the aperture and its ability to produce enough background blur to make the main subject stand out from its environment. The final area we addressed was each lens’s ability to work well in low light so you can photograph during golden hour and at night. Here is a summary of which lens works best in each category.

How to Buy a Travel Lens

Many travellers want to take some pictures during their travelling. But they are often struggle to choose a right camera lens. Here are some tips:

A lens should be lightweight and portable : Indeed, for many travelers, having a lightweight camera setup can be beneficial, as it allows for easier portability and reduces the physical strain of carrying heavy gear. Using a lighter camera lens can contribute to a more comfortable and enjoyable travel experience.

You need to know what do you like photograhing : Different camera lenses offer different results. If you enjoy photographing landscapes and cityscapes, wide-angle lenses may be the best choice.It is typically with focal lengths below 35mm. For street photography, prime lenses such as 35mm or 50mm are worth considering. If you want to capture both landscapes and street scenes, a zoom lens would be a great option. Therefore, it is important to consider the type of photography you enjoy and choose the appropriate lens based on your style and preferences.

Y our Budget : Prime lenses are often more cost-effective to manufacture compared to zoom lenses due to their fixed glass elements. This cost advantage translates into fantastic optics at a relatively lower price point. On the other hand, zoom lenses, while versatile for travelers, tend to be more expensive, making them less affordable for photographers on a budget. However, it’s important to note that the lower cost of prime lenses does not indicate poor quality; many prime lenses offer exceptional image quality and performance.

L ow-Light Performance : Many travelers frequently encounter challenging lighting situations and, therefore, it is crucial to consider the lens’s maximum aperture. As a general rule, lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or lower tend to deliver superior performance.

Durability : It is important to note that you should check whether a lens is water or moisture-resistant. When traveling, cameras and lenses can be exposed to various weather conditions and environments. Opting for a weather-sealed lens provides added protection against dust and water, helping to safeguard your equipment and maintain its performance.

Our Verdict

The Sony a6000 camera is a brilliant travel camera. Being such a portable and versatile mirrorless camera, you will want to carry it with you at all times. And it’s powerful enough to give you professional-quality images to help you remember the scenery and the good times from your travels. 

To gain optimal results, you must pair it with a high-precision lens. You will be happy with any of the lenses suggested above, especially if you consider the type of photography they were designed for and the style of photos you want to capture. 

However, if you want a lens covering most aspects of travel photography, we recommend the  Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS . With its image stabilization, angle of view, and wide aperture, this lens will help you capture general snapshots while you explore new surroundings, but it will get serious when you want high-resolution action shots, gorgeous night scenes, and stunning portraits too.

FAQ About Travel lenses for Sony a6000

What are the advantages of a wide aperture.

A wide aperture, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8, allows you to photograph in darker conditions. It enables you to use a low ISO, which reduces noise (graininess). Having less noise means greater detail in your photos. And you’re also able to shoot at faster shutter speeds, so you reduce the risk of accidental blur. A wide f-stop provides less depth of field, which separates your subject from the background, making your images more pleasing to the eye.

What’s the Best Lens for Portraits?

Travel lenses are not necessarily going to be suitable for portraits. Many travel lenses (including some of the ones reviewed above) are wide-angle lenses designed for landscapes rather than shots of individuals. Having a wider angle of view means you will accidentally distort a person’s features if you get too close to them. 

Being short lenses means they don’t separate the background from the subject as easily as lenses with a longer focal length. The best lens for a portrait has a 50 mm to 85 mm active focal length. When combined with a wide aperture, these lenses create a soft and dreamy bokeh around your subject, which is perfect for stunning portrait photography. 

Apart from making your subject stand out from the background, this background blur is also useful for covering any distracting elements behind the subject. With its extra focal length, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is the travel lens with excellent portrait capabilities.

Which Lens has the Best Low Light Performance?

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens has the widest aperture of all the lenses reviewed in this article, making it a strong contender for the title of the best low-light performer. And with its Super Multi-Layer Coating that reduces reflections and unwanted light flare, there aren’t too many lenses around that can beat it. 

But it doesn’t have image stabilization. Being of small size, that’s not going to affect your photography too much since there’s hardly any camera movement at the end of its length, but there is another lens that might suit you better. 

With its Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and the wide aperture of f/1.8, the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 lens produces exceptional photos in dim lighting. It has a slightly narrower aperture than the Sigma, but the image stabilization provides more peace of mind when shooting without a tripod.

Do professional photographers use Sony a6000?

Many professional photographers use it for their work.

What size lens cover for Sony A6000?

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Best Travel Lens for Sony A6000 Cameras in 2023 [Buying Guide]

Last Updated: January 2, 2023 by Alex Parker

Table of Contents

Travel photography is unique. You need to have the best travel lens for Sony A6000 cameras if you want to capture all your favorite moments. We’ll look further into what makes a lens great for traveling and how you can pick a lens that works to your strengths and photography style.

We’ve gone through countless options to find the ones that stand out. There are so many things to consider – durability, price, versatility, compatibility, quality, control and so many more. It can be painstaking to find the right balance between all these aspects.

We’ve done all the hard work for you by bringing you the 10 best lenses that get the balance right. Each lens has a unique feature and very good general usability. We believe that the lens you choose needs to very closely match your style of photography and your needs.

This travel lens for Sony A6000 review should give you all the information you need to make a smart choice that you’re happy with.

Let’s get into the reviews!

Comparison of 10 Best Travel Lens for Sony A6000 in 2023

Top 10 best travel lens for sony a6000 in 2023 [in detail], 1 rokinon ultra-wide angle lens – best landscape lens for sony a6000.

• Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.3 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches
• Colour: Black
• Focal Length:  18mm
• Aperture:  F/2.0 – F/22
• Zoom/Prime:  Prime
• Lens Type:  Ultra-Wide Angle
• Mount:  E-Mount (APS-C)

We love wide-angle lenses for travel. They are uniquely equipped for landscape photography and capturing more of the scene.

Fish-eye lenses are also great, though I personally prefer the wide-angle lens. If you’d like to make your mind up then here is a great comparison of fish-eye and wide-angle lenses for photography.

It’s a prime lens that has an 18mm focal length (35mm equivalent) – which gives you a very broad scene. The A6000 isn’t a full-frame camera and this lens will help you get much more of the scene.

The f/2.0 aperture makes it pretty decent at snapping low-light evening shots. This is very handy as you will come across so many low-light photo opportunities while you’re traveling.

Key Features:

• 12mm ultra-wide-angle lens
• Compatible with APS-C Sony E-Mounts
• Nano Crystal Coating System (NCS) for increased light transmission
• Manual focus available
• f/2.0 – f/22
• the wide aperture is great for low light perfect for capturing those alluring evening shots
• lightweight and easy to carry around
• great wide-angle field of view
• manual focus is better if you have the skills
• fits all Sony APS-C E-mounts
• no auto-focus if you’re after a point-and-shoot lens
• you can’t zoom – for some people, this isn’t too great for travel

2 Meike Ultra-Wide Angle Lens – Best Prime Lens for Sony A6000

• Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches
• Colour : Black
• Focal Length:  12mm
• Aperture:  F/2.8 – F/22
• Lens Type: Ultra-Wide Angle
• Mount:  E-Mount (APS-C)

This is a great performing wide-angle travel lens for Sony A6000 cameras. It’s fully compatible and quite affordable.

You’ll get an almost 100° viewing angle which is amazing for landscapes and sunsets.

The aperture isn’t amazing for low light but the results you get are still good quality.

It’s a prime lens, meaning that you aren’t able to zoom. Prime lenses are different from zoom lenses in a couple of ways. Knowing how they differ is quite important.

Its lack of zoom is balanced out by the short 12mm focal length – which lets you focus on objects just under 4 inches away.

You’ll be able to use this lens to snap some great macro shots – you can get some interesting results with a little practice.

The multi-layer coating helps to reduce reflections and improve the amount and quality of light hitting the sensor.

• compatible with Sony E-mounts
• f/2.8 – f/22 aperture
• the minimum focus range of just under 4 inches
• nanotech multi-layer coating for better light transmission
• ability to get some decent macro shots
• very short 12mm focal length
• almost 100° viewing angle for wide-angle shots
• great price
• excellent for landscape and architecture photography
• image stabilization could be better
• no auto-focus – it’s not really a point-and-shoot lens

Also Read: Best Lenses for Sony A7riii

3 Sony Wide-Angle Zoom Lens – Best Travel Lens For Sony A6000

• Weight: 8 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches
• Focal Length:  15-27mm
• Aperture:  Constant f/4.0
• Zoom/Prime:  Zoom
• Lens Type: Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
• Mount: E-Mount

This is the first zoom lens of the review. Earlier we took a look at the differences between prime and zoom lenses.

Zoom lenses are very useful for travel photography. Often, you’re so busy you don’t have time to constantly move around and relocate to get your shots.

Wide-angle zoom lenses give you the best of both worlds. You get the viewing angle of a wide-angle prime lens, and the ability to zoom in and out to better frame your photos.

The internal focus makes focusing fast and easy to control.

The A6000 isn’t a full-frame camera, so this wide-angle lens helps you get photos that look full-frame and capture the whole scene.

• wide-angle lens that can zoom
• circular aperture for the bokeh effect
• extra-low light dispersion
• lens-based image stabilization
• 15-27mm focal range (35mm equivalent)
• Both wide angle and it can zoom
• Very high-quality engineered build and design
• Internal focus and in-lens stabilization produce great results
• Helps improve the photos of the A6000 non-full frame
• Expensive – but it does deliver quality
• A constant aperture of f/4.0 means low light isn’t amazing

4 Sony Portrait Lens

• Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches
• Focal Length:  50mm (0.16x)
• Aperture:  F/1.8 Maximum
• Lens Type: Portrait/Standard

Traveling is often more about the people you encounter than the places you can tick off your list. Wide-angle lenses aren’t really made for capturing people and portraits.

This lens is near-perfect for photographing people. The frame is just the right size to capture the emotion of the person and enough of the scene to make the moment memorable.

It’s a compact and lightweight lens that’s easy to slap on your camera and get awesome shots.

The viewing angle is around 35° wide – so you need to make sure you pay special attention to how you compose your shots.

You’re getting a smaller frame, meaning you have less room to correct composition errors through cropping and tilt correction.

• 16x zoom (35mm equivalent is 75mm)
• 7 diaphragm blades
• Large f/1.8 aperture
• The minimum focus range of 0.4m
• Great for low light and portrait photos
• Gives simple photos a professional look and feel
• Lightweight, compact and easy to carry around – perfect for travel
• Images are very sharp and the colors are accurate
• The frame is quite zoomed in and the zoom isn’t adjustable – this means you need to move around to change the zoom.
• Focal length makes it a little difficult to use in small spaces and some indoor situations

Read Also: Best Lenses for Sony A6300

5 Sony Power Zoom Lens

• Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.8 inches
• Focal Length:  24mm – 75mm
• Aperture:  F/3.5 – F/36
• Lens Type: Power Zoom

This is a 16-50mm lens, but it isn’t a full frame. There isn’t much need for you to get a full-frame lens for your Sony A6000 as it wouldn’t make a difference.

The measurement of the focal length has been changed to the 35mm equivalent . This is a great article to teach you the basics of this very important topic.

This is a great camera lens if you want versatility. It’s retractable – this means that you can go all the way from wide-angle to full zoom.

It’s very well-suited to travel since it can handle so many situations. You won’t have to move around as much thanks to the zoom lens.

The images are sharp and the stabilization is quite good. It’s relatively easy for beginners to get good professional-looking photos with a little practice.

It’s a fantastic all-rounder Sony A6000 kit lens for travel.

• 24mm – 75mm focal length (35mm equivalent)
• f/3.5 – f/36 aperture range
• 25cm minimum focus distance
• SteadyShot image stabilization
• Mount can retract to 30mm for wider compatibility
• Very compact and versatile
• It can do the job of several lenses at the same time
• It’s quite affordable and offers good value for money
• Decent image stabilization
• The perfect compact lens for use while traveling
• The wide angle isn’t as good as dedicated wide angle prime lenses
• You may need to wiggle the lens around a couple of times to get the camera to recognize the lens. This isn’t a widespread problem but it’s a minor inconvenience

6 Sony 18-105mm – Sony A6000 Telephoto Lens

• Weight: 15 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches
• Focal Length:  27-158mm (35mm =)
• Aperture:  F/22 minimum
• Lens Type: Telephoto
• Mount: E-Mount and A-Mount

Telephoto lenses are excellent for travel because they open up opportunities for you to get shots that aren’t possible with the standard kit lens.

This could be because you can’t physically reach the area you’re trying to photograph – or because you’re 50mm doesn’t have the optical zoom to get a sharp image. This is a higher-end versatile lens that will be useful for about 90% of your daily use while traveling.

The wide-angle helps to get wide shots and make up for the frame cropping of the A6000. You’ll definitely be getting good professional quality shots with this Sony lens – if you have the budget for it.

The high aperture will let you manipulate exposure and depth of field to pump out some very interesting photos of your travels.

If you’d like to learn more about aperture and how to use it to get awesome snaps, then this is a fantastic read for you. This is a smart choice for your Sony A6000 for travel photography.

• Accepts the E-Mount and the full-frame A-Mount cameras
• Wide-angle to medium telephoto zoom
• 6x zoom range while keeping a constant f/4.0 aperture
• 27-158mm zoom range when converted to the 35mm equivalent
• Far zoom with reliable contrast and exposure all along the way
• Very good image stabilization
• Auto-focus is accurate and snappy enough to keep you locked onto your target object
• Useful in almost all situations and very versatile
• The constant f/4.0 aperture along the zoom can limit your options a little – you’ll probably need to stop down to get a sharp focus on the far end of the telephoto
• Larger and harder to carry around than other options on this list

7 Sony 50mm Standard Lens

• Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.7 x 2.3 x 2.7 inches
• Focal Length:  75mm (35mm =)
• Aperture:  F/1.8
• Lens Type: Standard

50mm lenses are your everyday carry lenses. Read this article if you’d like to learn more about what makes them so good at general photography.

They are suitable to almost all situations though you’ll need to think carefully about composition – and be willing to move around to get a good frame.

These lenses are amazing point-and-shoot standard lenses.

You’ll find it extremely useful for catching scenes that don’t give you a lot of time to prepare for. This makes the 50mm lens arguably the best travel lens for Sony A6000 cameras.

With a decent viewing angle and good image stabilization, you can expect sharp photos that expose and capture the scene well.

Low light is generally good thanks to the larger aperture. It’s a great all-around lens for traveling.

• Compatible with full frame
• 7-blade circular aperture
• Compact and lightweight
• It’s compact and easy to carry around all day. It’ll spend most of its time on your camera anyway.
• 50mm lenses are very well-suited to travel photography
• Large aperture gives good low-light photographs and great portraits of your friends
• The metal mounts feel durable and the lens, in general, feels very high quality
• Good value for money
• Not too easy for beginners as 50mm lenses require careful attention to image composition
• The auto-focus isn’t amazing – it’s a little sluggish and makes some mistakes

8 Sony 55-210mm Zoom Lens – Best Travel Zoom Lens For Sony A6000

• Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches
• Focal Length:  82-315mm (35mm =)
• Aperture:  F/4.5 – F/6.3

A zoom lens is unlikely to ever give you the same image quality as the dedicated, equivalent prime lens – but when it loses its quality – it makes up for its versatility.

This is why zoom lenses have become so popular for traveling.

It’s way easier to carry a zoom lens and maybe a 35mm (or 50mm) lens than it is to cart around a prime for every situation.

It’s far more practical and cost-effective to get yourself a zoom lens.

This lens gives you quite a powerful zoom to help you capture more shots on the go without having to constantly reposition yourself.

The stabilization is quite good at the telephoto end of the lens and the lens has a solid feel to it.

It’s one of the better options if you want the best travel zoom lens for Sony A6000 cameras .

• 55-210mm focal length (82-315mm at the 35mm equivalent)
• f/4.5 – f/6.3 aperture range
• Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
• Very quiet internal focusing makes auto-focus smoother
• The minimum focus distance is 3.42 feet
• Great value for money when you consider the versatility and savings on prime lenses
• Good image stabilization at the telephoto end of the lens
• Image quality is better than expected – they’re sharp and the bokeh is beautiful
• Extremely versatile and useful
• Autofocus is kind of slow – but smooth
• The wide-angle end of the zoom doesn’t really give you much of a wide angle

9 Sony 35mm Fixed Prime Lens

• Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Dimensions: 1.8 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches
• Focal Length:  35mm (50mm crop)
• Lens Type: Standard 35mm

35mm are lenses that most seasoned photographers keep on their cameras 85% of the time.

They are so good for general use and low light that they can pretty much live on your camera.

35mm lenses are perfect secondary lenses and they really excel at indoor photography.

If you’re planning on visiting a place that requires regular changes of scenery – and switching between indoors and outdoors often – then this is possibly the best 35mm lens for Sony A6000 cameras.

The auto-focus and the image stabilization are both excellent and reliable.

Having a lens like this available for your A6000 will be perfect as it helps deal with the cropping factor of non-full frame cameras.

• 35mm focal length (50mm true length thanks to the crop factor of the A6000)
• Large f/1.8 aperture for excellent low light and general use
• Intelligent internal image stabilization
• Object-locked auto-focus that stays on target
• High-quality images
• Autofocus is fast and reliable – it stays on target well
• Image stabilization is very good and gives you consistent results
• Large f/1.8 aperture for amazing low light and indoor photography
• The very useful and versatile primary lens
• You’re getting amazing image quality from a well-built prime lens
• The price may be a little out of the average traveler’s budget – but it’s a prime lens after all
• Doesn’t feel as durable as some other lenses in the same price range

Read Also: Best Flash for Sony A6000

10 Sony 55mm Sonar Full Frame Lens

• Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches
• Focal Length:  55mm
• Lens Type: Full Frame Standard
• Mount: Fixed E-Mount

This full-frame lens is a really high quality carefully crafted lens.

It’s probably the highest-quality travel lens for Sony A6000 review we’ve done.

The price is much steeper – as you’d expect from a full-frame prime lens – but the quality of the images you get from this lens blows the competition away.

Lens flare and internal scattering of light are pretty much non-existent thanks to Carl Zeiss T* coating. You’ll get consistent and reliable results when you use this lens.

The material and build quality are extraordinarily good.

You’re going to enjoy using this lens… for a long time!

The auto-focus is arguably the best on this list, and the image stabilization isn’t far behind.

The near-perfect image quality places this as one of the very best travel lenses for Sony A6000 cameras.

• Very high-quality full-frame compatible prime lens
• Very wide f/1.8 aperture
• 55mm focal length gives you a minimum focal length of about 50cm
• 14x magnification is possible
• Whopping 9 diaphragm blades
• Full frame prime lens that delivers a stunning quality image and an expertly crafted build
• The low light ability is amazing
• Auto-focus is stupidly fast and accurate
• 50mm lenses are very versatile and useful in a lot of different situations
• The price is very high for beginners. You’ll still need to buy a zoom lens if you plan on taking any telephoto shots
• You can get f/1.4 lenses for a similar price that can give you even better shallow depth-of-field shots

Here’s Some Things We Think You Should Know

We hope your “What lenses can I use with Sony A6000?” question has been dealt with. They’re just a couple of things that we want you to keep in mind before you make a decision.

Remember that the Sony A6000 Isn’t a Full Frame Camera

I’ve made a special effort to convert all the focal lengths in this travel lens for Sony A6000 review into their 35mm equivalents. Full-frame cameras and full-frame lenses are much more expensive, though they do come with their advantages.

The lenses that we’ve gone through here are going to help you best deal with the cropping factor of the A6000. They will all be able to give you high-quality images that feel and look professional.

Learn and Master One Lens at a Time

It’s important for you to focus your attention on developing one skill at a time. Learning everything about your lens – and how to use it to get the best photos from your A6000 – is the skill that’ll give you tangible results in the shortest time.

Learn EVERYTHING there is about your lens. Spend some time every day looking up articles and tutorials on tips and tricks to get better photos with your lens. Each lens has its strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to you to make the most of that information.

Our Final Thoughts

You should have a very good idea of which lens suits your style, needs, and budget.

We have given you a variety of options to cater to the unique interests you may have.

Many seasoned photographers carry several lenses – but they have spent lots of time learning the ins and outs of each of them.

Now that you have the best travel lens for Sony A6000 that matches what you need – it’s time to get out there and work on your skills. Getting the results it’s just a matter of practicing with the right gear for you.

Enjoy your new photo and let it inspire you to dive deeper into this beautiful art!

You May Love To Read Also:

• Best Lenses for Sony A6300
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The best lenses for Sony a6000 in 2023

It may have come out in 2014, but the Sony a6000 is still a beast of a camera, and these lenses make it even better.

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The Sony a6000 is a fantastic camera–especially when paired with lenses for the Sony a6000–that has stood the test of time since its release in February 2014. Since then, Sony has launched several new versions and higher-spec models in the a6100, a6300, a6400, a6500, and the a6600. However, the a6000 is still one of the best beginner or backup cameras available.

While these lenses are great for the a6000, offering excellent image quality and a range of features, they would also be good companions to the newer, higher-end Sony models mentioned above. So rest assured, if you buy one of these best lenses for your a6000 and then decide to upgrade, they will carry over perfectly well. 

Best overall: Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

• Best for portraits: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary  
• Best zoom: Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS
• Best landscape lens: Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS

Best on a budget: Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS

Honorable mention: tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 di iii-a vc rxd, things to consider before buying lenses for the sony a6000.

There are many things you need to consider when buying a lens . However, before we move on to those, it’s important to note that the Sony a6000 is an E-mount camera, which means that it can only take a lens with Sony’s E-mount. When looking at lens options, especially third-party options like Sigma and Tamron, be sure to choose the correct mount. 

The a6000 has an APS-C sensor, which results in a 1.5x crop factor. The crop factor means that the lens’s effective focal length will differ from what is listed. For example, if you are looking at a 50mm lens, it will act like a 75mm lens on the a6000. As a result, it’s helpful to do that math when choosing which focal length will be best for you.

Your typical subject matter and shooting style will significantly impact which lens is best for you. For example, if you were to use the Sony a6000 for portrait photography , a prime lens, such as the 50mm, might be better than the 18-135mm, which is better suited for travel photography. Or, if you intend to use it as a street photography camera, you should consider the smaller pancake lenses because of their compact size.

As with most photography gear, cost is a significant factor. Though the Sony a6000 is relatively low-priced due to its 2014 release date, lenses can still get quite expensive. As you get into higher-quality lenses, the price will, of course, go up. Buying a quality lens for an older camera is still worth it, though; you can always future-proof yourself with a higher quality lens now and upgrade the camera later.

Size and Weight

The Sony a6000 is a small camera, weighing just 12.13 ounces. Large, heavy lenses will mean that your setup becomes front-heavy. The unbalanced weight can be awkward to carry and potentially cause aches on your neck or shoulder from carrying it. If staying lightweight is essential to you, focus on more compact lenses.

Build quality

Determining what you intend to use the camera for is important for choosing the best lens for the Sony a6000. Many forms of photography require you to be outside and sometimes in wet and windy conditions. Some types of shooting may mean the lens is liable to bump into things or generally get roughed up. If this is the case for you, it will be critical to have a lens with good build quality. A metal casing and weather sealing that can withstand the worst nature can throw at us are two things to look for.

Here are our picks for the best Sony a6000 lenses:

Why it made the cut: Equivalent to a 27-75mm on a full-frame camera, The 18-50mm is a versatile focal range ideal for most photographic situations. With a wide, f/2.8 maximum aperture and a low price, this is the best lens you can buy for the money.

Key features:

• Weather sealed: No
• Image stabilization: No
• Weight: 10.2oz
• Filter thread: 55mm
• Effective focal length: 27-75mm
• Wide and constant aperture
• Lightweight
• No AF/MF switch
• No Image stabilization

Product description

The 24-70mm range is a very popular, versatile zoom range found in most photographers’ kits. Sigma’s 18-50mm f/2.8–which is equivalent to 27-75mm–is a fantastic lens that comes at an affordable price. The images it produces are sharp, with excellent center sharpness between f/2.8 and f/11 at most focal lengths. There is some softness on the edges, though it is minimal, especially considering the price of the lens.

The wide f/2.8 aperture allows you to create a nice separation between your subject and the background, with some very pleasing bokeh as well. It also makes it better in low-light conditions. Unfortunately, there is no physical AF/MF switch, which could be a deal-breaker for those who frequently switch back and forth between the two. But, the autofocus is excellent, with the STM motor quickly and very quietly achieving focus, even when going from close to far. 

One of the biggest perks of this lens is its compact size. It’s only 2.9 by 2.6 inches and 10.2 ounces, which compliments the small size of the a6000. Overall, the Sigma 18-50mm is a great lens, especially for those just beginning in photography or want something lightweight and affordable.

Best for portraits: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Why it made the cut: With a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture and tiny 2.62 x 2.34 inch size, this is a beautifully bright little lens perfect for portraits. 

• Weather sealed: Yes
• Weight: 9.9oz
• Effective focal length: 84mm
• Weather sealed
• Sharp photos
• No image stabilization

85mm is considered by many to be the ideal portrait focal length, and the Sigma 56mm comes in at 84mm equivalent. Though it is part of Sigma’s “Contemporary” range, the second tier behind its premium “Art” line, it is still an incredible little lens. The fast f/1.4 aperture will allow you to tackle difficult lighting situations because the wider aperture allows more light in the camera. This is especially useful for indoor or nighttime portrait work without a lighting setup. The wide aperture also results in wonderful bokeh and beautifully shallow depth of field.

Sigma’s 85mm is extremely sharp, producing crisp, quality images. Furthermore, it’s small at only 2.34 inches in length and weighs just 9.9 ounces. Combined with the Sony a6000, the total weight is just 22.03 ounces, the same weight as the next lens on this list! So, you could also use this for street and travel photography as it’s light and small enough that it’s easy to carry, and you won’t scare the subject away. 

The addition of weather sealing is also very welcome, and that means you can take it out for longer without needing to fear rain or bad weather. 

Best zoom: Sony Alpha 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS Super-Telephoto APS-C Lens

Why it made the cut: The Sony 70-350mm is a powerhouse of a lens. With weather sealing, image stabilization, and a long zoom range, this lens is versatile enough to get you through many photography situations. 

• Image stabilization: Yes
• Weight: 22.1oz
• Filter thread:  67mm
• Effective focal length: 105-525mm
• Long zoom capabilities
• Image stabilization
• Fast autofocus
• Slow maximum aperture

When you need to cover that extra distance, the 70-350mm (equivalent to 105-525mm in full-frame format) is the lens to pick. It covers a huge range, ideal for different types of photography. For example, it’s perfect for sports and wildlife photography, where you can’t be as close to the subject as you’d like. It can also be a fun lens for certain landscapes, as the telephoto range visually shortens the distance between the background and foreground, resulting in aesthetically pleasing photos.

The slower f/6.3 at the lens’s most narrow focal length isn’t the best in low-light situations, but the in-lens stabilization will help with that. Sony’s image stabilization (OSS) is fantastic and does a wonderful job of ensuring your images are sharp. Image quality is sharp, and the autofocus is quick, so you’ll come away feeling happy knowing that you got the shot.

As this lens is less likely to be used indoors, Sony included dust and splash-resistant sealing on the lens. It is also made of sturdy polycarbonate, making it durable enough to take on your adventures. However, it is quite heavy at 22.01 ounces, which will be a bit front-heavy on the a6000. 

Best for landscapes: Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS

Why it made the cut: Sony’s 10-18mm is a sharp wide-angle lens with 3-stop optical stabilization and a lightweight yet sturdy metal body.

• Weight: 8oz
• Filter thread:  62mm
• Effective focal length: 15-27mm
• Wide field of view
• Very lightweight
• Durable metal shell
• No weather sealing

Wide-angle lenses are incredibly useful, from landscapes and real estate to group photos and quirky portraits. Sony’s 10-18mm will give you 15-27mm in equivalent full-frame format, making this a solid wide-angle lens. It has a primarily metal shell yet only weighs 8 ounces. The lightweight and compact size make it a useful travel companion as it wouldn’t burden you too much. The metal build also provides protection when traveling, so you’ll feel confident that the lens can survive most bumps and nudges. 

This lens has image stabilization to help you keep things pin-sharp even when using it in low light conditions. That’s even more helpful considering that the lens’s maximum aperture is only f/4, which takes away some low-light performance. However, it is a constant aperture, meaning you can use that throughout the focal range.

Why it made the cut: This low-cost lens is an ideal all-in-one zoom. At 18-135mm, it covers the full spectrum of what most photographers use and need. The addition of image stabilization means this lens is well suited for everyday use and is a great beginner lens.

• Weight: 11.5oz
• Effective focal length: 27-202mm
• Versatile zoom range
• Not weather sealed

Most photographers have a lens they love and always have on their camera, whether it’s the nifty fifty or a 24-70mm. This lens is perfect for that always-on status, as it covers a long focal range but is small–only 4.41 inches at maximum extension–and light enough to carry on your neck or shoulder all day. With dimensions of just 2.65 x 3.46 inches, it doesn’t take up much room in the camera bag, making it a great travel companion, especially if you’re traveling long term.

Image stabilization is a useful feature considering that the aperture is f/3.5 at its widest but narrows down to f/5.6 when zoomed all the way. It gives you that extra reassurance that you’ll get the photo you want without camera shake. The lack of weather sealing might be a deal-breaker for some, especially if you’re using it as your go-to lens. However, cameras and lenses are very robust these days, so you’ll still be able to use it in light rain in the short term.

Why it made the cut: The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 is a fantastic lens at a reasonable price that offers a 25-105mm full-frame equivalent focal length. It is one of Tamron’s flagship lenses and checks many boxes a lot of photographers look for in a lens.

• Weight: 18.51oz
• Filter thread: 67mm
• Effective focal length: 25-105mm
• Close focusing
• Fast & quiet autofocus
• Strong distortion across focal length range

The Tamron 17-70mm offers a lot of bang for your buck. It’s weather sealed, has Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC)–their term for image stabilization–and is a constant f/2.8. In addition, it can focus as close as 7.5 inches at the wide-angle end and 15.4 inches at the telephoto end, which makes it useful for macro photography. 

The autofocus is super fast, and you can barely hear it when using it. This makes it great for situations where you need to be as quiet as possible. For example, you don’t want to be photographing a wedding, and just as the bride is about to say “I do,” your camera’s autofocus starts buzzing and causing a distraction. There is some noticeable barrel distortion at the wide end and pincushion distortion when zoomed in, but you can easily adjust that in editing.

It has almost no focus breathing, meaning the focal length doesn’t change as you adjust focus. In combination with the fast and quiet autofocus and vibration control, this lens is an excellent choice for video work on a budget. 

Q: Do you need a lens for Sony a6000?

You do need a lens for the Sony a6000. This camera is an interchangeable lens camera, meaning that you can change lenses to suit different situations, but you must use a lens for it to work.

Q: What kind of lens do I need for the Sony a6000?

This really depends on what you intend to take photos of. A prime lens is best used for portrait work, while a zoom lens is more versatile as it can be used for travel photography, sports photography and even landscape photography. That’s not to say that a prime lens can’t do any of the above or vice versa, it’s just that they offer specific pros and cons to each situation.

Q: What is the difference between A-mount and an E-mount lens?

Sony cameras come in two mount types, A and E. The camera mount is essentially the mechanism for attaching the lens to the camera, and different types generally have different diameters, meaning the wrong lens will not fit. The Sony A-mount is designed for cameras with a mirror inside it, such as a DSLR camera. The E-mount is designed solely for the mirrorless range. You can use A-mount lenses on E-mount cameras with an adapter but cannot use E-mount lenses on A-mount cameras.

Q: What is a prime lens used for?

A prime lens is a lens with a single, fixed focal length. Because there is only one focal length, you cannot zoom in and out with the lens to get close to the subject; instead, you have to physically move closer. The primary benefit of a single focal length is fewer elements, or glass, inside the lens. The less glass the light has to pass through usually means sharper and better quality images. You can use prime lenses for any genre and type of photography. As long as you are in a situation where you can change lenses if needed, a prime lens will be a good choice. In fact, many photographers prefer primes because they are of higher quality and are frequently cheaper than zooms lenses.

Methodology

There were many considerations for choosing the lenses above, but ultimately, it came down to usage and budget. There are many lenses out there, both Sony and third-party lenses, and they all have their pros and cons. At the end of the day, the Sony a6000 is not one of Sony’s high-end models, and therefore the higher-end lenses that are available were not selected. 

Instead, the editors and writers at Pop Photo chose the lenses that we believe our readers will find most useful. We looked at factors such as the weight of the lens, low light capabilities, and versatility. The Sony a6000 is a great camera for all kinds of situations, and the lens that you buy should, ultimately, be able to handle those varied situations.

Final Thoughts

The Sony a6000 is a great little camera that holds its own and continues to be one of Sony’s most popular choices. Despite being older, this camera has no shortage of lens options, especially as new iterations of the camera are released and lenses continue to be usable with this E-mount camera.

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The 7 Best Lenses for Sony a6000 [Update for 2024]

If you want to find the best lenses for the Sony Alpha a6000 camera, you’ve come to the right place!

Our pick for the best lens for the Sony a6000 is the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens . It’s got everything you’d expect in a pro-level Sony lens, but at a cost, anyone can afford. What’s not to love?

Introducing the Top 5 Lenses For Sony a6000 Cameras!

BEST OVERALL LENS

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art Lens

BEST FOR VIDEO

Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 Lens

BEST TELEPHOTO LENS

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Lens

BEST WIDE-ANGLE LENS

Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens

BEST 50mm LENS

Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens

However, maybe you’re after something a little more specialized? We’ve got the 7 best lenses for the Sony E mount right here!

1. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens: Best Multipurpose Lens For Sony a6000

Our pic for the best all-rounder lens for Sony a6000 cameras is the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens. It’s got everything you need no matter what style of photography you’re into. Let’s check out what makes this lens so good.

The best all-around lens for Sony a6000 cameras comes packed with features.

Sigma put their all into their Art lenses. This means that this lens has dust and is weather-sealed just like you’d expect from a high-end Sony lens.

It’s also got multiple optical elements which will help to remove distortion , chromatic aberrations , and other problems in your photographs.

The focal length of this lens is also ideal for pretty much every style. Pull things back to the widest angle for landscape and astrophotography or get nice and tight for your basic wildlife and sports photography. This lens from Sigma really does have it all.

There are also features here that plenty of Sony lenses would be jealous of. The lens has an 11-bladed diaphragm which is outstanding for delivering buttery-smooth bokeh.

Sigma also decided to add several coatings to this lens to make sure that it can stand up to regular use. These will help protect the glass elements as well as keep the lens safer from dust and light scratches.

Of course, our pick for the best third-party lens for Sony a6000 cameras does have a few flaws, but they might not be what you’d expect.

The first drawback to this lens is that this lens does not come from the Sony brand. This means it’s going to look and operate a little differently than the lenses you might be used to.

This could be a deal-breaker for die-hard Sony fans as well as people who rely on using one style of lens for the similar button layout, and tactile controls, and those who don’t want to learn a different system.

There’s also the budget factor to consider here. While this definitely isn’t a budget option, it is way cheaper than the Sony brand. However, if you have the extra money to invest in a lens why not get the Sony equivalent?

• On par with Sony’s best lenses and half the price
• 36-105mm equivalent focal length
• Eight distortion-correcting elements
• 11-bladed diaphragm
• Great for nearly all photography styles
• Off-brand looks might not be right for everyone
• If you have the extra cash, you might be better of with the Sony GM equivalent

2. Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 Lens: Best Lens For Sony a6000 For Video

If you want the best vlogging lens for the Sony a6000, then the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 is exactly what you’ve been looking for!

We’re going to take a closer look at what makes this the best choice for videography on the Sony A6000.

This lens has all of the basic features you’ll want when it comes to shooting video on a Sony mirrorless camera . Yes, the crop sensor means that the affected focal length of this lens is going to be a little tighter, but it’s still going to be wide enough to handle shooting in most situations.

It’s also got Optical Steadyshot image stabilization, internal focus, and more than enough lens coatings and optical elements to overcome distortion and chromatic aberration.

This means you’ll be getting the best possible video every time you shoot. This is a very forgiving lens when it comes to beginner videographers who are looking to jump into this unique niche.

This lens is more than capable of delivering on professional results if you’re up to the job. This means that this lens can stick with you as you upgrade beyond the Sony a6000 and into their more professional line of cameras.

We talked a lot about video , but this is also a great lens when it comes to good old fashion photography. The 9-bladed diaphragm delivers on great bokeh and a wide range of focal length options meaning you’ll be able to do everything from landscape to portraiture using this lens.

Then again, there are a few drawbacks that we need to consider when we’re looking at this particular video lens. These could be minor cons, but they could also be serious setbacks that make or break this lens.

This is a great choice for general video. It’s wide enough to handle vlogging in your apartment, but also lets you get some title shots in as you expand and build your video skills.

However, you’ll ultimately want to move into some more specialized lenses as you develop your skills as a videographer. If you already know where you want to start, you might be better off picking a more specialized lens than this option.

This lens also has a few problems when it comes to low-light performance. It can definitely handle low-light filming conditions, but you’re going to need to lean harder on your skills as a photographer than you would with a higher-end lens.

• Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilization
• Internal focus for easy transportation and use
• Fluorine coating for durability
• 4 Aspherical elements
• 3 ED elements
• 9-blade diaphragm
• A general rather than specialized video lens
• You’ll have to pick between different styles

3. Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD: Best Telephoto Lenses for Sony a6000

If you want the best budget zoom lens for the Sony a6000, you’re going to need to look outside of the Sony brand. The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is not only one of the best zoom lenses for Sony a6000, and it’s also one of the most affordable.

There’s very little to dislike when it comes to this telephoto lens. It’s perfect for using on the crop sensor camera and it delivers an extra punch when it comes to telephoto photography.

This lens is a great choice if you’re looking to take pictures of sports games or you’re looking to venture outdoors.

This could also be the best wildlife lens for Sony a6000 cameras—especially on the crop sensor. This means you can explore the potential of taking stellar pics of your local birds to the wildlife on your next safari vacation.

Tamron makes some of the best third-party lenses out there. You’ll find all over the optical coatings, elements, and features you’d expect on Sony’s GM line of lenses.

Not everything is perfect when it comes to our pick for one of the best telephoto lenses for the Sony a6000.

The first thing that we need to deal with is a recurring problem when you shoot on a crop sensor camera . The crop sensor format naturally magnifies the focal length of any lens you use. This means that things are going to be much more zoomed-in than they would be on a full-sized sensor.

This could actually be a benefit when we’re doing telephoto work. This means that you get zoomed in even further than you would be able to on a higher-end camera.

However, this also means that you can’t zoom out nearly as far as that 70 mm focal length suggests you could. It’s actually about a 105 mm focal length equivalent which leaves 35 mm of a gap.

This just means you need to think carefully about the types of photography you’ll be using this lens for. It’s going to be even better when it comes to wildlife and sports but might struggle a little if you’re looking for an all-around lens you can carry every day.

Another thing to look at is that this is a third-party lens. This means it’s not going to offer the same kind of support that you would expect from a Sony lens. It also has a different style and a  different controller configuration which could be a bit of a hassle for people used to the house brand.

• 105-270mm equivalent focal length
• Great aperture range of f/2.8 to f/22
• Multiple coatings and elements
• Dual VXD Linear AF Motors
• Weather sealed
• Focal length range is a bit odd with the crop factor
• Third-party lenses aren’t for everyone

4. Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens: Best 35mm Lens for Sony a6000

There’s hardly anything to dislike about the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM. It’s one of the best lenses for Sony a6000 and it’s easily the best 35mm prime for this camera.

The Sony FE 35 mm lens is just about perfect when it comes to a 35 mm prime lens for a mirrorless camera system. Really, we scratched our heads to find problems with this lens and it was hard to come up with a few that we did.

This is also the best lens for Sony a6000 for night photography. That at one point forward aperture is going to be bright enough to handle just about anything that you can throw at it.

You are safe as can be taking this lens to a wedding, a party, or even trying your hand at some interesting astrophotography. There is essentially no dimly-lit situation that can’t be overcome with this bright of an aperture.

That aperture is also going to give you some great bokeh. People don’t tend to think about 35 mm lenses as a good option for portraits, but they really are. You’ll get some classic, cinematic-looking portraits with his lens.

This also means it’s a great lens for video. As long as you’re okay with always shooting wide or having to zoom with your feet, this lens gives you some pretty strong choices when it comes to video.

We should talk about the two big claws when it comes to the Sony FE 35mm lens.

The first thing that you’re going to notice about this once the price tag. It’s usually more expensive than the Sony a6000 camera and you’re definitely going to feel that cost. There are budget alternatives to this lens, but you start rapidly trading away all of the features that make it such a good lens in the first place.

Then again, that budget isn’t a problem at all if you plan on eventually upgrading out of the a6000 product line. If your ultimate goal is to work your way up to a professional-grade camera, then there’s no harm in starting with a professional-grade lens.

We should also spend a minute talking about the limitations of 35 mm. This is a very natural focal length, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of a telephoto zoom or extreme wide angle.

Ultimately, this is one of the best ones that you can get for any Sony camera . You just need to make sure that 35 mm is where you want to be.

• Ultra bright f/1.4 aperture
• Physical aperture ring with a “De-Click” Switch
• an AR II and Fluorine coatings
• Dual XD Linear AF Motors
• Expensive compared to the A6000
• 35mm prime has some restrictions

5. Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens: Best 50mm Lens for Sony a6000

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM is the best prime lens for Sony a6000 hands down. It’s got everything you’d ever want in a prime lens for a mirrorless camera. Here’s what makes it so great.

50 mm is arguably the ideal focal length for a prime lens. Many photographers consider this to be the same focal length shared by the human eye. Your photos will look natural. The styles you can use with this lens are very versatile.

Because it mimics the human eye, this lens is great for wildlife photography, landscapes, and portraits. It’s a very balanced option that delivers a comfortable result.

This particular lens is weather sealed, has an 11-bladed diaphragm, and even has a focus hold button. Whether you’re a beginner or a working professional, it’s hard to spot any problems with this lens.

That aperture is also outstanding. That f/1.2 means that you’re never going to encounter any problems shooting at night. If you ever run into a situation that’s too dark to photograph, it will be because your camera can’t keep up and not your lens.

There are very few drawbacks when it comes to this 50 mm lens, but we do have to look closely at some serious considerations.

The first thing we need to look at is this lens is way more expensive than the Sony a6000 itself. Of course, this isn’t a problem if it’s not for your budget, but it is worth looking at closely.

One of the best things about 50 mm prime lenses is that you can get them very cheaply. This focal length has a reputation for delivering even on budget models. There were professional photographers out there working every day using 50 mm lenses that hardly cost anything and still getting amazing results.

We’re not saying that this price point is bad for this specific lens, but we are saying that you can definitely get pro-level results with budget prime lenses .

There are a bunch of options that are also readily available. They are all over the market both in Sony’s own brand as well as other brands of camera lens options. You can even get a lens converter kit to use your favorite 50 mm lens that uses a different mounting system.

You’ve got plenty of options out there when it comes to finding a great 50-millimeter prime lens for the Sony a6000. This is the best of the best—so long as you have the budget.

• Focus hold button
• AF/MF switch
• Nano AR II and Fluorine coatings
• Four XD Linear AF Motors
• Weather-sealed build
• Multiple elements
• G Master lens
• Budget alternatives are readily available

6. Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens: Best 85mm Lens for Sony a6000

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is one of the best Sony lenses for portraits and the best 85mm lens available for this camera.

It’s honestly incredibly easy to go through all the positives of this lens. If taking portraits is one of your favorite activities, this is the lens that you’ve been waiting for.

The first thing we need to do is to look inside this lens and see what makes it so good for portraits. The double linear AF motor allows it to quickly and silently snap into focus. This is almost mandatory when you’re working with portraiture models who don’t need to be disturbed by the sound of a lens focusing.

This lens also has a 9-blade diaphragm and plenty of coatings and optical elements to reduce any distortion. This is especially important when it comes to portraits because you want to take the cleanest pictures possible.

This lens is also weather sealed. Honestly, being weather sealed is one of the most important things that you can have for a portrait lens. This means that you can get outdoors with your portraits without worrying so much about your lens taking damaged by dust or light rain.

This is also the best macro lens for Sony a6000 cameras, but you need to get a little crafty. You’ll either need a macro extension or just a quick trick.

You can actually turn any lens into a macro lens by flipping the lens around. You can find adapters that will mount it in place or you can just physically hold it there while you try your hand at macro photography.

The 85mm lens is already a great choice for macro. It’s got powerful magnification and tight features.

This also gets us into some of the flaws with this lens.

This isn’t expected critique at this point, but this is an incredibly expensive lens for the Sony a6000 camera. We’re essentially equipping a high-end professional lens with an entry-level camera. Yes, you can find budget alternatives to this Sony 85 mm lens, but they’re just not going to deliver on the same features.

85 mm is also considered a specialty focal length. It’s really good for portraits but doesn’t stand out when it comes to other styles of photography.

 You can compare this to another prime lens like the 50 mm. That’s great for portraits, but it’s also good for street photography and taking it with you for travel photography.

85 mm isn’t a bad focal length, but it does restrict your photography to portraits and if you related styles like product photography.

This means that it might not be the best first lens for someone looking to get into photography in general. However, if you already know the styles are after, this 85 mm lens from Sony is going to be your best choice for the Sony a6000.

• Double Linear AF Motor
• 9-bladed diaphragm
• One Extra-Low Dispersion element
• Outstanding aperture
• Perfect for portraits
• Expensive prime lens
• Not a good multitasker

7. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens: Best Wide Lens for Sony a6000

The best landscape lens for Sony alpha a6000 is easily the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens. Here’s why.

Wide-angle photography is becoming increasingly popular. You can access such fantastic photography styles as landscape , astrophotography, and even interior and Architectural photography. The sky, quite literally, is the limit when it comes to wide-angle photography.

The Sony FE 16 to 35 mm lens is going to open up all of those styles for you. This lens has a few tricks up its sleeve.

When you pair this lens with the Sony a6000, the 11-bladed diaphragm of this lens actually makes it a powerful portrait lens. If you stick to the 35 mm top end, this lens is also great for videography and street photography.

That’s a lot of versatility packed into a single lens. Yes, you won’t be able to zoom in to do Wildlife photography or sports photography, but you will have access to the vast majority of styles in a single package.

This also comes from Sony’s high-end lenses. These are the best of the best when it comes to shooting on mirrorless.

This means that this is a weather-sealed lens. It can stand up to shooting in the outdoors which is great if you’re interested in landscapes and nature, to begin with.

Set direct-drive supersonic wave autofocus motor is all so incredible to use on this lens. It’s got smooth, fast, responsive autofocus that’s perfect when you’re working out in nature and you don’t want to disturb the natural environment. You’ll just have to get used to saying “Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave AF Motors.”

Now let’s get into a few of the things that are holding this lens back.

One of the first things that we need to talk about is that a prime lens might be better when it comes to wide-angle photography. It really all depends on what you were going after.

Prime lenses have fewer mechanical problems. They also deliver on clear images. This is vital when it comes to certain wide-angle styles like astrophotography. If you’re taking really long exposures, you don’t want to risk having any visual distortions spoiling your image.

Zoom lenses also have more moving parts than prime lenses. This means that you have more to look out for as well as higher future repair budgets in case anything goes wrong.

Another issue with this lens has more to do with the Sony a6000 than it does with this lens itself. That crop sensor in the Sony a6000 is going to magnify the focal length of his lens. This means it won’t be nearly as wide as 16 mm to 35 mm.

Unfortunately, you can’t get much wider than this on a crop sensor to begin with. That’s just something that crop sensor camera owners are going to have to balance while they consider upgrading to a full-frame camera.

• Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave AF Motors
• Perfect focal length range
• A wide-angle prime might be better
• The crop sensor on the A6000 makes this actually a bit tighter

Conclusion – Which lens should I buy for my Sony a6000

The best overall lens for Sony a6000 has to be the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens . However, we also picked the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 lens as the best lens for Sony a6000 for video and the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens for your zoom and telephoto needs!

Which one of these lenses are you taking out for your next photoshoot?

Don’t forget to check out our other articles on the best Sony lenses .

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Is the Sony 16-25mm f/2.8 the Best Compact Lens for Travel?

I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot for photography and to some pretty tricky locations too. When I first started traveling for photography (or even for pleasure but wanting to take my camera gear with me), I was unable to leave anything behind. I was plagued with the "what if" question when packing my camera bag; what if I see some wildlife and need a long lens? What if I want to do some astrophotography on a clear night? What if I want to do some street portraiture? It doesn't take many trips until you see the error of your ways.

After a while, I knew that lightness of kit was to be a priority — depending on the brief, of course — and so I would gravitate to one of two things: compact and lightweight, or multipurpose. If you know what you'll likely be shooting, you can cut back on kit and lenses like this Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G come into their own.

Personally, I'd sacrifice a little weight and sharpness for a little more range on the zoom, but this is a fast, lightweight wide-angle lens for a fairly reasonable price. What do you think? Is this the sort of lens you would use for travel photography?

Robert K Baggs is a professional portrait and commercial photographer, educator, and consultant from England. Robert has a First-Class degree in Philosophy and a Master's by Research. In 2015 Robert's work on plagiarism in photography was published as part of several universities' photography degree syllabuses.

For me, this is a too limited range. If I had to take one lens that would be a 24-70 for sure. If I was travelling far (which I'm not really doing anymore), I think that I would take the following kit: - A9 + 100-400mm - A7r3 + 24-70mm f2.8 (switching lenses is really killing the fun IMO therefore the 2 bodies) - Eventually an UWA prime but in reality for landscape that can be covered by stitching 24mm shots. That doesn't really work well for seascape shots however... I would maybe take my 14mm f1.8. That's worth it if the location and dates have a potential for astro. Otherwise, a slower lighter prime would be better, Tamron 20mm f2.8? (don't have it though) - Ultra light tripod - Magnetic filters kit that covers all the lenses (would be the first thing to be removed if I had to save weight)

With this I can be sure that almost no frustration will happen 🙂

6 Best Lenses for Sony A6000 for Street Photography 2024

• Post author: Emma Lucy
• Post published: December 22, 2023

In my Experience the Best Street Photography Lenses for Sony A6000 are:

Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN

Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony SEL20F28 20mm f/2.8

Sony FE 50mm F1.8

Sony A6000 is such a fine small mirrorless camera and it is perfect for portraits and street photography. But sometimes, you may find that it is not easy to get the best street photography lenses for your A6000 .

There are some aspects that need to be considered when you buy a new lens, such as focal length, aperture, and so on. The problem is that not all lenses are created equal!

Whether you’re a seasoned street photographer or just starting out, join us as we explore the best lenses for balancing flexibility, price, and picture quality.

1. Sigma 30mm F/1.4 Contemporary DC DN

The Sigma 30mm F/1.4 Contemporary DC DN is a high-performance lens that offers an equivalent focal length of 45mm (in 35mm format). It’s an ideal lens for travel photography and street photography, where you want to keep your camera compact and inconspicuous.

This lens is compatible with APS-C models like the Sony A6000.

This fantastic lens is our top pick because it is great for beginner and intermediate street photographers .

Its focal length is suitable for capturing candid moments in public settings and its fast aperture is great for low-light situations. This lens is also very affordable, which makes it a great option for those on a budget.

Now let’s talk about its image quality. The Sigma 30 F/1.4 is one of the sharpest lenses for the Sony A6000 family.

Outstanding Image Quality

The lens has an excellent image quality, its contrasty and the colors are vivid which is good for shooting black and white street photos . And its bokeh is smooth and creamy which is ideal for portraits .

You can achieve a beautiful shallow depth of field with this lens.

The colors are vivid and it produces creamy skin tones. It can help you achieve a unique look if you’re shooting portraits of strangers on the streets.

Autofocus and Low Light Performance

The autofocus is quick and snappy and this lens can focus accurately even in low light conditions.

The only drawback is that the Sigma 30 F/1.4 doesn’t have image stabilization, which can be a problem if you’re shooting handheld at low shutter speeds. My simple advice – use a tripod or a monopod.

Usage and Compatibility

This lens acts like a 50mm on a full-frame camera, which means that it’s good for shooting street portraits and geometry.

There are many street photographers who used a 50mm focal length in the past like the great Henri Cartier-Bresson. In fact, he almost exclusively used a 50mm throughout his career.

The lens is compact but not pocketable . It’s a good choice if you’re looking for an affordable lens that will help you get better at street photography.

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is an affordable prime lens with excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and solid build quality.

• Tack sharp even wide open
• Has a good price/performance ratio
• Excellent image quality
• No image stabilization

2. Sony SEL35 F/1.8 – Compact & Lightweight Lens

Popularity and versatility.

Sony SEL35 F/1.8 is one of the most popular lenses for Sony a6000. It’s lightweight, small, affordable, and very good for street photography. It’s also good for portraits and travel.

The lens provides a 50mm (equivalent in 35mm format) focal length which is great for everyday use as well.

Compact and Lightweight Design

It is lightweight and compact, making it very easy to carry around. It is made of plastic but still feels solid in your hand and on the camera.

Another great benefit of using the Sony SEL35 F/1.8 is that it can flatten the background more, which can make your compositions far simpler.

Now, this lens has a silent focusing system which means that it’s almost completely silent when focusing.

This is great for street photographers who like to be discreet and without drawing attention to themselves. It’s also very sharp and produces beautiful bokeh.

Durable Build

The lens has a metal mount, which makes it more durable than plastic ones (like the original kit lens).

This lens is great for beginners because, with its equivalent focal length of 50mm, you have more distance to your subject allowing you to be more unnoticeable.

If you like to include geometry and simple compositions for your street shots, the Sony SEL35 F/1.8 might suit your needs.

• Fast and silent AF system
• Superb sharpness and accurate colors
• Chromatic aberration can be a problem

3. Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens

If you think that the Sigma 30mm f1.4 which is our top pick kinda limiting, you might go for its wider brother, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN.

This is a wide-angle lens that’s really popular among most street photographers . It has a focal length of 24mm (in 35mm format).

Not for Beginners, But Worth the Journey

Now, this lens is not beginner-friendly and may not suit you if you’re still not confident with your shooting skills. This lens is really wide and if you want your subjects to fill the frame, you have to be closer to them.

But the beauty of this lens is that it allows you to capture the environment around your subjects . You can also get a good amount of bokeh with this lens, which makes it perfect if you want to shoot portraits with a blurred background.

Capturing Environments: A Wide-Angle Marve

It’s also great for shooting street scenes and landscapes. You can get to capture a lot of background elements and details.

This is perfect for street photography as it will give you a different perspective. It’s also great for landscape photography because of its wide-angle capability.

There are a lot of renowned street photographers who love to shoot with 24mm lenses like Josef Koudelka and Sebastião Salgado . Study their works if you’re interested in getting a wide-angle lens.

Multi-Layered Storytelling: Context is Key

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN really shines when you’re shooting multi-layered storytelling , capturing your subject’s environment to give more context and it’s also fantastic for intimate portraits.

Its image quality is also excellent . Like its smaller brother which is the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is pretty sharp and gives amazing color .

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN is definitely a lens that you can use for everything, whether you’re shooting street photography or landscapes.

It’s really versatile and fast which makes it great for low-light situations where you still want to get a shallow depth of field.

Superb Build Quality: Solid in Every Aspect

The build quality is superb and it feels really solid in hand.

Now, because it is a wide-angle lens with a fast f/1.4 aperture, it has lots of glass inside which makes this lens a bit larger than most prime lenses. Luckily, it is still light and compact enough for everyday use.

• Superb build quality
• Outstanding performance even in low light
• You need to be more creative when composing your shots

4. Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is an affordable and compact zoom lens for the Sony A6000. It gives you a 16-50 mm focal range that allows you to shoot wide or tight.

Adaptable Aperture and Equivalent Range

This lens has an f/3.5-5.6 aperture and is equivalent to 24-75 mm on full-frame cameras, making it ideal for street photography since you can get shots from far away or close enough to capture details of your subject’s face or clothing .

Ideal for Street Photography

This lens is perfect for streets and travel, its 24-75mm equivalent will give you tremendous flexibility on the streets. The lens is small, lightweight, and unobtrusive so it’s easy to carry around all day long. It also has a nice build quality that feels solid in your hands.

Sharpness and Its Nuances

The Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS has a decent sharpness but its corner-to-corner sharpness is not that good even when you close its aperture.

It may not be as sharp or as punchy as the Sigma lenses above but street photography is all about the stories and capturing them on the fly, so sharpness is not that much important.

Fast and Silent Autofocus

Its autofocus is surprisingly fast and really silent . And pairing it with a small APS-C camera like the Sony A6000, you’re almost invisible to the crowd .

Lastly, the Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a great choice if you’re still on the fence about getting what you really want. Its advantage against prime lenses like the Sony 35 f/1.8 and Sigma 30 f/1.4 is its flexibility.

You can pretty much take a quick snap without moving your feet to get closer or farther to your subject.

• Flexible zoom lens
• Decent image quality throughout its zoom range
• Lacks corner sharpness

5. Sony SEL20F28 20mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Lens

If you really want to be unobtrusive on the streets, you might opt to get the Sony 20mm f/2.8. Its pancake design is really useful when you’re trying to take candid shots.

Compact Marvel in Size

It’s small and it’s definitely more compact than most APS-C prime lenses. You can also use it as a portrait lens if you don’t mind getting really close to your subject.

Its image quality is great, it’s sharp and the colors are nice . Edge-to-edge sharpness is actually decent wide-open. Stop it down and you will get even better results.

Autofocus Efficiency with Some Caveats

Sony 20mm f/2.8’s autofocus is fast enough for most cases but I feel that it is still behind compared to other Sony prime lenses in this category. Also, it is a little louder than the Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS.

Quality Comes at a Price

The 20mm f/2.8 is also a bit on the expensive side, especially if you compare it with other APS-C prime lenses in this list. But if you value quality and compact size, you should consider this lens.

Lastly, don’t get fooled by its small and lightweight size, the Sony 20mm f/2.8 has a great build quality that can stand up to heavy use.

• Small and unobtrusive
• Great build quality
• Design that is stealthy and unobtrusive.
• The compact size allows for convenient transportation.
• Versatility for both street and portrait shooting.
• Image quality is excellent, with clarity and pleasant colors.
• Strong construction that can withstand severe usage.
• Slower autofocus than its competitors
• When compared to the Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, the autofocus is somewhat noisier.
• Priced pricier than the other APS-C prime lenses on the list.

6. Sony FE 50mm F/1.8 Standard Lens

Perhaps you are shy and prefer taking photos from a distance, you want to remain unnoticed while taking your subject’s photos, or shooting wide is not your thing, then the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 is perfect for your needs.

This is actually a full-frame lens but it is also compatible with APS-C mirrorless cameras like the Sony a6000.

There is no shame in using a telephoto lens like the Sony FE 50 f/1.8 when shooting street scenes. As a matter of fact, Saul Leiter used to shoot with a variety of telephoto lenses up to 150mm and he is one of the greats.

Unique Geometric Compression

This lens can turn into an effective focal length of 75mm which can compress your images thus giving them a unique geometric look .

Of course, we’re not trying to look like Paparazzi and a bit sneaky when taking photos of strangers on the street, we’re using a telephoto lens to compress our images and be more selective on what to include in our frame .

Plastic Feel, Quality Build

Now back to the Sony FE 50mm F/1.8 Lens, its build quality is really good but it feels plasticky on our hands . But I am sure that the plastic construction on it is high quality and they will last a while.

Just like any other prime lens on this list, the Sony FE 50mm F/1.8 Lens can give you tack-sharp images with good contrast and punchy colors.

Tack-Sharp Images with Vibrant Colors

Its large f/1.8 aperture allows you to shoot in low-light situations and create beautiful portraits with gorgeous bokeh.

The lens autofocus is accurate, quiet, and fast enough, which is good for street photography. It is actually the most affordable 50mm Sony native lens, so we can expect that Sony made some compromises to keep its cost down.

Autofocus Efficiency with Considerations

The only issue I have with this lens is its autofocus can’t keep up when shooting fast-moving subjects. So you have to prepare in advance if you’re shooting in a really busy location.

• Sharpness is good
• Works well in low light
• Telephoto flexibility for covert photography.
• APS-C mirrorless camera compatibility.
• Despite the plasticky feel, the construction quality is excellent.
• Images with razor-sharp details and bright colors.
• Large f/1.8 aperture for excellent low-light performance and bokeh.
• Autofocus is not great for fast-moving subjects
• Feels cheap in hand

Prime or Zoom Lens?

In case you’re still wondering what kind of lens to choose for street photography, here’s a quick tip: start with what you have . If you already have a zoom lens, try it out first. Zoom lenses are easier to use because you can frame your shot from afar or get closer to your subject without having to move around much.

You can also change the focal length quickly with a zoom lens and capture different perspectives by zooming in or out.

Next, you have to take note of which focal length you use the most, then get a prime lens with that focal length.

I prefer to shoot with prime lenses since they are usually lighter and more compact than zoom lenses. Of course, the Sony 16-50mm OSS is an exception, but it is much slower and has lesser build quality.

Wide or Telephoto?

For me, I generally prefer wider focal length lenses like 28mm and 35mm. They are wide enough to capture a scene and close enough to shoot portraits of people without being creepy.

However, using a wide-angle lens can be tricky, you really need to compose creatively so your images will not come out as “flat”. Wide-angle lenses are great for scenes that have a lot of actions going on and interesting details.

While a telephoto lens can compress your images which can make them more aesthetically pleasing.

It also allows you to shoot candids from afar thus capturing your subject’s raw emotions and making you more unnoticeable as well. The work of Saul Leiter is a great example of how to use a telephoto lens creatively.

Keep Learning Street Photography

This is the most important part! Regardless of what type of camera and lenses you have, you need to keep learning the craft.

Keep experimenting with different focal lengths, lighting, and angles to improve your work.

I highly recommend joining a community of like-minded photographers and learning from them. You can also attend workshops, take classes or just join a local street photography group.

Whether you like the versatile Sigma 30mm F/1.4, the compact and lightweight Sony SEL35 F/1.8, or the Sigma 16mm F/1.4, each lens lends a distinct flavor to your visual tale. The Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a flexible lens, but the Sony 20mm f/2.8 and Sony FE 50mm F/1.8 are specialist lenses for certain shooting conditions.

summarized version of the article in a table format:

Experiment, learn, and immerse yourself in visual story as you explore street photography with new concepts.

Emma Lucy is the Founder & CEO of Emma Lucy Photography. She has over a decade of experience shooting weddings and other intimate events. She also tests the latest digital camera bodies, lenses, analog cameras, and other gear from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and other camera brands. She is From London and currently lives in the United States of America, where she spends most of her time as a self-employed professional photographer and writer.

Moscow - what's the risk of mugging / having camera stolen in 1 day layover?

So, I have a 1 day layover in Moscow next month where I need to transfer from one airport in the early hours of the morning to another late in the evening. On the way through the city, I thought I might as well visit the red square and any other easily accessible tourist sights / sites.

I have a choice between carrying a "larger" camera (Sony A7RIII and 24-105) or "smaller" (Panasonic GX85 and 14-140, or maybe just a Panasonic GM5 and 12-32). With either kit I'll also take a faster prime in case I go inside anywhere.

I am unsure whether Moscow is generally considered "safe" to carry large camera equipment in the street, or whether it's better to avoid the risk of pickpockets / muggers by carrying something more discrete. I add "safe" in inverted commas because I know it's all relative- I'm sure some people have walked around with thousands of dollars of of medium format equipment with no issues, and others have probably had everything stolen the minute they left the airport. But I'm wondering if there's a general consensus?

For comparison, I generally feel safe walking around pretty much any city I've been to in Asia with a camera around my neck, but in Cape Town or Rio, for example, I was warned not to, and just took a GM5 that I kept hidden in a bag except when I was actually taking a photo. The only time I've ever actually been mugged is in London, in my home country, and I'm not paranoid about it, but I also don't want to take unnecessary risks. I'm not sure where Moscow falls on the safety spectrum?

Obviously, I'd prefer to take the better camera since I'm not sure when I'll go back and might as well get the best photo IQ I can, but I've travelled a lot with just micro four thirds gear and it's no huge issue if I take that instead. One small note: I'll be taking luggage (plan to leave it in train station left luggage), so although I'll be doing my best to stay alert of my surroundings I'll obviously be a tourist and stand out a bit.

(PS: just doing this as a poll for the novelty value, please ignore and just post a reply if you prefer)

(PPS: to anyone reading this and thinking of doing the same, don't forget to check if you need to a transit visa to go from one airport to the other. Best to organize this well in advance and not at the last minute, the way I did! )

Hi Jonathonj,  I live in Moscow, been here for 11 years.  I really consider Moscow safer than a lot of European capitals that I've been too.  Especially in the centre of Moscow.  Of course, if you're going to hang out at the train stations far from the centre you'll have problems.  If you're going to spend the day in Moscow and go sightseeing, take photos of people and buildings, monuments, you shouldn't have a problem, even with a bigger camera.  There are always a lot of people walking around the centre with big and small cameras, and not just tourists either.

I would still exercise some caution anyway; don't leave your bags open, don't put your bags down (although I've seen people do this on Red Square with no negative consequences), don't put your camera down on the bench next to you when you sit etc.  You know the drill.

Just be aware that tripods are forbidden in a lot of places, including Red Square and inside the metro stations (which you must visit, at least the circle line, they're stunning) as far as I remember.

Come, enjoy, take photos, experience the beauty of Moscow.  But take notice of your surroundings and look after your possessions as you would do in any big city.

I was about to give an angry reply (as i am originally from Moscow myself), but realised Cheril already answered well in informative and clearly more balanced way then i planned :). Moscow is not anyhow more dangerous than any other big city - don't go in obviously dodgy places with obviously dodgy people and you will be perfectly ok. Plan in advance what you want to see/to shoot, use metro to reach it (sorry for being trivial here), metro is easy to use and network is well developed, all stations and line names are translated in English, lines are also colour-coded - should be easy to navigate. If need taxi - Uber is very popular and fast to arrive. At the end of story - camera choice in case of Moscow is about convenience and weight (sight-seeing may be exhausting!), not security.

Kind regards,

• PS: Good luck taking photos in Moscow, by the way! If you have chance - share them here, i am sure many will be interested to see.

Thank you! Some very helpful advice here and I appreciate it !

http://www.jonathan-jones.com/photography https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_jones_photography/ C&C always welcome on any photos I post!

Thank you, and hope I didn't cause any offence, some cities are genuinely more risky than others but I'm happy to hear Moscow is not an extreme case here. I'll try and post some pics when I get back!

Been there 5~6 years ago in a group tour. Was told by tourist agent not to trust policeman in uniform or not. At that time, it was general knowing that policeman might come up to a tour, ask to check their I.d. like passport etc, and when they have it, will only return for a payment. We ate asked to keep a photocopy of our PP with us, and the urinal in hotel safe ...

Pocket picker should not be much worse than any other European countries in the west. Mugging should not be as severe as in Ho Chi Minh City...

I would just add in regard to whether to bring or not to a city you consider 'dicey'. Remember out of sight out of mind. There is a big difference between walking around with a DSLR hanging from your neck or your shoulder and being discreet with camera under jacket, inside a waste pack, canvas grocery bag or some item when not in use. Keeping the camera out of sight and having a place to put it away to when you want it to vanish from sight can make a huge difference, it's simple and it opens the door to taking it anywhere.

Thanks, Mike https://www.instagram.com/mikefinleyco/

I was in Moscow in 2014 on my own for 6 days and I had no problems at all (while "let  normal sense rule").

The biggest problem might be, that Moscow is by far to big for one day.

Just for a couple of hours I would recommend the Kreml and the red square.

For more information and questions just go to:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-eastern-europe-the-caucasus/russia

Not been to Moscow but been to St Petersburg lately.

Never felt unsafe even at night while walking with a child.

What irritated me was that some touts persistently trying to sell stuff/their service even though I firmly said not interested.

The most difficult bit was communication - most people don't understand English. An offline map in phone helped with navigation.

https://www.instagram.com/holidzf/

Yes, I would like to stay longer to see the city properly, but  unfortunately time doesn't permit it...

Thanks to all for the responses above.

Moscow has a big history that any photo is just too small to frame in it. I think you are talking with negative sign about it and you should reconsider. Even the interior of the metro is decorated with gold. So many places to visit and see architecture of buildings, the Vakhtangov theater and more. So, good luck.

Frankly, I'd think Moscow would be safer then most of the other large European cities.

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