Best Lens For Sony a6000 To Capture Better Pictures
Are you looking for the best lens for Sony a6000? Then this article will guide you to choose one. Sony is known for making amazing products and especially their camera technology. The Sony a6000 and its successors a6100, a6600 are one of the best selling mirrorless cameras of all time.
Sony released this APS-C camera in 2014, but it still holds up because of its 24 MP camera, Bionz X image processor, an OLED electronic viewfinder, and a continuous shooting rate of up to 11fps. And the best part is that it allows you to use different lenses as per your shooting style and needs.
When it comes to the best lens for Sony a6000, there are so many options that it can be a little overwhelming to choose one. That is why, in this article, I will list out 10 lenses along with a quick buying guide so that you can purchase one easily.
Keep in mind; this is not a top ten list. The lenses are numbered in no particular order, so select whichever meets your requirements and fits your budget. With that clear, let us start.
Also read, best travel lens for sony a6000 series
10 BEST LENS FOR SONY A6000 REVIEW
1. SONY - FE 50MM F1.8 - BEST STANDARD LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: A great telephoto prime lens for beginners! With this lens on your Sony A6000 series camera, you can take perfect headshot portraits even from a distance. And guess what, the lens is a fantastic low-light performer as it's got a wide bright aperture of f/1.8.
DESIGN: Compact and sleek! I loved the attractive look of the lens; it's got a metal mount and a lens barrel made of good-quality plastic.
The lens barrel equips a manual focus ring that is sturdy, smooth, and has a slow rotation speed so that you can focus precisely. The sad part is that I did not find any AF/MF switch, which means you have to depend on the menu settings each time you want to alter a camera setting. However, if you're a beginner, this shouldn't be a big issue.
A DC motor controls the AF mechanism, so don't expect a very high AF speed with this lens.
PERFORMANCE: When this full-frame lens is used in an APS-C format camera like Sony A6000, it becomes a telephoto lens giving an effective focal length of 75mm. So, you can use it to capture beautiful, flattering portraits.
Coming to the lens's performance in low-light: Even in dim lighting conditions, it gave me pictures with good quality and decent depth. Thanks to the bright aperture of f/1.8.
Overall, I would recommend this Sony 50mm f/1.8 lens to hobbyists and beginners; professionals might want to look at other entries. There is nothing majorly wrong with it, but it just is not a professional-level lens. Nonetheless, fantastic value, and if you do not use your camera professionally, you will find the FE 50mm satisfactory.
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2. SONY FE 24MM F1.4 GM - BEST WIDE-ANGLE LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: Like the Sony 50mm f/1.8, this lens also uses a full-frame sensor format. You will get an equivalent focal length of 36mm in an APS-C camera like Sony A6000. As this is a prime wide-angle lens, you can use it for street photography, landscape photography. The F1.4 max aperture will allow you to take fantastic low-light photos/videos with a wide depth of field.
DESIGN: The best wide-angle lens that can become your favorite travel companion! I'm saying this because I was really amazed when I found that it weighs only 445gms.
As this is a G master- Sony's professional-grade lens, the design features are excellent. I want to compare this lens with that of the previous one. Firstly, this is aimed at professionals, unlike the above lens, so that are huge differences that include: a weather-resistant design, internal focusing mechanism, AF/MF switch, and a superior quality AF motor which is the Direct-drive supersonic motor.
The focus and aperture rings are sturdy but what makes the aperture ring unique is that you will not receive any noise while changing the aperture settings using the ring (de-clicked aperture). This will be of great help while shooting videos!
PERFORMANCE: Massive! First, tell me to tell you about the bokeh quality. You will receive perfect out-of focus blur effects as this lens comes with the much desired 11 bladed diaphragm.
Now let me tell you how this lens is excellent for landscape photography and videography. For any lens to be used for landscapes, it should satisfy these two a wider aperture and a smaller focal length of less than 28mm on a full-frame. And this lens meets the same(24mm focal length-full-frame and f/1.4 wide-aperture), making it the best lens for Sony A6000 camera for shooting landscape shots and videos.
As per my shooting experience, I noticed that the lens delivers the best shots when the subject is around 25cm away from the lens.
Overall, I highly recommend this lens for all professionals looking for a suitable lens for their A6000 mirrorless camera.
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3. SONY 18-135MM F3.5-5.6 OSS - BEST FOR OUTDOOR SHOOTS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: If you're looking for a long-range zoom lens that has image stabilization in it, then you can opt for this 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 APS-C E-mount lens. It can also serve as a telephoto lens when used at 135mm.
DESIGN: I found the lens to be very solid. It's got a metal mount and a lens barrel made of polycarbonate plastic. Like the 50mmm, this is a focus-by-wire type lens meaning there is no physical connection between the focus ring and focusing elements.
Coming to the lens's internal optics. There are two Extra-low dispersion glasses with an aspherical element to reduce the effects caused by chromatic aberrations. Secondly, there is a seven-bladed circular diaphragm that will help to produce a decent quality bokeh.
PERFORMANCE: Firstly, I would like to like to appreciate the lens's AF performance. As it uses an advanced technology linear motor, I felt the AF be fast, accurate, and less noisy.
Secondly, I liked the lens's capability to maintain its level of sharpness throughout its zoom range. But, I was able to notice slight distortion when used between 18 to 20mm on the down end and above 130mm on the wide end. However, when used in the mid-focal lengths, both vignette and distortions were negligible.
OSS: Why I seem this to be important is because the A6000 camera does not have this feature, so to balance the effects of camera shakes, you need an OSS feature, and this lens rightly has one. This is the reason behind my listing this lens as one of the best lenses for the Sony a6000.
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4. SONY SEL30M35 30MM F/3.5 - BEST MACRO LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: If you're looking for a short-macro lens for your Alpha a6000 camera, then this is for you. With a focal length of 35mm (APS-C format) and a minimum focusing distance of 9.5cm(3.8 inches), you can use the lens for capturing photographs of products, food etc. However, you can't use it to capture images of small insects as it's macro focusing range is small.
DESIGN: A solid but lightweight lens! The lens looks simple both inside and out. In terms of internal optics, it's got an ED element, three aspherical blades, and a 7-bladed circular diaphragm.
The exterior of the lens has a stylish silver finish with a manual focus ring on the front. This lens is different from that of others because it offers manual focus only, no auto-focus. With that said, the manual focus ring is very easy to use and feels sturdy. Also, for focus aids, you get focus magnification and peaking.
PERFORMANCE: The center sharpness of the lens is outstanding. It provides you with a good viewing angle of 50 degrees that is satisfactory for a short-macro lens.
The bokeh quality is decent but not great in low-lights. However, if you wish to purchase a budget friendly short-macro lens for your A6000 series camera, then this SEL30M35 is a good choice. It does the job well; it can focus on really close and is also a decent all-rounder.
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5. SONY SEL35F18 35MM F/1.8 - BEST PRIME FIXED LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Primes lenses are extremely versatile and every photograph should have a good one; this is a good one. The Sony 35mm f/1.8 is the perfect addition to your mirrorless as it will remove all the shortcomings of your mirrorless and while also being short enough to carry around.
This lens can offer you a 50mm field of view which is a very famous and widely used focal length as it offers you images that look the “closet to life” while also being able to take fantastic portraits. The low-light capabilities of this lens is also impressive as it has a lens aperture of f/1.8 allows it to have faster shutter speeds and lower ISOs so it can take pictures in low-light without flash.
Being able to use this lens in a variety of lightings is certainly a major plus-point. The lens also has built-in Optical SteadyShot; thus you can use it as a decent video lens as well. It is the definition of an all-rounder.
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6. SONY FE 28MM F/2
PRODUCT DETAILS:
DESIGN: The build quality of this lens is quite good given its price tag, it is made of mostly aluminum and with the filter thread and the lens hood is made from plastic. It is quite small compared to its competitor, which is a good thing as that makes it much more lightweight and easier to handle.
PERFORMANCE: It comes equipped with autofocus which works fantastically and extremely fast. Thus, while clicking portraits, you will get a good background blur at shorter distances and is quite smooth for a wide-angle lens. It has a 54-degree angle-of-view at 28mm focal length. In my testing, I found this lens to be quite versatile without mastering any one aspect.
It will provide you with great shots with little to no distortion and can work fairly well even in low-light provided the subject is close enough. With that said, whenever you are going for a budget option, compromises are going to be made. With that said, you will not find this lens to be disappointing but neither very impressive.
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7. SONY FE 90MM F/2.8 - BEST STANDARD LENS FOR MIRRORLESS CAMERA
PRODUCT DETAILS:
One of the things that make a camera good is versatility. Now, you cannot exactly expect versatility, but in some cases, certain lenses can do 2 things quite well. For example, a macro lens that is also a short-telephoto can act as a really good macro lens (of course) but can also fill in the role of being a decent portrait lens.
The combination of short telephoto focal length and f/2.8 aperture results in beautiful looking shots. The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8, also known as (SEL90M28G) makes its entry. This lens is easily one of the most user-friendly lenses out there and the first of its kind for full-frame E-mount. Most lenses can be a bit tough to use on mirrorless cameras but with the way, this lens is designed and its special autofocus system makes uses it quite easy.
Its autofocusing system is entirely electrically so you can expect no mechanical issues are occurring. With that said, electric as its issues: not with this one. The focus is fast and smooth. It takes a second or 2 but it works just fine.
You can also always use manual focus if that is your thing. There is little to no wrong about this lens. Except, that little wrong, is that the best macro shots require f/32 and this only has f/22. Other than that, Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 is a no brainer.
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8. SONY 24-70MM F/2.8 - BEST ZOOM LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Unless you are a photographer of a specialized genre, you have always thought of getting yourself a quality walkaround lens most likely. Well, here is one. The Sony sel2470gm 24-70mm f/2.8 is a big and heavy lens, which I like because it gives it a premium feel. Then again, you are paying a premium price for it so.
The controls are easy to excessive, the camera is able to take stunning portraits shorts thanks to its wide to short telephoto range, and bright f2.8 focal ratio make it ideal for portraits while being entirely capable of general use. The G masters series is described to have “supreme blend of high resolution and beautiful bokeh” and this lens lives up to this claim.
It has all the features that you expect from it and again, at that price point, it better. The optics of this camera is of the perfect range as the 24-70mm range lets you pretty much get good-looking results while capturing anything from wedding pictures to sports. There is not much against this camera that one can say.
As long as the price point isn’t a major factor for you and you are going to use it for a Sony camera, you will be satisfied with this lens a hundred per cent.
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9. SONY FE 16-35MM F/4 ZA OSS ZEISS VARIO-TESSAR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
If an ultra-wide-angle is what excites you, this may be your next purchase. The Sony FE 16-35mm f/4, when you pair it with a Sony mirrorless, will allow you the capture some good-looking wide-angle shot. Admittedly, wide-angle photography with a 16mm is not very ideal, but it works if you’re using this lens on a Sony mirrorless.
This lens also offers you the ability to shoot it at f/4, which give you fantastic results edge-to-edge. They are a bit distorted but can be corrected easily. This camera lens is built quite well and is actually fairly compact considering its angle of view maximum aperture. One of the things I like the best about this lens is it has optical image stabilization, which a lot of Sony lenses do not, making it quite good for video as well.
This camera in my testing performed great. 9 out of 10. With that said, there is one major disadvantage which I mentioned before as well. The results you get using the 35mm f/4 combination are terrible, and you should completely avoid using it. Other than that one caveat, great lens.
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10. SONY FE 200-600MM F5.6 - BEST SUPER TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Rounding off the list of best lens for Sony A6000 comes Sony FE 200-600mm lens which is yet another black and white lens. This is a fantastic, premium-grade telephoto lens for everyone out there looking fantastic zoom abilities. It is able to cover a ton of range, making it great for capturing birds, general wildlife, aircraft, the moon and everything that is far away.
The thing that I like about this lens is that it gives you pro-capabilities without costing as much. That said, it is not exactly inexpensive, but it is fairly reasonable compared to its competition. It is, of course, a bit large but you expect that when getting a lens with telephoto capabilities but again, compared to its competition, it is fairly portable.
Its dimensions do not change when it zooms in as the zoom is internal. It may seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference. It has a direct drive super Sonic motor so the autofocus is fast and accurate and sharpness and contrasts of pictures stay the same despite the focal length. Other than the fact that this lens has a narrow maximum aperture and is a bit slow.
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BUYING GUIDE FOR THE BEST LENS FOR SONY A6000
Now that you've got an idea about the different lenses compatible with your Sony A6000 camera make sure you consider the factors listed below before you make a final decision.
OPTICAL STABILIZATION
I want to bring to your notice that an A6000 mirrorless camera does not have in-body stabilization. So, it's better to purchase a lens that has OSS (Optical Steady Shot) in it. This image stabilization feature will reduce the effects of camera shakes and micro jiggles that occur while shooting handheld.
Image stabilization is very important for videos, especially as the video needs to be stabilized throughout the duration of the clip. So, make sure the lens you're about to purchase has this feature.
LENS FORMAT
Though Sony A6000 is an APS-C format camera, it also allows using a full-frame lens on it. If you're planning to upgrade to a full-frame camera in the near future, it's better to purchase a full-frame lens. But, while using a full-frame lens on an APS-C format camera like your Sony A6000, make sure you take the 1.5x crop factor into account.
NOTE: Sony's APS-C lenses are labeled as E, while Sony's full-frame E-mount lenses are labeled as FE.
G master lenses
If you're a professional photographer or videographer, I would recommend purchasing a G master lens. As these G lenses are Sony's professional grade lenses, they provide a high resolution, superior handling, latest optical features that help them to focus fast and accurately.
G Master lenses are primarily for a full-frame camera like a7. However, they are also compatible with Sony A6000 cameras. So, if you are ready to invest more in a full-frame lens, go for a lens that has G designation in it.
WEATHER SEALING
If you will be working in different climatic conditions, it's preferable to purchase a lens that is weatherproof. Usually, Sony's G Master lenses are weather-sealed but are expensive when compared to its other lens models.
WHAT KIND OF IMAGES OR VIDEOS YOU WILL BE SHOOTING?
You already know that each lens has its own area of specialization. So, you need to be sure of your requirements before you make a decision. Instead of regretting after the purchase, take some time and choose the lens that is specific to that particular need.
To get an idea, about the types of lenses and their uses, go through my article on different types of lenses out in the market.
SPEED OF THE LENS
We know that the wider the aperture, the more the light enters the sensor. Secondly, the wider the aperture, the faster the lens means faster the shuttering speed.
So, if you're going to work in low-light conditions or indoors, go for a lens that has a wider aperture; this will aid in making your dim shots brighter. Also, the wider the aperture you get a shallow depth of field. This is why prime lenses that have a wide aperture like f/2.8 are used for portrait photography and videography.
Overall smaller the f-number, like f/1.8, f/2.8 faster the lens.
LENS WEIGHT
A Sony A6000 mirrorless camera isn't very heavy; it weighs only 1 pound approximately. So, imagine you load a very heavy lens onto a lightweight camera. There are chances of the camera mount breaking. Not only that, a heavy lens makes your shooting tiresome, especially while shooting handhelds like for weddings or other special events.
So, go for a moderate weight lens that will also not compromise on the image quality.
BUDGET
If you're a beginner wanting to learn photography or videography, I wouldn't suggest you purchase high-end Sony lenses like G master lenses. As already said, every lens has a different use, so you can for budget-level lenses that suit your need.
However, if you're a professional looking for a perfect choice for your Sony A6000 series camera, it's preferable to purchase a lens that has high-end features.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BEST LENS FOR SONY A6000
1. Are FE lenses compatible with a6000?
The Sony a6000 is not a full-frame camera. It. It belongs to an APS-C type, meaning it uses standard E-mount lenses. But you can also use FE lenses (Full-frame lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras) on an a6000 camera as it is compatible with both. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the 1.5x crop factor while using a full-frame lens on an APS-C-type camera.
2. How to capture quality pictures with an a6000 camera?
If you want to take low-light shots, you can go for an ISO value between 1600 to 3200. If action photography is your area of preference, go for shutter speeds of 1/40 or even less.
3. Sony E 18-105mm vs Sony 18-135mm, which is better?
For shooting pictures or videos in low-light or indoors, I suggest using an 18-105mm f/4 as it's got a wider aperture. But, the disadvantage is that it's slightly heavy (4 kilograms).
In contrast, the Sony 18-135 f/3.5-4.6 lens is lightweight (325 grams), making it comfortable for outdoor shoots.
CONCLUSION
And that is it for this list, folks. Sony a6000 has a ton of options when it comes to choosing a lens so here is a list of 10 best lens for Sony a6000. Go with the one that meets your requirements and fits your budget. If this article was interesting and useful share it with your friends.
