5 Best Sony a6000 lenses in 2023 (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: November 7, 2023
The best lens for Sony a6000 will help you take amazing photos with your favorite compact camera.
The 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-around 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 2023?
| Image | Product | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSSOUR #1 CHOICE |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → |
 | Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DNBEST FOR PORTRAITS |
| View Price → |
 | Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSBEST ZOOM |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → |
 | Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCSBEST WIDE ANGLE |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → |
 | Sony E 20mm f/2.8BEST FOR TRAVEL |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → |
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.
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)
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.
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 Sony a6000 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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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!
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.
Best Sony a6000 Lenses | 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 that I believe are the best Sony a6000 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?
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.
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.
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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.
Hi Mike,
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?
Thanks!
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.
Hi Mark,
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?
Mark:
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.
Hello Mark,
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.
Hello Mark,
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!
Hi Mark ,
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?
Hi Mark!
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.
Thank you!
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.
Hi Mark,
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?
Thank you!
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 $1400 worth of craziness) or you can make do with 18-105 f4 if you’re video oriented or 18-135 if you’re stills oriented.
Hi, I have the 35mm f1. 8 lens and is looking for something for landscape. I’ll also be going to take photos of the northern lights. Would you help to suggest something? Thank you! :)
Hey Sandy, how about this one? Here’s the Rokinon 12mm review that will tell you more about it.
This is very interesting, May I ask you why do you think the 20mm f2.8 is in this list being and old lens accord to some reviews not really sharp, biggest advantage just the size.
Do you have any review about this specific lens? I am interested to know more about this lens
Thanks!!
It pairs really well with this size camera, and being razor sharp isn’t absolutely necessary with all lenses in our opinion! I’ll try and get a review of the lens on the site soon ;-)
Hi there Mark,
Ive just stumbled across your page while searching for best lenses for my sony a6000.
Ive had the camera for quite some time and looking to up my lens game for a upcoming trip to Japan. Ive done a bit of research and found that a wide angle lens would be best for the photography on this trip. Could you suggest something? Also not wanting to completely break the bank haha. A lens that will photograph the bamboo forest in Kyoto well would be awesome!
Ahh I’ve been to those forests in Kyoto, Nicola! I’d go for this one – it’ll have the added benefit of making your a6000 feel like a toy! Ganbatte!
Hi Mark, I have had an A6000 for several years now. I have used both kit lenses and I also have a f1.8 50mm prime. I have had great success with daytime flag football games. (I am truly an amateur). My son has moved to high school and will be playing nighttime tackle football with typical poor lighting. I would like to stay less than 1500$. 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!
Hi Mark,
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.
Hi Mark!
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!
Thanks Ryan, that’s great to hear! Please share it with a photographer friend ;-) I’ll email you with my suggestions…
Mark,
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.
David
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.
Hi Mark
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.
Hi Mark,
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!
Hey there,
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 ($500 or less) macro lens? Something that I can use at a distance, but also get a sharp and easily focused picture where the magnification ratio is around 1:1.
Thanks,
CA
This one would be my choice! Cheers
Hi Mark,
I have a Sony a6000 mirrorless camera. I have the 16-50mm lens and the 55-210mm lens. I am looking for a one stop solution lense which can be useful for my travel plans. I am going to Spain soon , so want to take architecture pictures, portraits, street photography. which lense do you recommend adding to my kit?
Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime or Rokinon 12mm F2.0. I want something under 500$.
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!
Hi Mark,
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.
Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth, yes the Rokinon 12mm f/2 is a manual focusing lens. Sorry for any confusion.
bruh what is the auto focus one
Sorry?
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“
Hey Mark,
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 :-)
Hello Mark,
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?
Thank you!
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’?
Hi,
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!
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 😅
Thank you
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!
Dear Mark,
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!