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Best Lens for Sony a6000

The Sony a6000 is a mirrorless camera that was released onto the market at the beginning of 2014. The camera itself is a compact model with quick and snappy mechanisms for all sorts of shots. For such a small camera, the a6000 is a powerful model that offers excellent quality for every single image. 

This camera is excellent value for money when you compare it to its competitors on the market, which is why there is still so much conversation about the a6000 even six years after its initial release. 

The a6000 allows you to change the lens to accommodate the different images that you’re looking to capture. For a camera that is widely considered the best mirrorless camera of all time, you want to choose the best lens possible, right? 

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That sounds like a rather daunting task with a lot of pressure, which is why we've taken to the market and have found the best five lenses for the Sony a6000 mirrorless camera. 

There are many different uses for this camera, which is why we’ve stuck to versatile lenses that can be used for a number of different occasions. We’ve also collated useful information into a buyers guide below and answered a few frequently asked questions in case you had any queries.

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Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E (402965) Black
  • Compatible with Sony E mount cameras
  • Perfect for nature & event photography
  • Large f/1.4 aperture for superb lowlight performance
  • Compact size makes it very portable
  • Fully accommodates Fast Hybrid AF

Looking for the best lenses for your cameras can be an infuriating task, thanks to the seemingly endless options available on the market. If you don’t want to look through any more reviews of lenses, we’re here to save you from reading any more product specifications. 

The best lens for Sony a6000 that we found on the market has to be the Sigma 16mm F/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens, for a plethora of reasons. One of the only lenses available for this camera that isn’t made by Sony, Sigma has done an incredible job creating their Contemporary Lens. 

Here are a few reasons why we like the Sigma 16mm F/1.4 so much:

  • The autofocus works at an incredible speed, which is ideal for moving while shooting. 
  • You can use it in low light conditions without the quality of your images faltering. 
  • Each image you take with this lens will have an amazing depth and dimension to it. 

Best Lens for Sony a6000 – Comparison Table

Best Lens for Sony a6000 – Reviews

Our Pick
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E (402965) Black
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Starting off our list is the Sigma 16mm f/1.4, which is a prime lens with a 16mm focal length. The f/1.4 gives your final result an excellent depth into all of your images, unlocking your ability to another level. Everyone, even yourself, will be impressed with your skill after shooting with this lens. 

The lens comes equipped with fast-acting autofocus, which is great for on the go images and video footage. This allows you to use the lens throughout street photography shoots despite not offering you in-lens stabilization. 

The f/1.4 enables this lens to be used in low light conditions without hassle, and you can use it for capturing images indoors, such as galleries and old buildings. The lens weighs 14.3 ounces, which is a little heavier than other lenses on our list, but not too heavy that you’ll struggle to hold it up. 

Pros
  • You’ll benefit from excellent depth in your images.
  • The quick autofocus is ideal for video shooting and on the go images.
  • Ideal for low light settings.
Cons
  • No in-lens stabilization.
  • Slightly heavier than other lenses on our list.

Sony SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS with Circular Polarizer Lens
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This lens is a well-rounded model that can be used for all kinds of different shots. Gone are the days of stopping and switching lenses every couple of hours – the Sony 18-105mm can do it all. The focal range and aperture work together to give you a great range for any situation.

The aperture is constantly at f/4, so you don’t have to worry about changing this when you want to zoom in or out. This feature helps your a6000 to adjust to different settings quickly, so that you don’t have to stop and alter all of the settings. 

This lens comes with a polarizer lens which is one of the most used lenses for special effects. You can swap this for the regular lens so that you don’t always have to have an effect on your images, either.

Pros
  • Works well for all types of photography.
  • Constant aperture allows use in any setting.
  • Offers in-lens stabilization.
Cons
  • High price point.
  • The zoom range is not as large as alternatives.

Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
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The Sony 35mm f/1.8 is another prime lens on our list, suitable for every photographer no matter the skill set. The process of capturing your images is stripped down to the most basic form, without the need to alter different settings such as the zoom. The results are amazing, raw images. 

The a6000 is a small camera that would be overpowered by a large lens. If you bought the a6000 due to its easy portability and compact size, you don’t want to ruin that with a bulky lens. Luckily, the 35mm f/1.8 is a mere 5.47 ounces measuring in at 1.77 x 2.48 x 2.48 inches. 

There is Optical Steady Shot integrated into this lens, so you can benefit from in-lens stabilization with this lens. The 52.5mm ‘Nifty Fifty’ capability allows your images to resemble that of a human eye, with natural-looking images throughout your portfolio. 

Pros
  • The image quality is amazing.
  • Small and compact size works well with the small a6000.
  • In-lens stabilization.
Cons
  • Now the widest focal length.
  • The price is higher than the other options on this list.

Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Lens for Sony E-Mount Cameras (Black)
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Next up is a telephoto lens that is rather budget-friendly compared to other Sony lenses on the market. The zoom range is 82.5 to 315mm, allowing you to use the camera to shoot a wider range of different images. Bear in mind that this is a cheaper lens that won’t offer you the optimal quality, but it’s still an excellent choice for beginners or people on a budget. 

The E 55-210mm comes equipped with Optical Steady Shot which will allow your a6000 to capture stabilized images. The lens weighs a mere 12.16 ounces, so it won’t affect your ability to hold the camera up for long periods of time. 

This lens comes with a circular aperture made up of seven blades, which allows you to use a bokeh effect on your images, which gives them a new depth and more impressive final result. Sony suggests that this lens is best suited for shooting nature or sports photography.

Pros
  • Budget-friendly lens.
  • Integrated stabilization.
  • Great for sports and nature photography.
Cons
  • A few customers complained about poor quality control.
  • Takes a bit of finessing to find the right settings.

Rokinon 12mm F2.0 NCS CS Ultra Wide Angle Lens Sony E-Mount (NEX) (Black) (RK12M-E)
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Another budget-friendly lens, the Rokinon lens is a wide-angle lens made specifically for mirrorless cameras. The 18mm field of view allows you to play around with your images and find out how to get the best shots out of your Sony a6000.

A wide-angle lens is best used for landscape photography, but you can use this lens for multiple different types of shots. The wide-angle allows you to focus on objects in the forefront of the image as well as the background.

The Rokinon lens can be used well in low light conditions without it affecting your a6000 camera’s ISO settings. The image quality is impressively high-quality considering the inexpensive price. The manual focus takes a little getting used to, but this is only a small hiccup for this lens.

Pros
  • Inexpensive price point.
  • Usable for a number of different image types.
  • High-quality images even in lower light settings.
Cons
  • There is no autofocus on this lens.
  • Two reviewers experienced a spotted lens.

Best Lens for Sony a6000 – Buyers Guide

Now you have more of an idea of what the market has to offer when it comes to lenses for your Sony a6000, let’s discuss the most important factors to consider when determining which lens you’re going to purchase. 

The more you know about the product you’re buying, the more likely you are to be able to make an informed decision for your new lens. This will prevent you from accidentally choosing a lens that is not optimized to what you want the lens for. 

Bearing the below information in mind when comparing different lenses will help you choose the right lens for your individual needs and preferences. 

Quality

For such a high-quality camera such as the Sony a6000, you need a lens that matches its quality and allows you to reach its full potential. Choosing a poor-quality lens will stunt the performance of your camera by capping the image quality when there is much more potential. 

Moreover, lenses are not typically inexpensive. For this reason, you don’t want to invest in a piece of equipment that is going to fall flat in regards to its quality. If you’re spending over a thousand dollars on one lens, you’re going to need it to exceed your expectations. 

Purchasing from well-known brands can help you choose a high-quality lens, as well as checking the customer reviews to see if any previous buyers have had an issue with their product. 

Stabilization

The Sony a6000 doesn’t offer in-camera image stabilization, which is the ability to reduce the appearance of movement in your images, so if you’re shooting images while on the go, you might find that your images are unfocused and blurred. 

If you’re going to be shooting lots of images while moving and want the end product to be focused and effective, you might consider choosing a lens that offers in-lens stabilization. Luckily there are many different lenses on the market that offer this feature, so it’s definitely something to consider.

What are you going to use it for?

One of the most important questions you’ll need to ask yourself is what are you going to be shooting with your a6000? Different types of images require different capabilities from your lens, so you should determine what you need out of your lens and choose the correct one that offers you everything you need.

Ideally, you don’t want to be spending double the money on two different lenses rather than just one that can do it all. You’ll need to do some of your own research on which types of images require what from the lens to ensure that you choose the best one for you. 

Weight

The Sony a6000 weighs 16.5 ounces with its battery and original lens, which isn’t too strenuous on the arms. This, as well as the small design, is one of the reasons why this camera is so popular. You can keep shooting throughout the day without risking arm pains and fatigue. 

For this reason, you don’t necessarily want to bulk up your camera with a super heavy lens. Imagine lifting a heavy camera up after a long day of shooting – you’ll need the image stabilization just to hide the shaking in your arms!

If you’re planning on taking images in a short period of time rather than all day, this might not be as important to you. However, bear in mind that the heavier your lens is, the less portable your gear is going to be. This might pose an issue if you often shoot in remote locations such as weddings or whilst traveling. 

Speed of Lens

The speed of your lens that you require will depend on where you’re planning to shoot your images the most. If you tend to shoot indoors and in lower light conditions, you might fare better from a lens with a lower aperture. This is also best for portrait photography and in places such as galleries. 

On the other hand, if you prefer shooting landscapes, in the middle of the day with glorious sunshine, you might not want to choose such a low aperture. Remember that lower f/ numbers are considered faster and therefore work with a lower aperture, and higher f/ numbers are the opposite. 

Weather Sealing

This is more beneficial for people who like to capture images in poor weather conditions such as rain or show, however, it’s always a helpful feature to have with you just in case. Unfortunately, the a6000 is not weather-proofed itself, so you’ll still need to protect your camera during poor weather.  

Versatility

You might have more than one camera in your collection, and if this is the case, it’s always handy to have interchangeable lenses that you can swap between each camera. Especially if you’re going to be spending a lot of money on one lens, you want to get your money's worth, right? 

Price

As we’ve already mentioned, the price of high-quality camera lenses can be rather expensive, so you’re going to need to determine your budget before you even begin looking for a lens to purchase. The market is full of lenses with varying prices, so don’t feel as though you have to go for the most expensive option right away.  

If you’re planning on swapping cameras in a few years, we’d suggest not spending so much money on one lens that might not work with your new camera. Alternatively, if you’re certain to use your a6000 for many years to come, you might feel confident in spending more money on one piece of equipment. 

Warranty

No one wants to invest a significant amount of money into a piece of equipment that is going to falter within the first few months of having it, which is why a warranty is so important to look for when choosing your lens. A warranty will protect your money should something go wrong within the lens.

Higher priced lenses tend to have longer warranty periods, whereas inexpensive lenses have shorter warranties. The length of the warranty is a good indication of how the manufacturer views their product – for example, a longer warranty is likely to mean that they trust their lens and believe it is long-lasting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Sony a6000 pictures blurry?

There is no in-camera stabilization with the a6000, which is why your pictures may be coming out blurry. This is especially true if you’re moving while trying to capture images. If this is not the case, you might need to adjust the lighting, the aperture, or the focal point. You might benefit from conducting some trial and error with your camera.

Is the Sony a6000 good in low light?

The ISO of the a6000 is rather high at 1600, meaning that the camera is impressively sensitive to light. So you can use the Sony a6000 in lower light conditions and end up with high-quality images. That being said, you might want to choose a lens with better low light capabilities to work with the camera to accentuate the results. 

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