Best Travel Lens For Sony A6000 Series
Indeed, the Sony a6000 is one of the brand's finest mirrorless cameras for traveling. Since its publication, it has been making waves as it is a favorite of both professionals and hobbyists in the world of photography. It may not be as straightforward as it seems to find the best travel lens for Sony a6000. I mean to say that when selecting a lens, you must take care of a lot of factors.
I'm Xavier, a photography enthusiast for the past 10 years. Based on my photography experience and supportive customer reviews, I have curated a list of some of the best Sony a6000 lenses for travel.
But before getting into the list, let me tell you briefly how you should select a travel lens for your Sony a6000 camera; you will find an in-depth buying guide at the end of the article.
Firstly, the type of journey you do plays a vital scene in selecting the appropriate travel lens. For starters, if you go to destinations with many outdoor activities and your main focus is landscape photography, a telephoto lens with a wide focal range might be a perfect match for you.
On the other hand, if you fly to cities worldwide and enjoy taking pictures of busy streets, then a decent prime lens might be a perfect match for you.
I hope now you have got a basic idea of how to go about with your purchase. So, without further delay, let me take you through my top 12 list.
Related Post, Best lens for Sony a6000.
BEST TRAVEL LENS FOR SONY A6000 REVIEW
Choose your suitable lens type
In a hurry! Well, here are my top picks
BEST PRIME LENSES FOR SONY A6000
1. SONY - E 50MM F1.8 OSS - BEST A6000 WALK AROUND LENS FOR TRAVEL
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
My first pick for the best Sony travel lenses is this FE 50mm f/1.8 OSS. This is a lightweight, compact lens with an exceptionally common standard focal length and a large aperture. Adding the tag of the 'Cheapest Sony FE lens' among the other attributes places this lens at the top of Sony's best-selling list.
DESIGN:
The lens itself is small and stylish. It comes in a silver body and is very lightweight. I noticed that the lens has one control on the lens barrel, which is nothing but a very nice and smooth focus ring.
The internal structure consists of 7 IRIS blades for giving a beautiful bokeh. I wouldn't say the bokeh is very deep; it is rather very soft and creamy. I liked it!
When it comes to AF, the AF motor gives a noiseless and accurate AF; however, the AF is very slow while shooting videos.
This lens is a steal for the price because it has got an OSS feature that works impressively well to smooth out the videos.
PERFORMANCE:
I tested this lens on my Sony α6000 24.3MP APS-C camera to capture a portrait picture of my kids while we were on a family trip to New York.
And I was impressed; the lens is amazingly sharp and shows a good contrast even at wide-open f/1.8. If you wish to get perfect corner-to-corner resolution, try using the lens at f/5.6. It will give you breathtaking results.
Also, the f/1.8 aperture allows me to take bright shots even during the nights with faster shutter speeds and less ISO. Are you asking me about the lens' distortion and vignette? I'll tell you that, Surprisingly, this 50mm lens does not suffer from barrel distortion at f/1.8; however, you will notice some dark corners at this aperture.
If you want realistic round corners with perfect subject focus, then this aperture is the best. In case you don't want those dark corners(vignette), set the aperture at f/2.8 - f/5.6. You will get what you need.
Though there are many 50mm lenses out in the market, I claim this to be one of the most affordable lenses for Sony a6000 as it is very sharp and shows excellent optical performance. For a 50mm lens to be this versatile makes me surprised! I loved working with this lens!
IDEAL FOR: Hiking, Street photography, and travelers who love taking portraits with subject isolation.
What I liked about this lens:
2. SONY SEL35F18 35MM F/1.8 - BEST A6000 WIDE ANGLE LENS FOR TRAVEL
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
If I have to take only one prime lens with me when I have to travel, this 35mm f/1.8 with OSS is my go-to lens. Because with this lens on your a6000 camera, you can take street photographs, beach photographs, or low-light castle videos, and a lot more. Even for taking family portraits, this lens is supreme.
DESIGN:
If you compare this lens with the 16-35mm kit lens you get with your Sony a6000 camera, it is slightly big. That's it; it is very lightweight and handy. So, definitely good for travel.
The lens is also very sturdy as it is fully made of metal. The focus ring is smooth, and the autofocus works better than the 50mm lens mentioned above.
INTERNAL OPTICS: This lens also has a 7-blade circular aperture for a more realistic, rounded bokeh instead of a regular polygon-shaped lens aperture.
To eliminate distortion and color fringing, aspherical lens components and Extra-low Dispersion glasses are present inside the lens. This will help the lens to achieve a good color contrast and accuracy.
PERFORMANCE:
Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens is innovatively designed to provide the high performance required in photography. From evening beach shots to brilliantly defocused portraits, this lens can accommodate everything.
You will also be able to film objects that travel rapidly and retain crisp images in low light. Thanks to the fast and silent linear AF motor! This makes it a great video capture lens like the 50mm f/1.8 OSS Sony lens.
However, the image stabilization of this lens is not as smooth as the OSS in the above lens. But it is fast in terms of autofocus performance. So, overall a great 35mm lens for Sony a6000!
IDEAL FOR: Tele-photography, street photography, and portraiture.
What I liked about this lens:
3. SONY FE 20MM F1.8 G - BEST LANDSCAPE LENS FOR SONY A6000 CAMERA
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
Yet another wide angle lens for Sony a6000 to benefit mountain photographers. Yes, I'm speaking about The Sony FE 20mm f1.8 G, which is a luxury ultra-wide lens for mirrorless Alpha cameras. It provides an ultra-wide view that quickly catches more than 24 mm, making it suitable for vast landscapes, close interiors, as well as vlogging or portraits of the environment.
DESIGN:
When 24mm f/1.4 GM Sony lens made its entry into the market in 2018, it was considered the lightest and fastest ultra-wide lens that Sony has ever made.
However, in 2020, with the release of this wide-angle 20mm f/1.4 G lens, the previous record holder had to step down because this lens is lighter, yes almost 93 grams lighter than the 24mm lens, which is incredible!
If you're looking for an ultra-wide-angle lens for your travel photography, then this is the lens for you. It is also sturdy, with everything on the lens barrel working very well.
PERFORMANCE:
The best part about this lens is that you can use it to take macro shots because it has a minimum focus distance of 18cm.
This means you can really get close to the subject, like take pictures of seashells on the beach effectively.
Also, taking travel vlogs or taking pictures in Disney land, this lens is the best because it has a high-speed aperture of f/1.4 and an ultra-wide angle of view. The entire scene will fit into the frame!
Lastly, the lens has a very fast autofocusing even in less-lights. That is why I also call it a great low-light lens for an alpha a6000 camera.
The only drawback I felt that this lens doesn't have an OSS, so make sure you're using a tripod while shooting handheld videos with this lens.
IDEAL FOR: Landscape, building, beach, interior, and group photography
What I liked about this lens:
4. SONY SEL30M35 - BEST MACRO LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Sony 30mm f/3.5 Macro focuses right up to the front of the lens, so close that how not to obstruct your light is your main worry. As it autofocuses rapidly in and out of the macro range, it is better than most macro lenses. It has no distortion as well, even uncorrected. This 30mm lens sees the same viewing angle on cameras as a full 45mm lens.
The SEL30M35 is officially the world's lightest life-size macro lens (about 4.9 ounces) for interchangeable-lens cameras, incorporating the collection of E-mount interchangeable lenses. This high-quality 30mm F3.5 macro lens also has a magnification ratio of 1:1 and a minimum working distance of only 0.95 inches, making it suitable for small objects such as flowers and insects to catch informative close-ups.
So you can prefer this lens from Sony among the other best travel lenses for Sony a6000 if you are an individual who likes to click pictures of small objects.
What I liked about this lens:
5. SIGMA 16MM F1.4 DN CONTEMPORARY - BEST SIGMA E MOUNT LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Want to take pictures of mountains, waterfalls, and Woods with perfect clarity? Then this Sigma lens should help you.
Not only environment or beach photography, but with this lens, you can also take group shots of almost 10-15 people in a single frame.
You needn't worry about the lens's performance in low-lights. Be it vlogging or any video work you do while traveling, this lens will only aid you.
For a price point of 350$, you get such a lens that is powerful color reproduction and high-quality sharpness.
That too is very portable; it weighs only 400 grams, and guess what? The lens is weatherproof. So I hope guys searching for the best sigma lenses for a6000 have found their ideal one!
What I liked about this lens:
BEST ZOOM LENSES FOR SONY A6000
6. SONY SELP18105G E PZ F4 G OSS - BEST ALL ROUND LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
This all-in-one zoom lens will fit any travel photographer, be it hikers, photo-journalists, safari lovers, street photographers, or even for vacations. The lens is one-of the most sought-after lenses for Sony alpha a6000 cameras, especially for travel photography because it is handy and has excellent optics.
DESIGN:
I thought as this is a super-zoom lens, it would be very heavy, but as said above, it is not heavy though and is not very bulky like the Canon super-zoom lenses.
I liked the build quality of this lens; it is very sturdy as it is fully made of metal. Unfortunately, this amazing lens is not weather-sealed, so handle it with care.
One unique feature about the lens' zoom mechanism is that the zoom ring and the zoom switch are electronically coupled to an internal zoom motor. This is called a power zoom function indicated by a PZ tag on the lens.
A zoom switch controls this PZ function. It has three control modes that will vary the zooming speed per slow, moderate, and fast.
Now, this power zoom may be useful for video work. However, people who love mechanical zooming will find this feature slightly frustrating.
PERFORMANCE:
Firstly, I liked the autofocus of this lens; it is silent and accurate. Also, the lens locks on to the subject perfectly while autofocusing.
When comparing the OSS of this lens with other Sony lenses, I should say it works best with this lens. If you're looking for a zoom lens for travel photography and making travel vlogs, I would recommend this lens because even at 105mm, the video is completely smooth without any micro jiggles.
Also, you get nice and soft out-of-focus effects at longer focal lengths. The lens sharpness is excellent at the images' centers; however, I missed a little punch in the corners.
Nonetheless, this Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 worked far impressively than I thought it would be. So, those to avoid too much weight while you travel can pick this super-zoom lens for all types of photo and video work.
IDEAL FOR: All types of travel photography and video work.
What I liked about this lens:
7. SONY ALPHA 70-350MM F4.5-6.3 G OSS -BEST TELEPHOTO LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
The E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS is an inexpensive 5x ultra-telephoto zoom lens for the APS-C crop-sensor mirrorless camera range from Sony. This Sony lens also provides built-in optical stabilization, and Sony's intense dynamic linear motor auto-focusing system, for giving a noiseless and accurate AF.
DESIGN:
The lens has a decent build quality. The lens body is made of high-quality plastic, whereas the lens mount is made of metal with a weather-sealing gasket around it.
The lens is not very heavy(625 grams), considering a telephoto zoom lens. So, I consider this to be one of the best a6000 Sony lenses for travel photography.
The focus and zoom rings are nice and smooth; you also get a focus lock and a zoom lock feature with this lens. Impressive!
The autofocus of this lens is not very fast. However, it is silent and accurate.
The lens's internal optics consists of a 7-bladed rounded diaphragm, three ED glasses for high resolution in the zoom range.
PERFORMANCE:
I tested this lens on my A6000 APS-C camera to shoot a video of beach waves, and I could visibly notice the difference in video smoothness with and without the OSS turned on.
The OSS of this lens is rock steady; you can comfortably shoot handheld with this lens without worrying about camera shakes. However, at longer focal lengths, the smoothness of the video is slightly off.
The reason behind including this lens in this list is its pure image quality. It is mind-blowing! The lens maintains its corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the zoom range at even wide-open f/4.5.
That was simply breathtaking! Probably this lens could be the sharpest zoom lens that Sony has ever made.
However, the distortion and vignette continue throughout the zoom range like the 18-105mm lens mentioned above. But, luckily Sony alpha a6000 has the ability to correct these distortions while taking pictures, so this shouldn't stop you from purchasing this lens.
IDEAL FOR: Portraiture, environment, and casual travel photography.
What I liked about this lens:
8. SONY SEL1655G ALPHA 16-55MM F2.8 G
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Those looking to upgrade from the 16-55mm kit lens that comes with a Sony a6000 camera can consider buying this lens.
Like the 18-105mm lens discussed above, this is also a good buying choice if you are looking for the best all-in-one lens for Sony a6000. Its standard zoom range of 16-55mm, along with a fast aperture of f/2.8, makes the lens suitable for everyday shots, low-light photography, and video work.
Concerning the build quality of this lens, the lens is small and will not look bulky when used with your a6000 Sony camera. It is also lightweight, weighing only 500 grams.
The AF of this lens is very fast, accurate, and very silent. Also, the out-of-focus effects of this lens are remarkable!
Lastly, the vignette and barrel distortion is effectively controlled by the lens. The center sharpness of this lens is excellent, while the corners are remaining a bit soft at f/2.8.
So, travel photographers looking for an all purpose a6000 zoom lens for taking casual pictures can go for this lens.
IDEAL FOR: Street photography, nature photography and travel vlogging.
What I liked about this lens:
9. SONY FE 70-200MM F4 G OSS INTERCHANGEABLE LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
This Sony telephoto zoom lens is one of my favorite e mount lenses for a6000 because of many reasons. Firstly it has a dynamic focus range of 70-200mm. Secondly, it has an Optical Steady shot feature to give me tack sharp images while I focus on distant objects. Wait, the list is not over.
It has 21 elements in 15 classes, including Super ED and Advanced aspherical elements with a near-circular 9 blade diaphragm to produce an enticing blur for the image's out-of-focus regions.
Coming to the lens's focusing capability: The Dual Linear Motor Autofocus System achieves fast and accurate focus, limits glare and flare with the Super Nano AR coating, and is also resistant to dust and moisture.
In terms of sharpness, this lens delivers excellent corner-to-corner sharpness from 70 mm to 200 mm. So be it wildlife photography, nature photography, this lens is there to provide wonders!
It can also create a smooth and creamy background bokeh. Isn't this lens worthy of being listed as another best a6000 lens for travel!
What I liked about this lens:
10. SONY SEL2470GM F2.8 G - BEST VIDEO LENS FOR SONY A6000
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Who doesn't love 24-70mm lenses? They are every photographer's pick. If you belong to this category, this could probably be your best lens for Sony a6000.
Constructed with three aspherical elements, including a newly created, highly accurate feature eliminates aberration and provides the ultimate resolution over the full spectrum of zoom and aperture.
This lens also features moisture-resistant construction, circular aperture, Nano AR coating, and a super-smooth and quiet direct drive SSM focusing mechanism to optimize versatility, making it a perfect option for both still photographs and movies to be taken.
What I liked about this lens:
11. SONY SEL1670Z VARIO-TESSAR T E 16-70MM F4 ZA OSS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Yes as you read in the heading, this lens is manufactured by Zeiss Company for Sony. It is designed for for Sony's NEX and mirrorless cameras. So, if you are particular to purchase a Zeiss lens for a6000 this is a good pick.
You can use this as a walk around zoom lens to capture almost anything including portraits shots with family, beach shots, mountain shots etc.
People who go hiking can opt for this lens as it is pretty lightweight and can be set to 50mm which is one of the best focal lengths for travel vloggers.
Day light shooting is what this is used for. In case you want to use the lens in low-lights you need to take a lighting kit along with you.
What I liked about this lens:
12. SONY FE 200-600MM F5.6-6.3 G OSS LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
My last shot for the best a6000 Sony lenses for travel ends with this Super-telephoto lens. Though very pricey, it is undoubtedly the finest a6000 telephoto lenses you could ever purchase. You can use the lens to capture birds' movement if you're in a zoo and other types of wildlife shooting.
For mirrorless Sony Alpha owners who want a long-range without sacrificing performance, the FE 200-600mm is a very clear choice.
The lens has a linear-control manual focus frame, three adjustable focus-hold controls, and three IS modes. The minimum lens focus distance is 2.4 m, and 0.2x is the highest magnification.
So, if you are a full-time photographer looking for a top-grade Sony a6000 lens for both professional and travel use, you can go for this lens.
What I liked about this lens:
BUYING GUIDE TO PURCHASE THE BEST TRAVEL LENS FOR SONY A6000
Multiple lenses can influence your mind when looking for the appropriate alpha a6000 lenses. But remember, you want a lens that will be travel-friendly. So, please make sure to read these factors below before you step out to purchase the best a6000 lens for travel photography.
1. SIZE AND WEIGHT
The size of your lens makes a huge impact on your travel photography. Suppose you do a lot of hiking; you will not be able to jam-pack your camera bag with huge lenses.
So, take and analyze which lens, if taken, will suit your photography needs and is lightweight. Just one or two lenses maximum is enough for your travel vlogs, provided you choose the right lenses.
If you're a professional photographer who travels to make documentaries and stuff like that, then it is better to go for professional-grade lenses, but they will be a little heavy. So, get yourself a tripod as well.
2. focal length
You have to choose a lens with an appropriate focal length to fit the scenario you will be shooting. Suppose you're on a family trip to a beach, then a 35mm or a 50mm lens will work best because it will give you a good field of view of the sea.
Similarly, every focal length range is expert for a particular type of photography/videography. So, be clear about what types of camera lenses you will need while you travel.
3. SPEED OF THE LENS
By lens speed, I mean how wide the lens' opening (aperture) is. As you know wider the aperture, the more the light enters the lens.
Say, you will be visiting a cave, old castles or will be taking travel vlogs with your Sony a6000 camera in low-lights. In that case, you have to choose a lens that has a wide aperture of <2.8. This will give you bright shots in dimly lit environments. If you will shooting in bright lights, an aperture range of f/3.5-6.3 will be suitable.
Also, if you want shallow depth-of-field wide-aperture lenses are to be chosen. On the contrary, if you want a deep field of view, then narrow apertures are the best.
4. image stabilization
Note that the Sony a6000 doesn't have in-body stabilization, so while you purchase a travel lens for pairing with this camera, make sure it has an in-built image stabilization feature. This will help reduce the effects of camera shakes and motion blur while you shoot handheld.
5. WEATHER RESISTANce
While traveling, it is always best to have a lens that will withstand harsh weather conditions. In the case of a travel lens for a Sony a6000 camera, I highly recommend that you pay attention to this factor because the Sony a6000 camera is not weather-sealed.
6. budget
When it comes to whether you need to spend more on a travel lens, I can't say strictly yes or no because it is up to you and the purpose of your shoots.
If you're a news reporter or a documentary filmmaker, professional lenses are a must for your travel. However, if you're on vacation with your family and friends, a highly valuable lens with high-end optics is not essential. Even a mid-range Sony a6000 travel lens will give you good results.
7. what lenses are compatible with sony a6000?
Sony A6000 is an E-mount camera but is compatible with FE lenses as well. If you're looking for an APS-C lens only for your Sony A6000 camera, then you can proceed with purchasing a Sony E lens.
However, if you're in the plan of upgrading to a full-frame camera in the near future, then go for a full-frame lens (Sony FE lens). But, please keep in mind to take the 1.5x crop factor while using a FE lens on SONY A6000 DSLR.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Is the kit-lens that comes with the Sony a6000 useful?
The PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS E-mount kit lens that comes with your Sony A6000 camera is a good standard zoom lens that you can use for your everyday shots. The lens also has the good image quality and is less expensive. So, definitely a good choice if you're planning to buy the A6000 camera with this kit lens.
2. What lens should I use for landscape photography using A6000 camera?
In my opinion, the Sony 20mm f/1.8G is the best for taking landscape shots while you travel because it has a fast aperture and also an ultra-wide-angle focal length that will fit the entire scene into the frame.
3. Can I mount a full frame (FE) lens on a6000?
Yes. Though the Sony a6000 is an E-mount camera (APS-C sensor), it can fit Sony E mount and Sony FE mount lenses.
CONCLUSION
That's a wrap about the best Sony a6000 lenses for travel! I hope you found this article useful and interesting. Remember, the best out of a camera can be exploited if and only you pair it up with the right lens.
So, take time to analyze the factors mentioned in the buying guide and select your best camera lens for Sony A6000. Happy traveling!
