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Buying Guide

Top 8 Affordable Travel Lenses for Sony a6000 in 2024

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This is our review of the best travel lenses for Sony a6000  in 2024.

Photographers love to argue about camera gear, but most agree that the Sony a6000 is an ideal camera for travel photography. Being a mirrorless camera, this is a light and compact choice that produces fantastic images to remind you of your vacation highlights. This blog post features the lenses for the Sony a6000 that offer the best value. No one will question why you want the Sony a6000 to capture photos of your travels, but with such a great range of affordable lenses available, they might fight over which lens you should attach to it. We’ll help you win the argument with our list of the top 5 travel lenses for Sony a6000 cameras.

And we found that Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS.  is the best overall  travel lens for the Sony a6000

Every photographer and people have different requirements. So, we’ve included reviews of the best brands for every category of travel lenses for Sony a6000.

Let’s get started.

Our Best Travel lenses for Sony A6000

Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS​  (Best travel lens overall)

Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS​ ( Best portable and compact travel lens)
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens​ (Best travel lens for traveller who want large apeture)

Sony 20mm f/2.8​ – (Best versatile lens)

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8​ (Best travel lens for travellers who want excellent bokeh)

Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS​ (Best landscape lens)

Sony 10-18 f4.0 OSS Wide Angle​ (Best travel lens for travellers who want ultra-wide perspective)

Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3 ​(Best versatile lens for travellers who want high-quality images)

We’re reviewing prime lenses and zoom lenses . With their fixed glass elements, prime lenses are cheaper to manufacture than zoom lenses, which means you get fantastic optics at a bargain price. Zoom lenses are usually better for travelers, but their high cost makes them unaffordable for the photographer on a budget. Be aware, though, just because prime lenses are at the low end of the price spectrum, it doesn’t mean they are poor quality; all of the ones we’ve chosen give exceptional results. We’ve reviewed a comprehensive range of lenses, from ultra-wide to ‘normal’ focal lengths.

Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS

3/5
Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS​

PROS

CONS

  • The small size of this lens means you can carry it around all day without tiring, and you won’t draw attention to yourself as you photograph street scenes. Even though it has a lightweight build, it seems sturdy enough to cope with everyday bumps and knocks
  • The NCS part of this lens refers to its Nano Coating System, which suppresses lens flares and ghosting, giving greater clarity, better contrast, and improved color to each
  • The f/2 aperture allows adequate shutter speeds in dim conditions to overcome hand-held camera shake. Put it on a tripod, and you’ll get amazing shots of the Milky Way above landscapes and seascapes
  • The aperture ring rotates with positive clicks at each half-stop ranging from f/2.0 to f/22
  • It’s very affordable and produces sharper images than many dearer lenses
  • It doesn’t have autofocus, so you are at the mercy of good eyesight, but as with most ultra-wide lenses, you can set it to infinity, and most things will be in focus anyway
  • Being a manual lens, there is no EXIF metadata, so you can’t review the settings used on a particular shot
  • The aperture is controlled mechanically by the ring on the lens, so there is no control of this setting through your camera’s dials
  • There is noticeable vignetting at f/2, but it improves at f/2.8
  • It lacks optical image stabilization, but if you are mindful of this, you can still produce sharp pictures in all forms of lighting conditions

Unless you are doing travel photography on a professional level, it’s best to travel as light as possible, and this lens is as light and compact as you can get. Weighing at just 9.12 ounces (260 g), when you put this pancake lens onto the front of your camera, you hardly notice it’s there. 

The camera (with lens attached) can fit into a large pocket or medium-sized handbag. On the Sony a6000 with its APS-C crop sensor, this lens has an equivalent focal length of 18mm, making it ideal for architectural photos, interiors, and landscape shots. It’s an ultra-wide lens that gets everything into the picture. 

This lens copes with all forms of travel photography, from the hustle and bustle of vibrant cityscapes and tight street scenes to the vast interiors of cathedrals. And if night photography is important to you, this lens will prove to be even more suitable for your needs because its fast f/2 aperture is perfect for low light situations. It may not suit everyone, though, so check the following list relating to the advantages and disadvantages of this lens.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens

4/5
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens​

PROS

CONS

  • You’ll be grateful for this lens when you use the large f/1.4 aperture to capture low light images at concerts, indoor events, and the glow of neon lights in big cities.
  • Having quick and accurate autofocusing takes it a step above the Rokinon
  • It has outstanding optical performance. It’s hard to believe that images this sharp come from a budget lens
  • The stepping motor delivers quiet and smooth autofocus during video shooting
  • Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting even when images are backlit
  • You can’t expect much bokeh from a wide-angle lens, but we thought you’d have more from this one with its f/1.4 aperture. There is still some detail in the background, even at its widest setting
  • There’s no image stabilization, which isn’t usually a problem for a tiny lens, but it would have been handy for a lens designed for low-light photography. It will be fine for those Sony cameras with IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), but the Sony a6000 does not feature it

This lens is for people who need a wide-angle lens with a large aperture. Its wide f/1.4 opening gives it incredible low light performance, and when you combine it with the fast autofocus, you get brilliant results. On the Sony a6000’s APS-C sensor, you have the focal length equivalent of a 24mm lens, so it’s ideal for nature, landscapes, and event photography.

This Sigma lens is almost double the weight of the Rokinon 12mm lens. It’s 14.29 ounces (405 g), but it’s ergonomically comfortable on the front of the camera, making it suitable for everyday use. The longer focal length gives it more flexibility than the ultra-wide Rokinon. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens is useful when traveling because it’s wide enough for landscapes yet handy for street photography too.

Sony 20mm f/2.8

4/5
Sony 20mm f/2.8​

PROS

CONS

  • This lens can be used for still shots and impressive videos too.
  • It has smooth and quiet autofocusing
  • The aspherical lens elements reduce distortion and chromatic aberration
  • This is an excellent lens for standard wide-angle shots, taking your angle of view to just over 70 degrees
  • The perspective of this lens is more natural than the ultra-wide lenses previously mentioned, and there is only a moderate level of distortion, which is fantastic for this type of wide-angle lens
  • With its maximum aperture of f/2.8, you can’t expect much bokeh, so the out-of-focus range for the background is pretty average
  • The manual focus ring is very narrow, which sometimes makes it hard to grip and turn

 

The Sony 20mm f/2.8 is another pancake lens that offers terrific value with sensational results. With its 20mm focal length, which on an APS-C camera brings it to 30mm, you have a multi-purpose lens for the Sony a6000 that is so compact you hardly know it’s on the front of the camera. The ultra-slim lens has a metal finish but weighs only 2.4 ounces (69 g).

When you purchase this lens for its discreet size and its corner-to-corner richness of detail, you’ll soon discover its incredible value as a travel photography lens. It easily handles landscapes, seascapes, interiors, and when you get back home, you’ll appreciate its versatility in areas such as wedding photography too.

Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS

5/5
Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS​

PROS

CONS

    This is a robust lens with an aluminum outer skin and a manual focus ring

    The abbreviation OSS stands for Optical SteadyShot, which means it has optical image stabilization created from an internal gimbal. This optical image stabilization moves the lens unit and image sensor simultaneously, making it highly effective at correcting camera shake

    It has fast and silent autofocus, but if you want to override it, you have the option of direct manual focus too

    The minimum focus distance is 0.99 feet (0.3 m), which is perfect for flower photography

    The Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS is the type of lens you can comfortably leave on your camera for days at a time without feeling the need to change it. It’s great for everyday snapshots as well as being ideal for serious travel photography during the day and night

LThe only disadvantage of this lens is its lack of weather protection. Weather sealing would give more flexibility to your travel photography

Being equivalent to50mm lens on a full-frame camera, the Sony E 35mm has an angle of view of 44 degrees. It’s light and compact, weighing just 5.44 ounces (155 g). Its wide aperture of f/1.8 works great in any light conditions. The Sony E 35mm f/1.8 lens is the perfect walk-around lens for almost any occasion. 

We recommend it for travel because it captures reasonable views of landscapes while also being suitable for street photography and architectural details. It’s handy for food photography in restaurants too. However, the most significant benefit of this lens is that you can take realistic and stylish portraits with superb background blur. And to top it all off, for a native lens, it has a relatively cheap price tag attached.

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8

4/5
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8

PROS

CONS

  • This is an excellent lens for low-light interior shots and night photography
  • On the f/1.8 aperture setting, the smoothness of the out-of-focus areas is beautiful
  • The Sony FE 50mm lens does not distort images.
  • It’s remarkably sharp with minimal chromatic aberration
  • This lens is great value for money
  • The autofocus isn’t as fast as the other lenses mentioned in this blog post, and it makes some noise as it finds focus
  • It’s not the perfect travel lens because its focal length rules out landscapes and interior shots where you are attempting to capture wide spaces

When the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 lens is used on the a6000 camera, it sees the same angle of view as a 75mm lens on a full-frame or 35mm camera. With its tiny weight of 6.6 ounces (186 g), it’s worth attaching this to your mirrorless camera for travel photography. The 7-blade, circular, f/1.8 aperture produces excellent bokeh, and combined with its superb optics, it is ideal for taking portraits of the friends you make as you journey around the world. The short-telephoto focal length of this lens is suitable for nature photos and non-imposing candid shots in street photography.  

Zoom Lenses

Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS

Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS​

PROS

CONS

  • This lens feels very sturdy and well-built
  • The lens is compact and easy to carry around

  • Zoom ring works well

  • The bokeh of this lens is very impressive

  • quite an extreme distortion

The Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS is indeed considered one of the best zoom lens choices for traveling. This lens shares some similarities with its predecessor, the Sony Zeiss 24mm f1.8. It has compact dimensions, measuring approximately 2.95 x 2.64 x 2.64 inches and weighing 10.9 ounces, making it suitable for travel and easy to fit in your travel bag.

Furthermore, if you are a user of the Sony A6000 camera, this lens performs well with autofocus and ensures accurate focusing. The zoom ring of the lens is also reported to be easy to operate, enhancing the overall user experience.

the Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS is a popular choice for travelers due to its portability, autofocus capabilities, and user-friendly zoom ring.

Sony 10-18 f4.0 OSS Wide Angle

Sony 10-18 f4.0 OSS Wide Angle​

PROS

CONS

  • A durable and robust metal construction

  • known for its quick and accurate autofocus acquisition

  • Comes with a 4-stop optical image stabilization system

  • A wider field of view

  • A limited zoom range compared to some other zoom lenses

  • A slight amount of distortion

  • A maximum aperture of f/4

Sony 10-18 f4.0 OSS is small and compact wide-angle lens, measuring approximately 2.5 by 2.8 inches (height x diameter), and it weighs just 7.9 ounces. This lightweight and portable design make it easy to carry and handle while traveling. But the lens doesn’t come with dust or splash protection. You should be care of your camera lens when travelling. Additionally, this lens comes with a optical stabilization, ensuring photographers taking pictures without worrying about camera shake. This lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 9.8 inches. While it may not be classified as a dedicated macro lens, this close focusing distance allows you to capture subjects at a relatively close range with good detail. When it comes to its autofocus, it works well.

Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3

PROS

CONS

  • 11x zoom offers an extensive zoom range

  • Producing sharp and detailed results acquisition

  • 1:2.9 macro focus

  • Adjustable speed power zoom

  • The power zoom mechanism can introduce some noise into the soundtrack

  • Resolution and light-gathering drop when zoomed in

Sony 18-200 f3.5-f6.3 offers an angle of view equivalent to using a 27-300mm lens on a 35mm camera. This wide zoom range makes it versatile for capturing a variety of subjects, from wide-angle shots to telephoto perspectives. The lens also features optical stabilization, which helps to minimize camera shake and produce steadier images, particularly useful when shooting handheld or recording video. The auto-focus performance of this lens is generally fast and accurate in various lighting conditions. It can efficiently lock onto subjects and ensure sharp focus in most situations.

Each lens we reviewed is considered suitable for travel photography. We looked for lenses that were compact in size and had minimal weight because travel photographers don’t want to be carrying heavy equipment all day. Other considerations included the quality of the optics and the sharpness of the images. 

We also looked at the size of the aperture and its ability to produce enough background blur to make the main subject stand out from its environment. The final area we addressed was each lens’s ability to work well in low light so you can photograph during golden hour and at night. Here is a summary of which lens works best in each category.

How to Buy a Travel Lens

Many travellers want to take some pictures during their travelling. But they are often struggle to choose a right camera lens. Here are some tips:

A lens should be lightweight and portable: Indeed, for many travelers, having a lightweight camera setup can be beneficial, as it allows for easier portability and reduces the physical strain of carrying heavy gear. Using a lighter camera lens can contribute to a more comfortable and enjoyable travel experience.

You need to know what do you like photograhing: Different camera lenses offer different results. If you enjoy photographing landscapes and cityscapes, wide-angle lenses may be the best choice.It is typically with focal lengths below 35mm. For street photography, prime lenses such as 35mm or 50mm are worth considering. If you want to capture both landscapes and street scenes, a zoom lens would be a great option. Therefore, it is important to consider the type of photography you enjoy and choose the appropriate lens based on your style and preferences.

Your Budget: Prime lenses are often more cost-effective to manufacture compared to zoom lenses due to their fixed glass elements. This cost advantage translates into fantastic optics at a relatively lower price point. On the other hand, zoom lenses, while versatile for travelers, tend to be more expensive, making them less affordable for photographers on a budget. However, it’s important to note that the lower cost of prime lenses does not indicate poor quality; many prime lenses offer exceptional image quality and performance.

Low-Light Performance: Many travelers frequently encounter challenging lighting situations and, therefore, it is crucial to consider the lens’s maximum aperture. As a general rule, lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or lower tend to deliver superior performance.

Durability: It is important to note that you should check whether a lens is water or moisture-resistant. When traveling, cameras and lenses can be exposed to various weather conditions and environments. Opting for a weather-sealed lens provides added protection against dust and water, helping to safeguard your equipment and maintain its performance.

Our Verdict

The Sony a6000 camera is a brilliant travel camera. Being such a portable and versatile mirrorless camera, you will want to carry it with you at all times. And it’s powerful enough to give you professional-quality images to help you remember the scenery and the good times from your travels. 

To gain optimal results, you must pair it with a high-precision lens. You will be happy with any of the lenses suggested above, especially if you consider the type of photography they were designed for and the style of photos you want to capture. 

However, if you want a lens covering most aspects of travel photography, we recommend the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS. With its image stabilization, angle of view, and wide aperture, this lens will help you capture general snapshots while you explore new surroundings, but it will get serious when you want high-resolution action shots, gorgeous night scenes, and stunning portraits too.

FAQ About Travel lenses for Sony a6000

What Are the Advantages of a Wide Aperture?

A wide aperture, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8, allows you to photograph in darker conditions. It enables you to use a low ISO, which reduces noise (graininess). Having less noise means greater detail in your photos. And you’re also able to shoot at faster shutter speeds, so you reduce the risk of accidental blur. A wide f-stop provides less depth of field, which separates your subject from the background, making your images more pleasing to the eye.

What’s the Best Lens for Portraits?

Travel lenses are not necessarily going to be suitable for portraits. Many travel lenses (including some of the ones reviewed above) are wide-angle lenses designed for landscapes rather than shots of individuals. Having a wider angle of view means you will accidentally distort a person’s features if you get too close to them. 

Being short lenses means they don’t separate the background from the subject as easily as lenses with a longer focal length. The best lens for a portrait has a 50 mm to 85 mm active focal length. When combined with a wide aperture, these lenses create a soft and dreamy bokeh around your subject, which is perfect for stunning portrait photography. 

Apart from making your subject stand out from the background, this background blur is also useful for covering any distracting elements behind the subject. With its extra focal length, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is the travel lens with excellent portrait capabilities.

Which Lens has the Best Low Light Performance?

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens has the widest aperture of all the lenses reviewed in this article, making it a strong contender for the title of the best low-light performer. And with its Super Multi-Layer Coating that reduces reflections and unwanted light flare, there aren’t too many lenses around that can beat it. 

But it doesn’t have image stabilization. Being of small size, that’s not going to affect your photography too much since there’s hardly any camera movement at the end of its length, but there is another lens that might suit you better. 

With its Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and the wide aperture of f/1.8, the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 lens produces exceptional photos in dim lighting. It has a slightly narrower aperture than the Sigma, but the image stabilization provides more peace of mind when shooting without a tripod.

Do professional photographers use Sony a6000?

Many professional photographers use it for their work.

What size lens cover for Sony A6000?

40.5MM

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The Ultimate Guide for photography composition 25
My name is Oliver, and I am an amateur street and architecture photographer who loves to capture the essence of travel through my lens. I use iPhone 14 and Sony 6400 camera paired with the versatile Tamron 18mm-300mm f/3.5-f/6.3 lens to bring my vision to life.