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It’s time to discover the best lens for Sony a6000. This is probably the best mirrorless camera ever invented. Yes, there have been more advanced cameras that have come out since the original a6000 was released. But the original is still very relevant in the photography world of today, and one of the favorite units for semi-professionals. It’s a simple yet effective camera that people all over the world still love to use.
But how do you enhance your favorite camera? By picking up the best lens! A quality lens is the best way to really bring the amazing features of the Sony a6000 to life. Plus, many of the best lenses for the Sony a6000 are extremely affordable. And for that matter, so is the camera itself.
For a sharp upgrade of image quality, performance, and versatility, you definitely want to browse our reviews for the best lenses for the Sony a6000. Even if you’re on the fence about purchasing a lens because you already love the performance of your camera, many of the lenses are ridiculously affordable and won’t break the bank. Picking up a basic prime lens is going to give you a massive quality boost for your photos.
1. Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C E-mount Zoom Lens
Let’s start the list with a fantastic zoom lens from Sony. For an amateur photographer or pro photographer, you can’t get better than this unit. It’s lightweight, smaller than you would expect, the image quality is fantastic, and it focuses extremely quickly. It really eliminates the need to have many different lenses in your camera case. It’s highly versatile, meaning that it can handle almost every situation, including landscape photography and architectural photography. You can even take amazing portraits with this zoom lens.
In fact, this is one of the better zoom lenses if you’re looking for something that can handle close-ups. It has a minimum focusing distance of 1.48 feet. That’s basically unheard of in a zoom lens. Plus, if you’re a fussy type of person who needs as much control as possible, you can instantaneously switch between automatic focus and manual focus. The photos it takes are brilliant, the colors are amazing, and it really goes well with the a6000 camera.
Pros
- SteadyShot Image Stabilization
- 5x High Magnification Zoom
- Unbelievable Close-Up Performance
- Manual & Auto Focus
- Surprisingly Lightweight & Easy to Use
Cons
- Not Great in Low Light
- Some Vignetting
2. Sony 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 E-Mount Telephoto Lens
If a standard zoom lens won’t cover your needs, you definitely want to consider this fantastic E-mount telephoto lens from Sony. It gives you a perfect balance between functionality and convenient usage. It has an ample zoom range with a max focal length of 210mm. You’ll capture all the shots you need in perfect clarity even from a staggering distance away. It’s ideal for sports games and for birding. The lens is also remarkably comfortable. You won’t have any problems holding or operating the equipment. And for those with shaky hands, there’s nothing to worry about because the integrated optical image stabilization yields impressively sharp images 100% of the time.
Yes, this is a budget telephoto lens. There are certainly more impressive lenses from Sony, but considering the outstanding price, you really can’t get a better deal.
Pros
- Wildly Affordable Telephoto Lens
- Stable Video Capture
- Near-Silent Internal Focusing
- Spectacular Zoom Range
- Shoots Very Quickly in RAW
Cons
- Budget Telephoto Lens
- Focus Ring is a Pain
3. Sony 10-18mm F4 OSS E-mount Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
Next up is a fantastic wide-angle zoom lens that you can use for your Sony a6000 camera. It comes with a minimal focal length of 10mm and an impressive maximum magnification ratio of 0.1x. But that’s not all. This is undoubtedly the best wide-angle zoom lens for not only the a6000 but also for the a6300 and the a6500. In fact, this is a great lens for any Sony E-mount camera. It works fabulously when it comes to nightly shooting, thanks to the bright aperture, and it’s an ideal travel lens because it’s small, compact, and lightweight. It’s also spectacular when you need to take photographs of an expansive panorama or some striking architecture.
But what really makes this such a powerful wide-angle lens is the image stabilization. This feature allows you to leave the tripod at home and still take crystal-clear photographs even when riding in an airplane or a train. Plus, the lens will focus quickly and give you unparalleled sharpness from one corner of the image to the other. We definitely recommend this lens to anyone looking for a wide-angle solution.
Pros
- Superb Magnification Ratio of 0.1x
- Unique Distance Encoder for Flash Metering
- Great Stabilization Helps Low-Light Settings
- Sharp/Compact/Lightweight
- Ridiculously Crisp for Vlogging & Real Estate
Cons
- No Weather Sealing
- Slightly Expensive Compared to Competition
4. Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 E-Mount Prime Fixed Lens
Not everyone needs a fancy wide-angle lens or a telephoto lens. For those of you who are just looking for a superb everyday prime lens that you can use while walking through the city or taking a leisurely stroll along the beach, this is certainly the best choice. Considering the fantastic quality of the prime fixed lens and its insanely reasonable price, you would be crazy not to consider it. The lens has also been designed with impressive new optics to give amazing peripheral sharpness and contrast. The lens offers image stabilization, silent focusing, and it comes equipped with some of the most advanced lens elements in the business.
But where this lens really shines is with everyday scenarios. Portraits of your family, capturing all the moments on the next camping trip, or just uploading snippets of your life to social media. It works well at night, and we even consider it a game-changer when it comes to operating professionally with a fixed lens. It’s obviously not as fancy as some of the other pieces of equipment from Sony, but it’s a perfect match for any Sony a6000 camera.
Pros
- Great “Walking Around” Lens
- Bright Max Aperture for Night Shooting
- Lens-Based Optical Image Stabilization
- Ideal for High-Quality Videos
- Light for Traveling
Cons
- Fixed Focal Length
- Not Great for Landscapes
5. Sony 50mm F1.8 OSS E-Mount Portrait Lens
Last but certainly not least is a superb 50mm portrait lens. This is one of the best-reviewed lenses from any manufacturer that we have ever seen. But you’re probably wondering what the difference is between this and a standard prime lens. Basically, this lens is a prime lens, it’s just more affordable and more centered toward taking portraits. And not just portraits of people. This is an excellent lens to pair with your a6000 to take photos of your pets, of everyday situations in the street, and of course weddings. It’s also a great camera if you’re a foodie and love posting your meals online for everyone to see.
It’s also a great lens for beginners. Any amateur photographer is going to get a lot of use out of this portrait lens. It’s midrange, it has an ideal focal length for portraits, and it’s lightweight enough that you’ll barely even feel it on your camera. The autofocus is responsive and quiet, the aperture is generous for low-light shooting in dark spaces, and of course it also works well when taking videos.
Pros
- Perfectly Rated by Customers
- Compact & Lightweight
- Max Magnification Ratio of 0.16x
- Great Internal Focusing
- Best Portrait Camera for a6000
Cons
- Not Most Versatile Lens
- Slightly Older Lens
Final Thoughts
Before you break out your wallet and start spending money on the best lens for Sony a6000, there are a few things to keep in mind. The most important thing to remember is that the Sony a6000 uses the standard E-mount lenses – not the FE lenses. But don’t worry. There are over 40 different Sony E-mount lenses that have been produced, and the ones we reviewed today were only the five best. You still have so many more options, just be sure that you get the proper lens with your camera.
The difference is that the E-mount lenses are designed for mirrorless bodies while the FE lenses are designed for full-frame cameras. It’s a huge difference in size. But that said, some of the lenses are interchangeable. If you want the best experience with your Sony a6000, we highly recommend having a dedicated lens designed specifically for the camera.
The only other consideration you need to make when purchasing the best lens is the type of lens for your preferred photography. In case you’re not sure, a prime lens is ideal for everyday photography, street photography, and a variety of travel situations. A prime lens is definitely the best starter lens, especially for an amateur photographer who wants to upgrade the performance of their Sony a6000.
Then you have wide-angle lenses for architecture, landscapes, and panoramas. There is the telephoto lens, which is great for sports games and wildlife photography. And if you’re into taking photos of bugs and flowers, or jewelry to sell online, you’re going to want a macro lens.
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