Best Travel Lenses for Sony A6000 [2024 Review]

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In this article, we will discuss all there is about what gear and accessories to carry when traveling with the Sony A6000. The Sony A6000 has been the talk of 2020, with the A-series being the best mirrorless camera to date.

The best thing about the camera is that it can even host some of the best travel lenses, may it be a zoom lens, prime lens, or an all in one.

We will try covering some of our best picks of the lenses that go along with your A6000 to ensure you have an amazing trip. Keep reading to find out more! 

Review of the Best Sony A6000 Travel Lenses

We have done all the research required for you to select the best lens for your Sony A6000, with all their features and reviews to help you better pick the one that suits your requirements. So, read on below to learn about the pros and cons and even who it is most suited for.

Brand
Sigma
Sony SEL35F18
Meike
Product
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony...
Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
Meike 35mm F1.4 Large Aperture Manual Focus Lens...
Aperture
16mm
35mm
35mm
Focal Length
f/1.4
f/1.8
f/1.4
Brand
Sigma
Product
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony...
Aperture
16mm
Focal Length
f/1.4
Brand
Sony SEL35F18
Product
Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
Aperture
35mm
Focal Length
f/1.8
Brand
Meike
Product
Meike 35mm F1.4 Large Aperture Manual Focus Lens...
Aperture
35mm
Focal Length
f/1.4

Best Overall: Sigma 16mm F/1.4 DC

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony...

PROS

  • Has a bright aperture
  • Wide-angle field of view
  • Sharp and even illumination
  • Splash and dust resistant build
  • Available for Sony and Micro Four third edition system

CONS

  • Has a visible barrel distortion
  • Sometimes omits optical stabilization
  • Could be a bit large for some Micro Four Third series

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent purchasers of Sigma 16mm f/1.4 lens have stated that it is a quality lens that is very well built, has a solid feel, and great grip. It is an extremely sharp lens from the core to the corners.

They have also appreciated the Sigma’s auto-focus and its fast response system. Moreover, this is a perfect unit with the right amount of bokeh opening for landscape and street photography.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The Stigma 16mm is a stellar performer. It allows you to capture a different angle of view, all depending on the camera system you use.

It is a fast prime lens that delivers great quality images with a tough metal design and poly-carbonate barrel that are made to last. It has a balanced feel that allows for a comfortable photography experience, while its rubberized manual focus ring and dust and splash protection ensure durability and reliability.

Who Will Use This Most

This is a great travel lens that is suited for all types of photographers and video makers. It’s a top choice for those shooters looking to make their travel experience better. Its amazing features further allow for some amazing landscape and street photographs to be taken with just the right amount of sharpness and clarity.

Bottom Line

All in all, this model is a contemporary lens that delivers sharp tack photos, even when shot at f/1.4. It’s a great buy for those owning the Micro Four Thirds and the Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras. It’s a great, well-designed camera lens that allows for both portability and comfort.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony...
  • Compatible with Sony E mount cameras
  • Perfect for nature & event photography
  • Large f/1.4 aperture for superb lowlight performance

Runner-up: Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8

Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens

PROS

  • Extremely compact and lightweight
  • Comes with built-in image stabilization
  • Optical design for excellent sharpness and contrast
  • Silent, smooth, and high-speed focus due to gyro sensors
  • Ideal for shooting movies because of aspherical lens design

CONS

  • Is not zoomable
  • Focal length may be too narrow for some
  • Auto-focus might lock on the wrong subject

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers have commented on the lens as being the perfect Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 lens when it comes to functionality, it has amazing auto-focus features that require minimum light-room editing. The wider aperture creates a sharper result and allows for a shallow depth of field. It is a game-changer lens for many.

Why it Stands Out to Us

A compact lens that offers high performance, this unit is easy to carry around when trying to capture the action. It has a circular aperture that gives you the right amount of control when managing light in your photographs. Moreover, it offers Extra-low dispersion due to the quality of the glass.

Who Will Use This Most

This is a great camera lens for our enthusiasts and professionals that love capturing moments. This lens, due to its compact and portable nature, is ideal for a wide variety of photos, including snapshots and night shots.

Bottom Line

To put it simply, this unit is a high-performance, compact lens that is a must when traveling. Its amazing features make it one of Sony’s greatest lenses for the A6000.

Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
  • Compact, lightweight fixed F1.8 lens.Angle of View (APS C) 44 °
  • Minimum Focus Distance : 0.99 ft (0.3 m), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.15x, Focal Length : 1.38...
  • New optical design for excellent peripheral sharpness and contrast, Built in image stabilization

Best for the Money: Meike MK-35mm F/1.4 APS-C

Meike 35mm F1.4 Large Aperture Manual Focus Lens...

PROS

  • Takes crisp and clear pictures
  • Provides you with good vignetting
  • Comes with great sharpness that is very wide
  • Is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry
  • Has good color rendition that provides your pictures with a vintage touch

CONS

  • Strong field curvature doesn’t allow corner and center in the same plain

What Recent Buyers Report

According to users of this product, Meike 35mm f/1.4 lens features excellent build quality and great ergonomics. They also loved the lens since it was high-quality and took clear pictures. It is also very sharp from edge to edge, and this made the customers very happy.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This lens stands out due to its stylish design. The beauty of this lens is that it comes with the same depth of field and field of view as with a 50mm f/2 lens on full-frame. This is great for a crop sensor and for taking better pictures.

Who Will Use This Most

This lens provides you with easy to handle features and good adjusting, making it a great buy for beginners as well as professionals. Moreover, the ability of this lens to take pictures right away with good focus makes the user very happy and relaxed.

Bottom Line

Overall, this camera lens is an antique-looking model that can take outstanding pictures during your travels. This lens allows easy adjusting and comes with image stabilization that allows you to take images while moving around. Its reasonable price point makes it worth investing in.

Meike 35mm F1.4 Large Aperture Manual Focus Lens...
  • Works with all Sony E-mount camera A9 A7RIII NEX 3 NEX 3N NEX 5 NEX 5T NEX 5R NEX 6 7 A5000 A5100...
  • APS-C Visual angle:diagonal 43° horizontal 37° vertical 25°,Lens Structure:5 Groups 8 Elements
  • It is a Wide Angle Lens, suitables for Landscape ,Product and Portrait Photography

4. Sony – FE 50mm F1.8

Sony - FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F),...

PROS

  • Very light and compact in nature
  • Has good optics that you can enjoy
  • Provides you with minimal distortion
  • Crisp from edge to edge when it is stopped down
  • Provides you with solid instructions and comes with a lens hood

CONS

  • Has a slow focus and noticeable chromatic aberration

What Recent Buyers Report

According to recent buyers, Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 camera lens is a low-cost prime lens that comes with a full-frame mirrorless camera system. This camera has the ability to capture subjects even in low light conditions and even blurs the background to make your subject stand out.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This unit stands out because of its stylish design and lightweight nature. The barrel on this unit is poly-carbonate, and the lens mount is made from metal, but this does not make the lens look cheap. Furthermore, this lens takes crisp and clear images, making it a truly worthy investment.

Who Will Use This Most

The easy handling and features present on this lens, along with auto-focus, allow beginners to buy this product without any worry. This lens is perfect for taking quick images and works easily, even in low light conditions.

Bottom Line

Overall, this Sony lens is ideal for everyone due to the features it comes with. It takes great pictures and allows you to handle it easily without worrying about the weight. This lens is also compact, and the material used in its making makes it durable.

Sony - FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F),...
  • Large F1.8 maximum aperture enables beautiful defocusing effects, 7-blade circular aperture creates...
  • Compact, lightweight design ideal for full-frame E-mount cameras, Aspherical element controls...
  • Double-gauss configuration suppresses field curvature & distortion, Metal mount adds solid...

5. Sony SELP1650 16-50mm

Sony SELP1650 16-50mm OSS Lens: Sony E PZ 16-50mm...

PROS

  • Has good image stabilization
  • Features a built-in auto-focus
  • Does not compromise image quality
  • Comes with a power zoom that you can use
  • Captures sharp images even at a slow shutter speed

CONS

  • Does not come with a hood
  • Is not weather sealed or resistant

What Recent Buyers Report

According to recent buyers, Sony SELP1650 16-50mm lens delivers good performance. It enhances your ability to take images in low light conditions and has a good aperture as well. However, it is not weather protected, which might make it unsuitable for people who like travel photography.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This camera stands out due to the stylish look it has and its ability to take pictures that are clear and good. It has a wide aperture that allows full-frame photography, and it also comes with great features that are easy to use and understand.

Who Will Use This Most

This camera is more suited to beginners as it does have good features, but it is not suited for professional usage. It’s easy to manage, and the quick understanding of features makes it the perfect buy. However, it lacks weather sealing, making it unsuitable for professionals.

Bottom Line

Overall, this lens is perfect for newbies. It is good in performance and takes clear pictures. Furthermore, it can perform well in low light conditions, and its reasonable price point makes it worth buying.

Sony SELP1650 16-50mm OSS Lens: Sony E PZ 16-50mm...
  • E-Mount Lens/APS-C Format - 24-75mm (35mm Equivalent) (White Box, Kit Lens)
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5-5.6 to f/22-36 - One ED Element; Four Aspherical Elements
  • Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization - Power Zoom Mechanism

Comparison of the Best Travel Lenses for Sony A6000

Are All Travel Lenses The Same?

One of the most asked questions is whether all travel lenses are the same or which lens to carry when traveling. It is important that you select the right lens when traveling as you don’t want to bring too many lenses and go through the hassle of changing lenses rather than enjoying the moment.

On the other hand, you also want to make sure you carry a good, sharp lens that can assist you in capturing your adventure. Nothing is worse than getting back and going through your pictures just to realize that your pictures are soft and out of focus.

Not all lenses are the same, and the right lens depends on what you are trying to capture, however, when traveling, the lens you choose depends solely on your personal preference and your own travel style and photography preference. 

What Makes a Lens Great For Traveling?

When it comes to travel lenses, there is no one lens that fits all. Depending on your budget and what type of travel and photography you are interested in, there’s likely to be the best one out there for you. Here are some of the things that make a lens great for traveling:

Weight

This can be a pretty important consideration when it comes to picking a lens for travel. The idea behind it is that you are going to be using the lens for traveling, and the less you have to carry, the better it is, especially if you’re going to be on foot all day. So, always try to keep in mind the weight of the lens you are getting for your travels.

black Sigma 16mm F/1.4 DC lens

Sigma 16mm F/1.4 DC

Size

Along with the weight, you’re definitely going to want to factor in the size of the camera lens. When traveling, portability is a must. You’d want something that is easy to pack and carry around. So always consider how big the lens is in physical terms when making a decision.

Functionality

Once you’ve considered all the physical aspects of the lens, look for the features you would want, which can include aperture, stability, zoom, focal length, etc. Keep reading to find out more in detail about the specific features that would suit you the best.

Aspects To Consider Before Buying

When going lens shopping for traveling, there are plenty of things you should be aware of. Some of the common aspects to remember in mind are as follows:

Must Be Lightweight

This is the most common feature of a travel lens. Nobody likes to get a travel lens that is too heavy and wears you down when traveling. You should also find a lens that is compact in nature as this will allow it to fit inside your bag easily, and you can use it anywhere you want. 

Weather Resistant

When traveling, you can never predict the weather accurately. One minute it’ll be sunny, and the next minute, there will be a thunderstorm coming your way. The whole point of traveling photography is to capture the different weather, and if your lens is not weather resistant, then there is no point in getting it. 

Good Optical Quality

You should also find a lens that has great quality and takes clear pictures as this will make sure that your pictures are worth printing and posting. Good optics ensure proper color in your picture, and you should also find a lens that has good auto-focus ability. 

People Also Ask

Even with the information present above, some questions are left unanswered, and this can confuse the reader. We have answered some frequently asked questions below for your peace of mind:

Is the Sony A6000 Waterproof?

Sony A6000 is a water-resistant camera but is not entirely waterproof. This lens can handle shooting in light showers but not heavy rainfall.

Is the Sony A6000 Good For Landscape?

This is a decent and affordable choice for wide-angle photography of landscapes. This Sony lens has a 10-18mm f/4 that is designed especially for APS-C sensors. 

Does Sony A6000 Have Image Stabilization?

The answer to this is yes and no. The A6000 comes with three-axis image stabilization that is built inside the body, and it relies on the IS present in the lens to get the other two axes.

Conclusion

Even with all the information online, finding the best lens for your Sony A600 can be a difficult decision to make on your own. To help you out, we have compiled reviews of some of the best lenses present on the market. We hope this guide helps you out.