12 Best Lenses for Sony a6000 (2023 Ultimate Guide)

This is a guide covering the best lenses for the Sony A6000.

Launched in 2014, the Sony A6000 has been one of my favorite beginner cameras and a great buy, especially for those who don’t necessarily need 4K.

Believe me, I know how exciting, yet difficult it can be to find the perfect lens for your camera especially since it can be an investment.

Because of this, I dive into each Sony A6000 lens to uncover the pros and cons in terms of quality, build, important features, etc.

So make sure to read the post until the end. That way you can make the best decision for you! If you choose a lens outside of this list, make sure it is an E-Mount lens as that is the lens mount compatible with the Sony a6000.

Also, I wanted to note that the Sony a6000 is an APS-C camera that works best with Sony E-lenses but I have also listed Sony FE-lenses here that are designed for full-frame camera bodies. When using a FE lens on an APS-C camera then they will still work but will provide a 1.5x crop magnification. For example, a 50mm FE lens will look like a 75mm lens on an APS-C sensor camera but the quality will still look great — just something to be aware of if you’re new.

In a hurry? Here’s the quick overview:

• ⭐ Best Overall Lens for the Sony a6000
  • Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS

• 👩 Best Portrait Photography Lenses for the Sony a6000
  • Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS
  • Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
  • Sony FE 135mm F1.8 G Telephoto

• 🌄 Best Landscape Photography Lenses for the Sony a6000
  • Sony FE 16-70mm F4 OSS
  • Rokinon 35mm F1.2 Wide Angle
  • Neewer 25mm F1.8 APS-C Wide Angle

• ⚾ Best Sports Photography Lenses for the Sony a6000
  • Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
  • Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

• 🚗 Best Street Photography Lens for the Sony a6000
  • Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C

• 🌹 Best Macro Photography Lens for the Sony a6000
  • Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 Macro G OSS

• 🐟 Best Fisheye Lens for the Sony a6000
  • Samyang 12mm F2.8 Ultra Wide Fisheye

• 💸 Best Budget Photography Lens for the Sony a6000
  • Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C

How to Choose the Best Lens for the Sony a6000?

Focal Length: A lens with a longer focal length will allow the photographer to capture action shots from a distance, which is important for sports photography and portraits. For example, a lens like the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS is great for sports photography, and the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is a great choice for portraits.

Aperture: A wide aperture (low f-stop number) will allow the photographer to capture fast-moving subjects in low light conditions and will create a shallow depth of field, which can help to isolate the subject from the background. For example, the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 OSS is great for low-light photography and portraits.

Zoom range: A zoom lens with a versatile range like the Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS is ideal for different types of photography such as landscapes, portraits, and general photography.

Image stabilization: Image stabilization can help to reduce camera shake, which can be especially useful when shooting in low light conditions or at longer focal lengths. For example, the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS and Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 Macro G OSS both have image stabilization features.

Budget: A photographer should also consider the cost of the lens and weigh it against their budget. For example, the Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C is a great budget option.

12 Best Lenses for Sony A6000

1. Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F1.8
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format size: APS-C/DX
• Focal length: 50mm
• Image stabilization: Yes
• Lens mount: Sony E
• Weight: 202g (0.45 lb)
• Diameter: 62mm (2.44″)
• Length: 62mm (2.44″)
• Materials: Metal barrel, metal mount
• Sealing: No

The best lens for the Sony A6000 is the Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS.

It has one of the best apertures among all the lenses, and at the same time, 50mm is still the most commonly used focal length for both pros and hobbyists.

The Sony E 50mm 1.8 OSS lens is a perfect option for different scenarios whether you are doing street photography or doing portrait photography (check out the best Sony portrait lenses).

Its f1.8 aperture is enough to blur backgrounds from a distance and focus mainly on your subject. And also, it’s a handy tool when shooting even in low light conditions.

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2. Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Zoom lens
• Maximum aperture: F4
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format: size APS-C / DX
• Focal length: 16–70 mm
• Image stabilization: Yes
• Lens mount: Sony E
• Weight: 308g (0.68 lb)
• Diameter: 67mm (2.62″)
• Length: 75mm (2.95″)
• Materials: Metal mount and exterior

The best travel lens for the Sony A6000 is the Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS.

The Sony Zeiss 16-70 Vario Tessar F4 OSS lens is the best travel lens for Sony A6000 simply because it allows you to shoot close up or from afar.

With a minimum shooting distance of 1.15 feet, you can capture moments that happen right in front of you.

This zoom lens allows you to capture moments without any lag time. On top of that, it is a great lens for shooting landscapes.

This lens also utilizes optical steady shot image stabilization technology minimizing shakes from your hand. But even the best travel lens for Sony A6000 comes with a few flaws.

The biggest hesitation among pros is the fact that it isn’t a good option during nighttime due to its f4 aperture.

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3. Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Zoom lens
• Maximum aperture: F5.6 – 6.3
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 200–600mm
• Image stabilization: Yes
• Lens mount: Sony FE
• Weight: 2115g (4.66 lb)
• Diameter: 112mm (4.41″)
• Length: 318mm (12.52″)
• Materials: Magnesium alloy
• Sealing: Yes

The best telephoto lens for the Sony A6000 is the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS.

With a burst speed of 11fps, the Sony A6000 is still a favorite among sports photographers to wildlife photographers. And for both genres, having the right telephoto lens can make a huge difference.

It offers great resolution throughout the entire zoom range. It also made use of 5x ED glass elements to prevent flares.

And on top of that, it has a quiet motor that can help you observe without disturbing your subject especially if it is used during wildlife photography (check out the list of best lenses for wildlife photography).

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4. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 Macro G OSS

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F2.8
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 90mm
• Image stabilization: Yes
• Lens mount: Sony FE
• Weight: 602g (1.33 lb)
• Diameter: 79mm (3.11″)
• Length: 131mm (5.14″)
• Sealing: Yes

The best macro lens for the Sony A6000 is the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 Macro G OSS.

If you are planning to do macro photography, a good option for shooting up close is the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 Macro G OSS lens. Since it’s an FE mount lens, it means that it’s the lens designed primarily for Sony full-frame cameras.

One of the things that make the Sony FE 90mm Macro G OSS a favorite among photographers is the fact that it offers better image quality than e-mount lenses. It is also built as a dust and moisture-resistant Sony A6000 macro lens allowing users to take the lens in different situations.

It is also discreet while it focuses thanks to its DDSSM technology. On top of that, you also have the Nano AR coating that helps in suppressing the reflections.

But what makes it the best Sony A600 macro Lens in our opinion is the fact that it can be used in food photography (check out the best cameras for food photography) or accentuating small details on a subject. However, it is still not enough for low-light conditions.

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5. Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS

First on the list of best lenses for Sony a6000 is the 70-300mm G Series Telephoto lens. It is a good option for those who plan on observing subjects from afar.

This lens initially designed for full-frame Sony cameras provides superb image quality when used on the Sony A6000. It makes use of Nano AR Coating along with a nano-precision structure.

And also, despite being a telephoto lens, it has Optical Steady Shot technology that allows the user to minimize the effects of their shaky hands. This comes in handy, especially when taking pictures of the subject from afar.

The most common hesitation is that you can’t use it in the afternoon when shooting wildlife due to the f4.5 to f5.6 aperture of the lens.

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6. Sony FE 135mm F1.8 G Telephoto

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F1.8
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 135mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Sony FE
• Weight: 950g (2.09 lb)
• Diameter: 90mm (3.54″)
• Length: 127mm (5″)
• Materials: Magnesium alloy
• Sealing: Yes

Even the best lenses for Sony a6000 have problems shooting in low-light conditions and this is also true for most telephoto lenses.

That’s a common pain point solved by the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 prime telephoto lens. Here, you can shoot wildlife from afar even when the sun is about to set.

This lens is known for its superior image quality when used on the A6000. It makes a good Sony A6000 macro lens given its ability to take sharp images.

However, the only problem is its single focal length. Unlike zoom lenses, you will have to get closer or farther from your subject if you want the best shots.

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7. Rokinon 35mm F1.2 Wide Angle

The Rokinon 35mm F1.2 Wide Angle Lens provides you with the flexibility you need when it comes to your depth of field.

This allows you to focus on a subject while still getting that wide shot that you want. It can also be used extensively especially when you are shooting beautiful landscapes even in low-light conditions.

The only downside is that you will be the one to get closer or farther to get your perfect shot. But in reality, it’s a small drawback especially if you are looking for a good all-around lens for traveling or even for vlogging.

By the way, here is a list of the best vlogging cameras.

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8. Neewer 25mm F1.8 APS-C Wide Angle

The Neewer 25mm F1.8 wide-angle lens is perfect for shooting landscapes. With multi-layer coating, it produces great image quality on the A6000.

And since it has a large aperture, it can blur the background in case you need to highlight your subject.

The only downside is that it is a manual focus lens. If you are used to using AF, it takes some time before you get the hang of focusing on your subject with minimal delay.

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9. SLR Magic CINE II 50mm f/1.1

Third-party prime lenses are worth including in our best lenses for the Sony a6000. If you think that a prime lens with an f1.8 aperture won’t cut it anymore, then the SLR Magic CINE II 50mm f1.1 lens is a good option.

This prime lens allows you to blur backgrounds and highlight your subject with ease. On top of that, you can also use this as a good option for shooting in low-light conditions.

The only downside to this lens is the fact that it is heavy. It is due to its heavy-duty construction. It is built of metal and glass.

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10. Samyang 12mm F2.8 Ultra Wide Fisheye

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F2.8
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 12mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Sony E
• Weight: 515g (1.14 lb)
• Diameter: 77mm (3.04″)
• Length: 73mm (2.86″)
• Sealing: No

The Samyang 12mm F2.8 Fisheye lens gives you a different perspective whenever you are shooting landscapes.

Because of its wide focal length, you will be able to capture angles that are typically out of reach from your other lenses.

But what made it part of our list of best lenses for Sony A6000 is the fact that you can also shoot subjects up close to give you a unique output.

Its minimum focusing distance is 7.9 inches.

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11. Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Zoom lens
• Maximum aperture: F3.5 – 5.6
• Minimum aperture: F22 – 36
• Max Format size: APS-C/DX
• Focal length: 18–135mm
• Image stabilization: Yes
• Lens mount: Sony E
• Weight: 325g (0.72 lb)
• Diameter: 67mm (2.64″)
• Length: 88mm (3.46″)
• Sealing: No

The Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C E-mount Zoom Lens is your all-in-one dependable lens.

It gives you the chance to shoot landscapes to close up photos without the need to switch lenses.

Though its aperture may not give you the shots you need in low light conditions, this lens is a great option when shooting in broad daylight.

It is also known for its quiet focusing capability allowing you to shoot discreetly especially if you plan on using this to observe animals in the wild. Though it isn’t a perfect lens, we think that it is one of the best lenses for the Sony A6000 simply because it can be used for different situations.

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12. Sony FE 85mm f/1.8

Lens Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F1.8
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 85mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Sony FE
• Weight: 371g (0.82 lb)
• Diameter: 78mm (3.07″)
• Length: 82mm (3.23″)
• Sealing: Yes

Taking close-up shots but you don’t want to forego bokeh? The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 prime lens is the perfect choice for you.

It offers sharp results when used with Sony A6000 not to mention you can easily switch between AF and MF at any time.

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FAQ

Is the Sony A6000 Kit Lens Good?

Is the Sony A6000 kit lens a good option? Yes. The Sony A6000 kit lens is a 16-50mm lens applicable in different scenarios.

It is something that can be used for most of your needs. It can be a good option when shooting in a studio setting or whenever you shooting outdoors. It is a versatile option that allows you to not switch your lens and continue shooting.

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