Are you excited? Because you should be! Buying new gear is always fun. The Sony a6000 is one of my favorite camera systems, so I’ll do everything I can to help you find the perfect lens for your travels.
I’m an avid traveler myself, so I understand how important it is to have the right gear in order to capture the memories that you make while traveling.
I get it.
I’m sure most of you have spent countless days planning a trip and will only visit certain destinations once in your lifetime so the last thing you want to happen is to have the wrong lens for a given situation.
The good thing is there is a huge selection of budget friendly lenses perfect for travel, but it can also be a little overwhelming.
Here are some of the questions I like to go through when thinking about buying a new lens that might help you.
- What type of destinations do you usually travel to and how do you travel?
- Are you looking for an all-in-one type of lens or are you ok carrying multiple lenses?
- Will you be using the camera in museums, interiors or in low light situations?
- Will you be focusing on photography, videography, or both?
- Are you planning to upgrade to a full-frame Sony camera any time soon? If so, it could make sense to look into full-frame Sony lenses although they are more expensive.
- How long and how often are you planning on using this lens?
- Are you ok buying used to save money?
Why Trust Me?
As with all of the articles I create, I have poured countless hours of research into this article to make sure I give you as much information as possible to help you make the best decision.
I’ve been a professional travel photographer and filmmaker since 2018 and have been lucky enough to work on projects all over the world with brands such as Alaska Airlines, Kayak.com, Prague Tourism, Visa, Airbnb, and many more.
If you’re curious to see the full list of companies we’ve worked with, just head over to our Work With Us page
The first camera I ever bought was the Sony NEX 3 and I have used the Sony a6500 and Sony a7R III professionally for many years. From these experiences, I’ve become extremely familiar with Sony’s camera system and I think it puts me in a good position to help you find the best travel lens for the Sony a6000.
Most importantly, I’m just a message away. So, if you have any questions, just leave a comment below, email me at [email protected], or send me a DM on Instagram @tom.shu.
P.S. I answer every question that is sent!
Affiliate Links
For each of the cameras, I included affiliate links to either Amazon, Adorama, or eBay. By using these affiliate links, you support the ongoing maintence of this website.
To help make it easier for you, I try to keep these links as updated as possible, but make sure to shop around as there are so many great camera deals now.
Another great option is buying pre-owned as you save money while extending the life of a camera. I understand buying used isn’t for everyone, but I’ve only had postive experiences buying used from small businesses and individuals on eBay. As long as their seller rating is high, you should be good and many sellers also accept returns if you’re not satisfied.
Best Travel Lenses for the Sony a6000: My Top Picks
Lens Name | Lens Type | Type of Travel It's Good For | Price |
 Sony 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Tom's Top Pick | Standard Telephoto | All around travel, hiking or camping, astrophotography | |
 Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS Tom's Top Pick | Prime | Street photography day and night, travel portraiture, museums and interiors, videography | |
 Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G Tom's Top Pick | Standard Telephoto | All around travel, museums and interiors, travel portraiture, street photography, landscape, astrophotography | |
 Sony 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 OSS | Telephoto | Wildlife, hiking, camping, or landscape focused trip, astrophotography | |
 Sigma 16mm f/1.4 | Prime | Landscape, museums and interior, street photography day and night, videography | |
 Sony E 16mm f/2.8 | Prime | Landscape, museums and interior, street photography day and night | |
 Sony 70-200 f/4 | Telephoto | Wildlife or landscape focused trip | |
 Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS | Wide Angle Standard Telephoto | Hiking, camping, or landscape focused trip | |
 Sony E55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS | Telephoto | Landscape | |
 Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS | Telephoto | Landscape |
Reviews of the 10 Best Travel Lenses for Sony a6000
1.) Sony 18-105mm f/4 G OSS
- High performance E mount lens with excellent contrast; Minimum Aperture (F): 22
- Minimum Focus Distance : 1.48 (Wide) 3.12 ft (Tele), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.11x, Focal Length : 18 105 mm
- Versatile 27 158mm (35mm equiv.) zoom range. Angle of view (APS C): 76° 15°. Number of aperture blades are 7
- Constant F4 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range. Filter diameter (mm):72 mm
- It is recommended that you use a lens hood to reduce flare and ensure maximum image quality.Focal Length (mm) 11/16 4 1/8 35 mm equivalent focal length (APS C) 1 1/16 6 3/16 inches
The Sony 18-105mm is one of the best all in one travel lenses for the Sony a6000 that is available for the Sony E-Mount system. Honestly, if I was going on a trip and knew I could only bring 1 lens with me, this one would be it.
The reason why it’s such a good all-around travel lens is because of the wide focal range it has 18-105mm with the constant aperture of f/4. This is equivalent to a full-frame focal range of 27-152mm so you’re pretty much covered in any situation you will be shooting in.
The constant aperture of f/4 also means you don’t have to worry about the aperture changing on you as you zoom in.
For example with the Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS when you’re shooting at 18mm the widest aperture is at f/3.5. However, as you start zooming in the aperture also increases. By the time you are at 50mm in focal length, the widest aperture is at f/5.6 and stays fixed at f/5.6 until you reach 200mm.
If you are shooting mostly landscape with a tripod, this won’t be a big deal. On the other hand, if you are walking around and taking photos of the city, landscapes, and people and the light is dynamically changing, this could make it more difficult.
The zoom functionality on the Sony 18-105mm is internal so when you zoom, the lens does not extend out. This is an awesome feature if you’re going to be shooting video with a gimbal as you won’t have to rebalance the gimbal after zooming in. The downside is that each time you turn off your camera, the lens resets to 18mm.
PROS
- A very versatile focal range of 18-105mm (full-frame equivalent of 27-152mm) so you will be covered in most situations you will be taking photos or videos in.
- Related to the above, it’s a great all-in-one lens so you could get away with only bringing this on a trip.
- Great value lens with a reasonable price considering the focal range, constant aperture, and image quality.
- It has a constant f/4 aperture unlike some of the other telephoto lenses in this article.
- The zoom functionality is all internal so your lens does not extend out when you zoom. Great for video work when using a gimbal.
- Has built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization.
CONS
- It’s not the fastest lens as the widest aperture is f/4. This will work perfectly fine in most situations, but you may run into a little trouble in low-light situations.
- With the f/4 aperture, you don’t get much flexibility with the depth of field at the wider focal lengths especially compared to the prime lenses we will go over. You can still get a nice shallow depth of field look when you zoom in though.
- Not weather sealed, but understandable given the price point.
- Still may need a zoom lens if you want farther reach than 105mm.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Any trip in which you don’t have a good idea of what type of situations you will be taking photos and videos.
- Walk around style trip. For example, New York City, San Francisco, Rome, Prague.
- Hiking or camping trip when you want to keep your camera equipment to a minimum.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | Adorama | eBay
2.) Sony 35 f/1.8 OSS
- 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 in
- New optical design for excellent peripheral sharpness and contrast, Built in image stabilization
- Silent and smooth high speed focusing ideal for shooting movies. Superb focusing operation
- Lens group or elements is 6/8. If auto focus cant lock on or focuses on the wrong subject, step in and take total control with direct manual focus.Image stabilization (SteadyShot):Optical SteadyShot
- Format: APS-C, 35 mm equivalent focal length (APS-C): 52.5 mm
- Lens not zoomable
The Sony 35mm f/1.8 is a prime lens for the Sony a6000 that is at the very versatile 35mm focal length on the APS-C sensor. This lens has a full-frame equivalent of 52.5mm so it’s the closest you will get to a “Nifty Fifty” lens on an APS-C camera like the Sony a6000.
What makes this focal length so good and why it’s called “Nifty Fifty” is because it’s the most identical to the human eye. Because of this, you will get a natural-looking field of view in your images and very little distortion especially when compared to a wide-angle lens.
This 35mm has a maximum aperture of f/1.8 which makes it very fast and flexible so you will be able to use this in a variety of different lighting conditions. Plus, with the 35mm focal length, you’ll be able to get some delicious depth of field for portrait style shots.
The lens also has built-in Optical SteadyShot so you could easily use this as a more intimate cinematic video lens too.
At this focal length on an APS-C sensor, I think it will work best as a general walk-around style street photography lens, a travel portrait lens, and it is wide enough for some interior photography too.
PROS
- A fast aperture of f/1.8 gives you the flexibility to shoot in a variety of different lighting conditions (especially low-light) and you can achieve some beautiful depth of field too.
- “Nifty Fifty” focal length on the APS-C sensor so it’s great for a variety of different photography, especially as a portrait lens.
- Built-in Optical SteadyShot to stabilize your video footage or when you take photos at slower shutter speeds.
- Has built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization.
CONS
- The focal length is not very wide so it could limit you in some situations.
- It is not weather-sealed which is a little disappointing given the price.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Walk around style trip where the main focus will be shooting the city you are in during the day or night. For example, New York City, Tokyo, Kyoto, San Francisco.
- If the main type of photos you will be shooting is portraiture.
- If you plan on shooting interiors where you don’t need the widest lens.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | Adorama | eBay
3.) Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G
- Standard zooms with outstanding corner-to-corner G lens resolution
- Constant F2.8 Max aperture maintains exposure and depth of field
- Two advanced aspherical plus two aspherical elements suppress aberration
- Xd linear motor for fast, precise, quiet AF and tracking
- 9-Blade circular aperture contributes to gorgeous book
The Sony 16-55mm f2.8 G is one of Sony’s newest and most premium lenses for their APS-C cameras. It’s also one of the best portrait lenses you can get for your Sony a6000. Since the lens and the price point is on the premium end, I think you should really only consider this lens if:
- You want the best quality and sharpest photo possible out of your camera. I say this as the 16-55 is by far the sharpest APS-C lens at all apertures that Sony has created so far.
- You don’t really need or want a travel lens with telephoto capabilities. I say this since you could easily buy an all-in-one lens like the Sony 18-105 plus a good sharp prime lens at a cheaper price than this lens.
- You could benefit from the constant f/2.8 aperture if you shoot a lot in low-light conditions or want the increased depth of field for portrait type of shots.
If that sounds like you, this lens could be the perfect fit.
It is weather-sealed, has an autofocus / manual switch, and a focus hold button on the side of the lens. The build quality also feels very premium. It has the same grainy black finish as the very popular full-frame Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The zoom ring is also stiff and smooth which gives it a more solid and less plasticky feel.
The most surprising aspect of this lens is that Sony was able to keep it very compact and lightweight even though it has a constant aperture of f/2.8. Most of the time, lenses with a constant aperture of f/2.8 are much bigger.
What I don’t get about this lens is that it doesn’t have a built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS). For the price point, you would think having this feature would be a no brainer.
PROS
- A super-premium APS-C lens that will give you incredibly sharp, high-quality images at all apertures.
- Premium features such as an autofocus / manual switch and focus hold button on the side of the lens.
- A constant aperture of f/2.8 makes it a great lens in any lighting condition (especially in low-light) and is the perfect travel lens for portrait type of work.
- It is weather sealed.
CONS
- High price point. For a lower price, you could get the Sony 18-105 and a high-quality prime lens for a lower total price.
- No built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS), which is a big bummer considering the high price point.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Walk around style trip where the main focus will be shooting the city you are in during the day and night. For example, New York City, Tokyo, Kyoto, San Francisco.
- If the main type of photos you will be shooting during your trip are portrait-style photos.
- Museums, art gallery, and interior focused trip.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | Adorama
4.) Sony 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 OSS
- High-magnification zoom with image stabilization
- Minimum focus distance0. 3 (Wide) –0.5 m (Tele) (0.99 [Wide]) –1.64 feet[Tele]); Maximum 0.35 x, Focal Length: 18-200 mm
- 18 mm wide-angle to 200 mm telephoto assures coverage to capture any scene
- Optical image stabilization expands handheld shooting options
Similar to the Sony 18-105, the Sony 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 OSS is another one of the best travel lenses for the Sony a6000 because of its wide focal range. If you like to travel light and only have enough room in your pack for 1 lens, this could be the perfect fit.
With a range of 18-200mm (full-frame equivalent of 27-300), you will definitely be covered in any situation that you might find yourself in on your trip. It’s wide enough at 18mm to take architecture shots or vast landscape shots and you have enough zoom range to get close to any subject you’re shooting.
Unlike the older versions of this lens, the current version also has built-in Optical SteadyShot, which will be very beneficial to have when you shoot handheld or at longer focal lengths.
Other than the additional 95mm in zoom range that you get with the Sony 18-200, the biggest difference and biggest downside of this lens are that it has a variable aperture from f/3.5-6.3. The Sony 18-105mm has a fixed aperture at f/4.
The variable aperture won’t be an issue if you’re shooting in bright lighting conditions or landscapes on a tripod, but it could become a problem if you’re shooting handheld in low-light or variable lighting situations. Here is how the aperture changes based on the focal length you are using:
PROS
- Insane focal range from 18-200mm will ensure you are covered in any situation.
- Similar to the Sony 18-105, it’s an all-around lens so you could get away with only bringing this on a trip.
- Lightweight and compact especially given that it’s a superzoom.
- Has built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization.
CONS
- It is a variable aperture lens which could be an issue if you want to shoot in low-light or variable lighting situations or if you plan to shoot videos.
- The lens extends out when you zoom in making it more difficult to use on a gimbal.
- The image quality is not as good as the Sony 18-105mm and it’s at a higher price point.
- Not weather sealed.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Any trip in which you don’t have a good idea of what type of situations you will be taking photos and videos.
- Walk around style trip where the main focus will be shooting outside. For example national parks, Bavaria, Rome, Prague, New York City.
- Hiking, camping, or landscape photography trip when you want to keep your camera equipment to a minimum.
5.) Sigma 16mm f/1.4
- Compatible with Sony E mount cameras
- Perfect for nature & event photography
- Large f/1.4 aperture for superb lowlight performance
- Compact size makes it very portable
- Fully accommodates Fast Hybrid AF
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is the only third party lens in this article and is one of the best prime lenses for Sony APS-C cameras. Similar to the Sony E 16mm f/2.8 it’s another prime lens with a focal length of 16mm. However, the big difference is the ability to shoot wide open at an aperture of f/1.4, which can give you an incredible depth of field in your photos and video footage.
My favorite way to use this lens is for video shooting. Even though it’s a non-native Sony lens, the autofocus is super quick. Combine that with the wide open aperture of f/1.4 and you can achieve a very cinematic look with this lens. I actually shot 90% of my very first short film Spirit of Matsu with this lens.
Although I like to use this lens for video, it’s also a very good lens for photography and produces sharper images than the Sony 16mm f/2.8. Since it’s at a 16mm focal length, the Sigma is also great for walk-around style street photography, architecture photography, and even better for interior given its f/1.4 aperture.
Even though there are many positives of this lens, there are also some big downsides when compared to the Sony 16mm f/2.8. It’s almost double the price, it’s about 3 times bigger than the Sony lens, and it also doesn’t have built-in Optical SteadyShot.
PROS
- With the aperture of f/1.4, you can get an incredible depth of field and produce very cinematic photos and videos.
- Very sharp lens especially when compared to the Sony 16mm f/2.8.
- Performs well in low-light situations with its maximum aperture of f/1.4.
- Fast and responsive autofocus in combination with the f/1.4 and 16mm focal length makes it a great lens for video work.
CONS
- It is almost double the price of the Sony 16mm f/2.8.
- No built-in optical image stabilization which is a bummer considering the price point.
- Big size so it’s not as good of a lightweight carry everywhere type of lens as the Sony 16mm f/2.8.
- 16mm could limit you in the types of photos you want to take if this is your only lens.
- Not weather sealed.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Strongest at video, so it would be a great fit if you plan on shooting video wherever you go.
- Walk around style trip where the main focus will be shooting the city you are in during the day and night. For example, New York City, Tokyo, Kyoto, San Francisco.
- If the main type of photos you will be shooting is architecture or vast landscape shots.
- Museum, art gallery, and interior focused trip.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | Adorama | eBay
6.) Sony E 16mm f/2.8
- Lens not Zoomable. Footnotes:"35 mm equivalent focal length (APS-C)" and "Angle of View (APS-C)" are with interchangeable lens digital camera incorporating APS-C type image sensors.
- Minimum Focus Distance : 0.8 ft (0.24 m)
- Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.078x
- Focal Length : 16 mm. Angle of View (APS-C)- 83°. 35 mm equivalent focal length (APS-C)- 24 mm
- Compatible with optional VCL-ECU1 ultra-wide converter and VCL-ECF1 fisheye converter
The Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is a pancake-style prime lens that is an incredibly small and lightweight lens you can get for your a6000.
Since it’s so small and lightweight, the lens is great as a general walk around travel lens. At 16mm (full-frame equivalent to 24mm) with a fixed aperture at f/2.8, it’s great for street photography, architectural photography, shooting in low-light situations, and vast landscape shots.
Just keep in mind that for some of you, even a 16mm on an APS-C camera might not be wide enough depending on what you’re taking photos of. When I went to Dubai for a project, I had trouble fitting the Burj Khalifa in frame with a 16mm lens since, in reality, it’s a 24mm equivalent on a full-frame camera.
The biggest downside of this lens is that it doesn’t have a built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS). This is not that big of an issue when it comes to photography but might make it difficult to capture stable video footage.
PROS
- Incredibly small compact and lightweight size which makes this a great general walk-around lens.
- Good focal length for street photography, most architecture, and indoor photography.
- Performs pretty well in low-light situations with its f/2.8 aperture.
- It’s at a good price point so could make a great addition to your pack if you already have a telephoto lens like the 18-105.
CONS
- No built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization.
- Not the sharpest 16mm that you can buy.
- The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is better quality, but it is more expensive and much larger.
- The fixed 16mm focal length could limit you in the types of photos you want to take if this is your only lens.
- Not weather sealed.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Walk around style trip where the main focus will be shooting the city you are in during the day and night. For example, New York City, Tokyo, Kyoto, San Francisco.
- If the main type of photos you will be shooting is architecture or vast landscape shots.
- Museums, art gallery, and interior focused trip.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | Adorama | eBay
7.) Sony 70-200mm f/4
- Brand is Sony
- Minimum focus distance:1–1.5 m (AF)/1–1.35 m (MF) (3.28–4.93 ft [AF]/3.28–4.43 ft [MF]), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.13x, Focal-Length : 70–200 mm
- Interchangeable Lens
- SEL70200G
Even though it’s a full-frame lens, it still works with Sony APS-C cameras like the Sony a6000. The reason why I want to bring this lens up is that if you’re thinking about upgrading your camera to a full-frame camera in the next 1-2 years, it might be worth thinking about getting a full-frame lens versus an APS-C lens. Getting a full-frame lens now will save you money in the long run and you can start getting used to it.
I think if you are thinking about upgrading, a telephoto lens is the perfect type of lens to start your upgrade process. This is because the 1.5x crop factor that you will get when using it on the Sony a6000 won’t be as big of a deal with a telephoto lens when compared to a mid-range focal length lens like a 35mm.
Of course on the downside, a full-frame lens like the Sony 70-200mm f/4 will be more expensive and heavier than its comparable APS-C lens.
PROS
- Will future proof your set-up if you’re thinking about upgrading to a full-frame Sony camera soon.
- One of the best zoom lenses for the Sony full-frame system that produces extremely sharp photos.
- Has a premium build and includes an AF/MF switch, OSS On/Off switch, and focus hold button on the side of the camera.
- Cheaper and lighter than the f/2.8 version of this lens making it more friendly for travel.
- Has built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization.
- Constant aperture at f/4.
CONS
- More expensive since it is a full-frame lens. Almost double the price of the Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS and it has a much shorter focal range.
- Maximum aperture of f/4.0 may not be fast enough in some low-light situations.
- Heavier than most APS-C specific lenses.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Landscape photography if you already have another lens to cover the under 70mm focal range.
- City photography if you want to compress the different layers in the frame.
- Maybe street photography if you want to zoom in very close to your subjects.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | Adorama | eBay
8.) Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS
- Angle of View (APS-C) - 109 ° – 76 °
- Minimum focal length of 10 mm (15 mm in 35 mm-camera equivalency)
- Minimum Focus Distance : 0.82 ft (0.25 m), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.1x
- Superbly detailed images;Aperture Maximum: f/4 ; Minimum: f/22. 35mm equivalent focal-length (APS-C) : 15-27mm
- In-the-box:Hood (ALC-SH123), Lens front cap, Lens rear cap
The Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS is one of the best wide-angle lenses for your Sony a6000. The 10-18mm has a full-frame equivalent of 15-27mm so it is noticeably wider than the Sony and Sigma 16mm lenses we have covered so far.
The lens is compact, lightweight and it’s nice that you can change your focal length between 10-18mm while keeping your aperture constant at f/4. Other than the wider focal length, the biggest difference with this lens is that it has built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization.
Although the lens is very nice, the big bummer is how expensive this lens is. For 2/3 of the price, you could pick up the Sony 18-105mm f/4. Yes, you do lose 8mm on the wide side, but you get much more focal range out of the Sony 18-105mm.
I think because of the higher price point, it’s really made for a very specific type of traveler. This could be a good travel lens for you if:
- You focus primarily on architecture or interior photography.
- You primarily shoot video or vlog and could benefit from the wider angle and the Optical SteadyShot.
- You already have a primary lens and would benefit from a super wide-angle lens.
PROS
- Super wide-angle lens that will allow you to capture photography and videos at a unique wipe angle.
- A constant f/4 aperture throughout the focal lengths is nice to have especially for video work.
- Built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization which will give you smoother video footage and will make it easier to take photographs at slower shutter speeds.
- Great autofocus + super wide-angle combination makes it a good vlogging lens.
CONS
- It’s pretty expensive. For about 2/3 of the price, you could get the Sony 18-105 which covers a much wider focal range.
- The super wide-angle focal lengths could limit you depending on what you want to take photos of if this is your only lens.
- At 10mm there is some barrel distortion although you can fix that in post-processing.
- Not weather sealed which is surprising considering its price point.
- The maximum aperture of f/4.0 is not the fastest so it won’t be the best in all low-light situations.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Walk around style trip where the main focus will be shooting the city you are in during the day. For example, New York City, Tokyo, Kyoto, San Francisco.
- If the main type of photos you will be shooting is architecture or vast landscape shots.
- If you plan on shooting interiors or at night with a tripod.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | eBay
9.) Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS
- Telephoto zoom with outstanding corner-to-corner G lens resolution
- Lightweight (22oz.) remarkably Easy to handle 5x super-telephoto zoom
- 70-350Mm (105-525mm full-frame equiv.) super-telephoto zoom
- Xd linear motor for fast, precise, quiet AF and tracking
- Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
The Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS is Sony’s newest super-telephoto lens and is one of the best telephoto zoom lenses for the Sony a6000.
When you look at the focal length on this lens especially at its full-frame equivalent of 105-525mm it’s really crazy how powerful the zoom capability is on this lens. With a max range of 525mm, you will easily be able to take unique up-close photos or videos of subjects you normally would not be able to. To get the same reach on a full-frame camera you would have to pay more than double the price
It’s a bummer that this is a variable aperture lens, but for a lens with this wide of a focal range, it makes sense. If this lens had a constant aperture it would be much larger, heavier, and expensive. To keep it affordable, Sony really didn’t have much choice here. This is how the aperture varies depending on the focal length you’re shooting at with this lens
The nice thing about this lens is that even though it is pretty big in size, the lens isn’t too heavy. So, if you like to shoot a lot with a telephoto lens while you travel, this one is an easy lens to walk around with.
PROS
- An incredibly powerful super zoom lens with a crazy 70-350mm focal range.
- High quality and sharp photos at all focal lengths throughout the lens.
- It’s a big lens, both in its physical size and zoom range, but it’s not too heavy.
- Has a premium build and includes an AF/MF switch, OSS On/Off switch, and focus hold button on the side of the camera.
- Very good autofocus speed especially for a super zoom lens.
- Has built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization.
CONS
- Variable aperture from f/4.5-f/6.3 could be an issue in low-light conditions depending on if you have a tripod or not.
- You will probably need another lens to fill the under 70mm focal range.
- It is at the higher end of the price range for an APS-C lens.
- It is not weather-sealed which is a letdown considering the higher price point.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Travel wildlife or sports photography.
- Landscape photography if you already have another lens to cover the under 70mm focal range.
- City photography if you want to compress the different layers in the frame.
- Maybe street photography if you want to zoom in very close to your subjects.
Check Price/Buy: Amazon | Adorama | eBay
10.) Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS
- Wide zoom range (82 - 315mm 35mm equivalent) ideal for sports or nature;Aperture blades : 7
- Internal focusing for smooth, quiet operation - perfect for video capture.Direct manual focus with non-rotating focus ring during AF: ideal for precise, comfortable manual focus adjustments
- Optical Steady Shot image stabilization for stable video capture and low light performance
- Minimum Focus Distance - 3.28 ft, Maximum Magnification ratio - 0.23x
- Angle of view (on APS-C)-29 °–7 ° 40'
- Provides a wide focal range of up to 315mm (35mm equivalent) ideal for sports or nature shooting
- Quiet Internal focusing makes smooth, responsive AF possible with minimum noise. Perfect for video capture
- Optical SteadyShotTM Image stabilization makes it easier to achieve crisp, stable images
- Optical SteadyShotTM Image stabilization makes it easier to achieve crisp, stable images and video in low-light or when zooming in on distant subjects
- Accepts 49mm Filters
The Sony E 55-210 f/4.5-6.3 is a very budget-friendly variable aperture telephoto zoom lens that is made specifically for Sony APS-C cameras like the Sony a6000. If you’re on a budget or if you don’t use a telephoto lens that much, this lens might be for you.
When I say budget, I mean BUDGET. I did a quick search on eBay and found a good selection of used Sony 55-210mm lenses for sale for under $200.
Obviously, because it’s a budget lens, the quality of the images it produces will not be as good as the Sony 70-350mm APS-C lens or the Sony 70-200mm full-frame lens, but it’s still more than good enough.
The best part about this lens other than the low price point is how compact and lightweight it is even with its wide focal range making it that much better of a companion lens to carry.
PROS
- Very low price point and a good value for the focal range you get with it.
- Includes built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) which some of the more expensive lenses that we have gone over don’t have.
- Lightweight and compact especially given its focal range.
- A great companion lens especially given its low price point and lightweight.
CONS
- It does not produce the sharpest or best quality image, but that is expected.
- It is a variable aperture lens which could be an issue if you want to shoot in low-light or variable lighting situations or if you plan to shoot videos.
- No other negatives given the low price point it is at.
TYPE OF TRAVEL ITS BEST FOR
- Landscape photography if you already have another lens to cover the under 70mm focal range.
- City photography if you want to compress the different layers in the frame.
- Maybe street photography if you want to zoom in very close to your subjects.
Hi Tom, I am shooting with the a6000 and have the Sony E 55-210 f/4.5-6.3 but looking for something with better reach for wildlife. I am trying to decide between the Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS (for APC) and the brand new Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary Lens for Sony E (for full frame). Both are around $950 , but my concern with both is neither are much faster than the stock 210mm. What would you recommend? Thank you for all your great content!
Hi Ross, thanks for reading the article and for your question! That is a good problem to have. I think both the Sony E 70-350mm or the Sigma 100-400mm would make great additions to your kit as they will give you better image quality and better reach than the Sony E 55-210mm kit lens. As for which one to choose, I think that will come down to preference. Here are some questions I could think of that might help your decision.
Lastly, I agree it’s slightly disappointing the speed of these lenses isn’t faster, but I think it’s what’s expected at this price point. I hope this info helps and let me know what you end up deciding to do! If you have more questions, just let me know too.
Hi Tom! Very concise article with some great choices. I found it very interesting for another reason as well. Our upgrade paths are very evenly matched and your emphasis on each photographer asking themselves exactly what they will use their lens/ camera combinations for is one I’ve shared with others whenever the “what to buy” question comes up online. I had other cameras prior to Sony ( 1st owned camera was a Canon TX film followed by a Pentax K film) . When I switched to digital I had another Pentax. I became aware of Sony and bought the NEX3 w. Kit lens which I loved for its weight, size and picture quality. I too upgraded to the Alpha 6000 and began adding lenses. My first added was the 18-105.. which I still have. In fact, I own all the lenses on your list with the exceptions of the full frame 200’sand also own the A6500 on which to put them. I kept to the APSC format after contemplating the 7-111 Full frame since I really like the form factor for all of the reasons you mention.. In travel, less weight, less cost, and, in foreign countries, less conspicuousness , are all desirable. For even smaller form and more if this factors, my latest camera purchase was the RX100VA….a wonderful pocketsized device with many excellent qualities for travel. Although I’m forgoing a full frame upgradefor the time being, it’s because, for me, the question revolves aroind the best balance of factors for what I plan to shoot. The only thig i thought was missing was any reference to the “Clear Image Zoom” feature foundonthe 6000 and 6500 which extends the ranges of the Sony power zoom lenses (18-105 and the lowly 16-55 kit lens) which is truly useful, especially for travel. Again, thanks for he article. Well done! I’ll look for more !
Hi Rick! Thanks for taking the time to read the article and for your comment! I’m really glad you found the article useful as I spent a considerable amount of time creating it.
Yes! It looks like we did have pretty much the same upgrade path. Funnily, I recently found a passion for film photography and the first film camera I purchased was the Pentax K1000. It was refreshing going from digital film and I really enjoy the fact that with Pentax you only have the aperture, shutter speed, and the ISO of your film to worry about.
I totally agree with you that there is no need to upgrade to a full-frame, especially for travel. The only reason I made the upgrade to the a7RII wasn’t because of the quality difference, but mainly because I wanted to have 2 memory cards to back up the photos we take since we do a lot of professional work on our trips. Since I have both the smaller APS-C and full-frame cameras now, I can honestly say that it really is nice carrying around the a6000 or a6500 since they are so much smaller.
That’s funny you have an RX100VA as I have the RX100V. I guess once you get hooked to Sony gear, you really do get hooked haha.
That’s a good point about Clear Image Zoom. I actually left it out of this article as I didn’t have the best experience in using it with video work. After hearing about your experience, I’ll go back and try it out again for photos. Thanks again for your suggestion!
Hi Tom, I have been running and gunning with my a6000 for about a year now I have the Sigma 16,Sony 35 & also the Sony 18-105mm, I really love the built quality of the lens of the 18-105 because it feels heavy and premium which i dont mind the weight at all as long as it feels premium to me. Right now im hunting for a telephoto lens mainly to store for future use such as moon,wildlife & things that i want to snipe from afar. I’m considering between the 55-210mm and 70-350mm. My pocket tells me to go for the 55-210mm because i can find a used one for cheap and also my heart guides me to the 70-350mm because it feels more premium and i love collecting lens inside my dry cabinet. Please advise
Hi Darren! Thanks for your question and for reading the article!
That’s a nice selection of lenses you have so far and your choice between the 55-210mm or 70-350mm is a good one to have 🙂
I think this really comes down to your budget! If it were me and I had the budget, I would definitely go with the 70-350mm. It’s a much newer lens and you get all the premium features that you find on the full-frame Sony lenses such as the af/mf switch, OSS on/off switch, and autofocus hold button. Plus you get much more zoom power which would definitely come in handy for wildlife or photos of the moon.
On the other hand, if my budget was tight, I would think about if it made sense to spend more than double the cost on the 70-350mm or if I could use that money elsewhere on camera gear (such as a tripod, hard drives, camera bag, etc.)
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!
Tom
Sorry, but I have to… Sony 18-105 image quality is maybe 20% better than kit lens plus its way heavier, way bigger and 3-5 times more expensive than kit. Why you praising it so much? Its mediocre at best considering its price and size compared to kit.
Hi Marcin,
Thanks for reading the article and for your feedback!
I’m going to assume you’re either talking about either the Sony 16-50mm or 55-210mm for the kit lens? Additionally, I’m not sure what region you’re in. In the US where I live, a new 18-105mm is only about 2x the price of a new 16-50mm or 55-210mm kit lens when purchased separately from the camera body.
Anyways, I will have to politely say that I think you missed the point of my article. This article is about the “best travel lens” for the camera. Yes, if the cost was the most important factor, either one of the kit lenses would work just fine. However, when you’re talking about the best travel lens, you would be at a disadvantage if you only had the kit lens compared to the Sony 18-105.
With the Sony 18-105, you get much more flexibility with the fixed f/4 aperture in low light or if you’re shooting video. For focal lengths, if compared to 16-50mm, you get much more reach at the longer focal lengths and if compared to the 55-210mm you have more flexibility on the wider focal lengths.
Overall, because of the above points, I think the 18-105 is definitely one of the best choices when it comes to its combination of price, focal length range, and performance. Especially if you just want to bring one lens with you when you travel and not have to worry about if you have most of the situations you encounter covered or not.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom, My wife wants a new zoom for her A6000. She currently likes to use an old Canon beer can lens. says it takes the best pictures; but of course its manual focus only. Can you recommend a newer model canon that can be used with adapter for her A6000. Looking for at least 400mm reach.
Thanks
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your question and for reading the article! Can you tell me what lens is the Canon beer can lens is? I’m not as familiar with Canon lenses and haven’t heard of that one before. In the meantime, one zoom lens choice from Sony could be the Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS. The 350mm focal length with the 1.5x crop of the A6000 is an equivalent full-frame focal length of 525mm. It’s also a newer lens, has premium features such as an AF/MF switch, autofocus hold, and OSS switch. The built-in OSS might also help your wife at longer focal lengths since the A6000 doesn’t have stabilization.
I’ll wait to hear back from you about the Canon beer lens for a better answer!
Tom
Hi Tom, Beer can is the term used for the old canon FD 75-200 made in japan. Also I believe the wife wants to stick with a full frame lens in case she moves up to a full frame camera at some point
Hi Chris, thanks for letting me know.
If you’re looking for a zoom lens with 400mm reach from Canon there is the more expensive Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and cheaper Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6. Both of these lenses use Canon’s EF mount so you’ll need to also get a Canon EF mount to Sony E mount adapter like this one.
If you’re attracted to the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM another choice could be the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN. The Sigma is a Sony E mount lens so your wife wouldn’t have to get an additional adapter, plus the autofocus will work better with it.
All these lenses are full-frame lenses.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have additional questions!
Tom
Thank you Tom for sharing this guide. I should of read this first before buying my first lens! I am a novice and just starting out with photography.
I bought the prime lens (Sigma 16mm/f1.4.). Is there another lens I can pair this with to balance out the majority of my shooting. I’m also from Seattle and the majority of my time is spent hiking with my family and taking landscape shots. I would like a different lens for travel and more range with landscape shots.
–Andy
Hey Andy!
Thanks for reaching out and for reading the article! It’s nice to meet another person from the area and maybe one of these days we can all go on a hike. That’s awesome you got the Sigma 16mm f/1.4! It was one of the first lenses I purchased and it’s still one of my favorites.
I think a good lens you could pair this with that will give you a better range for landscape shots is the Sony 18-105mm f/4. I like this lens because it covers most focal lengths you’ll need. Plus its aperture is fixed which is better for low light situations because you can keep it at f/4 while you zoom in and out.
It’s not as fast of a lens at f/4 aperture but it’s a good balance for performance and price. Plus, you have the Sigma lens already so if you ever find yourself in a landscape situation in which you need a faster lens, you could use the Sigma.
I hope this helps and just let me know if you have any other questions!
Tom
Hello Tom,
Thanks for the article. I am just starting out and I have the alpha 6000 with the two kit lenses (16-50 mm y 55-210 mm). I am thinking of buying a prime lens for street photography (I am moving to Paris). I want one with a better aperture for when light is not ideal, to use everyday. What do you think I should go for?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Ane!
You’re welcome and thanks for reading the article! I’m jealous that you’re moving to Paris and it will be a lot of fun to take photos in the city!
Two of my favorite prime lenses for the Sony a6000 are the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and the Sony 35mm f/1.8. Both are great lenses and are very similar in focal length and performance. I like the 30mm-35mm focal length for street photo because it has enough reach, yet it’s wide enough to fit a good amount in frame.
The biggest difference between these two lenses is that the Sony 35mm f/1.8 has Optical SteadyShot. If you don’t think you need this and if you want to save some money, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 might be the better fit.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!
Tom
Hi Tom, what do you think of the more recent Sony 18-135mm lens?
Hi! Thanks for your question! I would say it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a small form factor with wide zoom range and you don’t mind the variable aperture, the Sony 18-135mm is a great choice. However, if you shoot more video or shoot in low-light often and could benefit from a fixed aperture, the Sony 18-105mm f/4 might be a better choice.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!
Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for your article, lots of very useful information. I have the Sony a6000 and looking for a lens to take pictures of my artwork. I have a painting 180cm x120cm and need to capture detail so that viewers can zoom in online to see detail brush strokes. What lens do you recommend for the job? Thanks
Hi Clare! Sorry for the late response!
Thanks for reading the article and for your question. Since your canvas is a little bigger I think it depends on how much space you have in the room you’re taking the photos in. If there is enough room, I think a good lens would be a prime lens with `50mm equivalent as that’s the most similar to what our eyes see.
A couple of lens options would be the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 or the Sony 35mm.f/1.8. To get an idea of if you have enough room for this focal length, you could use a cellphone camera to see how the framing looks. For example, the zoom lens on the iPhone X has an equivalent focal length of ~52mm.
If there isn’t enough space, you could also think about a zoom lens with a wide focal range like the Sony 18-105mm so that you can adjust the focal length based on your space.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!
Best,
Tom
If you don’t mind can you please tell me what’s on your thought for Tamron 17-70mm F2.8. I’m confused right now what to choose between Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 and Sony 18-105mm F4 as my 2nd lens after my kit lens ( 16-50mm ).
I’m not a professional guy and I rarely took Videos and I mostly used my Camera ( A6000 ) for travel stuffs with my family. You know some portraits and landscape shoots.
Thank you so much!
Hi Hein! Thanks for reaching out with your question! I would say to go with the Tamron unless you could benefit from the additional focal range with the Sony 18-105mm. The reason why I say this is because the constant f/2.8 aperture with the Tamron will give you more flexibility when you travel (in case you visit a destination indoors and there is lower light) and greater bokeh for portraits). I guess the minor downside is that the focal length of the Tamron is similar to your kit lens, but I think the constant f/2.8 is a definite plus.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Tom
Okie
I’m gonna go for Tamron coz I don’t need that focal length and love that F2.8.
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome! Let me know if any questions come up in the future too!
Very good article sir can I use 18_105 sony f/4 a7 r iii what is the result I am having a6000 and a7 r 3
Hi Mohan! Thanks for your question and sorry for the late reply. Yes, you can use the Sony 18-105 f/4 on the full fram a7r3. However, since it’s a crop sensor lens you will need to use crop mode on the a7r3 or you will get extremely heavy vignetting. Because of this, it doesn’t really make sense to get the Sony 18-105 for a full frame camera as you’re not using the entire full frame sensor.
Insanely thorough and thoughtful article (or guide?), Tom. I’ve read through what must be close to 50 of these sorts of articles and yours has it all. Thanks a ton!
thanks for reading!
Hi Tom! Thanks so much for the great review. For a wedding gift this past month my wife and I (both new to photography) received an a6400 and a pretty expensive macro lens that we decided to trade in based on some research (including your reviews) for a Sigma 16mm f1.4, a Sigma 30mm f1.4, and a Sony 18-135mm. I’m noticing that the 18-135mm was not reviewed in this article but I wanted to get your thoughts on this lens as a general travel lens (understandably we won’t get the f4 aperture consistency of the 18-105mm).
We’re heading to Thailand and Singapore for our honeymoon next month and we’re debating if we should take all three lens or just two for lighter traveling, and if just two which ones. Any considerations as to which two you’d take if you were in our shoes traveling around locations that’ll be filled with markers, crowded streets, beautiful architecture and temples, great landscapes and cityscapes, beautiful beaches and forests, epic hotels, and even walks with elephants?
Thanks so much for your help and please continue the amazing reviews! They’ve guided us so much in purchasing lens!
Hi Jared, thanks for getting in touch and congrats on your wedding! I think if at all possible, just bring all three lenses since they are all on the smaller end. You never know what situation you might find yourself in and it would be a bummer if you regretted not bringing a specific lens. If you must only bring two lenses I think I would go with the Sigma 16mm f1.4 and the Sony 18-135mm. I think the Sony 18-135mm would be a nice lens to have on the camera at all times because of the flexibility in focal length. Then the 16mm will give you just a slightly wider angle for those buildings in singapore. It will also come in handy for night photos too.
I like the 30mm focal length too, but i think for most situations, the Sony 18-135mm will have you covered.
i hope that helps and let me know if you have any more questions!
Hey Tom!
I’m visiting Greece in September both islands and Athens. I expect to mostly shoot landscapes and architecture, and general walk around of myself and my wife. I already have the Sony 35 and Sigma 16. Of those two which would you recommend for this trip? And if I were planning to buy another lens for this trip would your recommendation remain the 18-105?
Hi Donnie, I apologize for the delay in getting back to you! Sounds like an amazing trip, and if you have the room for it, I would honestly bring both the Sony 35 and Sigma 16 since the lenses aren’t too big to begin with. The Sony 35 is nice for portrait shots, but both would be great for shots in natural lighting as well as some pretty cool night time shots with the lights glowing. I’ve not yet been to Greece, so I don’t know if you’d necessarily need to buy another lens to bring along, but if you did want to, you cant go wrong with the 18-105. I think you’d be just fine with the two you have, but if you’re already planning on taking shots with the zoom lens, you could probably forego the Sigma 16 and just bring the 18-105 and Sony 35. Hope this helps!