8 Sony a6000 Lenses You Need (APS-C Alpha e-Mount)

In this guide, we’ll showcase the best lenses to pair with the APS-C Sony a6000 digital mirrorless camera.

The Sony a6000 was the first entry in the hugely popular Sony Alpha 6000 series, which included standout mirrorless models such as the a6400 and a6700.

Released in early 2014, the Sony a6000 opened the door to premium APS-C mirrorless cameras with fast autofocus and interchangeable lenses.

At the time of release, the a6000 was pitched as offering the world’s fastest focusing system and a quick 11fps burst mode.

Editor’s Choice

Sony E 20mm f/2.8

Pocketable lens that can go anywhere, offering fast autofocus and a wide f/2.8 aperture for beautiful background blur.

While it’s likely to achieve classic status in years to come, the plucky little APS-C Sony still has much to offer.

Thanks to its compact form, still-fast autofocus performance, and range of available Sony and third-party lenses, this system makes it easy to build a dream kit.

Fortunately, the available APS-C E-mount lenses offer something for everyone – regardless of genre, skill level, or budget.

While we’ll list the best Sony E lenses for the a6000, we’ll also showcase some of the best third-party alternatives.

What are the Best Lenses for Sony a6000 in 2024?

Sony lenses are renowned for their precision engineering, superior optics, and lightning-fast focus performance.

Given the cropped APS-C sensor and Sony E-mount, the lens options are endless – but more than a few stand out.

Building the best lens kit for your Sony a6000 depends on your photography style and intended genre.

To simplify the process, I’ve listed the best prime and zoom Sony E lenses to cover various focal ranges and styles.

Sony E 20mm f/2.8 – Best All Round

Focal Length: 20mm (30mm full frame equivalent)
Filter Diameter: 49mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 20cm (7.87″)
Weight: 69g (2.43oz)
Dimensions: 62.48×20.32mm (2.46 x 0.8″)

The Sony a6000 is a compact and lightweight digital mirrorless camera measuring 120×67×45mm (4.7×2.6× 1.7″) and weighing 344g (12.1oz).

As a result, the Sony is incredibly portable and easy to pack as an everyday carry camera. One of the best lenses for everyday use is a compact, wide prime such as the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 pancake less.

The APS-C format Sony E 20mm f/2.8 delivers a 30mm full-frame equivalent focal range and a natural 70º field of view.

What’s most appealing about the compact prime lens is its slimline form, which effortlessly pairs with the equally slimline a6000.

At just 20.32mm (0.8″) thick, the E 20mm f/2.8 adds little to no bulk to your overall kit while delivering excellent image quality and optics.

However, the manual focus ring is thin and a bit fiddly for those with large hands.

The maximum f/2.8 aperture offers excellent depth of field and subject separation with appealing background blur.

While image sharpness is good, especially from f/4, there’s some noticeable vignetting and minimal distortion.

The Sony E 20mm f/2.8 prime lens features six elements in six groups, including three aspherical elements to correct distortion and aberration.

As for focus performance, the Sony is quite zippy paired with the a6000 and noticeably faster on a more recent a6700. Focus in low light is a little hit-and-miss.

While the 20mm f/2.8 APS-C lens doesn’t feature image stabilization, its fun size, accommodating focal range, and excellent low-light image quality make up for it.

The Sony E 20mm f/2.8 pancake lens is an excellent choice for those looking for an everyday carry camera and lens combo.

It takes up little room in a kit bag and is an ideal all-purpose lens for travel photography.

If you’re looking for a wider Sony E prime lens to capture expansive landscapes and city scenes, Sony’s got you covered.

The dust and moisture-sealed Sony E 11mm f/1.8 features a premium build, an AF/MF switch, and a customizable function button.

While it’s much bigger than the Sony E 20mm f/2.8, the benefit of a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture for a sublime subject separation close-up is undeniable.

With a 16.5mm full frame equivalent focal distance and a 104º field of view, the Sony E 11mm f/1.8 is a dream for landscape and architecture.

Alternatively, if 11mm is too wide for you, the Sony E 15mm f/1.4 G prime lens stands out with a 22mm full-frame equivalent range and an excellent f/1.4 max aperture.

As a G series lens, it’s built tough, features weather and dust sealing, and includes a de-clickable aperture ring for silent video recording.

Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS

Focal Length: 35mm (52.5mm)
Filter Diameter: 49mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 30cm (11.81″)
Weight: 154g (5.43oz)
Dimensions: 63x45mm (2.48×1.77″)

Every camera kit deserves a nifty-fifty – 50mm full-frame equivale lens. The best option for your Sony a6000 camera is the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS prime lens.

The Sony E 35mm features a 52.5mm full frame equivalent focal distance and delivers a natural 55º field of view.

It’s an ideal lens and focal range for environmental portraits, pet photography, and everyday photography adventures.

A unique feature of Sony’s E 35mm f/1.8 is the inclusion of Sony’s image stabilization – Optical SteadyShot (OSS).

OSS compensates for camera shake typically experienced when photographing at slower shutter speeds in low light.

The lens offers excellent low-light focus performance and image quality thanks to the built-in OSS.

Plus, the fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, supported by a 7-rounded blade diaphragm, ensures optimal light reaches the camera’s image sensor.

The Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS lens features excellent build quality, a simple design, and a comfortable, wide manual focus ring.

Its size and weight are ideal for any of the Sony A6000 cameras – it’s well-balanced and looks great on them.

Internally, the 35mm features eight lens elements in six groups, including a pair of aspherical elements to correct distortion and an extra-low dispersion element for color accuracy and sharpness.

In terms of autofocus performance, the E 35mm f/1.8 is fast and accurate, and it minimizes focus breathing and hunting in low light.

Sony’s E 35mm f/1.8 OSS retails for around US$475.00, making it excellent value for money, especially since it packs image stabilization.

An excellent alternative to the Sony E 35mm is the Tokina atx-m 33mm f/1.4 lens. The Tokina offers a 50mm full-frame equivalent focus range and a slightly wider f/1.4 maximum aperture.

While it doesn’t feature image stabilization, it produces exceptional image sharpness, color rendering, and pleasing background effects.

The Tokina atx-m 33mm f/1.4 retails for around US$400.00.

Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS – Great Value Lens

Focal Length: 50mm (75mm full-frame equivalent)
Filter Diameter: 49mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 39cm (1.28′)
Weight: 202g (7.13oz)
Dimensions: 61.98×61.98mm (2.44×2.44″)

If you like the idea of making the most of a range of fixed focal distance prime lenses, the next one will make you smile.

The Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS is another high-quality prime lens ideally suited to the Sony a6000.

Furthermore, it completes the trio of fast primes with the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 pancake and the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS lenses.

Sony’s E 50mm f/1.8 offers a no-fuss experience when shooting portraits, products, or food. The tight 75mm full-frame equivalent focal distance and 32º field of view are perfect for these genres.

It delivers exceptional center sharpness with no evidence of corner distortion or vignetting.

What I love most about this lens is that it’s robust, lightweight, and compact enough to balance with the a6000 or any of the Sony a6000 iterations.

Optically, the 50mm f/1.8 produces sharp images with excellent corner sharpness from around f/4.

Wide open at f/1.8, the seven rounded diaphragm blades produce gorgeous bokeh effects and background. Meanwhile, the center subject detail is sharp, with a pleasing fall-off in the out-of-focus areas.

Internally, the Sony E 50mm f/1.8 assembles nine elements in eight groups and Sony’s Optical SteadyShot image stabilization.

As a result, you’ll be able to compose and shoot images confidently in low-light settings without fear of image blur or camera shake.

Another benefit of the E 50mm is the near-silent and zoomy autofocus performance. Paired with a Sony a6000, the lens is snappy, responsive, and incredibly accurate.

The Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS retails for around US$350.00 in black or silver.

If you’re looking for a slightly faster maximum aperture or perhaps a bit more reach, there are two highly commendable third-party lenses.

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary and the Tokina atx-m 56mm f/1.4 offer an 84mm full-frame equivalent focal range and a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture.

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 boasts a weather-sealed body, rounded 9-blade aperture, and silent stepping focus motor ideal for photography or videography. It retails for around US$450.00.

As for the Tokina atx-m 56mm f/1.4, it offers similar specs and performance, with the key difference being the inclusion of image stabilization.

The Tokina portrait prime lens retails for around US$400.00.

Sony E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G – Best for Content Creators

Focal Length: 10-20mm (15-30mm full-frame equivalent)
Filter Diameter: 62mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 13cm (5.1″)
Weight: 178g (6.3oz)
Dimensions: 69.8x55mm (2.7×2.2″)

While prime lenses produce excellent performance and image quality, zooms offer greater flexibility.

While a bag full of primes is a lot of fun, having just one or two zoom lenses keeps your overall kit light and reduces the issue of which lens best suits the shot.

Sony’s E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G is a fantastic wide-angle zoom lens featuring a highly durable, weather-sealed body and sharp optics.

The compact and lightweight Sony E lens features a power zoom function that quickly shifts from the wide 10mm to the tele 20mm focal range via a switch.

Manual purists will also appreciate the manual zoom and focus ring and the G series custom focus button on the lens body.

The zoom function is contained within the lens barrel, minimizing the lens’ footprint.

The APS-C format lens delivers a flexible 15-30mm full-frame equivalent focal distance with a 109° to 70° field of view.

Consequently, the E 10-20mm is an ideal lens for architecture and landscape photography, where expansive compositions are key.

The Sony E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G delivers impressive autofocus results thanks to the near-silent yet responsive linear AF system.

Videographers will love the equally smooth Linear Response manual focus and Sony’s Smooth Motion Optics to suppress focus breathing.

The G series lens features a rounded seven-bladed aperture diaphragm and a lens assembly of eleven elements in eight groups, including three aspherical elements and three ED elements for sublime image clarity and sharpness.

The lens produces a bit of distortion when wide open at 10mm.

While the 10-20mm landscape lens only offers a f/4 maximum aperture, it’s wide enough for close-up shots and composing wider shots with foreground elements in focus.

My biggest issue with power zoom lenses is the responsiveness of the zoom function – sometimes, you’re better off using manual zoom for speed and accuracy.

You can also control the power zoom via custom buttons on suitable Sony Alpha cameras.

Sony’s G series 10-20mm f/4 PZ wide zoom lens retails for around US$750.00.

A great alternative is the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD lens for Sony E, which offers a similar focal range and premium build, but the faster f/2.8 constant aperture will appeal to many.

The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 retails for around US$800.00.

Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G – Versatile Zoom Range

Focal Length: 16-55mm (24-83mm full frame equivalent)
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 33cm (1.08′)
Weight: 494g (1.09lb)
Dimensions: 73×100-133.8mm (2.87 x 3.94-5.3″)

If you want to keep your Sony a6000 camera and lens kit to a minimum, surpassing a standard zoom lens such as the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G is hard.

The APS-C 16-55mm focal range delivers a full-frame equivalent of 24-83mm – the standard full-frame zoom range is around 24-70mm.

Its highly versatile zoom range is suited to a wide range of photography genres, from landscape and architecture to portraiture and products.

The 16-55mm range delivers an 83° to 29° field of view and is also an ideal solution for a minimal travel lens.

Being a G series lens, the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 is one of the most robust lenses in our guide. It features a durable weather-sealed body, a premium finish, and a well-dampened manual focus and zoom ring.

As found on almost all G lenses, the Sony also has an AF/MF selector switch and a customizable focus button.

Where the Sony E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G features internal zooming, the E 16-55mm f/2.8 is an external zoom lens that extends from 100-133.8mm (3.94-5.3″) at the 55mm tele end.

The Sony E 16-55mm delivers excellent image quality throughout the zoom range. Thanks to the fast f/2.8, consistent maximum aperture, composition, and exposure control are optimized.

The lens features a rounded nine-blade aperture for excellent subject separation and appealing background blur and bokeh.

Wide open, achieving image sharpness and dynamic range in low light conditions is possible.

Internally, the E 16-55mm features 17 elements in 12 groups, including four aspherical elements, three extra-low dispersion elements, and a Nano AR coating to mitigate lens flare.

The Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G is a much bigger and heavier lens, weighing 494g (1.09lb). As a result, it tends to feel front-heavy on the Sony a6000.

While it’s one of the best G series APS-C standard zooms, it comes at a considerable cost. The E 16-55mm f/2.8 G retails for around US$1,400.00.

In comparison, the Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II offers a similar focal range, power zoom functionality, and image stabilization, yet retails for around US$300.00.

Granted, the Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 doesn’t offer the same level of image sharpness and clarity, nor does it feature the fast constant aperture.

A great third-party alternative is the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary standard zoom lens for Sony a6000. It offers a 27-75mm full-frame equivalent focal range and a fast constant f/2.8 aperture and costs around US$600.00.

Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS – Best All Round Zoom

Focal Length: 16-70mm (24-105mm full frame equivalent)
Filter Diameter: 55mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 35cm (1.1′)
Weight: 308g (10.9oz)
Dimensions: 66.6 x 75-113.7 mm (2.6 x 3-4.5″)

The Sony E 16-55mm f/1.8 G makes a strong case for sticking with a single do-it-all lens – but sometimes you need just a little extra reach.

Fortunately, the highly-prized Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS delivers the flexibility of a zoom with a little more oomph at the telephoto end.

The 16-70mm f/4 ZA is a feature-packed lens boasting premium optical performance and image output.

Its 24-105mm full-frame equivalent focal range offers a greater reach than a standard 16-55mm and thus expands the possible uses to new levels.

The 83° to 23° field of view is ideal for all genres, including landscape, architecture, family events, and even tightly compressed portraits. It’s also a decent lens for some light wildlife or pet photography.

The Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS (quite the mouthful!) is a premium ZEISS optics lens with a slick angular design and robust build.

The relatively compact zoom features an external zoom function that elongates the lens from 75 to 113.7mm (3 to 4.5″).

Image correctness and sharpness are assured thanks to the pristine optical assembly of 16 elements in 12 groups, including four aspherical and one ED element.

Being a ZEISS badge lens, the APS-C zoom also features the ZEISS T* Anti-Reflective Coating for optimal clarity.

Autofocus is fast and accurate thanks to the Linear Autofocus Motor.

While the Sony E 16-70mm offers a consistent f/4 maximum aperture, the inclusion of Sony’s Optical SteadyShot image stabilization makes it an excellent choice for low-light photography.

It would’ve been great to see such a high-caliber lens with a wider f/2.8 constant max aperture.

The Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS lens retails for around US$700.00.

A great third-party alternative to the Vario-Tessar is the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony E – it wins the longest name competition by a mile!

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 offers a wider max aperture, 25.5-105mm full frame equivalent focal range, image stabilization, and silent autofocus, making it ideal for photography and videography.

Tamron’s 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony E retails for around US$700.00.

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS – Best for Landscape and Street Photography

Focal Length: 18-135mm (27-202.5mm full frame equivalent)
Filter Diameter: 55mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 45cm (1.48′)
Weight: 326g (11.5oz)
Dimensions: 67.2×88-111.9mm (2.65×3.46-4.41″)

In the spirit of showcasing the best Sony APS-C lenses, it wouldn’t be fair to leave out the highly versatile Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS.

It’s another excellent choice for anyone sporting a Sony a6000 camera who desires a single lens for holidays and other adventures.

Once again, the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 offers significantly greater reach at the telephoto end than traditional 16-55mm kit lenses.

At the 18mm wide end, the f/3.5 maximum aperture offers crisp center sharpness and subject separation, ideal for landscapes or street scenes.

However, it should be noted that there’s evidence of corner vignetting at 18mm.

Push the APS-C lens out to 135mm, and the 202.5mm full-frame equivalent range opens up a world of possibilities, including sports, wildlife, and birding.

The combined weight of a Sony a6000 and E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is 670g (1.48lb), making it a perfect kit to pack in your carry-on.

Despite its impressive zoom range, the lens offers relatively compact dimensions and pairs nicely with the Sony a6000 or any other a6 body.

The external zoom mechanism extends the lens barrel from 88 to 111.9mm (3.46 to 4.41″).

Optical purity is attained thanks to the rounded seven-blade aperture and the lens assembly, which contains 16 elements in 12 groups, including two ED and one aspherical element.

As one of the most versatile Sony E lenses, it boasts fast and accurate linear autofocus-driven outcomes. A toggle allows you to jump between manual focus and autofocus quickly.

Another neat feature is the Optical SteadyShot, which allows for slow shutter speed work in low-light conditions, making up for the less-than-ideal maximum aperture.

The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is versatile, offering a single lens instead of a bag full of primes. It retails for around US$650.00.

A great alternative offering similar levels of flexibility is the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD for Sony E. (What’s with the complex lens names, Tamron?!)

The Tamron outperforms the Sony in telephoto zoom range thanks to its impressive 18-300mm (27-450mm full-frame equivalent) focal range.

The weather-sealed and image-stabilized Tamron 18-300mm retails for around US$700.00.

Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS – Best Telephoto

Credit: Andrew Dilks

Focal Length: 70-350mm (105-525mm full frame equivalent)
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 1.1m (3.61′)
Weight: 625gm (1.38lb)
Dimensions: 77×142-190mm (3.03×5.59-7.48″)

The last on our list of the best lenses for the Sony a6000 is the impressive Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS telephoto zoom.

While the appeal of a single do-it-all lens is undeniable, there are times when a dedicated tool is needed for the task at hand.

Depending on your approach, application, and preferred genre, you may require a dual-lens combo with a standard zoom plus a telephoto zoom.

For example, your a6000 kit could comprise the Sony E 16-55mm f/1.8 G and the 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS.

The 16-55mm covers landscapes, street scenes, and family group shots, while the 70-350mm is your weekender for photographing birds, wildlife, and sports.

Alternatively, if you really want to fill the gap, pick up the Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS and the 70-350mm for a complete 16-350mm or 24-535mm full-frame focal range.

Putting aside potential uses, the Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS is a G series APS-C lens with a robust, weather-sealed construction and an external zoom function.

It’s one of the biggest lenses on our list, measuring 77×142-190mm (3.03×5.59-7.48″) and weighing 625gm (1.38lb), yet it’s still manageable paired with the a6000.

The lens body features a well-dampened zoom and focus ring, a customizable focus button, an OSS on/off toggle, and an AF/MF toggle.

Sony’s E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS features fast autofocus performance (it’s rare that a Sony-branded lens is slow) and Optical SteadyShot (OSS) for slow-speed shooting.

The XD Linear Motor powers the fast and accurate autofocus system and enhances performance when in manual focus mode.

Optically, the telephoto zoom delivers excellent image sharpness throughout the focal range thanks to the 19 glass elements assembled in 12 groups, including aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements.

While narrower maximum apertures, such as 4.5 or 6.3, aren’t known for stunning bokeh, background blur is smooth and appealing when at a distance from your subject.

The E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS retails for around US$1,000.00. While it’s a decent chunk of cash, its build quality, optical performance, and telephoto reach make it great value.

The Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS is a great alternative with a little less reach. It delivers an 82.5-315mm full-frame equivalent focal range.

It offers the same maximum aperture, OSS, and is only a third of the price of the 70-350mm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What lenses can I put on a Sony a6000?

The Sony a6000 is an APS-C cropped sensor digital mirrorless camera featuring the same Sony E mount (where the lens attaches to the camera body) as Sony full-frame cameras. As a result, it can be paired with any Sony or third-party lens featuring the E-mount.

What are Sony E lenses?

S0ny E lenses are specifically designed to pair with Sony APS-C cropped image sensor digital mirrorless cameras. It’s important not to confuse the E in an APS-C lens with Sony’s E-mount.

What is the best lens for Sony a6000?

The best lens for the Sony a6000 is the compact and versatile Sony E 16-55mm f/1.8 G. The 16-55mm APS-C focal range equates to a standard 24-83mm ideal for a wide range of genres, including landscape, portraits, and video applications.

Can I use FE lenses on the Sony a6000?

Sony FE (full-frame) lenses feature the Sony E-mount and can be paired with the Sony A6000. However, pairing a full-frame FE lens with an APS-C camera produces more significant image distortion and corner vignetting.

Is the Sony a6000 full frame?

The Sony a6000 digital mirrorless camera isn’t full-frame as it houses a smaller cropped image sensor than a full-frame Sony camera. Sony full-frame cameras from the a7 and a9 range are larger and typically much more expensive than the a6000 range.

Do other brands make lenses for the Sony a6000?

Brands including Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina make high-quality APS-C format lenses for the Sony a6000 and a6 range of digital cameras. Due to third-party lenses, there’s a greater choice on offer, making it easier to find the right a6000 lens to suit your needs and budget.

Final Words

The Sony a6000 is one of the best-selling digital mirrorless cameras ever. It’s over a decade old and still one of the most sought-after Sony APS-C cameras.

It’s also fair to say the subsequent a6000 series cameras proved to be just as popular, especially when other brands struggled to make mirrorless technology relevant.

The list of prime and zoom lenses available to pair with your a6000 is impressive, especially given the variety of focal ranges, maximum apertures, image stabilization, and image quality.

What’s more, given the Sony and third-party offerings, there’s a great Sony E APS-C lens to suit any budget and level of experience.

I don’t recommend rushing out and buying a lens for every possible occasion – I’ve been there and learned the hard way.

Start with a standard zoom such as the Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II to get a feel for the camera and lens combo.

Review your images to determine your preferred focal distance and how you cope with the maximum f/3.5 aperture. You’ll gain insight and experience to understand better what lens you need next.

Regardless of the lens, focal range, or brand, pair your Sony a6000 APS-C mirrorless camera with a suitable lens and explore your world.

That’s the true joy of photography!

Editor’s Choice

Sony E 20mm f/2.8

Pocketable lens that can go anywhere, offering fast autofocus and a wide f/2.8 aperture for beautiful background blur.