Photographers love to reach for a wide-angle lens to capture vast landscape views, or to get really close to a subject, while still giving context to the surroundings. Sony E 10-18mm / a6400 (Credit: Jim Fisher) There are also smaller zooms available for travel-the Sony 28-60mm launched as a kit lens for the a7C camera, and the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 edges out the Tamron 28-75mm G2 as the smallest F2.8 zoom for the system. Sony sells an excellent 24-105mm F4 zoom for the system and Tamron covers fans of all-in-one lenses with its 28-200mm. If you prefer more zoom power over F2.8 optics, you have choices, too. Your options for an F2.8 zoom range from affordable (but quality) third-party options like the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 G2, midrange zooms like Sigma's 24-70mm F2.8 Art, and pro lenses like the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II. If you go for a lens with an F2.8 aperture, you can enjoy better imaging in dim light and the ability to make images with blurred-out backgrounds. These lenses cover a moderate wide angle to start, with a varying level of zoom power. If a standard zoom is what you want, Sony and third parties span the range thoroughly. Sony sells many of its full-frame cameras without a lens, so it's up to you to decide where to start. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II / a1 (Credit: Jim Fisher) That makes the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD a more attractive option for many it's a strong value option at $800, and like the E 16-55mm ($1,400), and Editors' Choice winner. It's missing optical stabilization, a feature that's only been included in the a6500 and the a6600 to date. The E 16-55mm F2.8 G is our favorite premium lens for a6000 owners. If you're still holding on to an 18-55mm and mulling an upgrade, or are looking for a lens with more zoom power, you have a few good options in front of you. Sony used to sell an 18-55mm kit zoom, but it's no longer on the market. If you use an APS-C model, it will come bundled with the small 16-50mm, a retractable power zoom, or the more premium 18-135mm, which offers a longer zoom ratio. These lenses cover a moderately wide angle view when zoomed all the way out, and offer enough zoom power to hone in for portraits. If you're buying a camera with a bundled lens, chances are it's a standard zoom. Sony E 18-135mm / a6400 (Credit: Jim Fisher) We help you suss out which lenses are best for which camera models here and decide what type of lens you should add to your kit.
If you own a high-resolution a1 or a7R model, it's often worth it to splurge on a GM lens, but you can usually get excellent results with more affordable lenses if you work with an a7 or a6000 camera. Sony gives its better optics a G designation and reserves the GM (G Master) moniker for its highest-quality lenses. You should also consider the lens family. Sony consistently names its APS-C lenses with an E designation, while full-frame options get FE, but third parties don't always follow suit. Because of this, you need to be a bit careful and ensure that you buy the right lens for your camera.
The a6000 series and ZV-E10 are built around the APS-C size, and its a1, a7, and a9 cameras use the larger full-frame format. Sony sells two types of mirrorless cameras. But figuring out which lens is right for you can be tough, especially if you're just getting started with the system. Ultra-wide, macro, telephoto-it's all covered, in one form or another. It's a robust, complete lens system that benefits from Sony's early bet on mirrorless, along with support from numerous third parties. If you opt for the Sony system, you benefit from a decade's worth of lens development, which means there are oodles of optics from which to choose. You need to shop for one that's made for your camera. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( See how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).)Ĭameras that can swap out lenses, like those in Sony's mirrorless system, don't work with just any lens.