What lenses to get for your Sony a6300?
Released in March 2016, the Sony a6300 is the successor to the Sony a6000. No big revolution to report: we stay on a hybrid 24.2 MP APS-C sensor device and its very compact design is about exactly the same (the handle is a little deeper and the manufacturing quality a little better though).
It just brings a new, more powerful autofocus system and a 4K video and slow-motion mode at 120 frames/seconds. The start time has also been improved, and the triggering can be done silently. Autonomy remains the same (i.e. always as low). In short, not a lot of evolution, for that it will be more necessary to focus on the Sony a6500 and its 5-axis stabilizer integrated in the case, as well as its touch screen. Panasonic also offers for the same price as the a6300 devices with more features and more performance… you do what you want with this info!
- FASTER AUTOFOCUS: Shoot up to 11fps with 425 phase detection auto focus points and 0.05 sec AF speed
- INCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPHY: Advanced 24.2 MP Exmore CMOS sensor expands sensitivity and minimizes noise
- ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER: Cameras feature a high resolution XGA OLED Tru-Finder for enhanced viewing
However, this Sony a6300 remains a pleasant to use and excellent in terms of image quality, whether in photos or videos.
Here is a selection of the best lenses compatible with the Sony a6300 to help you choose the lens you need, whether for travel, portrait or landscape photography.
Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions or ideas to improve this list!
Note: Product links in this article lead to Amazon.com
Summary
- Sony 18-105 mm f/4 OSS (SELP18105G)
- Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS (SEL50F18)
- Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN ART
- Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS (SEL35F18)
- Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
- Sony 10-18mm f/4 (SEL1018)
- Sony 30mm f/3.5 (SEL30M35)
- Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS (SEL55210)
- Comparative Table
- Useful accessories
1. Sony 18-105 mm f/4 OSS (SELP18105G)
Weight: 427 g
Filter size: 72 mm
The 18-105mm f/4 is not super light, but if you want to do without several lenses when travelling, for example, it’s one of the most versatile lenses available for the Sony a6300, with a fairly wide focal length ranging from wide angle to zoom. Its advantages: it has integrated optical stabilization and the zoom is done internally (i.e. it does not extend when zooming), which is very practical if you want to put your camera on a camera pod for filming, for example. A small negative point: when you turn off your camera, the lens returns to 18mm and does not stay at the last focal length used.
Even if the image quality is very good, don’t expect photos to be as sharp and with a background blur as beautiful as a fixed focal length that will have a larger aperture (quite a bit of distortion at 105mm). That said, it offers great video performance and if that’s the main use you’ll make of it, for example for vlogging, you’ll be happy with it (a little heavy at arm’s length though!).
In short, if you are looking for a versatile lens for your Sony a6300, this 18-105mm is something to consider if you are aware of its limitations.
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2. Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS (SEL50F18)
Weight: 202 g
Filter size: 49 mm
This is one of the best lenses available for the Sony a6300. It offers very sharp images with a superb background blur, even in low light. The focal length is quite difficult to use indoors but outdoors it’s very practical. Among the positive points: it s light and compact, it does not cost too much, it has integrated optical stabilization, it has a super autofocus that is both fast and silent, and it offers a simply superb image rendering, with a super sharp focus.
In short, with this kind of lens we can see the difference in terms of quality with the basic kit. Simply a must-have if you have a Sony a6300 and want to do a portrait (if ever the portrait photo is not the type of preference, the 35mm from Sony is a little more versatile and offers a similar image quality).
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3. Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN ART
Weight: 190 g
Filter size: 46 mm
If you have a small budget to spend on your Sony a6300 and you want to take a portrait photo, this Sigma 60mm f/2.8 is for you! Light and compact, it delivers images with a top sharpness (it’s one of the sharpest lenses in this selection). The f/2.8 aperture allows shooting in low light, although it does not offer as many possibilities as with the Sony 50mm f/1.8.
That said, I don’t have much to blame him for… given its price, it’s really a good lens, which can also be used to make close-ups of a landscape, for example. Note that when you switch it over you can hear a noise as if something had come off inside, I reassure you it’s quite normal (it’s the autofocus engine)!
In short, it’s a very good value for money that perfectly complements the Sony a6300.
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4. Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS (SEL35F18)
Weight: 154 g
Filter size: 49 mm
Compact, lightweight, with a super fast, silent, precise focusing system, integrates optical stabilization to stabilize small hand shakes to ensure sharp images (practical on the Sony a6300 which has no integrated stabilization)… in short you will have understood, it’s a great lens!!!
The 35mm focal length is quite versatile and the f/1.8 aperture allows it to be used indoors, for portraiture, street photography… and it’s also great for video. Simply one of the best lenses for the Sony a6300 (a little expensive though!).
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5. Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Weight: 405 g
Filter size: 67 mm
This is one of the lenses that offers the most sharpness among all those available for the Sony a6300. Sigma did an incredible job designing this lens: the autofocus is fast and accurate, the color rendering is superb, the images are sharp from one corner of the photo to the other.
The 16mm focal length is wide enough to make a wide angle and is perfect for landscape or real estate photography, but also for astrophotography. Since it opens at f/1.4, even if we use it to make portraits close to the subject we have a very beautiful background blur. If you make video, it’s also excellent combined with a carrycot.
It’s also well built and easy to use. One downside, however, is that it’s not stabilized, and if you use it for vlogging, the autofocus makes a slight noise, which can be heard in the sound picked up by the camera or a microphone. In addition, it’s a lens that offers exceptional performance.
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6. Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS (SEL1018)
Weight: 225 g
Filter size: 62 mm
Let’s start with the positive points: we have here a surprisingly light wide angle considering its size, compact and therefore easy to take with us on a trip, with a fixed aperture of f/4. The focal length range of 10-18mm is very useful for vlogging if you want to start on Youtube, especially since it’s stabilized, or for architectural photography, for example.
Let’s move on to the negative points: the most annoying thing is that some copies are bad and deliver a rather weak dive. Remember to check the sharpness of the image in the first few days of your purchase, and ask for another copy if it’s defective! The fault lies with Sony, which did not carry out adequate quality control. Considering the high price at which it’s sold, it’s pretty boring. Finally, a rather curious little thing, without being problematic, is that it lengthens by almost 1cm when you are at 10mm, and retracts when you go to 18mm….
Otherwise, if you don’t mind a manual focus, the Rokinon-Samyang 12mm f/2 (see on Amazon.com) is a good alternative and costs three times less. It also gives a much sharper rendering. But overall, the 10-18mm f/4 remains a very good wide angle for the Sony a6300 provided you get a good copy!
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7. Sony 30mm f/3.5 (SEL30M35)
Weight: 138 g
Filter size: 49 mm
This is one of the very first E-mount lenses built by Sony, which is mainly intended for anyone who wants to take macrophotography with their Sony a6300: with a minimum focusing distance of 9.5cm, you can get very close to tiny and static subjects like coins, jewellery or watches for example (insects and flowers are more difficult to photograph because they move at the slightest gust of wind). It can also be used for portraiture, even if it’s not its main use.
This is the lightest lens on this list and also one of the cheapest. Even if the aperture is only f/3.5, it still gives a nice bokeh. Autofocus is not as fast as 35mm or 50mm, but it does the job. Too bad it’s not stabilized though, you have to hold it well in your hand so you don’t move a bit (or use it on a Sony a6500 that has 5 axis stabilization). In short, a nice lens to use and that gives amazing results, which I recommend if you want to get into the macro.
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8. Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS (SEL55210)
Weight: 345 g
Filter size: 49 mm
An interesting lens to have in your bag to take pictures from a distance. So yes, the aperture is not incredible and you should not try to use it in low light, but during the day with enough sunlight it offers really correct results. On the positive side, it’s stabilized and therefore allows you to shoot freehand, and its quality of construction is strong enough to carry it on a trip. The focal length from 55 to 210mm is versatile and offers a lot of possibilities if you are creative.
In short it’s a good zoom for the Sony a6300, yes it doesn’t produce as beautiful images as with a fixed focal length and it offers better images at 55mm rather than 210mm, but its focal length is really practical if you want to shoot subjects far away. In addition, it’s sold at a very affordable price.
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9. COMPARATIVE TABLE
All of the Sony A6300 compatible lenses mentioned above are included in this comparison chart to help you choose the right equipment. You will be able to compare them according to their price, the weight and the utility of each one to choose which will suit your budget and your style of photo.
| Lens | Price | Weight | Aperture | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma 60mm f/2.8 DN ART | $$$$$ | 190 g | f/2.8 | portrait |
| Sony Macro 30mm f/3.5 (SEL30M35) | $$$$$ | 138 g | f/3.5 | macro |
| Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS (SEL50F18) | $$$$$ | 202 g | f/1.4 | portrait |
| Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS (SEL55210) | $$$$$ | 345 g | f/4.5-6.3 | zoom |
| Samyang (Rokinon) 12mm f/2 | $$$$$ | 200g | f/2 | wide angle (architecture, landscape) |
| Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS (SEL35F18) | $$$$$ | 154 g | f/2.8 | standard lens |
| Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary | $$$$$ | 405 g | f/1.4 | wide angle (architecture, landscape) |
| Sony 18-105 mm f/4 OSS (SELP18105G) | $$$$$ | 225 g | f/4 | all-in-one |
| Sony 10-18mm f/4 (SEL1018) | $$$$$ | 225 g | f/4 | wide angle (architecture, landscape) |
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10. USEFUL ACCESSORIES & LINKS
A small selection of useful accessories to have in addition to your lenses and your Sony a6300:
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