Having the right lens helps in producing a great image. It is even considered by some photographers as a more important tool than the camera in capturing a high-quality photograph. The reason? Lenses allow photographers to control the amount of zoom, how wide can it get, the maximum size of the aperture, and other factors that can make or break an image. Getting a quality, great performing lens also allows photographers to use it beyond the lifespan of their camera. Lenses are known to outlast cameras and can be even used in future models as long as it is compatible with the mount system.
This article will focus on what kind of lenses are the best lenses for Sony A6300.
A Rundown of Lenses for the A6300
- Sony Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm (Best General Photography Lens for Sony a6300)
- Sony E 20mm (Best Travel & Landscape Lens for Sony a6300)
- Sony E 50mm (Best Portrait Photography Lens for Sony a6300)
- Sony E 35mm (Best Premium Prime Lens for Sony a6300)
- Sony 18-105mm (Best Versatile Lens for the a6300)
- Sony E 55-210mm (Best Compact Telephoto Lens for Sony a6300)
- Sony FE 70-300mm (Best Telephoto Lens for Sony a6300)
Best for General Photography
Sony E PZ 18–105 mm F4 G OSS
Best Versatile Lens for Sony a6300
Four Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 18-105mm
Dimensions – 4.33 x 3.07 x 3.07 inches
Weight – 426.4 g (0.94 lbs)
Lens Type: Wide Angle, Telephoto
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/4, to a minimum Aperture f/22
- Big and heavy but could work for Sony’s A600 series of DSLRs
- Great sharpness
- Comes with 6x focal range
- Poorly performs with corner shading and comes with chromatic aberration
The E PZ 18-105mm f4G OSS is a great lens especially for those who mostly use their A6300 for video work. This huge lens’s strength comes with its six times focal range, sharp images, quiet operation, and constant f/4 aperture. If its size is not a turnoff, this lens is a very capable accessory with fast focusing performance that can be used in any kind of photography.
Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70 mm F4 ZA OSS
Best General Photography Lens for Sony a6300
Five Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 16-70mm
Dimensions – 2.95 x 2.62 x 2.62 inches
Weight – 308.4 g (0.68 lbs)
Lens Type: Standard
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/4
- Versatile
- Compact and lightweight
- Produces images with recognizable chromatic aberration, vignetting, and distortion
- Quite expensive compared to its counterparts
If the E PZ 18-105mm is too big to carry around, Sony made this lens for those who want it minute yet still very capable. The T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS comes with high-performance Carl Zeiss optics on top of a good built and small form factor. Its Achilles’ Heel is distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting found in images when using the RAW format. However, this quirk can easily be remedied during the post-processing of the images. The T* E 16-70mm is a very capable lens fit not only for general photography but also for landscape photography and portrait photography.
Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
Best Small-sized Lens for NEX cameras
Four Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 16-50mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 24 to 75mm)
Dimensions – 2-5/8 x 1-3/16″ (64.7 x 29.9 mm)
Weight – 116 g (4.1 oz)
Lens Type: Wide Angle Zoom
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/3.5-5.6 to minimum Aperture f/22-36
- The smallest lens for the NEX line of cameras from Sony
- Sharp images
- Good focal range
- Very high distortion when using the 16mm setting
Sony wanted to offer small-sized lenses for the NEX system. Before the E PZ 16-50mm, lenses for this camera system are mostly bulky lenses that are known to deliver great images regardless. The E PZ 16-50mm introduces a new age as it comes in a smaller size yet is still capable of delivering a very useful 24-75mm equivalent focal range. This lens features great optics with nine lens elements in eight groups, an Optical Stabilisation System, and a seven-bladed iris diaphragm.
Sony E 35mm f/1.8
Best Premium Prime Lens for General Photography
Five Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 35mm (35 mm equivalent focal length: 52.5mm)
Dimensions – 1.77 x 2.48 x 2.48 inches
Weight – 155.1 g (5.47 ounces)
Lens Type: Wide Angle
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/1.8
- Compact and lightweight
- Fast-focusing performance
- Features an optical design that is resistant to ghosts and flares
- The electronic focus ring has no direct mechanical connection to the optics
The E 35mm f/1.8 is for those looking for a lens capable of delivering great sharpness at maximum aperture and expecting an even better sharpness when the lens is stopped down. It is an easy pick for general photography enthusiasts as it comes in a small and light build, capable of reducing distortion and chromatic aberration, and features a very capable optical stabilization technology. However, its price tag can be an issue as this lens is among those in the premium line of lenses for the A6300.
Best lenses for Portraits, Weddings & Events
Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS
Best Portrait Photography Lens for Sony a6300
Five Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 50mm (35 mm equivalent focal length: 75mm)
Dimensions – 2.44 x 2.44 x 2.44 inches
Weight – 202 g (7.13 ounces)
Lens Type: Telephoto
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/1.8
- Great optical stabilization technology
- Lightweight
- Good build quality
- Noticeable chromatic aberration especially when shooting at fast apertures
Portrait photographers will find Sony’s E 50mm f/1.8 OSS as their favorite lens after spending some time with it. This lens features a great focal length and wide aperture that makes it ideal for taking portraits, as well as for taking photographs in low-light environments and street photography. The downside is that this lens suffers from lackluster sharpness. However, photographers might not find it as a big issue as the lens is capable of delivering good performance in reducing chromatic aberration and distortion.
Best lenses for Travel & Landscape
Sony E 20 mm F2.8
Best Lens for Travel & Landscape
Five Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 20mm
Dimensions – 0.79 x 2.48 x 2.48 inches
Weight – 69 g (2.43 ounces)
Lens Type: Wide Angle
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/2.8
- Compact and lightweight
- Fast focusing performance
- Good sharpness quality
- Pricey
If money is not an issue, the E 20mm f/2.8 is a great lens for landscape photography. This lens comes with a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture that produces good images even when shooting in low light environments. It also comes with three aspherical elements, which helps in lessening astigmatism, field curvature, and chromatic aberrations. To help create excellent bokeh, the lens features a rounded seven-blade diaphragm. However, landscape photographers should be informed that this lens is not among the sharpest lenses produced by Sony.
Sony E 10–18 mm F4 OSS
Best Ultra Wide Angle Lens for NEX Cameras
Three Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 10-18mm (35 mm equivalent focal length: 15-27mm)
Dimensions – 2.52 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches
Weight – 225 g (7.94 ounces)
Lens Type: Wide Angle
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/4
- Good build quality
- Lightweight wide angle zoom lens
- Low distortion
- Issues encountered when shooting at maximum aperture
Photographers looking for a lens that delivers great high-quality images should check out the Wide-Angle Zoom 10-18mm f/4 OSS. This lens is an ultra wide-angle lens for the NEX cameras with an angle of view equivalent to a 15-27mm lens on a 35mm camera. Landscape photographers will be delighted to know that this lens comes with an effective focal length of 15-27mm. This feature allows for capturing scenic views without needing to crop. It also comes with a good optical stabilization motor that makes it ideal for use in poor lighting conditions. However, landscape photographers should note that sharpness tends to struggle at the corners of the image. But it can be improved when using f/5.6 or far better when opting to shoot at f/8 or f/11.
Best lenses for Nature, Wildlife, Sports & Action
Sony E 55–210 mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
Best Compact Telephoto Lens for Sony a6300
Four Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 55-210mm (35 mm equivalent focal length: 82.5-315mm)
Dimensions – 4.25 x 2.52 x 2.52 inches
Weight – 345 g (0.76 lbs)
Lens Type: Telephoto
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/4.5-6.3
- Good build quality
- Lightweight
- Great optical stabilization performance
- Images tend to lack sharpness
The E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS was made to allow photographers to explore more possibilities with its 82.5-315mm equivalent focal length range on APS-C-format E-mount cameras. The lens features an optical design with two extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements, Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, and a rounded seven-blade diaphragm. It is also capable of fast autofocus performance with the help of its integrated internal focus mechanism.
Image quality is the biggest drawback for this lens. Taking photographs at maximum aperture results in less than-to-good quality images.
Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Best Telephoto Lens for Sony a6300
Four Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 70-300mm (35 mm equivalent focal length: 105-450 mm)
Dimensions – 3.31 x 3.31 x 5.65 inches
Weight – 854 g (1.88 lbs)
Lens Type: Telephoto
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/4.5-5.6
- Great sharpness at the center
- Reduced chromatic aberrations
- Great optical features
- A bit pricey considering its performance
Versatile – that’s how the FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS can be described in a word. This telephoto lens was designed with a wide range of telephoto focal lengths. It comes with an optical design that incorporates four aspherical elements and two extra-low dispersion glass elements. This feature gives off great sharpness, color accuracy, and clarity as it is capable of reducing chromatic and spherical aberration. The lens also features an Optical SteadyShot image stabilization motor. This technology helps minimize camera shake, especially when handheld shooting.
Best lenses for Macro & Close-Up
Sony E 30 mm F3.5 Macro
Best Macro Lens for the A6300
Four Stars
Technical Specs
Focal Length – 30mm (35 mm equivalent focal length: 45mm)
Dimensions – 2.20 x 2.44 x 2.44 inches
Weight – 138 g (4.87 ounces)
Lens Type: Macro
Compatible Mountings – Sony E-mount
Aperture – f/3.5
- Lightweight and good build quality
- Fast and silent autofocus performance
- Inexpensive
- 1:1 ultra-close macro focusing
Sony designed the E 30mm f/3.5 Macro for close-up photographers who wanted an ultralight lens for normal and macro photography. It features a normal-length 45mm equivalent focal length, an aperture range of f/3.5 to f/22 for better control of depth of field, and three aspherical elements to reduce field curvature, coma, and monochromatic aberrations. Picking up this lens is a must considering its price tag. Photographers looking to have their first macro lens in their bag should definitely get this.
Common Questions About the Best Lenses for the Sony a6300
Veteran photographers know that not all lenses are created equal. There are various factors one needs to consider before purchasing a lens for their camera. The compatible of the lens with their camera’s mount system is not the only consideration, as there are several things to ponder. These are some of the common questions when buying and getting the best lenses for Sony A6300.
Is Sony a6300 E mount?
Yes. The Sony A6300 features an interchangeable E mount system. This feature allows any E-mount compatible lens to be used on this Sony DSLR.
What lenses are compatible with the Sony E mount?
There’s a long list of E-mount compatible lenses for the Sony A6300. Here are some of the most recommended for this camera:
- Sony 18-105mm f/4 OSS
- Sony E 35mm f/1.8
- Sony 50mm f1.8
- Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN Lens
- Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS
- Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 OSS
Is Sony A6300 full frame?
No. The A6300 features an APS-C sensor compared to the A7 that comes with a 35mm full-frame sensor. The sensor found in the Sony A6300 is a crop sensor, which means that it is not as capable in terms of delivering high-quality photographs, wider angles, and smaller depth of field.
Can I use full frame lens on Sony A6300?
Yes, full-frame lenses can be used on the A6300 as long as it is compatible with E-mount cameras. There is also no need for an adapter as long as the full-frame lens is made for cameras with the E-mount system.
However, there are some limitations when using a full-frame lens on a camera with a crop sensor like the A6300. Photographers should know that it is impossible to achieve the promises of a full-frame lens when used on a full-frame camera. For example, there is a noticeable change in focal length when a full-frame lens is used on a non-full frame camera like the A6300.
What is the difference between the Sony E mount and A mount? Which is better A mount or E mount?
Sony produces two types of interchangeable lens cameras. Each lens made by the brand is categorized into the A mount or the E mount. The A mount is found on cameras with a mirror or a translucent mirror while the E mount is featured among Sony mirrorless cameras. Each of the mount systems also comes with its own distinct set of features. An example of which is that A mount cameras offer full-time phase-detection autofocus as they come with Sony Translucent Mirror Technology. E mount cameras, on the other hand, are more compact and lightweight, which allows them to offer more portability and easy handheld use.
Does Sony a6300 shoot 4k?
Yes, the Sony A6300 is capable of shooting 4k videos. This Sony camera shoots 4k videos at 24p or 25p from its full sensor width. The camera was also designed for use in taking videos as it comes with a mic socket, a video-focused Picture Profile system, and the record time code function. The camera also comes with a viewfinder size that’s good for viewing when shooting videos.
Can I use my Sony a6300 as a Webcam? Which lens will be the best fit?
Yes, the A6300 along with other Sony cameras work as a webcam. In 2020, the known camera brand released free software for Windows operating system users that will allow the use of the A6300 as a webcam. So-called the Imaging Edge Webcam for Windows 10, the software allows the use of a mirrorless camera as a webcam and eliminates the need for a capture card. A similar move also came from Nikon and Canon which both released a similar software for using their cameras as a functional webcam. There’s also a Mac OS-compatible version of this software.
In terms of the best lens to use, it varies depending on how one will use the camera as a webcam. The Sigma 16mm was recommended by a user for those who are looking to use it for streaming and would like to have a wider view or a tighter frame.
Best Travel Lens for Sony a6300
There are a lot of options for a travel lens for the A6300. The best lens depends on the purpose of the trip. A photographer needs to decide whether he will be traveling with comfort in mind or does he want to take high-quality images while on the trip. The following are some of the best travel lenses for this camera:
Cheap Lenses for Sony a6300
Photographers who are on a budget need not postpone their plans to buy a lens for their A6300. There are plenty of options for an inexpensive yet very capable lens for the Sony a6300 camera.
Sony a6300 Telephoto Lens
Telephoto lenses allows photographers to take a close shot of a subject even if they are tens of feet apart. These lenses are categorized into different types and each has its own set of unique offerings. The 85mm prime lenses, for example, offer a shallow depth of field, which makes it ideal for use for taking portraits and blurred backgrounds. Other types of telephoto lenses include the 70–200mm lenses, the 100-400mm lenses, and the super-telephoto prime lenses.
For the A6300, the best telephoto lenses include:
- Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
- Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
- Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS
- Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
Conclusion – What is the best lens for the Sony a6300?
The Sony Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS tops the list of the best lenses for Sony a6300. This lens proves that one can get quality features even when it is not on the much expensive side. This lens is a must-have for photographers as it is a versatile performer capable of handling the demands of general, landscape, and portrait photography.
The Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is a must for those who intend to spend more time taking travel photographs. This lens comes in a lightweight and compact size, offers versatile focal length, and great autofocus performance. For those looking for use in portrait photography, the Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS is best. This lens comes with excellent image stabilization, amazing bokeh functionality, and comes in a lightweight and compact size.
The Sony E 35mm f/1.8 offers the most value among lenses in this list. This lens offers great bokeh, useful focal distance, and great value on top of being light and compact.
