The 10 Best Lenses for Sony a6400 in 2024 [UPDATED]!

Mirrorless cameras are all the rage and the Sony a6400 is one of the best out there. The best lenses for Sony a6400 support everything from professional portraiture work all the way over to beginner photographers looking for an all-around lens.

The best Sony a6400 lenses for photography start with the Sony FE 50mm GM lens. This is the must-have for just about every photographer taking pictures with a Sony a6400.

Let’s dive into the top 10 lenses for the Sony a6400!

1. Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens: Best All-around Lens For Sony a6400

Specs

• Focal Length: 50 mm
• Size: 87 x 108 mm
• Weight: 778 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.2
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best All Around Lens For Sony a6400

The best all-around lens for the Sony a6400 camera has to be Sony’s own FE 50mm f/1.2 GM lens.

This lens has everything that photographers need. It’s perfect for handling portraiture, street photography, and can even hold its own when doing landscape work if you’re a little creative. It’s an excellent choice for beginner photographers looking to explore the craft as well as working professionals who need an all occasions lens.

This comes from Sony’s line of professional photography lenses. It does command a premium price, but you’re getting one of the best lenses on the market for your money. The 50 mm focal range is also recognized as being one of the closest to natural human eyesight which makes it perfect for just about every style.

Pros

• Sony’s GM lenses are the top of their line. This is a professional quality lens
• The 50mm focal length is widely recognized as the go-to choice that works in almost every photography situation
• This lens offers crystal clear images with a buttery smooth bokeh
• Prime lenses are less likely to experience mechanical problems

Cons

• The price might be steep for new photographers
• Prime lenses have no zoom features

2. Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens: Best Prime Lens For Sony a6400

Specs

• Focal Length: 35 mm
• Size: 76 x 96 mm
• Weight: 524 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.4
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Prime Lens For Sony a6400

When it comes to prime lenses, nothing can top the Sony 35 mm GM lens. This is one of the best offered by Sony and one of the best lenses in general. If you’ve got a camera, like the Sony a6400, that is compatible with an FE mount lens, then you need this 35mm in your kit.

There’s a reason why 35 mm is the best focal length for prime lenses. The whole history of photography, cinema, and videography is connected to the 35 mm focal length. This is a natural focal length whether you’re working on a street photography project, filming a documentary, or looking to learn photography and launch her professional career.

Pros

• 35mm is the best choice if you’re specifically looking for a prime lens. It’s versatile, familiar, and great for beginners and pros alike
• This is a professional quality lens which means it’s ready for paid gigs as well as learning the ropes
• This lens will stick with you even if you upgrade Sony mirrorless cameras

Cons

• Very expensive (it costs more than the camera!)
• One of the few drawbacks of 35mm is that it is a wide angle that struggles for studio-style portraits
• You’ll want to add more lenses to your kit sooner rather than later

3. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens: Best Zoom Lens For The Sony a6400

Specs

• Focal Length: 70 to 200 mm
• Size: 88 x 200 mm
• Weight: 1480 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/2.8
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Zoom Lenses For Sony a6400

When it comes to zoom lenses, it’s widely recognized that the 70 to 200 mm range is the overall best. This gives you a reasonable coverage for less tight angles and a massive zoom range all the way up to 200 mm. You could be snapping pics of a sporting event and then zoom out to get a closeup of your friends and family with ease.

The only major downside to this lens is that when compared to the Sony a6400, this lens is massive. It dwarfs the size of the camera and this could make shooting a little unwieldy. If you’re used to taking pictures on comparable lenses with a DSLR, you’re going to have to adjust it to the different weight and balance of the new setup.

Pros

• This lens is ready for precision zoom photography from sports to wildlife
• This is a great second lens to round out a kit that starts with our number one pick
• A zoom lens of this quality is going to have images that can compare to a prime lens

Cons

• This lens is huge which might get unwieldy with the small size of the Sony a6400
• The 70-200mm GM lens also costs over double what the camera itself costs
• No focal range beneath 70mm means this lens can’t handle wide angle shots

4. Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens: Best For a6400 Astrophotography

Specs

• Focal Length: 16 mm (24mm Equivalent)
• Size: 72.2 x 92.3 mm
• Weight: 405 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E)
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.4
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Lens For Astrophotography Sony a6400

Sigma has made the best lens for astrophotography on a Sony a6400. This is also one of the best Sigma lenses for Sony a6400 in general.

What makes this the best Sigma lens for Sony a6400? Sigma builds high-quality lenses that come in at a fraction of the price of their name-brand counterparts. A smart way to buy sigma lenses is to use them as alternatives for Sony’s pricey branded lenses. This lets you explore wide angle and astrophotography without worrying about putting up too much money for a lens.

This lens features a lightning fast aperture and an angle wide enough to capture the stars even on a camera with an ASP-C sensor. This camera is built for handling low-light environments. It’s also got some of the best glass for long-term exposures in its price range.

All in all, if you want to use your a6400 to capture the stars, you can’t go wrong with the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 for the Sony E mount.

Pros

• Sigma has made this a great option for the best low light lens for Sony a6400
• Lightning fast aperture
• Lightweight and versatile allowing for astrophotography and other styles like landscape photography
• Affordable option for photographers looking to test out astrophotography

Cons

• The ASP-C sensor of the a6400 means that all lenses will be a little tighter which limits your overall astrophotography scope
• Less useful for portraits and other “close up” work

5. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens: The Best Macro Lens For Sony a6400

Specs

• Focal Length: 90 mm
• Size: 79 x 130.5 mm
• Weight: 602 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/2.8
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Macro Lens For Sony a6400

When you start doing macro photography, you realize how much all of the small details matter. Lenses that have too much blur, distortion, and visual artifacts can spoil the fine detailed image of a macro photograph. The Sony FE 90 mm G series lens is the perfect choice for doing macro photography on the Sony a6400.

The glass on this lens is really what makes it special. It’s got an aspherical element with a nano coating that leaves images crisp and clear. This lens also features image stabilization and fine-tuned controls for your focal range. It’s really a complete package when it comes to macro photography for mirrorless cameras.

Keep in mind that Sony’s FE lenses are built to work with both full frame and APS-C sensor cameras. The a6400 is a crop sensor camera which means the equivalent focal length of this lens will actually be around 135mm. So, plan accordingly for your shots!

Pros

• With a 1:1 magnification, this lens will let you get up close to any subject
• The glass in this G-series lens leaves little distortion or blur on the edges of your macro shots
• Macro photography is all about those fine details and this lens delivers on crystal clear images
• Image stabilization is a must for macro photography and this lens delivers

Cons

• Lacks the built-in lighting that we see with some of Canon’s macro lenses

6. Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens: Best Sony a6400 Lens On A Budget

Specs

• Focal Length: 28 to 70 mm
• Size: 72.5 x 83 mm
• Weight: 295 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/3.5
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Budget Lenses For Sony a6400

What makes a lens one of the best budget lenses for Sony a6400? It’s all about getting tons of features as well as giving you the ability to capture great images. The Sony FE 28-70mm is able to handle all of this and more.

Buying a budget lens doesn’t have to mean compromising too much on quality. Sure, you won’t be getting the weatherproofing that comes with a professional lens, but you can still get a lens that will deliver high-quality images. Photography is more about your skill as an artist than it is about the gear that you spent money on.

This lens is a great choice for beginners who are looking to branch out. You’ll be able to shoot everything from street photography, to portraits, and even try your hand at things like landscape photography with this lens.

Pros

• Lightweight for both its size and your budget!
• Comes with impressive features for cost like image stabilization
• 28 to 70mm is a great focal range for beginner photographers who want to explore various styles without committing to a whole kit full of lenses
• Because it’s an FE mount lens, you can keep this even if you upgrade to a full frame camera

Cons

• The build quality on this lens is going to be a bit lower than with other Sony or Sigma lenses
• Most photographers “grow out” of these versatile, budget lenses

7. Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens: Best Sony a6400 Lens For Portraits

Specs

• Focal Length: 85 mm
• Size: 78 x 82 mm
• Weight: 371 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.8
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Portrait Lens For Sony a6400

There’s a reason why portrait photographers love the 85 mm lens focal length. This focal length provides the minimum distortion for the proportions of the human face. This means you’ll get the best portraits that require the least touch up in post-production with this lens.

This lens is going to offer you a clear image and be less likely to experience mechanical failure because it is a prime lens. These are easy to handle and a great choice for both pros and beginners.

Every lens has its drawbacks and this lens doesn’t feature weather sealing. This means that it’s a little less viable if you plan on doing outdoor photography and tough weather.

Pros

• The 85mm focal length is the best choice for portraits
• This lens features a 9 blade diaphragm which gives excellent selective focus and bokeh
• The f/1.8 aperture is perfect for low light conditions like indoor events
• This lens will be with you even after you upgrade your a6400 camera
• The double AF motor allows you to quickly focus on new subjects

Cons

• The ASP-C equivalent for 85 mm is roughly 127.5mm which might be tighter than some portrait photographers prefer

8. Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 Lens: Best Sony a6400 Lens For Videography

Specs

• Focal Length: 24 to 105 mm
• Size: 83.4 x 113.3 mm
• Weight: 663 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/4
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Lenses For Sony A6400 For Video

This is the best lens for Sony a6400 for vlogging, videography, and even making amateur films. It all comes down to how versatile this lens can be. No matter what you film, you can make use of this lens and its impressive range.

We’re going to start with talking about the focal length. Even when we adjust to the crop factor sensor, 24 to 105 mm is a great focal length for videography. 24 is nice and wide when you’re shooting in cramped locations and 105 can cover some pretty impressive zooms.

This lens gives you plenty of tools in your videography toolbox. Rather than hauling around an entire box full of lenses, you can take one lens on your next shoot and still get a wide range of results.

The main drawbacks of this lens are its aperture and where you’re going as a videographer. The aperture isn’t ideal for certain lighting conditions and that might hold back some shoots. You also might find that you grow out of this lens and into something more specialized as you improve your skills with videography.

Pros

• The focal length gives you nearly unlimited versatility for shooting video
• This is a great choice for using your a6400 as a vlogging camera
• The perfect lens for first-time videographers who want something to improve their skills

Cons

• The f/4 aperture is going to limit the lighting conditions you can shoot under
• The maximum focal length will let you get creative, but might not be useful for everyone
• If you enjoy videography, you might grow out of this lens rather quickly

9. Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens: Traveling With a Sony a6400

Specs

• Focal Length: 24 mm (36 Crop Sensor Equivalent)
• Size: 75.4 x 92.4 mm
• Weight: 445 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.4
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Travel Lens For a6400

The 24mm FE lens is the best travel lens for the Sony a6400 because of how crop sensor cameras work. The crop sensor means you need to magnify your lens’s focal length by about 1.5 times. This pushes the 24mm lens into 36mm territory which is where you want to be for an all-purpose travel lens.

Traveling with your new camera can be tough. It’s really tempting to carry 4 or 5 lenses to cover every single possible scenario, but what you really need is one lens that can handle most of these jobs. That’s where this lens comes into play.

You’ll be able to pack a single lens and still cover everything from street photography to portraits of the people you meet along the way. This lens is lightweight, and it comes from Sony’s top-shelf line which means it can stand up to the rigors of travel. This also gives you fewer things to pack which means less of a risk of losing lenses while you’re on the road.

The only drawback with this lens is that it doesn’t come with a zoom feature. You’ll need it to get used to walking closer to your subjects rather than simply turning the zoom dial on your lens.

Pros

• The 36 mm equivalent focal length is the perfect choice for taking pics while traveling
• Sony’s GM line of cameras leave nothing on the table when it comes to features
• Lightweight and compact for traveling without hauling around too much gear
• Great for street, landscape, and even portraits while traveling

Cons

• No zoom feature, so you need to be comfortable walking up to your subjects while traveling
• If you upgrade to one of Sony’s full frame FE mount cameras, you might find this too wide for an all-around travel lens

10. Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Lens: Landscapes, Nature, and Interior Photography

Specs

• Focal Length: 14 mm (21 mm Equivalent)
• Size: 83 x 99.8 mm
• Weight: 460 g
• Compatibility: Crop Sensor (E) & Full frame (FE)
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.8
• Autofocus: Yes

The Best Wide Angle Lens For Sony a6400

When you’re shooting landscapes and interior photography, you want the widest angle possible that doesn’t distort your image. Usually, we would be shopping for a lens that’s between 18 and 24 mm, but with a crop sensor camera, you want to go even lower.

14 mm means that you’ll have an equivalent focal length of 21 mm on a crop sensor camera. This is right in that ideal range for landscape and interior photography. This gives you an incredibly wide angle without as much distortion as you would get with another lens.

This lets you capture everything from sweeping mountain ranges to the full scope of a room. Whether you’re traveling and looking to capture the natural sites that you encounter on the way or you’re working as an interior design photographer, this is the lens to go for when you’re shooting on a crop sensor camera.

Pros

• The 21 mm equivalent focal length of this lens offers you nearly the perfect focal length for landscape photography
• This lens is lightweight which is perfect for throwing in your bag before a long hike
• Another Sony GM lens with top of the line quality

Cons

• The cost of this lens is almost as high as the cost of the camera itself
• 14mm would be considered ultra-wide without the crop sensor magnification

What You Need To Know About The Sony a6400

Even when you know the best lenses for the Sony a6400, it can still be hard to make the purchase. There’s a lot of thought that goes into finding the right Sony a6400 lenses for photography. You need to consider your goals as a photographer, your budget, and even the style of photography you like the most.

Here are a few answers to the most asked questions about shooting on a Sony a6400 and the lenses that make this camera work!

Can Sony A6400 Be Used For Professional Photography

You can definitely use a Sony a6400 as a professional photography camera. You have more than enough megapixels, features, and lenses to handle any professional job. The only consideration you need to make is whether or not this is the gear you want to take to a professional shoot.

This camera does not have a professional build quality. This means it might struggle under some of the more demanding conditions that a truly professional-level camera is built to withstand.

You also need to consider your clients. When a client sees a larger, professional-looking camera, they tend to have more confidence. Even though we know, as photographers, that gear doesn’t equal skill, clients sometimes don’t understand that you can get amazing pictures even with entry-level cameras.

Is Sony A6400 Entry Level

The Sony a6400 is not an entry-level camera. Even though this camera is a perfect choice for beginners, it’s a little too expensive and has too many features for someone looking for a true entry-level model. If you’re a beginner that’s okay with learning more upfront, this is still a great camera for you.

Is Sony A6400 Good For Travel

The Sony a6400 is one of the best cameras for travel. This camera is able to produce professional-level photographs and is extremely lightweight. This makes it a great choice for amateurs and professionals who are traveling while doing photography.

One consideration to make is the size of this camera. Being so lightweight is ideal for not weighing yourself down with heavy camera equipment. However, the small form factor of this camera does make it an attractive target for thieves. It’s also less able to withstand the dings and dents that come with traveling with a camera in your bag.

Is Sigma Lens Compatible With Sony A6400

There are Sigma lenses that are compatible with the Sony a6400. You want to find a Sigma lens that is listed as E or FE as those are the two mounting standards that are compatible with the Sony a6400. You can also make other lenses work with this camera by using a mounting bracket that can convert any mounting system into the Sony E or FE mount.

The same is true for Canon, Nikon, and even vintage lenses. As long as you’re able to find a mounting bracket, you can connect nearly any lens to any camera. The only thing to keep in mind is that certain automatic features, like autofocus, might not work when you use a mounting bracket to connect different model cameras to different lenses.

Is Sony A6400 Good For Night Photography

The Sony a6400 is a great camera for taking nighttime photography. You can either rely on the automatic settings to adjust things for you to get a great nighttime shot, or you can switch over to manual mode to get precision control over your nighttime photography. This camera has more than enough features to be able to handle shooting under most nighttime and low-light conditions.

You should keep in mind that shooting nighttime photography is heavily dependent on the skills of the photographer. A master photographer can have amazing nighttime photography using a basic point-and-click camera while a beginner might struggle using a high-end model. The more you learn about ISO, aperture, and the other features of your camera, the better your nighttime photography is going to become.

Is The A6400 Still Worth It

The Sony a6400 was introduced in 2019. This camera is only a few years old and that makes it a perfect choice to pick up today. You’re still going to be getting cutting-edge features, but you’ll be paying a fraction of the price that Sony was asking for when his camera was first released.

We’ll let you in on a little trick about trying to figure out if older model cameras are still good today. Unless you’re shopping for specific features, most cameras made in the last five to ten years are perfectly capable of standing up to today’s models.

This is because cameras are adding more megapixels quicker than screens can keep up with. The resolution of the photos that you can take with today’s cameras exceeds what many of today’s monitors are capable of displaying. This means that you’re perfectly safe grabbing a Sony a6400 at a discounted rate if you’re going to be posting your pictures to social media sites that naturally have a lower resolution.

Wrapping Up The Best Lenses For Sony a6400

The best sony a6400 lenses for photography leave nothing behind. These lenses are perfect for pros and beginners alike.

Whether you want to pick up the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM for the best overall choice or you want the Sony FE 28-70mm for the best budget lenses for the Sony a6400, you’re sure to get a great lens.  You could even pick the Sony FE 24-105mm as the best lens for the Sony a6400 for vlogging.

So, which of the best lenses for the Sony a6400 is the right lens for you?