Honestly so fed up with the kit lens that came with my A6400, its just not cutting it anymore and the autofocus feels sluggish lately. I've been trying to shoot some street photography around Chicago but everything ends up looking soft and blurry, its driving me crazy. Im looking to spend maybe 300 to 400 bucks tops because my budget is pretty tight before a trip next month. Are there actually any decent budget options for E-mount out there that dont cost a fortune? Ive heard mixed things about Sigma and Tamron but just dont know what to pull the trigger on... any suggestions?
Honestly, the kit lens is usually the bottleneck for a6400 users. If you want sharpness on a budget for street stuff, grab the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. It sits right around your budget and is miles ahead of what you have. Another solid pick is the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS. The stabilization is super helpful for street shots at night, honestly.
Been thinking about your setup since you're heading out on a trip soon. If you want something super compact for street shots, the Samyang 35mm f/2.8 FE is honestly a sleeper hit. It is tiny and way sharper than that kit lens you're struggling with. Plus, you can find it for pretty cheap on the used market if you check places like MPB or KEH. Another route if you need more versatility is the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 E-mount. It gives you a wider field of view which is sweet for city architecture and tight alleys. It stays well under your 400 dollar limit, leaving you some extra cash for a decent memory card or an extra battery. Just make sure to check out some sample galleries on Flickr before deciding, it really helps to see how the glass handles different lighting.
Adding my two cents, are you finding that you prefer staying wide for street shots or do you like being able to zoom in a bit? If you want something sharper than the kit, I've had great results with the Tamron 20mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2. It is super compact. Also, try bumping your shutter speed up to at least 1/250 for street work to kill that blur. Makes a huge difference.
Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!
Saved for later, ty!