I recently picked up a Sony a6100 and I’m absolutely loving the autofocus, but I’m finding that even the 16-50mm kit lens makes it a bit bulkier than I’d like for everyday carry. My goal is to have a setup that’s genuinely pocketable—or at least small enough to slide into a jacket pocket—so I can take it everywhere without a dedicated camera bag.
I’ve been looking at the Sony 20mm f/2.8 and the 16mm f/2.8, but I’ve heard mixed reviews regarding their sharpness, especially toward the corners. I mainly shoot street photography and casual shots of friends when we're out, so having a fast aperture would be a nice bonus, though size is the absolute priority here. I'm also curious if there are any third-party options from brands like TTArtisan or 7Artisans that maintain that ultra-slim profile while still performing well on the a6100 sensor.
Budget-wise, I’m looking to stay under $300, and I’m totally open to buying used. For those of you who prioritize a compact EDC setup, which pancake lens gives the best balance of image quality and portability for the E-mount system?
Hi there! I totally get the struggle of trying to make an a6100 truly pocketable. While the 20mm was already mentioned, I’ve spent some time experimenting with manual glass because those third-party pancakes are honestly the thinnest options out there.
If you don't mind manual focus, here’s what I’d look at for that ultra-slim profile:
* TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 AF Lens for Sony E-mount - This is actually autofocus! It’s slightly longer than a pure pancake but way sharper than the Sony 16mm, and it fits the budget easily.
* 7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 II UFO Lens for Sony E - This is the definition of "body cap" thin. It’s fixed aperture, so it's strictly for daylight street shots, but it makes the camera tiny.
* TTArtisan 25mm f/2.0 Manual Focus Lens for Sony E - Very cheap and compact, though a bit heavier since it's all metal.
Personally, I'm always a bit cautious with the Sony E 16mm f/2.8 because the edges really do get mushy... it's a bit of a gamble if you want crisp shots. Honestly, if you can handle manual focus, those TTArtisan lenses are a steal. Does manual focusing sound like a dealbreaker for your street photography style?
TIL! Thanks for sharing
For your situation, I'd honestly stick with the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 pancake lens; you can find it used for under $200 and it's the most reliable pocket-friendly option for street shots.
I went through this last year when I was trying to slim down my own a6000-series setup for travel. Honestly, the biggest thing I learned is that when you go for these ultra-slim pancakes, you really have to weigh the trade-off between size and electronic reliability. While the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 and the 16mm are the obvious go-tos for autofocus, I found myself worrying about those tiny electronic ribbon cables failing over time with constant pocketing.
Anyway, back to your question about keeping it tiny! I actually ended up experimenting with the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 AF for a while. It’s a bit of a "hidden gem" because it actually has autofocus, which is rare for those super-slim third-party lenses. It’s slightly thicker than the Sony 20mm, but the image quality felt a bit more characterful for street shots. That said, I did notice the AF motor can be a bit noisier, which is something to consider if you're doing candid shots in quiet places.
I also briefly tried the 7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 II UFO lens. It is literally just a body cap with glass in it—doesn't get any smaller than that! But since it has a fixed aperture of f/6.3, I found it super limiting for evening shots with friends. It really needs bright daylight to shine. For me, safety and being able to actually get the shot without it being a blurry mess is priority one. If you can find a used Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 FE, it’s technically for full-frame but works great on the a6100 and stays very compact. It’s a decent option if you want something a bit wider than the 27mm but sharper than the old Sony 16mm. Hope this helps!
Facts.
Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!
