Ugh, I am literally losing my mind over this. I just bought a used Sony a6000 from a guy on Craigslist because I wanted to get into street photography, but the kit lens that came with it is just driving me crazy. It makes everything look so blurry and dark, and I feel like I cant get any of those cool, sharp shots I see on Instagram. I honestly dont even know what a prime lens is properly, someone told me I need one but looking at the Sony website makes my head spin with all the numbers and letters.
Im a total beginner so sorry if this is a dumb question, but I just want something that makes my photos pop without having to learn rocket science. I live in Chicago and I'm heading out on a trip to Europe in about three weeks so I really need something soon so I can practice before I leave. My budget is super tight, like maybe 300 bucks max because I already spent way more than I should have on the camera body.
Here is what I think I need, or at least what I think I want:
- Needs to be small because I dont want to walk around with a giant camera looking like a tourist.
- Something that works well in low light since I like taking pictures at night.
- Must be cheap because Im broke.
- Needs to be easy to use because I have no idea what Im doing.
Is there anything decent in this price range? I feel like every time I search for lenses I find stuff that costs like 1200 dollars and that is just not happening for me. Does it matter if the brand says Sony or if it is one of those other brands like Sigma? I dont even know how to tell if it will fit my camera. Please help me out before I just sell this thing and go back to using my phone...
> Needs to be small because I dont want to walk around with a giant camera looking like a tourist. I get the frustration, street shooting is tough when your gear is working against you. If you want something even smaller than that Sigma, you might want to consider the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens. It turns that a6000 into basically a pocket camera, which is awesome for travel. Just be careful with low light compared to the f/1.4 options though; you'll have to bump your ISO a bit higher at night. Also, make sure to check out the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens if you can stretch the budget slightly. It is wider, so you fit more of those European streets in the frame. Just watch your composition so things dont look too distorted!
Regarding what #2 said about > Needs to be small because I dont want to walk around with a giant camera looking like a tourist, they are right about size. I've been happy using the Rokinon 35mm f/1.8 FE AF for my street work. It is reliable, sharp, and fits perfectly in your budget. Just remember to keep your shutter speed up at night to avoid motion blur. You'll be fine in Europe, enjoy the trip!
Honestly, dont sweat the tech specs too much. You just need a prime lens, which is basically a lens that doesnt zoom, so it lets in way more light. For your a6000, grab the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. It is super sharp, small enough for street shots, and handles night lights perfectly. It is the best bang for your buck. Just stick it on and start shooting, you will see the difference immediately.
I feel your pain man. I have the exact same setup and honestly, the kit lens is just garbage for low light, which is exactly where I struggle the most. I have had issues with it autofocusing way too slow whenever I try to snap something real quick on the street. It is super frustrating when you think you nailed a shot only to check the screen and see it is a blurry mess. I have been looking for an upgrade for months but every time I save up, something else breaks. Before I go down the rabbit hole again, are you strictly looking for something that is wide enough for architecture shots in Europe, or are you mostly trying to capture candid portraits of people? And how much do you actually prioritize physical size over having that super wide aperture for the nighttime stuff?