Looking for the best budget zoom lens for my Sony camera.

Question

I finally pulled the trigger on a Sony a6400 and I am so hyped to actually start taking some decent photos of birds and stuff in my backyard. My kid has this school trip to the local zoo in like three weeks and I really want to be the cool dad with the big lens haha. But man lenses are expensive!! I have about $450 saved up and I've been scouring eBay and marketplace like a madman.

Right now I am totally stuck between two options. The first is a used Sony 70-350mm G lens which people say is amazing but it's pushing my budget super hard and I might have to eat ramen for a month. The other one is the Tamron 70-300mm which is brand new for around the same price but it doesnt have stabilization? I'm worried because I dont have the steadiest hands when I'm excited. I also saw the cheap 55-210mm for like $150 but I feel like I'll regret not getting more reach since 210mm seems kinda short for wildlife.

Is the extra reach and stabilization on the Sony 70-350 really worth the extra money over the Tamron or the cheapo kit lens if I'm just starting out? Or should I just go for the Tamron and hope for the best...

VincentMog · Accepted Answer

@Reply #1 - good point! Honestly, the technical specs back that up too. When you are shooting at the long end of a zoom, the general rule of thumb is that your shutter speed needs to be at least the reciprocal of your focal length. On an a6400, that 350mm is actually a 525mm full-frame equivalent reach. Without stabilization, you would need to consistently hit 1/600s or faster just to keep images sharp handheld. That is tough in anything but bright direct sunlight. If you check out the testing data on DPReview or the lens databases on Dyxum, the Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS consistently beats the others in center and edge sharpness. The Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is a solid lens for the price, but it was designed for full-frame bodies that usually have internal stabilization. For your budget, skip the eBay bidding wars and watch sites like MPB or KEH. They have actual rating systems for used gear and better return policies if you get a copy with decentered glass. If you absolutely cant stretch the budget, you could look for a used Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS, but the image quality drop-off is pretty significant compared to the G lens.

RickHarvestHep · Answer

In my experience, skipping the Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS is smart because 210mm is just too short for birds. Since the a6400 lacks IBIS, lens stabilization is mandatory.

Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS: Best choice. You get 525mm equivalent reach and vital OSS.

Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD: No stabilization makes handheld shots at 300mm a total nightmare. Eat the ramen, the Sony G lens is definitely worth it.

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Looking for the best budget zoom lens for my Sony camera.