I just bought a used a6000 and the kit lens is kinda driving me crazy lately. I have a wedding to shoot for my friend in like three weeks—nothing fancy, just a backyard thing in Seattle—and I'm super stressed about the lighting since it's probably gonna be cloudy. I was looking online and everyone keeps saying to get the Sigma 16mm f1.4 because it's like the gold standard for APS-C but then I realized it's a prime lens so I'd be stuck at one focal length all night? That sounds terrifying if I need to get a close up shot of the rings or something.
My logic was that a zoom would be safer but then I saw people talking about the Tamron 17-70mm which sounds perfect because it has stabilization but it's like 700 bucks even used and my hard limit is really like $350 tops. So I'm honestly so confused now... I read that cheap zooms are a waste of money and I should just get a couple of fast primes like the Meike ones but those dont even have autofocus? Is that right? I really dont want to mess up her photos but I only have a few hundred bucks left after buying the body and I'm totally spiraling. Does anyone know if there is a middle ground or like a hidden gem that isnt gonna break the bank but still works in low light... maybe the Viltrox stuff or something I missed?
Will there be a second shooter or just you? I would suggest checking the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 AF Sony E, but be careful with third party autofocus during critical moments like the ring exchange.
tl;dr: Buy a used Sony E 35mm f1.8 OSS. It is the safest bet for a beginner on an a6000 because it actually has built-in stabilization. Adding my two cents here because honestly, if youre stressed about the lighting and you dont have a stabilized camera body like the a6500 or a6600, you need every bit of help you can get. Most of those third-party primes like the Sigma ones are amazing, but they dont have Optical Steady Shot (OSS). Since the a6000 is an older body, shooting at night without OSS means you are gonna get a lot of blurry shots unless your shutter speed is cranked way up, which then makes your photos super grainy. I have been very satisfied with the Sony E 35mm f1.8 OSS for years. It works well for portraits and general shots. Its a 52.5mm equivalent on your sensor, so its basically the standard view of the human eye. Not too wide, not too zoomed in. For the ring shot? Just lean in a bit. It is way better to have one reliable native lens that focuses instantly than a cheap zoom that makes everything dark and muddy. Check used sites like MPB or even local listings. You can usually find them for $250 to $300. Use the leftover money to buy an extra battery or a small flash like the Godox TT350S Mini Thinklite TTL Flash Sony. Having a flash you can bounce off a porch ceiling will save your life in a cloudy backyard way more than any lens will. Stay safe and stick to the native glass for your first big gig.
I used the Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN Sony E for a similar backyard shoot and was super satisfied. It works well in low light, hits your price, and honestly no complaints.
