Im honestly so lost right now and my trip is in like five days. My brother gave me his old Sony a6000 camera to use for my cousins wedding out in Montana next week but the lens that came with it makes everything look way too close up and I cant fit anything in the frame. I really want to get those big pretty shots of the mountains and the whole group of people standing outside but I literally dont even know what a wide angle lens actually is or what numbers I should be looking for on the box. I tried looking on Amazon but there are so many brands like Tamron and Sigma and some other ones and the prices are like 800 dollars or more which I definitely cannot afford right now after paying for my flight. I really only have about 200 maybe 250 bucks max to spend on this. Sorry if this is a total dummy question but is there anything out there that is cheap but still good for a beginner who has no idea what they are doing? Like what is the best budget wide angle thing I can get that actually fits a Sony camera before I leave on Friday?
Honestly, the whole lens number thing is confusing at first but basically, the lower the number (the mm), the wider the view you get. Since you are on an a6000, you have a crop sensor, so you really need something in the 12mm to 16mm range to get those big mountain shots and group photos without backing up a mile. Here are two solid options that usually stay under 250 bucks:
- Sony E 16mm f/2.8 SEL16F28 is super small and has autofocus. It fits your budget and is very beginner friendly.
- Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS is wider and better for landscapes, but you have to focus it yourself which might be tricky at a wedding. Personally, I think the Sony 16mm is the safest bet. It is fast enough to keep up with people moving around and it wont break the bank. Just grab it soon so it ships in time. Feel free to ask if you need help figuring out the settings once it arrives!
Re: "the whole lens number thing is confusing..." - be careful with cheap manual focus lenses. I tried one at a wedding years ago and missed half the shots because I couldnt focus fast enough. For group photos, you definitely need autofocus. I would suggest hunting for a used Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Sony E. It hits that 250 price point used and handles low light way better than the kit lens for those mountain views.
Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.
Helpful thread 👍
Building on the earlier suggestion, I had a really frustrating experience when I tried to save money on a wide lens for my first big hiking trip. I thought I was being clever by grabbing the cheapest thing available, but it was honestly a massive letdown.
- The one I originally bought had terrible distortion. My cousins at the edge of the frame looked like they were in a funhouse mirror.
- The corners were so blurry that the mountain peaks just looked like a smudge.
- It had this horrible glare that made everyone in the group shots look totally washed out in the sun. Unfortunately, those photos are still a sore spot for me because I can never get those memories back. I eventually learned that its better to find a solid used deal on something reliable rather than buying a bargain bin piece of junk that youll just end up replacing anyway. I wasted so much time trying to fix those shots later and they still look terrible. Just something to keep in mind before you head out for the wedding.
