Just sharing my experience: I went through this exact same dilemma when I first got my a6000 a few years back. Honestly, the 16-50mm kit lens is fine for outdoors, but the second I tried to shoot a friend's birthday at a dim restaurant, I realized I needed something faster.

I actually skipped the Sony 50mm because, on an APS-C sensor like the a6000, it felt way too tight for street photography—I was always backing into walls trying to fit things in the frame! Instead, I spent months glued to the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Sony E. It really is the 'goldilocks' focal length. Since the a6000 doesn't have stabilization, I was worried about blur, but at f/1.4, your shutter speed stays high enough that it's rarely an issue for photos.

If you want to save even more cash, I also experimented with the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Lens for Sony E. It's dirt cheap (usually under $80) and great for learning the fundamentals, though manual focus can be a pain for fast-moving street shots. Another sleeper hit I found later was the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Sony E for wider environmental shots, though it might push your budget.

Anyway, back to your question—don't sweat the OSS too much if you're getting a fast prime. The wider aperture is a total game changer for that bokeh you're after! Good luck with the new hobby!

Hi there! I totally get that frustration with the kit lens. I started with the same setup, and honestly, the low-light performance on the kit lens was pretty disappointing for me. For your budget, I'd definitely recommend looking at the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Sony E.

I bought mine used for about $230, and it completely changed my photography. It's much more versatile than a 50mm for daily carry. But, I should mention that the lack of OSS on the a6000 was a bit of a struggle for me at first with video. On the other hand, the Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS is a bokeh beast and has stabilization for around $250-299 new, but it's often too "tight" for street shots. If you want the best all-around value, the Sigma is the way to go. Anyway, back to your question—don't worry too much about OSS for stills if you keep your shutter speed up! Good luck!

Re: "Just sharing my experience: I went through this..."

• I'm gonna be the voice of caution here. While everyone loves the Sigma for its sharpness, you gotta be careful because the a6000 lacks in-body stabilization. If you pick a lens without Optical SteadyShot, like that Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, you'll likely struggle with motion blur in the low-light situations you mentioned. I would suggest looking at the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS as a more beginner-friendly alternative. It handles the shake much better for street photography than the non-OSS options. Also, keep an eye out when looking at brands like Samyang or Viltrox. They're great for the price, but their autofocus performance on older bodies can be a bit inconsistent compared to native Sony glass. Definitely make sure to check some technical reviews on AF speed before pulling the trigger!

Honestly, I've spent years hunting for deals on the used market because why pay full price? If you're really trying to stay under $300, you should definitely check out the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 AF E-mount. People sometimes sleep on Viltrox but their primes are surprisingly solid for the price, especially if you snag a used one for under $200. It gives you that fast aperture for bokeh without the Sigma price tag. I also spent a lot of time with the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN Art back in the day. It's an older lens and lacks that super fast aperture, but you can usually find it for peanuts on eBay. It's tiny enough to make the a6000 actually pocketable which is a huge plus for street photography. Regarding the OSS thing... tbh if you keep your shutter speed up, you wont even notice it's missing. Just practice your 'human tripod' stance and you'll be fine. It's a much cheaper way to get sharp shots than paying a premium for stabilized glass.

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Just sharing my experience: I went through this exact same thing with my a6000 a few years back. Honestly, I initially made the mistake of ignoring the crop factor and went straight for a cheap nifty fifty. While the Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS mentioned earlier is a bokeh beast for portraits, I quickly found it way too tight for street photography or shooting in small rooms. It felt like I was constantly backing into walls to fit my friends in the frame!

One thing to watch out for is buying old manual glass without research; I wasted money on a cheap adapter and an old lens that lacked the contrast I wanted. Eventually, I realized that for a daily carry on an APS-C sensor, something around 20mm to 30mm is the sweet spot. Also, don't sweat the lack of OSS too much if you're shooting at fast apertures like f/1.4 or f/2.8—your shutter speed will usually be high enough to avoid blur anyway. Good luck with teh new setup!

Just saw this and wanted to chime in. If youre looking to stay well under that 300 dollar limit, you should check out the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 AF Sony E. Its an autofocus pancake lens that basically turns the a6000 into a point-and-shoot you can actually fit in a jacket pocket. The focal length is kinda the sweet spot for a daily carry since it works for street stuff but isnt too wide for a quick portrait. I wouldnt worry too much about the lack of OSS on shorter lenses like this. As long as youre not shooting at super slow shutter speeds, your shots will come out crisp. Another sleeper hit is the older Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN Art. You can find those used for dirt cheap, usually under 150 bucks. They arent as fast as the f/1.4 primes, but they are way sharper than the kit lens and great for learning the ropes without emptying your wallet. Hope you find something that works for you.

Helpful thread 👍

Same boat, watching this