So I finally pulled the trigger on an a6100 because I wanted to get into photography while traveling but honestly the kit lens is driving me crazy it just looks so mushy whenever the sun goes down even a little bit. I spent like three hours last night looking at best budget prime videos and now Im just more confused than when I started.
Everyone says the Sigma 30mm f1.4 is the king for sharpness but then I see people complaining about the autofocus noise and the lack of stabilization which scares me cuz I have shaky hands. Then theres the Sony 35mm f1.8 which has OSS but it costs more and some people say its dated or whatever. I dont want to buy something and then regret it a week later because it feels clunky or the focus misses.
I only have about $280 left in my gear budget after buying the body and Im heading to Chicago for a weekend trip in two weeks so I need to decide fast. Is the Sigma sharpness really worth losing the stabilization or should I just hunt for a beat up used Sony lens on eBay? I just want something that wont make my night shots look like a blurry mess without spending a fortune...
Saw this earlier but finally had a minute to chime in. Since youre heading to Chicago, you really should consider a wider focal length for those massive buildings and narrow streets. Ive been extremely satisfied with the Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E on my own a6000 series bodies. It is easily one of the best investments Ive made for travel and the image quality is stellar. Regarding your concern about shaky hands, the wider 16mm focal length is actually much more forgiving than a 35mm lens. You can usually get away with slower shutter speeds before blur becomes a real issue. Its very sharp even wide open at f1.4 which is exactly what you need for those Chicago nights. You should be able to find a clean used copy for right around $270 if you check local listings or reputable used gear sites. It works well, feels solid, and the autofocus is silent. Definitely a reliable choice for your trip.
I spent quite a bit of time using the Sony E 35mm f1.8 OSS because I also deal with shaky hands. Unfortunately, it was not as good as expected. While the stabilization works, I had issues with pretty bad purple fringing around streetlights during my own night shoots. It is frustrating to pay that much for what feels like dated glass. I eventually switched to the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 AF Sony E which is much sharper and usually fits that $280 budget. The autofocus is fast, though you lose that stabilization. If you really cant hold the camera still, you might have to just accept the Sonys optical flaws for the sake of the OSS. Its a tough spot to be in when you want clean shots but dont have a massive budget for the high-end stuff.
I went through the same thing last year and ended up picking up the Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E for my a6100. Honestly, I am so satisfied with the low light performance. Since it is such a fast lens, the lack of stabilization doesnt really matter much because you can keep your shutter speed high. It works well for street stuff and I have no complaints about the focus speed either.