Which prime lens do you recommend for Sony E-mount cameras?

Question

Which prime lens do you recommend for Sony E-mount cameras? Im getting my new a6400 next week for street photography here in Chicago and I am so stoked!! I read the Sigma 30mm f1.4 is legendary but then people online keep hyping up the Sony 35mm f1.8 for its OSS... my budget is around 400 bucks max and I just cant decide which one to actually pull the trigger on.

DavidCip · Accepted Answer

TL;DR: The Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary gives you better low light, but think about stabilization first. Had a moment to think about your Chicago street setup. Before you drop 400 bucks, what time of day are you mostly shooting? If you are out during golden hour or night wandering past the river, that extra light transmission at f1.4 matters way more than optical steadyshot on a crop sensor. Also worth checking the used market for a Sony E 35mm f1.8 OSS SEL35F18 since people dump them cheap when upgrading to full frame. You can easily find them under $250 used if you look around on Fred Miranda or MPB. What kind of shutter speeds are you usually comfortable handholding at?

Waltontusly · Answer

Congrats on the a6400, awesome choice for Chi-town! Since you are shooting street, I would suggest grabbing the Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary instead of the Sony.

The extra stop of light at f1.4 helps massively when the sun drops behind those Loop skyscrapers.

Sharpness is incredible right out of the box.

Just watch out for camera shake since it lacks OSS, but keep your shutter speed up and you will be fine!

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Which prime lens do you recommend for Sony E-mount cameras?