so ive been shooting with my sony a6000 for a few months now using just the kit lens and honestly its not cutting it anymore. i really want to get into street photography because i love walking around downtown chicago on the weekends but everything i take looks kinda blurry or just boring? sorry if this is a super basic question but i have no idea what a prime lens actually does besides not zooming. i just want something that makes my shots look sharper and lets me take photos when its getting darker out because the kit lens is terrible at night.
ive been looking around online and there are way too many options and my head is spinning. heres what im dealing with:
- budget is probably around 300 to 400 bucks max since i dont have a huge savings account right now
- needs to be small because i want to keep my setup light while walking
- honestly just want that blurry background effect i see on instagram
do i go with the 35mm or the 50mm? i keep seeing people argue about it and i honestly cant tell which one is better for someone just starting out who wants to capture people and buildings without getting right in their faces. should i just grab whatever is cheapest or is there one that is better for beginners like me...
Building on the earlier suggestion, have you considered if you prefer a wider field of view or a tighter crop for your shots? Before you commit to a purchase, you should check your zoom lens settings to see if you gravitate toward 35mm or 50mm while shooting. I would suggest looking into:
- Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS for portraits
- Rokinon 35mm f/2.8 FE for compactness Be careful with manual focus lenses since they can be tricky to manage quickly downtown.
Been thinking about your question while out earlier today. If the 35mm feels a bit pricey, you might want to consider the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. It is basically the king of budget street glass for the a6000. It lets in way more light than your kit lens, which is gonna save you when the sun starts setting in Chicago.
- The 30mm focal length is perfect for crop sensors like yours since it gives you a super natural field of view.
- f/1.4 is wide enough to get that creamy background blur you see on social media.
- Be careful with focusing in super dim light, but the sharpness is wild for the price. Honestly, just keep an eye on the used market. You can usually find one of these for way under your 400 dollar limit if you look around.
Honestly, ditching the kit lens is the best move you can make for your a6000. For street photography on a crop sensor, you really want something that feels natural. I have been using the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS for a couple years now and it has never let me down. It is small, super sharp, and that f/1.8 aperture makes a massive difference when the sun goes down. I would definitely pick the 35mm over the 50mm for your downtown Chicago walks. The 50mm gets a bit tight on your camera, making it hard to frame buildings or fit a whole scene in without backing up into traffic. The 35mm gives you that classic look, performs great in low light, and you will totally get that blurry background you see on instagram.
