Which prime lens should I buy for a Sony a6000?

Question

Ive been shooting on my a6000 for years with the kit lens but Im finally hitting a wall with that slow aperture. I need something faster for a trip to NYC next month since I want to do night street shots and portraits. I know the basics but choosing glass is stressing me out.

Requirements:

Budget under $400

Fast f/1.8 or better

Small enough for a jacket pocket

Reliable autofocus

Im torn between the Sigma 30mm f1.4 and the Sony 35mm f1.8. Is the OSS on the Sony actually worth it on this older body or should I just go for the Sigma sharpness...

Danieltib · Accepted Answer

> Is the OSS on the Sony actually worth it on this older body or should I just go for the Sigma sharpness... Just catching up on this thread and honestly, Ive been in your exact shoes. Over the years, Ive shot thousands of frames with the a6000 and the lack of in-body stabilization is definitely something you have to plan around. In my experience, the debate between Optical SteadyShot (OSS) and a wider aperture like f/1.4 usually comes down to what you are shooting. When I was lugging my gear through dimly lit alleys, I realized that OSS only helps with your own hand tremors, not the motion blur of people walking by. If you're doing street photography in NYC, you want that fast shutter speed anyway. I eventually went with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary because that extra light from f/1.4 let me keep my ISO lower than the Sony 35mm ever could. It is noticeably sharper, tho it lacks that stabilization. If youre really worried about the budget, you might want to look at the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 AF Sony E. Its a slightly wider field of view which is great for those narrow Manhattan streets and usually sits well under $300. I found the autofocus surprisingly snappy on older Sony bodies. Just remember that without OSS, you gotta keep that shutter speed at 1/60 or faster to stay safe. Going with a cheaper third-party lens basically leaves you extra cash for a couple extra batteries... which is always a win imo.

LanceCrern · Answer

Hey! Just saw this and had to jump in because I went through this exact same panic before my first big solo trip a few years back! I was so worried about ruining my photos with blurry shots because my hands are basically shaky as heck lol. I hate the idea of coming home from a trip with a memory card full of out-of-focus junk... it's like my biggest fear when traveling. I ended up trying both of those and here is what I found from a safety-first perspective:Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS SEL35F18: This is the winner for me! That OSS is a total lifesaver on the a6000 since the body doesnt have stabilization. I could shoot at much slower shutter speeds at night in the city without everything looking like a smudged mess. Plus it is tiny and fits in my coat!Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: The image quality is actually insane for the price, seriously amazing. But it is definitely bigger and felt a bit more front-heavy. Without the stabilization, I found myself stressing out way more about my settings being perfect.Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS SEL50F18: If you want those professional looking portraits, this one is fantastic and very safe because of the optical stabilization. Honestly, for a trip to NYC where you are walking a lot, I would go with the Sony 35mm. It is just so reliable and the autofocus is snappy as anything! You wont have to worry about missing the shot when things are moving fast around you. Have the best time, those night lights in Times Square are gonna look incredible!

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Which prime lens should I buy for a Sony a6000?