The Ultimate Guide to Travel Lenses for the Sony a6000: My Top 8

📸 Quick Summary: The best lenses for Sony a6000

Image	Product	Features
	💰 Great Value Best All-Around Lens Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 lens	Features Great focal length for general use Affordable Fast aperture	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Video Lens Sony 18-105 mm f4 lens	Features Internal zoom Affordable Optical Image Stabilization	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Landscape/Architecture Lens Tamron 11-20 mm f2.8 lens	Features Ultra-wide field of view Compact and lightweight Fast Aperture	Check PriceLearn More
	🏅 Editor's Choice Best Vlogging Lens Sony 10-18 mm f4 lens	Features Ultra-wide field of view Compact and light-weight Optical-Stabilization	Check PriceRead Our Review
	Best Astro Lens Sony E 11mm F1.8	Features Ultra-wide field of view Fast aperture Small & Compact	Check PriceLearn More
	🏅 Editor's Choice Best Portrait Lens Sigma 56mm f1.4	Features Beautiful bokeh Light-weight and compact Great image quality	Check PriceRead Our Review
	Best Street Lens Sony 35mm f1.8	Features Affordable Light-weight and compact Nice Bokeh	Check PriceLearn More
	🏅 Editor's Choice Best Wildlife Lens Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 lens	Features Amazing super-telephoto range Relatively compact Optical image stabilization	Check PriceRead Our Review

👍 What Makes for a Good Travel Lens for Sony a6000?

For me, what makes a good travel lens is the lens that strikes the perfect balance between high-quality glass, weight, and features that will help me take great photos in any situation I might find myself in, without hindering my ability to travel around effectively.

I'll be including lenses for different travel situations and shooting styles that reflect the type of traveler you are, like street photography, wildlife, and general purpose. I'll also provide budget alternatives that will help your Sony a6000 reach its full potential.

Of course, feel free to mix and match and see which travel lenses fit your needs the most. Let's begin with the most important travel lens of all, the best all-around general-purpose lens that every travel photographer should have in their kit:

🌎 Best All-Around Travel Lens

Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 lens: This lens is, hands down, the best all-around travel lens you can get for your Sony a6000. It comes with OIS (optical image stabilization), which helps compensate for the fact that the Sony a6000 doesn't come with IBIS (in-body image stabilization).

With OIS, this Tamron lens should be able to help smooth out undesirable jitters and shakes from your photos when you shoot handheld, and in turn, it will allow you to keep your photos in focus.

The focal range of 17-70mm is also very flexible for travel, as you can zoom in and out without having to move. The 17mm focal length is wide enough for general landscape photography, while the 70mm focal length is great for portraiture.

With its fast aperture of F2.8, the lens is also excellent in low light, allowing you to create stunning bokeh images at 70mm. Not to mention the fact that it is cheaper than the alternative, the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 lens, which doesn't even come with IBIS!

If you're looking for an all-around travel lens for your Sony a6000, you can't go wrong with the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 lens. As for the price, you can check it out with the link below:

🎥 Best Video Lens

Sony 18-105mm f4 lens: This may be an old lens, but it is still one of the best video lenses to buy for your Sony a6000. It comes with all the features you need for videos, like OIS, a fixed aperture of F4, and best of all, it has an internal zoom barrel that doesn't extend out when you zoom in or out, which makes it great for gimbal use.

With such a flexible focal range of 18-105mm, it should cover 80% of the applications for which you might want to use the lens. The fixed F4 aperture will also allow you to retain the aperture value when you zoom in and out, which is extremely essential to keep your footage consistent.

All in all, if you are looking for a video lens for your Sony a6000, there is no better deal than this lens. Click the link below to see the recently discounted price for the lens:

🏔️ Best Landscape & Architecture Lens

Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 lens: For the best landscape/architecture lens for your Sony a6000 camera, you just can't beat the newly released Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 lens.

For one, this is the only available ultra-wide APS-C lens that has a fast aperture of F2.8, making it the best choice out of all the other ultra-wide lenses.

With the focal range of 11-20mm, you will be able to capture a super-wide-angle field of view, such as an expansive landscape or a large piece of architecture, in all its glory in one frame.

Unfortunately, the lens doesn't come with OIS, and since the Sony a6000 lacks IBIS, you will have to rely on your hand steadiness to stabilize your camera.

That said, it isn't as bad as it sounds, especially since jitters and shakes are not as prevalent at wide focal lengths, say 17-70mm, so you should be able to get away with it. You can check the most recent price with the link below:

🤳 Best Vlogging Lens

Sony 10-18 mm f4 lens: The Sony a6000 may not be the best camera to vlog with since it doesn't come with a flip-up or tiltable screen, but it's not impossible.

With the right lens, such as the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens, you should be able to vlog with the Sony a6000 just fine. The lens comes with OIS, which should help smooth the walk-and-talk-style footage.

The 10mm focal length of this lens is also great for vlogging, as it is wide enough for you to hold your camera out and capture both yourself and the environment in one frame. It is the perfect vlogging lens that you are looking for, and you can check the recent price with the link below:

Looking for a review of the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens?A Traveler's Review: The Sony 10-18mm F4 Lens

⭐️ Best Astrophotography Lens

Sony E 11mm F1.8: For the best astrophotography lens, the new Sony E 11mm F1.8 is the best lens you can buy out there. It is extremely well-built, compact, which makes it a great lens to travel with.

With the 11mm focal length, you will be able to capture the expansiveness of the night sky as well as allowing you to use the landscape as a foreground subject to give your night sky photo an epic scale.

The fast F1.8 aperture will also allow you to let in more light, which in turn lowers your ISO and ultimately produces sharper images. If you are looking for a great astrophotography lens that isn't too expensive, you can't go wrong with the Sony E 11mm F1.8 lens. Hit the link below to see the recent price.

😃 Best Portrait Lens

Sigma 56mm f1.4: With all the affordable, high-quality lenses Sigma has released in the past couple of years for APS-C cameras, Sony is no longer the only game in town, and they have really given Sony a run for its money.

The Sigma 56mm f1.4 features a 56mm focal length, enabling you to bring the background closer, making it ideal for portraits. Additionally, it boasts an aperture of F1.4, making it excellent in low-light conditions and enabling you to create some of the most stunning bokeh effects ever witnessed on a Sony APS-C camera.

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with optical image stabilization, but since the aperture is so fast, you should be able to dial up the shutter speed enough to compensate for the camera shake due to the lack of IBIS on the Sony a6000 camera. To see how much it is right now, hit the link below:

I have written a comprehensive review of this lens so be sure to check it out:The Sigma 56mm F1.4 is the Best Street/Portrait Travel Lens For Sony APS-C Cameras

🚶‍♂️ Best Street Photography Lens

Sony 35mm f1.8: If you want a compact lens for street photography, the Sony 35mm f1.8 is a great option for you. The 35mm focal length, which is equivalent to 52mm on a full-frame camera, falls in the nifty-fifty category, which is considered to be the most useful focal length for photography.

It has a fast aperture of F1.8, making it great at subject separation, shooting in low light, and producing one hell of a stunning bokeh effect without zooming in too much, like the Sigma 56mm F1.4 lens.

Also, it comes with OIS, which will help eliminate camera shake when taking photos and smooth out camera shakes in your footage, especially for cameras without IBIS, like the Sony a6000.

It is also very affordable, and if you are looking for another lens to go with your all-around zoom lens, the Sony 35mm F1.8 should be a great addition to your camera gear arsenal. For the most recent price, you can check with the link below:

🔎 Best Telephoto Lens

Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Super-Telephoto Lens: If you are looking for a telephoto lens to take close-up shots of animals, there is no better lens to get than the Sony 70-350mm super-telephoto lens.

It might be a little front-heavy when mounted on the Sony a6000 camera, but with its incredible reach of 350mm or a whopping 525mm equivalent on a full-frame format, there are no other lenses out there that can zoom this far without being the size of a small medieval cannon.

Not to mention, it also comes with optical image stabilization, which is extremely useful at keeping your shot stabilized while at the 350mm range. If you are planning to go on a safari trip or bird-watching with your Sony a6000, this is the lens you should buy. For the most recent price, be sure to hit the link below and check on Amazon:

Here is a complete review of the Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Lens:A Traveler's Review: The Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Lens

Want to take your photography game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and photography gear:

Lightroom Presets: If you are looking for a quick way to make your travel photos look like mine, you should check out my newly released Lightroom Preset Collections.

Camera: Sony a7R V, the highest resolution full-frame camera out there, is my go-to camera when I travel. All of my recent photos and videos are all from this beast.

All-Around Travel Lens: Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens is the lens I mounted on my camera the most. The lens covers most of the ranges I need for travel from wide to telephoto. If I have to take only one lens with me on my travel, it would be this lens.

Ultra-Wide Lens: Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lnes: An ultra-wide lens I often use to shoot expansive landscapes and capture massive architecture I stumble upon while traveling.

Telephoto Lens: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II lens is one of the most versatile lenses to have. It is great for picking out details in landscapes and capturing wildlife when combined with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter.

Portrait Lens: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens is the most compact and lightweight 85mm F1.4 lens out there. It's sharp and produces stunning bokeh for subject separation, perfect for portraits and street photography.

Drone: DJI Mavic Mini 2, a perfect drone for those who travel light. It weighs less than 250g and smaller than an iPhone when folded and can capture 4K video as well as 12 megapixels RAW photos. More than enough for its size.

Bag: Langly Alpha Globetrotter is a camera bag I use to carry all these lenses as well as other essentials when I'm traveling.

Further Reading for Photography

Looking for more photography articles like this? Here is a collection of articles you might like:

• For a complete list of travel lenses to buy for Sony APS-C cameras, check out: The Best Travel Lenses for Sony APS-C Cameras
• Recently bought the Sony ZV-E10 camera to start travel vlogging and looking for the right lens to do so? Check out: 8 Best Sony ZV-E10 Lenses for Travel
• Recently bought the new Sony a6700 and looking for travel lenses to pair it with? Look no further. Check out: 10 Best Sony a6700 Lenses for Travel to Buy.
• Looking for great content creation lens for the Sony FX30? Check out: 9 BEST Sony FX30 Lenses to Buy.
• Just bought the Sony a6600 camera and looking for a new lens to buy? Check out: 10 Best Sony a6600 Lenses for Travel
• Old but gold, the Sony a6500 has been my trusty travel camera for many years, and when you pair it with a good lens, you have one hell of a highly capable and lightweight travel camera machine. Here are the 10 Best Sony a6500 Lenses for Travel.
• One of the most popular travel cameras, the Sony a6400, has proven to be both capable and highly adaptable. In order to utilize it to its full potential, you are going to need a good lens for it. For the best lenses to buy, here are the 8 Best Sony a6400 Lenses for Travel.
• Own the Sony a6300 and want to breathe new life into your camera? Buying a new lens will allow you to unlock the camera's full potential that you never knew it had. Here are the 8 Best Sony a6300 Lenses for Travel.
• For APS-C camera owners out there, check out: What's In My Camera Bag? - A Gear Guide to the Sony APS-C Cameras.
• Bought a new camera and not sure what camera accessories to buy? Check out: 14 BEST Sony Camera Accessories You Should Buy.
• Want to start a YouTube channel and looking to buy new cameras for travel vlogging? Check out: 8 Best Cameras For Travel Vlogging to Buy.
• If you want to carry just one lens when you travel, here is why the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 is the best travel lens to get for your Sony a6600 or a6500.
• This is the one lens I never knew I needed, but now that I have it, I can't travel without it! A Traveler's Review: The Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Lens.
• An ultra-wide lens is perfect for travel, and there is no better lens than the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens. Here is why: Traveler's Review: Sony 10-18mm F4 lens.
• Full-frame or APS-C Cameras? Here’s my take on which camera format to pick for travel: 5 Reasons Why I'm Sticking With a Sony APS-C Camera
• Looking for a compact and lightweight travel telephoto lens for wildlife and landscape? You are going to love this lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens.
• The king of travel lenses has arrived. The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is hands down the best travel all-purpose zoom lens I have ever owned. Here's why: A Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens.
• Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS lens is, hands down, the best telephoto lens to get for your Sony cameras, but with an extremely high price tag. Here is a complete traveler's review of the lens: A Traveler's Review: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS Lens.
• Looking for a lightweight and affordable landscape/architecture travel lens that is also extremely capable? Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens.
• Looking for the best travel portrait lens to buy for your next trip? You can't beat the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens.
• Picking a camera body is one thing, but picking the lenses is a whole different game. Here is the ultimate guide to the best travel lenses for the Sony a6500.
• Looking for the best street and travel photography lens? Here is why the Sigma 56mm F1.4 is The Best Travel Photography Lens For Sony APS-C.
• Want to learn how I was able to take so many good pictures of myself while I travel solo? Check out: How To Take Great Pictures of Yourself.
• For more photography resources like this, visit my Photography page.