Top Picks: Sony a6400 Travel Lenses I Love - A Complete Buying Guide

Top Picks: Sony a6400 Travel Lenses I Love

A Complete Buying Guide
A photo of Pete R.
By Pete R.,
Updated on

Recently bought the Sony a6400 camera and looking for a new lens to buy for your next travel? Look no further! The Sony a6400 camera is one of the best value travel cameras you can buy at the moment.

It has a lightweight and compact body, comes with all the advanced features like fast and accurate autofocus, improved color science just like its bigger brother, the Sony a6600, and best of all, it has access to more than 200 lens selections from various brands that you can choose from.

The big question is, which one of these Sony lenses is great, and which lens should you buy to unlock the full capability of the Sony a6400? Well, I have the answer for you right here.

Within this article, I will take you through some of the best lenses for your Sony a6400, explaining why they are great, and helping you decide which one is the right lens you should buy. The list is based solely on my personal experience shooting with Sony mirrorless cameras for more than a decade.

Without further ado, let's take a look at all the great lenses you can buy for the Sony a6400 below.

The Best Travel Lenses For Sony APS-C CamerasThe Best Travel Lenses For Sony APS-C Cameras

๐Ÿ“ธ Quick Summary: The best lenses for the Sony a6400

Product
Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 lens ๐Ÿ’ฐ 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
Sony 18-105 mm f4 lens
Best Video Lens
Sony 18-105 mm f4 lens
Features
  • Internal zoom
  • Affordable
  • Optical Image Stabilization
Check PriceLearn More
Tamron 11-20 mm f2.8 lens
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
Sony 10-18 mm f4 lens ๐Ÿ… 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
Sony E 11mm F1.8
Best Astro Lens
Sony E 11mm F1.8
Features
  • Ultra-wide field of view
  • Fast aperture
  • Small & Compact
Check PriceLearn More
Sigma 56mm f1.4 ๐Ÿ… Editor's Choice
Best Portrait Lens
Sigma 56mm f1.4
Features
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Light-weight and compact
  • Great image quality
Check PriceRead Our Review
Sony 35mm f1.8
Best Street Lens
Sony 35mm f1.8
Features
  • Affordable
  • Light-weight and compact
  • Nice Bokeh
Check PriceLearn More
Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Super telephoto lens ๐Ÿ… 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

๐Ÿ‘ What Makes for a Good Travel Lens for Sony a6400?

A traveler with a camera

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 effectively.

I'll be including lenses for different travel situations and shooting styles that reflect the type of traveler you are, such as street photography, wildlife, and general purpose. Additionally, I'll provide budget alternatives that will help your Sony a6400 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.

๐ŸŒŽ Best All-Around Travel Lens

Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 lens for Sony APS-C Mirrorless Camera

Pros
  • Great range
  • Fixed and fast aperture
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Not the most compact and light lens
  • Not the sharpest

Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 lens: This lens is, hands down, the best all-around travel lens you can get for your Sony a6400. It comes with OIS (optical image stabilization), which helps compensate for the fact that the Sony a6400 doesn't come with IBIS (in-body image stabilization).

With OIS, this Tamron lens should be able to help smooth out jitters and shakes from your photos when you shoot handheld, and in turn, will produce tack-sharp images.

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 the fast aperture of f/2.8, the lens is also excellent in low light, and you can create some stunning bokeh images at 70mm. Not to mention the fact that it is cheaper than the alternative, the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 lens, which doesn't even come with IBIS!

If you are looking for an all-around travel lens for your Sony a6400, you can't go wrong with the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 lens. For the price, you can check with the link below.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you are looking for one affordable APS-C lens to rule them all.

Check Price

๐ŸŽฅ Best Video Lens

Sony 18-105 mm f4 lens best lens for videography

Pros
  • Great range
  • Power-zoom
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Quite old
  • Bulky and heavy
  • Not the sharpest
  • F4 aperture might not be enough for some

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 a6400. It comes with all the features you need for videos, such as optical image stabilization, a flexible range, 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 the built-in OIS, you no longer need to worry about shaky footage. And even though the aperture is only at F4, having it fixed at F4 allows you to zoom in and out using its power zoom feature without worrying about variable aperture, which is something you need for videos. Plus, it is very affordable.

All in all, if you are looking for a video lens for your Sony a6400, there is no better deal than this lens. Hit the link below to see the recently discounted price for the lens.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you are looking for a video lens to rule them all.

Check Price

๐Ÿ”๏ธ Best Landscape & Architecture Lens

Tamron 11-20 mm f2.8 lens for Sony APS-C Camera

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Fast aperture
  • Ultra-wide field of view
Cons
  • Not the sharpest
  • Not the fastest autofocus

Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 lens: For the best landscape/architecture lens for your Sony APS-C 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 f/2.8, making it the best choice out of all the other ultra-wide lenses.

With a 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 a6400 lacks IBIS, you will have to rely on your hand steadiness to stabilize your camera, which isn't as bad as it sounds. Especially since jitters and shakes are not as prevalent at wide focal lengths, such as 17-70mm, you should be able to get away with it. Be sure to click the link below to check out the current price of the lens.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you enjoy taking photos of landscapes and architecture.

Check Price

๐Ÿคณ Best Vlogging Lens

A person holding the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Optical stabilization
  • Ultra-wide field of view
Cons
  • Not the sharpest
  • F4 aperture might not be enough for some.

Sony 10-18mm f4 lens: Now, if you are looking for a great lens to vlog with, I highly recommend getting the Sony 10-18mm f4 lens over the Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 lens, as I previously recommended.

Yes, the Tamron lens is great and all, but it lacks optical image stabilization, something the Sony 10-18mm F4 lens has, which is essential for vlogging. Since you will often film yourself walking and talking at the same time, without OIS, your vlog footage will be unusable.

Plus, 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 you are looking for, and you can check the recent price with the link below.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you are looking for a lens to vlog with.

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: The Sony 10-18mm F4 LensA Traveler's Review: The Sony 10-18mm F4 Lens

โญ๏ธ Best Astrophotography Lens

Sony E 11mm F1.8  best astrophotography lens for Sony APS-C Camera

Pros
  • Small & Compact
  • Fast aperture
  • Ultra-wide field of view
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Lacks manual controls
  • Distortions

Sony E 11mm F1.8: For the best astrophotography lens, the new Sony E 11mm F1.8 is the best astrophotography 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 allow you to use the landscape as a foreground subject, giving 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.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you love astrophotography and want to take expansive photos of stars.

Check Price

๐Ÿ˜ƒ Best Portrait Lens

Sigma 56mm F1.4 best portrait lens for Sony APS-C Camera

Pros
  • Small & Compact
  • Beautiful Bokeh
  • Great image quality
Cons
  • No stabilization
  • Lack manual controls

Sigma 56mm f1.4: With all the affordable, high-quality lenses Sigma has released in the past couple of years for Sony 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 has a 56mm focal length, which allows you to bring the background closer, making it great for portraits. It also has an aperture of f1.4, which makes it great in low light and allows you to create some of the most stunning bokeh effects you will ever see on a Sony APS-C camera.

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with optical image stabilization. However, 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 Sony a6400's lack of IBIS. To see how much it is right now, click on the link below.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you enjoy taking portraits of people.

Check Price

The Sigma 56mm F1.4 is the Best Street/Portrait Travel Lens For Sony APS-C CamerasThe Sigma 56mm F1.4 is the Best Street/Portrait Travel Lens For Sony APS-C Cameras

๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ Best Street Photography Lens

Sony 35mm f1.8 best street photography lens for Sony APS-C Camera

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Nice Bokeh
  • Affordable
Cons
  • No stabilization
  • No weather protection
  • Could be sharper

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 into the nifty-fifty category, which is considered 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 helps eliminate camera shake when taking photos and smooths out camera shakes in your footage, especially for cameras without IBIS, such as the Sony a6400.

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:

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you love street photography and environmental portraiture.

Check Price

๐Ÿ”Ž Best Telephoto Lens

The Sony 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 lens exterior vertically from the side.

Pros
  • Amazing range
  • Relatively compact
  • Optical stabilization
Cons
  • Variable slow aperture
  • Not compatible with teleconverters

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

With its relatively compact size and its incredible reach of 350mm or a whopping 525mm equivalent on a full-frame format, this lens will allow you to shoot all kinds of subjects up close when you are unable to do so yourself, such as in a zoo or on a safari.

Not to mention, it also comes with optical image stabilization, which is extremely useful at keeping your shot stabilized while at the 350mm range. For the most recent price, be sure to click the link below and check on Amazon.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you love wildlife photography and looking for a lightweight solution.

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: The Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 LensA Traveler's Review: The Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 Lens

Further Reading for Photography

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

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Categories ResourcesPhotography

Leave a Comment

Please do not use your business name to comment.