Best Sony a6700 Lenses for Travel: My Top 10 Picks - A Complete Buying Guide

Best Sony a6700 Lenses for Travel: My Top 10 Picks

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

Guys, it finally happened! Sony finally released the new flagship APS-C camera to their mirrorless lineup, the Sony a6700. After its previous release of the Sony a6600 in 2019, everyone has been anticipating the ultimate lightweight travel hybrid camera, and they delivered!

If you have recently gotten your hands on the Sony a6700 and you are looking to buy the right lenses to go with your new camera, you are in the right place! The list is based solely on my personal experience shooting with Sony mirrorless cameras for more than a decade.

From zoom to prime lenses, here are the 10 best Sony a6700 lenses for travel that can handle whatever situations the world throws at you. Let's start off with a quick summary:

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

๐Ÿ“ธ Quick Summary: The best lenses to buy for Sony a6700

Product
Sony 16-55mm f2.8 lens ๐Ÿ… Editor's Choice
Best All-Around Lens
Sony 16-55mm f2.8 lens
Features
  • Great focal length for general use
  • Produce sharp images
  • Fast aperture
Check PriceRead Our Review
Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 lens ๐Ÿ’ฐ Great Value
Best Value 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
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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
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Sony 10-20 mm f4 G lens
Best Vlogging Lens
Sony 10-20 mm f4 G lens
Features
  • Ultra-wide field of view
  • Compact and light-weight
  • Internal power zoom
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Sony E 11mm F1.8
Best Astro Lens
Sony E 11mm F1.8
Features
  • Ultra-wide field of view
  • Fast aperture
  • Small & Compact
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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
Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3  Lens
Best Value Wildlife Lens
Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens
Features
  • Very Cheap
  • Lightest telephoto lens
  • Great Image Quality
Check PriceRead Our Review

๐Ÿ‘ What Makes for a Good Travel Lens for Sony a6700?

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 in which I might find myself, 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. I'll also provide budget alternatives to help your Sony a6700 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 essential 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

The Sony 16-55mm F2.8 lens vertically on a table.

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Excellent sharpness
  • Fast autofocus
Cons
  • Expensive
  • No stablization
  • Bad Barrel Distortion at 16mm

Sony 16-55mm f2.8 lens: This is by far the best travel lens to buy for the Sony a6700 if you are looking for one lens to rule them all. The Sony 16-55mm lens comes with a constant f2.8 aperture. It is sharp edge-to-edge at all focal lengths and produces creamier bokeh, and yet, it is still in a relatively compact size.

The incredible image quality from this lens will pair extremely well with the new high-resolution sensor that comes with the Sony a6700, which can be quite demanding. Therefore, it is important to pair such an advanced image sensor with a high-quality lens such as this one.

It may not be as compact or as affordable as other lenses like the Sony 16-70mm F4 Zeiss Lens or as cheap as the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 lens, but when it comes to image quality, no other lens can beat the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 lens.

If you are looking for a replacement for your kit lens that will give you the same flexibility, zoom range, and improved image quality, make sure to check out the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 lens.

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

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 LensA Traveler's Review: The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 Lens

๐ŸŒŽ Best Value 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: If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Sony 16-55mm F2.8, this is the next best lens to get. It produces exceptionally sharp images, has internal optical stabilization, and is excellent in low light.

Best of all, it is half the price of the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 lens! Even though the lens may not be as tack sharp as the Sony 16-55mm, it definitely comes close at half the price. If you want a cheaper, all-around travel lens and don't mind the compromises, get the Tamron lens instead of the Sony. 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.

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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 a6700. It comes with all the features you expect from a lens 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, making it great for gimbal use.

The lens may not be as sharp as the other zoom lenses, but it is unlikely that you will see any difference when it comes to videos. Additionally, all the features of the lens will greatly benefit you more than having a slightly sharper lens. Plus, it is very affordable.

All in all, if you are looking for a video lens for your Sony a6700, there is no better deal than this lens. Hit the link below to see the lens's recently discounted price.

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 Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 lens.

For one, this is the only available ultra-wide APS-C lens with a fast aperture of F2.8, making it one of the best lenses for low-light situations such as indoor architectural photography or sunrise/sunset landscape photography.

With a 11-20mm focal range, this lens provides super-wide angles missing in other lenses. The super-wide-angle field of view allows you to capture all the beautiful details of architecture or an expansive landscape in one frame.

Tamron lenses are also known for their sharpness edge-to-edge, which also holds true for this lens. It weighs only 330 grams, comes in a well-built and weather-sealed body, and the autofocus performs exceptionally well, making it one of the best lenses for travel. Click on the link below to check the price.

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

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๐Ÿคณ Best Vlogging Lens

Sony e 10-20mm F4 g lens

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Power-Zoom
  • Ultra-wide field of view
Cons
  • F4 aperture might not be enough for some.

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

Yes, the Tamron lens is excellent and all, but it isn't precisely compact and lightweight like the Sony 10-20mm F4 G lens. It also doesn't come with an internal power zoom feature, which, when combined with the Sony dedicated Bluetooth vlogging grip, the GP-VPT2BT, can be extremely useful as you can zoom in and out electronically right on the grip without having to do it manually.

Plus, the 10-20mm focal length is 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, all the while giving you the flexibility to zoom to 20mm and adapt to whatever situation you might need your camera for. It is the ultimate 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 option available. It is incredibly well-built and compact, making it an excellent lens for travel.

With the 11mm focal length, you will be able to capture the night sky's expansiveness and allow you to use the landscape as a foreground subject, giving your night sky photos the epic scale they need to really put everything in perspective.

The fast F1.8 aperture will also allow you to let in more light, lowering your ISO and ultimately producing 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: I used to recommend the Sony 50mm f1.8, but that lens is as old as time. With more competition from third-party manufacturers like Sigma, the company has really given Sony a run for its money.

The Sigma 56mm f1.4 boasts a tighter focal length and a significantly faster aperture than the Sony equivalent, and it supports autofocus through its electronic connection. The result even surpasses what is mentioned on paper.

It is excellent in low light, produces perfect colors, is extremely sharp from corner to corner, and with its compact size and reasonable price range, the Sigma 56mm f1.4 lens is the best lens you can get for your Sony APS-C camera.

Plus, this lens produces one of the prettiest bokeh effects I have ever seen on an APS-C camera. If you are looking for that kind of blurry background effect, this lens won't disappoint. To see how much it is right now, click the link below.

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

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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 that allows you to be more discreet and shoot street photography while you are traveling, the Sony 35mm f1.8 will give you the most natural experience as it is closer to what your eyes actually see. With an f1.8 aperture, the lens will allow for much better subject separation than others and produce a creamy bokeh.

Also, since the lens is so small and lightweight, it also pairs really well with the small Sony a6700 body and is easy to carry around as a backup lens for when you want to take your camera to places that require you to be more discreet, such as a restaurant or a club at night.

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 want to start shooting wildlife, go bird-watching, or you happen to be going on a safari in Africa and you are looking for a telephoto lens to take close-up shots of animals, I highly recommend you get the new Sony 70-350mm super-telephoto lens, which should cover the telephoto focal range that is missing from all the other lenses I mentioned in this list.

With its extremely compact size (relative to the other telephoto lenses in this range) and its incredible reach of 350mm or a whopping 525mm equivalent on a full-frame format, this lens will allow you to reach your subject without requiring you to be close, which is perfect for wildlife or a safari trip where you are unable to move closer to your subject.

Not to mention, it also comes with optical image stabilization, which is extremely useful for keeping your shot stabilized while at the 350mm range. For the most recent price, make 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

๐Ÿ”Ž Best Value Telephoto Lens

The Tamron 70-300mm lens of a table

Pros
  • Amazing range
  • Very lightweight and compact
  • Affordable
Cons
  • No stabilization
  • Not compatible with teleconverters
  • Slow aperture
  • Can struggle to focus sometimes

Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens: Yes, technically speaking, this is a full-frame lens, but due to its affordability, lightweight nature, and compact size, this Tamron lens serves as a great alternative to the pricier Sony 70-350mm lens I recommended earlier.

Despite being designed for a full-frame camera, Tamron has managed to make the lens even lighter and more affordable than the Sony APS-C lens, which is pretty mind-boggling.

The lens has a flexible focal range of 70-300mm, which is great for most wildlife shots. However, it doesn't come with optical image stabilization like the Sony lens, which is what made the lens so light and compact. But since the Sony a6700 already has an IBIS system, that should be enough to help keep your shots steady.

This Tamron lens is also known for producing sharp images, almost on par with the Sony 70-350mm lens. So, if you like the reach of a super-telephoto lens and do not have the budget for the Sony lens, the Tamron 70-300mm lens is the way to go. For the latest price, you can check with the link below:

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

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Further Reading for Photography

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2 Comments


Gerald M Tamura's profile picutre
Gerald M Tamura

Nice choices but since we are talking about Sony a6700 and it does have a crop factor, the information given would be easier to for buyers if you just give us the crop factor range of each lens since we know that 11-20mm is not the actual range of this lens when it come to APS.


Pete Rojwongsuriya's profile picutre
Nice choices but since we are talking about Sony a6700 and it does have a crop factor, the information given would be easier to for buyers if you just give us the crop factor range of each lens since we know that 11-20mm is not the actual range of this lens when it come to APS.

Thanks for the comment Gerald. I'll definitely add them when I have the time. I was just used to the crop factor, so I didn't add them in the first place. Usually, I just memorized the generic ranges like the 10 - 18mm as 16-28mm-ish FF equivalent, 16-55mm, 24-70mm FF equivalent, and anything out of these ranges, I just time 1.5x. :)


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