For those of you who are just beginning your journey with the Sony full-frame mirrorless camera system and are eager to invest in a new budget-friendly lens that not only offers affordability but also capabilities that will help propel your photography game to the next level, you are in the right place.
With all the third-party lenses available on the Sony system, such as Tamron, Sigma, and even Sony's own budget line-up, it can be pretty overwhelming when it comes to picking the right lens.
Based solely on my personal experience shooting and traveling with Sony mirrorless cameras for more than a decade, I have decided to compile a complete list of the best Sony budget lenses that you can buy for your cameras, all under 1,200 USD (ish). Without further ado, here are the 10 best Sony budget lenses to buy:
- 📸 Quick Summary: The best Sony budget lenses to buy
- 👍 What Makes for a Good Budget Lens for Sony Cameras?
- 🌎 The Best Value All-Purpose Lens
- 🌎 The Best Budget All-Purpose Lens
- 🏔️ The Best Budget Landscape/Architecture Lens
- 🎥 The Best Video/Vlogging Lens
- 🚶♂️ Best Budget Street Photography Lens
- 😃 Best Budget Portrait Lens
- ⭐️ Best Budget Astrophotography Lens
- 🔎 The Best Value Telephoto Lens
- 🐯 The Best Budget Wildlife Lens
- 🦅 The Best Budget Bird Photography Lens
- Further Reading for Photography
📸 Quick Summary: The best Sony budget lenses to buy
👍 What Makes for a Good Budget Lens for Sony Cameras?
For me, what makes a good budget zoom lens is the perfect balance between delivering high-quality optics and affordability while incorporating other crucial factors like size, weight, and an array of valuable features. These elements collectively contribute to the hallmark of an ideal budget-friendly lens.
Since I specialize in travel photography, 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, priced at around 1,000 USD or less.
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 budget all-around general-purpose lens that every travel photographer should have in their kit.
🌎 The Best Value All-Purpose Lens
- Versatile range
- Affordable
- Fast aperture
- Lighter than its precessor
- A little soft wide open
- Some reported dust issue
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art II: If you are looking for an all-purpose zoom lens with a range of 24-70mm for your Sony cameras but the Sony GM lens is a little out of your budget range, the next best option is the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art II lens, the second version of Sigma's popular Mark 1.
This lens covers the most versatile range of 24-70mm, and it comes with a fast aperture of F2.8, an excellent optical performance that definitely gives the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens a run for its money, and it has a small and lightweight form-factor, weighing only 735 kg, something the previous version lacks.
That said, it is also slightly more expensive than the previous version, retailing at 1,200 USD, but you will get your money's worth if you prefer carrying a more compact and lightweight lens. Although the lens is slightly soft wide open compared to the more expensive Sony 24-70 F2.8 GM II, you will be saving over 1,000 USD which you can use to get another lens, and so if you are looking for the best value all-purpose lens, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN lens is the way to go.
To sum it up, this is the best value lens to get if you are looking for one lens to rule them all.
🌎 The Best Budget All-Purpose Lens
- Extremely lightweight
- Very affordable
- Fast aperture
- Not the sharpest
- 28mm might not be wide enough for some
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Lens: Now, if you are not a fan of heavy lenses (and trust me, I know how you feel as I travel with big lenses all the time), one of the lightest all-purpose zoom lenses with a fast aperture you can get is the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN lens.
This is the smallest and lightest 28-70mm F2.8 lens you can get for Sony cameras, with the lens weight coming in at only 471 grams (1.04 lbs), which is very impressive for such a versatile range.
The quality is almost as good as the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN lens, but it comes in a much smaller and lighter form factor, making it great for those who are looking to travel light and do not mind the absence of the 24mm wide focal length.
If you are weight-watching and looking for the lightest all-purpose zoom lens you can get for Sony cameras, the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN lens is the one for you.
To sum it up, this is the most lightweight all-purpose lens to get if you are looking for one lens to rule them all.
🏔️ The Best Budget Landscape & Architecture Lens
- Light & Compact
- Affordable
- Fast Aperture
- Not the fastest autofocus
- Distortion
- Doesn't zoom to 35mm
Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens: For those of you who are looking for an excellent yet affordable architecture/landscape wide-angle lens for your travels, I highly recommend taking a look at the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN lens.
The Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN lens stands out as one of the best budget options for wide-angle lenses due to its more budget-friendly price point, fast aperture of F2.8, and extremely light and compact form factor. It is probably the most lightweight wide-angle zoom lens out there for Sony, making it perfect for travel.
Unlike the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 lens that I used to recommend, the Sigma lens goes all the way to 16mm, making it great for many travel applications. The lens doesn't go as tight as the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens, but I am happy to sacrifice the tight focal range for a more compact and lightweight lens.
Best of all, the price of this lens is more than half that of the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens, making it one of the best budget wide-angle lenses you can get. With such a lovely price point, this Tamron lens even made a Sony avid fan like myself think twice about buying the 2000+ USD GM lens over the 850~ USD Sigma lens. If you are looking for an affordable landscape/architecture lens for your Sony camera, this lens is a great option.
To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get if you enjoy taking photos of landscapes and architecture.
🎥 The Best Video/Vlogging Lens
- Light & Compact
- Power-Zoom
- Quite Sharp
- F4 Aperture might be too slow for some
Sony PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens: If you are primarily a video shooter and you are looking for a budget zoom lens that is versatile and wide enough to vlog with, the Sony PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens is definitely worth your consideration.
The Sony PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens is a new series of power zoom lenses that allow you to electronically control your zoom, enabling you to capture smooth footage while zooming in and out. This is a valuable feature for video shooters.
The lens also has an internal zoom barrel that does not extend or collapse while zooming, allowing you to utilize the zoom feature on a gimbal without rebalancing it every time you zoom.
With the power zoom feature and its versatile focal range, you can perform some really cool video tricks with it as well, such as the cinematic dolly zoom technique that is often used in Hollywood films by famous directors like Alfred Hitchcock, etc.
With such a lightweight form factor, this lens is also great for gimbal use as it is light enough for most gimbals, and the internal zoom allows you to zoom in and out without messing up the gimbal balance. There is simply no better video lens for your Sony camera than this one.
To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get for video usage with its power-zoom feature and compactness.
🚶♂️ Best Budget Street Photography Lens
- Versatile focal range
- Fast fixed aperture
- Affordable
- Not the fastest autofocus
- Some distortion
Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens: For the best budget lens for street photography, I have to give it to the Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 lens. The lens has a unique focal range of 20-40mm, which covers the classic 35mm length while allowing you to be more flexible and react to the fast-changing situations of street photography.
With its compact size, lightweight, and discreet body, you should be able to blend in with the crowd and take awesome street photos without sacrificing flexibility. Best of all, the lens is very affordable at the retail price of 680 USD. Given the flexibility you will get with this lens, you are definitely getting your money's worth here.
The lens also comes with an F2.8 aperture, which should be fast enough for the run-and-gun style of shooting that comes with street photography. With such a great price point, incredible flexibility, and the discreetness of its design, the Tamron 20-40mm lens is the best value street photography lens to get for your Sony full-frame camera.
To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get if you love street photography and environmental portraiture.
😃 Best Budget Portrait Lens
- Light & Compact
- Beautiful Bokeh
- Affordable
- Not the best build quality
- Strong Vignetting
Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens: If you are looking for a travel portrait lens that is compact, lightweight, and capable of producing stunning bokeh, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 is also an excellent option for you.
The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens weighs only 371 grams, making it perfect for the compact bodies of most Sony cameras. Additionally, it retails for around 550 USD, one-third the price of the Sony 85mm F1.4 GM lens.
It can also produce sharp images, as you can expect from Sony's native lenses. And even though the aperture is one stop less than the Sony 85mm F1.4 GM lens, the depth of field produced with this lens is still stunning. It lets you capture a person in tack-sharp detail and throw the rest of the background out, creating one of the most satisfying subject separations ever.
For such a compact size and an affordable price point, it is hard to beat the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens when it comes to the price-to-quality ratio. If you want to save some money, I highly recommend you go for the Sony 85mm F1.8 lens and use the money you saved to invest in other lenses instead.
To sum it up, this is the best budget prime lens to get if you enjoy taking portraits of people.
⭐️ Best Budget Astrophotography Lens
- Wide focal length
- Fast aperture for such a wide focal length
- Compact and Lightweight
- Affordable
- Corner Sharpness at Wide Apertures could be better
Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G Lens: For the longest time, I’ve always recommended the Sony 14mm f/1.8, arguably one of the best astrophotography lenses available. However, with its high price tag and relatively heavy, bulky build, it might not appeal to everyone, especially those who travel light, like I do. Now that Sony has released the 16mm f/1.8 G lens, we finally have an astrophotography lens that’s wide at 16mm, fast with its f/1.8 aperture, and still lightweight and compact.
Even better, the price point has come down significantly, making it much more accessible for beginner astrophotographers starting their stargazing journey. Of course, there are some compromises, such as reduced corner sharpness at wider apertures, which may not satisfy professionals, but for amateurs like myself, it's more than enough. If you're looking for a budget-friendly lens to take your astrophotography to the next level, this is the one to get.
To sum it up, this is the best budget prime lens to get if you love astrophotography and want to take expansive photos of stars.
🔎 The Best Value Telephoto Lens
- Affordable
- Compact and Lightweight
- Optical Stabilization
- Not the fastest autofocus
- No teleconverter support
Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 Lens: For those of you who are looking for a budget-friendly telephoto lens, the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 lens is the best option if your budget is around 1,300 USD.
This lens is the newest version of the beloved Tamron 70-180mm lens, and it remains one of the lightest and most compact telephoto lenses you can get at the moment, with its fast aperture of F2.8, a weight of 866 g (1.91 lbs), a form factor that is no bigger than a small APS-C telephoto lens, and the addition of an optical stabilization system that will come in handy when shooting at 200m, you just can't beat the value-to-feature ratio of this lens.
It is a lens designed specifically for those looking for a fast telephoto lens that is travel-friendly, fast enough to capture action shots, and, best of all, light on the wallet. If you do not mind the lack of 20mm on the further end, the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 lens is a great alternative to the more expensive Sony GM lens, which is more than doubled the price of the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 lens. Hit the link below to check out the latest price:
To sum it up, this is the best budget telephoto for most telephoto applications.
🐯 The Best Budget Wildlife Lens
- Amazing range
- Very lightweight and compact
- Affordable
- Optical stabilization
- Not compatible with teleconverters
- Slow aperture
Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens: For those of you who are looking for a more compact and affordable option for a wildlife lens, the Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens, a new version that replaces the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens, one of my favorite budget telephoto lens, is the lens you are looking for.
This lens improves upon everything the previous version offered. It comes with a wider minimum focal length of 50mm, providing more flexibility when shooting wildlife, and it finally features optical stabilization, something I wish the previous version had. With this new focal length, you can easily zoom in on wildlife or zoom out to capture a bit of the environment without having to switch lenses, which is extremely convenient, especially for wildlife photography.
The lens is slightly heavier than its predecessor, weighing in at 665g. It also costs a bit more at 700 USD, but you will get your money's worth with the extra 50mm on the wider end and the added optical stabilization, which is especially useful for wildlife photography.
I brought the previous version with me on my safari trips around East Africa, and I was able to capture some incredible wildlife shots despite it being a budget option. With this new version, it can only get better! If you are looking to get into wildlife photography and do not want to spend over 2,000 USD on a lens, the Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens is, hands down, the best choice.
To sum it up, this is the best budget zoom lens to get if you enjoy wildlife photography and are looking for a lightweight solution.
🦅 The Best Budget Bird Photography Lens
- Very versatile range
- Well-built
- Quite heavy
- Slow vaariable aperture
- Doesn't work with teleconverters
Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 DG DN Lens: For those who are looking for a super-telephoto lens with a focal range of 100-400mm for birds and other smaller wildlife but do not want to spend more than 1,000 USD, you might want to check out the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN lens.
The lens is designed as an entry-level super-telephoto lens, and it comes in this handheld-friendly form factor that weighs only 1,100 g (2.43 lbs), a benefit you usually don't get from a lens with this much reach.
The lens performs really well for its price. It comes equipped with optical stabilization, essential when shooting at this range, and a fast and quiet autofocus mechanism that will help you get those sharp wildlife shots you have always wanted to capture. However, the aperture is relatively slow, so be sure to use this lens when the light condition is good enough.
Despite its downsides, at only 899 USD retail, this Sigma lens is a steal, especially for its surprisingly excellent performance, lightweight and compact form factor, and the super-telephoto reach you can get from it. If you are looking for an affordable super-telephoto lens, the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN is the one to get.
To sum it up, this is the best budget telephoto lens to get if you enjoy bird photography and looking for an affordable solution.
Want to take your photography game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and photography gear:
Further Reading for Photography
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