Best versatile/travel lens for A6300?

elado · Oct 13, 2016

I currently have 2 primes Sony 28mm f/2.8 and Samyang 12mm f/2 which I love. The first is great for events/portraits and the latter is amazing for landscape.

I'm about to travel (Thailand/Cambodia/Hong Kong) and considering getting an all-in-one because I don't like switching lenses all the time. Going to take pictures of landscape/nature/urban/streets/people/portraits/low light/night sky.

I would like to find something versatile enough that has:

focal length of anywhere between 12 and 16 to 35 and up (before the crop)
maximum aperture of about 2.8 or lower
good size that respects the small body of the A6300
autofocus

I've seen all kinds of lenses but each has some issue:

Tamron 18-200mm has aperture of 3.5
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 seems heavy and large, starts from 18m
Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 aperture of f4, large
Tamron 16-300MM F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD seems good, but only for A Mount. plus it's only 3.5

My budget is up to about $800.

Any other suggestions I should be looking into?

Thanks!

metaldood · Oct 13, 2016

Good copy of a used 16-70 F4 Zeiss for under $800.

elado · Oct 13, 2016

Only f4, I'd like a faster lens that fits low light. A combination of the 2 I have now would be perfect, the IQ is great with both.

Byron Walter · Oct 13, 2016

Ditto.

MrMillett9 · Oct 13, 2016

Have you thought about the Sony 10-18mm F4. Downside is only 18mm at tele side. Too bad it is not 10-28 and f2.8 but then would be too big to travel and over $800. I wondered if I can crop an 18mm photo to extend range artificially, but guess will want to switch lenses to get more zoom.

You want to do a lot of variety of picts. I am the same. Is there a lens on any camera that is that versatile and good for travel (small and cheap). The Tamron's the closest but not good for low light. The bridge cameras also not so good for low light as 1 inch sensors (2.7x crop) which is f7.56 FF equiv vs the f6 for the Sony APSC F4 lenses. The RX100 and Pana Lx100 (M43) have better low light at wide size but range is 70-75mm.

My thought is the Tamron 18-200 for everything but low light. Which means you need to bring one of you existing primes for low light. The advantage of the 18-105 is fixed aperature which is good for video. There are no native fast zooms for Emount. Hopefully one day Sony, Tamron or Sigma will solve that gap. I wonder if the Sigma 18-35 with adapter a good choice as point is to get that lens for low light and adapters weak for low light from what I have read (autofocus not as good as on native body and loose 1 Fstop).

When you decide let us know how it works on your trip.

elado said:
I currently have 2 primes Sony 28mm f/2.8 and Samyang 12mm f/2 which I love. The first is great for events/portraits and the latter is amazing for landscape.

I'm about to travel (Thailand/Cambodia/Hong Kong) and considering getting an all-in-one because I don't like switching lenses all the time. Going to take pictures of landscape/nature/urban/streets/people/portraits/low light/night sky.

I would like to find something versatile enough that has:

focal length of anywhere between 12 and 16 to 35 and up (before the crop)

maximum aperture of about 2.8 or lower

good size that respects the small body of the A6300

autofocus

I've seen all kinds of lenses but each has some issue:

Tamron 18-200mm has aperture of 3.5

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 seems heavy and large, starts from 18m

Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 aperture of f4, large

Tamron 16-300MM F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD seems good, but only for A Mount. plus it's only 3.5

My budget is up to about $800.

Any other suggestions I should be looking into?

Thanks!

MrCPH · Oct 14, 2016

The image stabilization on the 16-70 is superior to the OSS on any of my other lenses, so that would assist you a lot in low light situations. When I go to SE-Asia, I always bring a lot of lenses and end up using the 16-70 99% of the time. It's a fantastic all-round lens, has great micro contrast and superior colours. In addition to this, it goes from UWA to telescope, it's compact and light, it's sharp, has a fast autofocus and good build quality, it's more or less everything you could wish for in a travel lense. Sure, it would be nice if it was priced at $200, could go to f2.8 and reach up to 100mm but in the real world, this is an excellent lens.

dquangt · Oct 14, 2016

I also like the 1670. I've been to Thailand and Cambodia the last 2 years for a total of 9 weeks and it was my most used lens by far. I used it in all conditions. You say it's only f4, but the A6300 is nice at higher iso so it's wouldn't be much different than a 2.8 lens imo.

aspalmat · Oct 14, 2016

Adding to the 16-70 f/4. As a travel lens, I believe this ticks all the boxes. Lightweight, excellent zoom range, constant f4. On my last trip, this is the only lens I used. I totally get the allure of a fast lens for night time, but, when you travel, do you really use it? I've done several trips with a f1.8 prime in my bag, and it typically stayed there. I have recently picked up the Sony/Zeiss 24 1.8. I will be taking it on my next trip, we'll see if it actually gets used.

Miwok · Oct 14, 2016

metaldood said:
Good copy of a used 16-70 F4 Zeiss for under $800.

I read often this one on the forum, but...

How do I know if it's a good copy before buying it?. I don't think a seller is going to take back the item because you tell him than you find a decentering on the lens.

I'm not going to buy "used" on something who have a so bad reputation about is QC.

--
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MrCPH · Oct 14, 2016

Most shops don't as such demand a reason for a return, at least not where I live. I must admit, that I bought mine online from Hong Kong but even then, I had the option of returning it. Assume that it's fine, otherwise return it, just as any other lens you buy. Although being a rather expensive lens, hence not so widely spread, it was still voted to be the best APS-C travel lens by users: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56265440

Sabud · Oct 14, 2016

I am in the same position. Coming from X-T1 with the fabulous XF18-55/2,8-4 oss used for hiking and travel I'm now looking at the A6500. The question is, what zoom for hiking (light) and travel (still light)........??

metaldood · Oct 14, 2016

Miwok said:
metaldood said:

Good copy of a used 16-70 F4 Zeiss for under $800.

Click to expand...

I read often this one on the forum, but...

How do I know if it's a good copy before buying it?. I don't think a seller is going to take back the item because you tell him than you find a decentering on the lens.

I'm not going to buy "used" on something who have a so bad reputation about is QC.

elado · Oct 14, 2016

Thank you all. It seems like there's no clear winner here, but I hear the Zeiss 16-70 is popular, despite the f4. Maybe I should get it and use it during the day, and switch to the 28mm during the night. My trip is in a month and a half, maybe Sony/Sigma will surprise with something new.

scottzee · Oct 14, 2016

The short answer: it doesn't exist. Yes, a 16-50+ f/2.8 is at the top of many a wish list.

Ken Sills · Oct 14, 2016

I travel all over the world with my A6000 and Sony 18-105. I never remove the lens from the body. I get great results with this combination. Yes, it's f4, but to go to f2.8 the lens would substantially increase in barrel diameter.

Ken

MrMillett9 · Oct 14, 2016

Ken Sills said:
I travel all over the world with my A6000 and Sony 18-105. I never remove the lens from the body. I get great results with this combination. Yes, it's f4, but to go to f2.8 the lens would substantially increase in barrel diameter.

Ken

Great to hear someone with a positive experience. I assume great for outdoors in dailylight walk around What is your experiences with low light such as a concert in a bar (movement) or just taking pictures in a bar (no movement) or night photography. My only concern with doing exactly what you do. I also want the 10-18 for landscapes as only mirrorless/SLR can do that. No P&S or camera can do that, but panaoramas have me rethinking that need.

ZomZom · Oct 15, 2016

I can only say what has worked well for my a6000. With a Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 20 bag I can fit my a6000 with the 18-105 plus the 10-18. This gives me coverage from ultra wide to decent telephoto with one small bag. If I need an indoor lens, I'll swap out the 10-18 for the 24mm Zeiss. The constant is the 18-105.

Note: this image is cropped.

--
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/mangoldm/

Jerry R · Oct 15, 2016

If you won't a versatile lens then you have to determine what your willing to sacrifice. Some may want lean to the long end while others like the wide angle. I prefer the 16-70 to the 18-105 because of the extra 2mm on the wide end and weight & size. Others will go for the 18-200 which i tried, but the weight and size were too much. I used to travel with 4 or 5 lenses and a tripod. No longer, my wife refuses to carry my camera bag any more. Someone just posted some great pics with the 18-105. You have to decide what limitations you are willing to accept.

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