Sony a6500 lenses - an amateur requesting advice

Hi everyone,

Ok so I am going travelling next year around the world and have recently purchased a sony a6500 camera. It came with the 16-50mm kit lens as well as the 55-210mm lens.

I have watched so many reviews on lenses that I've found that there's just too many variables when it comes to choosing the right lens for you and your camera and that sometimes there's that little difference in lens quality (unless its zoomed in) so I thought it would be good to go to an open forum and get some opinions on the lens options I am considering purchasing (and if anyone had better suggestions or thinks i shouldn't need one of the below or an alternative to get rid of two etc).

I am looking to cover most things and the below is what I have shortlisted with the reasons. Please feel free to comment as I am very new in this area and would highly appreciate any information to help build my knowledge. My main goal was to go with a reasonably versatile but minimal selection of lenses - I would be happy to sacrifice a little image quality or whatever if the Pros of it being something else is far greater. Cost, versatility and coverage.

Rokinon 12mm f/2 (my wide angle pick for astrophotography/landscape/nature)

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (my close up prime pick for group shots, portraits, street, products)

Sony 18-105mm f/4 Zoom (my all rounder zoom lens pick for close ups, sport, zoom etc - for the price Im not really sure I can say no to this one)

Sony 50mm f/1.8 (my middle prime pick for the every day stuff, plus great for low light)

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (I wanted a macro that I didn't have to get ultra close to things for, plus I liked the idea of getting a larger focal length fixed lense as I have the 12, 30 and 50).

Will these lenses cover most situations? or have I gone over board with the selection?

The only really expensive lense here is the 90mm Macro, so I thought these picks were reasonably priced, but also rated very well or nearly equal to the competition.

Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated! cheers. Ben

How much experience have you had as a photographer? Are you travelling primarily to take photographs or do you just want to document your travels?

Most people travelling for a year around the world take as little kit as possible, maybe just a good quality compact like a Sony RX100 or Panasonic LX100. They just don't have the space to take anything more.

If you are a really serious photographer then you might take the view that you will give up other things to take more gear.

I suggest that you get to learn your Sony A6500 and buy nothing else until you have a much better idea of what you are going to carry on your trip.

You have a camera with two lenses that cover 16mm to 250mm. Why do you want more than than for travelling?

I have a6500 with sigma 1.4 ,rok 14 f2 and fe 28 70 f3.5 .I will add 90 macro in future but for now very happy with this combo.

saltdiscus said:

I have a6500 with sigma 1.4 ,rok 14 f2 and fe 28 70 f3.5 .I will add 90 macro in future but for now very happy with this combo.

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Ps edit 12 f2 not 14.

Great points Chris. I guess the reason I got the Mirrorless was because I wanted something a little more than a compact but not as bulky as a dslr. Also I wouldnt use it to its potential in that amount of time, Also the method behind the madness was to spend a year prior to travelling to learn the basics and getting familiar with everything. The 6500 is my first camera so im very amature i'd say! I have considered the compact highly however I thought i might aswell throw myself into the somewhat "deep end" and learn that way.

benwith1n said:

Hi everyone,

Ok so I am going travelling next year around the world and have recently purchased a sony a6500 camera. It came with the 16-50mm kit lens as well as the 55-210mm lens.

I have watched so many reviews on lenses that I've found that there's just too many variables when it comes to choosing the right lens for you and your camera and that sometimes there's that little difference in lens quality (unless its zoomed in) so I thought it would be good to go to an open forum and get some opinions on the lens options I am considering purchasing (and if anyone had better suggestions or thinks i shouldn't need one of the below or an alternative to get rid of two etc).

I am looking to cover most things and the below is what I have shortlisted with the reasons. Please feel free to comment as I am very new in this area and would highly appreciate any information to help build my knowledge. My main goal was to go with a reasonably versatile but minimal selection of lenses - I would be happy to sacrifice a little image quality or whatever if the Pros of it being something else is far greater. Cost, versatility and coverage.

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General comment, based on one of your later replies that you're an amateur and this is your first foray into interchangeable lens larger sensor camera systems...I think you're honestly covered pretty well with the two kit lenses you have. You've got all you need for every day shooting, and for learning more about the camera, the types of photography you really enjoy, and then figuring out which areas you really want to pursue going forward. THEN you can pick the lenses that will allow you to grow in that area. All of the lenses you've listed cover uses for various types of photography, but if you're only going to take a handful of that type of shot and find it not very interesting or inspiring, picking up the lens was a waste if it's just going to sit in a bag unused. I'd try all of those types of photography with the lenses you have now, and see what interests you - then pursue better lenses if it's a passion and something you really want to pursue.

benwith1n said:

Rokinon 12mm f/2 (my wide angle pick for astrophotography/landscape/nature)

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Solid enough lens - remember though it's manual focus - are you experienced with manual focus? It's easier with wide lenses - but may still take some getting used to.

benwith1n said:

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (my close up prime pick for group shots, portraits, street, products)

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Good lens - fast and normal focal range. Whether you need one depends on what photography you find yourself getting into.

benwith1n said:

Sony 18-105mm f/4 Zoom (my all rounder zoom lens pick for close ups, sport, zoom etc - for the price Im not really sure I can say no to this one)

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If you want a shorter range telezoom for general overall photography, it's very well rated - this would probably be a lens you keep on the camera most of the time in lieu of the kit lens and 55-210mm - even bringing just the camera and lens sometimes when you want to go light...so consider the size of the lens and if that's OK for you as a walkaround lens.

benwith1n said:

Sony 50mm f/1.8 (my middle prime pick for the every day stuff, plus great for low light)

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May be unnecessary if you are already looking for the 30mm F1.4 - dedicated enthusiasts have reasons to have a lot of primes in each focal range in steps, but an amateur may not really need a 30, 50, 85, 90, 135, etc. I'd hold off on these and just pick one fast prime to start with if you're going to pick one up - get the feel for that and see if a wider or longer prime is something you feel you need.

benwith1n said:

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (I wanted a macro that I didn't have to get ultra close to things for, plus I liked the idea of getting a larger focal length fixed lense as I have the 12, 30 and 50).

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Are you going to do a lot of macro photography? It's a very specialized feel - and macro isn't just getting close to things - it's getting so close that you're photographing details you can't see with your eye. While very cool, not everyone will be interested in shooting macro - bugs, flowers, etc. are typical subjects - so first decide if this would be a lens you use two or three times just for the cool newness of it, and then never use again because you really don't care much for macro photography.

benwith1n said:

Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated! cheers. Ben

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My only suggestion might be, if you were going to expand your lens selection, would be to try to cover as much focal range as you can with the fewest number of lenses - start off with some zoom lenses that cover a good range, improve on the quality of the zooms you have now, and then get a feel for where your photography is going and what focal lengths you find yourself using the most. Consider adding an ultrawide zoom like the 10-18mm F4, which is very versatile in covering the ultra-wide angle up to normal wide, and is stabilized and autofocusing...the kit lens is fine for covering the middle walkaround range - if you find you'd like to step up the quality a bit, you could consider the 16-70mm F4. And your 55-210mm can cover some zoom needs until you decide if you find yourself wanting more reach or higher quality at longer focal lengths - in which case you could consider adding better lenses for that range, such as the excellent FE70-200mm F4 G, or FE70-300mm G. But you may find you don't really use telephoto that much, and the bigger, heavier lenses are not something you need. If you pick up the 18-105mm, that could be a walkaround and every day lens that replaces the kit lens and the 55-210mm - and paired with the 10-18mm F4, would give you a 10mm to 105mm F4 range in a very compact 2-lens kit that could fit in a small bag - you always have the small kit lens if you truly want to go super-light or pocketable for a night.

Brilliant advice, thank you! - Yes I was weighing up the Rokinon 12 Vs the sony 10-18 and I think you have sold me on the few zooms first - then buy as I go scenario. With the manaual focus - that was for me to have to try and learn, however I guess the last thing i want to do is go out and buy all these lenses then become disheartned or my skill set diluted because im trying to think of, or learn too many things.

And thanks to everyone thats replied, its all great advice.

Cheers Ben

Exactly - I think youtube and website reviews has destroyed my brain in terms of just trying to focus on getting the basics right in the first place with what i've got!