Best Sony a6500 lenses |

You have read the

Sony a6500 review

and you've chosen one… and now it's time to complete your kit with a selection of lenses! There are so many options at different price points that it can be hard to choose.

That's why I've done the work for you and listed my top picks below.

Editor's Choice

Sony E 24mm f/1.8

Excellent low-light performance, light as a feather, robust build quality and outstanding autofocus make this a must-have lens for the Sony a6500.< /p>

Check the current price

The first thing to consider when choosing lenses is the type of subjects you like to photograph.

Portrait photographers

tend to want something in the mid-to-telephoto range for

create a nice bokeh

.

Landscape photographers generally tend to want something wide angle to

capture big scenes

.

If you're like me, you shoot a variety of subjects and want

multiple camera lenses

to cover a

wide range of focal lengths

. Plus, you want a versatile lens to keep on your camera most of the time for documenting a variety of scenes.

If you picked the Sony a6500, you'll probably appreciate its small form factor. It fits in your pocket, so you don't want to attach a big lens to it and make the camera less compact.

Several of the options below pair well with the smaller case. Check out my best lenses for the Sony a6500 in the table below and read on for all the details.

Contents

Best Sony a6500 Lenses in 2021

What types of lenses work with the Sony a6500?

Sony a6500 lens review

1. Sony E 24mm f/1.8

2. Sony E 16-70mm f/4

3.Sony E 20mm f/2.8

4. Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS

5. Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS

6. Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Sony a6500 lenses | Last words

Picture

Product

Features

Sony 24mm f/1.8

OUR #1 CHOICE< /p>

Ideal in low light

Razor Sharp

Fast autofocus

Excellent build quality

See the price →< /p>

Sony 16-70mm f/4

BEST ALLROUND ZOOM

Extremely versatile

Smooth bokeh

Compact & Light

Great value

See price →

Sony 20mm f/2.8

BEST FOR TRAVEL

Featherlight & Tiny

Versatile focal length

Excellent autofocus

Affordable

See price →

Sony 10-18mm f/4

BEST WIDE ANGLE

Dramatic perspective

Razor Sharp

Good build quality

Super Image Stabilization

See price →

Sony 35mm f/1.8

BEST VALUE ALLROUNDER

Useful focal length

Stunning Bokeh

Lightweight & Compact

Excellent value

See price →

Sony 50mm f/1.8

BEST FOR PORTRAITS

Amazing Bokeh

Compact & Light

Ideal for portraits

Great image stabilization

See price →

Sony a6500 with Sony 16-70mm f/4 p>

There are two main types of lenses for Sony E-mount cameras: "FE" and "E" lenses. The "E-mount" itself simply refers to the mount on the camera body itself, where the lens attaches. (There is also a lesser-known A-mount, designed for Sony Translucent Mirror-type camera bodies, but that won't come into play here.)

The difference between "E" and "FE" lenses is simple: E lenses were designed to

Sony's crop-sensor APS-C cameras

(i.e. Sony alpha a6500 and other a6xxx cameras). FE lenses were designed for Sony's full-frame ranges (such as the A7 series).

Sony FE lenses can be used on all Sony mirrorless cameras, whether full frame or not, but work with 1.5* focal length multiplication on

APS-C cameras

.

The only reason to buy FE lenses for your a6500 is if you plan to upgrade to a Sony mirrorless frame in the future or you already have one and want to share lenses between the two. Otherwise, it's best to stick with the lenses designed for your system.

E-lenses are usually

smaller

and

lighter

than their full-frame (FE) counterparts. They are also

much more affordable

.

For this review, I will focus on native Sony lenses designed for Sony cameras. Sure, there are plenty of great third-party options out there, but I think "native" lenses tend to outperform third-party options.

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

24mm (equivalent to 36mm)

Weight:

225g (7.9oz)

63x66mm (2.5x2.6inch)

Filter diameter:

49mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.16m (6.3inch)

Check the current price

This lens immediately impressed me with its

quality robust construction

. Holding it, you can feel the quality and know it will last!

The quality is similar to others

full frame E-mount lenses

I own, despite being a crop sensor lens designed for the a6500 series.

With the all metal barrel it looks solid, but it must have plastic in the design because it is p>

surprisingly light

. I would compare it to the touch of the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8.

This goal is one of the biggest

APS-C E-mount lenses

, probably because of the

quick opening

.

At f/1.8 it lets in plenty of light, pairing well with the Sony a6500's p>

low light photographic performance

. Together they make a great combo for dark shooting environments.

The focus ring of the Sony 24mm f/1.8 is smooth and offers a good grip. Again, the metal design is a nice touch. Autofocus is also

fast and effective

.

Moreover, it is a

Impressively sharp lens

. As a first, I expect it to be sharp, but the quality exceeded my expectations.

Even at the widest aperture, the image was very usable across the frame. Sharpness improves at f/2.8 and peak sharpness is achieved at f/4.

Sony A6500 + Sony 24mm f/1.8 | 1/800 f/4 ISO 200

The only downsides to this lens are that it is slightly heavier and less compact than some others. This is probably due to the improved build quality and sharper optics.

I'll take higher quality and sharper rather than light in almost all scenarios. If you are looking for a versatile lens

High quality

for your Sony a6500, the

Sony 24mm f/1.8 p>

is it.

I picked this one as my favorite because of the focal length. Over the past 8 years, I've shot with a lot of lenses, but I've focused on

35mm focal length

.

It's great for shooting portraits, landscapes, family and travel. It works so well for so many topics!

Talk to most photojournalists and they'll rave about the flexibility and usefulness of the 35mm focal length.

A lot of people tell you your first goal should be 'nifty fifty', but I think a

35mm is a much better choice

!

See more reviews

Editor's Choice

Focal length:

16-70mm (equivalent to 24-105mm)

Weight:

308g (10.9oz.)

Size (diameter x length):

67x75mm (2.6x3inch)

Filter diameter:

55mm< /p>

Minimum focus distance:

0.35m (13.8 inches)

Check the current price

Everyone loves a mid-range zoom. It's the lens that can stay on your camera all the time and be ready to go.

photograph any subject

.

Personally, I'm a fan of prime lenses, but if you're looking at a zoom, the Sony 16-70mm f/4 is the one for your Sony a6500. It covers a wide range of focal lengths and has a

f/4 constant aperture

.

At the wide end, this lens is great for shooting landscapes. At the telephoto end, it does an impressive job of creating

smooth bokeh

for a clean, crisp portrait.

Another feature is the

compact design

. It fits nicely in a pocket or jacket, making it the only lens you can take with you to shoot a variety of scenes. Mounted on the compact body of the Sony a6500, this makes for a superb travel combo.

If you're looking for an extremely compact setup, I'd recommend using a prime lens, but if you want zoom, the 16-70mm is a great choice.

Also, I was very pleased with the sharpness of this lens. He offers

exceptional quality

for the wide range of focal lengths.

Sony A6500 + Sony 16-70mm f/4 | 1/4000 f/4 ISO 200

Like the lens above, I'm a big fan of the metallic feel design. This is the weightiest objective of this review, but the

quality/flexibility

are worth it.

This lens' autofocus is great for outdoor scenarios, but slows down slightly indoors due to the f/4 maximum aperture.

The faster prime lenses in this review are slightly more effective in dim situations.

Although the weight is a drawback, the

Sony 16-70mm f/2.8

still weighs 150g (5 oz)

less

than the a6500 camera body.

This offers a

good balance

while remaining

much lighter than equivalent configurations

from other camera manufacturers.

Due to the APS-C crop factor, the lens must have a wider focal length to achieve the equivalent of a full-frame camera. This causes the lens to have more distortion at wider focal lengths.

Distortion is acceptable - it just creates a slightly different look than you would see from the

full frame

p>

equivalent. It doesn't bother me too much, but is worth knowing.

Overall, the Sony 16-70mm f/2.8 is the most versatile zoom lens

p>and a great choice for someone looking to use one lens for everything.

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

Weight:

69g (2.4oz)

Size (Diameter x Length):

63 x 20mm (2.5 x 0.8 inch)

Filter diameter:

49mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.2m (7.8in)

Check the current price

Of all the lenses in this review, I find myself gravitating towards this one because of its surprisingly compact design.

Mounted on the Sony a6500, it looks more like a

point and shoot camera

only to a high-quality mirrorless setup.

The crepe design is great for creating images in an incognito situation.

Similar to the Sony 24mm f/1.8 mentioned above, this lens has a very

beautiful focal length

. Although I prefer 35mm, this

30mm equivalent lens

is just behind.

The Sony 20mm f/2.8 straddles the line between a 50mm 'normal' and wide-angle lens, giving you the best of both worlds.

It's perfect for travel, family, portraits and landscapes - it's a

all purpose goal

Sony A6500 + Sony 20mm f/2.8 | 1/800 f/4 ISO 200

The construction of the Sony 20mm f/2.8 is as robust as I would like. This is probably due to his

compact and ultralight design

.

If it looks like it's mostly plastic. Still, the fact that it's so light might help it survive a fall.

The wide-angle distortion is obvious but not overwhelming. I find it tolerable, especially for shooting landscapes and close-up action sports.

The autofocus of this lens is

fast and effective

, which surprises me considering how great this lens is

affordable

.

At f/2.8, the medium-fast aperture was handy, allowing me to shoot in darker scenarios - if you shoot a lot in low light, you might want to consider the Sony 20mm f/1.8 (

review

), which offers another light stop.

An added bonus is the sun visor

which adds another level of protection

to the front element of the Sony 20mm f/2.8. If you ever forget your lens cap, this lens hood makes all the difference in protecting your lens. It also protects it a bit from rain and snow when shooting in bad weather.

Final verdict? A very effective lens in a

ultralight case

!

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Editor's Choice

Focal Length:

10-18mm (equivalent to 15-27mm)

Weight:

225g (7.9oz)

Size (Diameter x length:

70x63mm (2.8x2.5inch)

Filter diameter:

62mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.25m (9.8in)

Check the current price

As a fan of wide angle lenses, this was the first lens I owned for my Sony a6500.

It allows you to create

spectacular landscape images

with an equivalent focal length similar to the full-frame 16-35mm lens (my favorite

Sony zoom lens

).

This wide to very wide zoom range

immerse the viewer

in the frame, easily capturing panoramic views.

The other advantage of this lens over other wide angles is the

compact size

. I spend a lot of time skiing with its zipper in my jacket or climbing with it hooked to my harness.

Sony A6500 + Sony 10-18mm f/4 | 1/2000 f/6.3 ISO 400

The build quality of this lens is quite decent. I would prefer more metal in the design. However, I have tested this lens a lot and it resists everything.

I use it a lot camping/hiking and it has had no issues.

The

overall sharpness

of the Sony 10-18mm f/4 is excellent for the price.

The autofocus works as expected and takes advantage of the strengths of the excellent a6500 AF system. Even when working at the wide-angle end of the focal length, I rarely had hunting or searching issues. My subjects were always in focus.

For a wide-angle zoom at this price, the Sony 10-18mm f/4 is surprisingly sharp throughout the frame, especially if you focus at or beyond its 1.5-meter hyper-focal range ( 5 feet).

With its constant f/4 aperture, the Sony 10-18mm f/4 suffers a bit in low light situations.

If you're looking for a lens for astrophotography, I suggest something like the

Rokinon 12mm f/2

. It has manual focus, but works amazing when shooting the night sky.

Still, for all intents and purposes, the Sony 10-18mm f/4 is a fantastic zoom at a more than reasonable price. Her

versatility and impressive perspective

make it a lookalike for any a6500 kit.

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Editor's Choice

p>

Focal length:

35mm (equivalent to 52.5mm)

Weight:

154g (5.5oz)

Size (Diameter x Length):

63x45mm (2-1/2 x 1-13/16in)

Filter diameter:

49mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.3m (0.99ft)

Check the current price

Read almost any

a practical guide to photography and it will suggest to beginners

learn with a standard 50mm lens.

the

Sony 35mm f/1.8

is a great option for those looking for a

50mm equivalent

on their a6500.

This 50mm equivalent will encourage you to zoom in with your feet and frame subjects with more lens.

It does the trick for a

fast and inexpensive prime lens

, and should definitely be on every Sony a6500 owner's shopping list.

Sony A6500 + Sony 35mm f/1.8 | 1/640 f/4 ISO 200

The Sony 35mm f/1.8 has a nice

space-saving design

which goes well with the a6500. Its f/1.8 aperture lets you shoot in low light and

capture dark scenes

.

The 50mm focal length is a great mix of a portrait lens and an everyday lens that works relatively well either way.

The bokeh is

smooth and consistent

with some sharpness towards the middle of the frame. p>

My main complaint is that this lens isn't the sharpest. It suffers the most from wider apertures and doesn't get much sharpness until you stop down a lot. For a prime lens, this is rather frustrating.

What it lacks in sharpness, it makes up for in price

affordable

of this objective, and its design

light and compact

.

The build quality of the Sony 35mm f/1.8 is quite good, although it looks like a mostly plastic design. Still, I've dropped it a few times and it still works strong!

The autofocus easily matches the outstanding performance of the Sony a6500. It finds its target quickly and quickly. No complaints there!

A final verdict? The Sony 35mm f/1.8 is a fantastic option for those looking for the classic 'nifty fifty' for their Sony a6500!

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

50mm (equivalent to 75mm)

Weight:

202g (7.1oz)

Size (Diameter x Length):

62x62mm (2.4x2.4inch)

Filter diameter:

49mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.39m (15.3 inches)

Check the current price

This lens surprised me. At first I wasn't sure I would like it, but it quickly caught my eye.

This isn't usually a preferred focal length for a prime lens, but I found myself catching it a few times. The 75mm equivalent will compress a scene and direct the viewer's eye.

Additionally, the f/1.8 aperture on the Sony 50mm f/1.8 will allow you to create

a dreamy bokeh p>

which isolates your subject from the backdrop.

The other objectives of this article are far from creating this

classic portrait look

.

Also, the telephoto focal length of the Sony 50mm f/1.8 will create pleasing images that show

the appropriate proportions

faces in portraits.

This lens is a great choice for photographing people, whether you're shooting mostly headshots or full-body portraits.

Sony A6500 + Sony 50mm f/1.8 | 1/800 f/4 ISO 200

For its speed and focal length, this lens is surprisingly compact. In fact, it's considerably lighter than other comparable lenses.

Given his

low prices

, the sharpness of this lens is truly extraordinary. For me it worked much better than expected.

Build quality is quite similar to the Sony 35mm f/1.8 – lightweight and mostly plastic. Still, considering the Sony a6500's small size, that's not a bad thing, as it balances nicely on the camera body.

Final verdict? If you are looking for a lens that takes

beautiful portraits

without breaking the bank, the Sony 50mm f/1.8 is made for you.

In fact, if you haven't purchased any lenses for your Sony a6500 yet, this is probably one of the first lenses you should get.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best lens for Sony a6500?

Which lens is best for you really depends on what you're shooting. If you do a bit of everything, the Sony 24mm f/1.8 is our top choice. It's a versatile focal length, great build quality, and razor-sharp images.

Which Sony lens is best for portraits?

Our favorite portrait lens for the Sony a6500 is the Sony 50mm f/1.8. It delivers that classic portrait look, with gorgeous creamy bokeh that separates subjects from the background nicely.

Can I use a full frame lens on the Sony a6500?

Yes, all Sony FE (full frame lenses) can be used with the Sony a6500. Just be aware that the focal lengths don't quite match - you need to apply a 1.5* focal length multiplication.

What is the sharpest Sony lens?

If you're looking for an ultra-sharp prime lens, we recommend the Sony 24mm f/1.8. On the zoom side, the Sony 10-18mm f/4 wide angle is our zoom of choice.

Sony a6500 with Sony 16-70mm f/4

There are so many lens options for the Sony a6500, it can be difficult to sift through them all. I hope I have narrowed the field a bit for you with my list of

6 best lens choices available

.

To choose the best lens for you, you'll need to think about what you'll be using it for, then compare it to its features, price, size/weight, and overall performance.

One good thing about investing in camera lenses is that they tend to

hold their value.

This means that you can often sell it quite easily if you find it doesn't work for you. p>

Do you know of a great Sony a6500 that isn't on this list? Let us know in the comments below.

Editor's Choice

Sony E 24mm f/1.8

Excellent low-light performance, light as a feather, robust build quality and outstanding autofocus make this a must-have lens for the Sony a6500.

Check the current price

Disclaimer: All recommendations are unbiased and based on user experience, with no product or brand bias. Products in this article may contain affiliate links.

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