s for electronic mount cameras

This guide to the best Sony e-mount lenses is a response to the huge popularity of Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras here in 2021.

Sony e-mount (APS-C) sensor bodies, i.e. the Sony a6600, a6100, a6400, a6000 and a5100, offer incredible performance in a compact form factor, all at competitive prices - it no wonder everyone wants one!

Editor's Choice

Fast, smooth, quiet and crisp. Versatile focal length with fast aperture for low light and beautiful bokeh.

Check the current price

While it is true that a lens designed for a Sony full-frame sensor camera (i.e. a ') can be used on an e-mount camera body (i.e. say "crop sensor" or "APS-C"), we will mainly focus on lenses specifically designed for APS-C cameras.

Sony e-mount lenses are cheaper, lighter and smaller than their FE counterparts. Some are arguably sharper because they're specifically designed for e-mount cameras.

Let's take a look at the 6 best prime and zoom lens options this year.

Table of Contents p>

Best Sony E-Mount APS-C Lens in 2021

1. Sony E 24mm f/1.8

2. Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8

3.Sony E 20mm f/2.8

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

5.Sony FE 35mm f/1.8

6. Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS

Frequently Asked Questions

Final words

Picture

Product

Features

Sony 24mm f/1.8

OUR #1 CHOICE

"Sonnar" optical design

Direct manual focus

Superior corner-to-corner sharpness

See price →

Sony 16-55mm f/2.8

Best ranking

Precise, quiet AF and tracking

9-blade circular aperture

Exceptional image quality

Extreme dynamic linear motor technology

See price →

Sony 20mm f/2.8

EXCELLENT VALUE

Exceptional resolution

Ultra-thin & light

Circular aperture for attractive defocus

Smooth and quiet autofocus operation

See price →

Sony 10-18mm f/4< /p>

Refined optical performance

Quick and agile focusing

Optical SteadyShot

35mm equivalent focal length

See price →

Sony 35mm f/1.8

Customizable focus hold button

Compact and lightweight

8.66" min. focusing distance

Large maximum aperture F1.8

See price →

Sony 50mm f/1.8

Smooth defocus

Solid durability

Circular aperture with 7 slats

Refined optical performance

See price →

In addition to all of the Sony FE and E lenses that work with the Sony APS-C series camera, there are also several excellent third-party options available.

However, for the sake of simplicity, I have focused on the

Sony offers (own brand)

.

Arguably, it's usually these "native" lenses that work the best, as they were designed specifically for the

cameras that share the same brand

.

1. Sony E 24mm f/1.8

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

24mm (36mm equivalent) prime lens

Weight:

225g (7.9oz.)

Size (Diameter x Length):

63 x 66mm (2.5 x 2.6in)

Filter diameter:

49mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.16m (6.3in)

Advantages

Sharpness from corner to corner

Beautiful bokeh for a wide angle

Smooth & fast operation

Excellent low-light performance

Disadvantages

Slightly heavier than other options

No weather sealing

Check the current price

The Sony E 24mm f/1.8 is a rugged, pro-grade lens that perfectly matches the crop sensor format of Sony APS-C cameras.

Although it is approaching ten years of production, this lens is still as efficient in its focal length (

guide

). It has a sturdy metal build and balances well with the weight of APS-C cameras like the a6600.

It offers excellent sharpness and minimal distortion for the relatively wide focal length. Although the spec sheet says it achieves peak sharpness over f/4, I like the sharp image quality when this lens is shot wide open.

If you want a great all-around lens, you'll be thrilled with the performance of the Sony E 24mm f/1.8.

If I had to look for anything to improve on this lens, it would be the weight. At 225g (7.9oz), it's not the lightest lens on this list, but it's still as svelte as ever.

The standards for lightness and performance are constantly rising, but I think this lens still offers a great balance of both.

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

The Sony E 24mm f/1.8 is one of the most frequently mounted cameras on my a6600 camera. It is a versatile focal length and offers excellent performance for a wide variety of subjects.

It excels in low light shooting, can be a great lens for environmental portraits or documenting travel/adventures. I use it to photograph my family and my daily outings.

With the crop factor of 1.5, this lens becomes approximately equivalent (24mm x 1.5 = 36mm full frame) to one of the most popular focal lengths for photojournalists: 35mm.

Photojournalists love this focal length because it's so flexible and can effectively capture many different types of subjects and scenes.

If you haven't checked it out yet, I recommend the Sony E 24mm f/1.8 as the best Sony apsc lens for the year.

2. Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

16-55mm (equivalent to 24-105mm wide standard zoom lens)

Weight:

494g (1.09lb)

Size (diameter x length):

73x100mm (2.9x3.9inch)

Filter diameter:

67mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.33m (1.08ft)

Advantages

Felixble focal range

Precise and quiet autofocus

Peaceful throughout the zoom range

Excellent image quality

Disadvantages

High price

No image stabilization

Check the current price

Everyone loves a quality mid-range zoom! With the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8, Sony has significantly improved on previous offerings!

The biggest improvement and feature that everyone will love about this lens is the constant f/2.8 aperture

over the entire zoom range

. Previous lenses weren't as fast or had variable apertures.

When zoomed to 55mm (82.5mm equivalent), this lens makes an excellent portrait lens. The f/2.8 aperture is ideal for getting a nice

separation of bokeh and background

.

With all the features of a pro-grade lens (smooth focus/zoom rings, af/mf switch, focus hold button and constant aperture), it looks like Sony has really committed to its APS-C range with this lens.

It's a mid-range zoom that matches the quality features built into their camera bodies.

The sharpness of this lens is excellent throughout the zoom range. With the G rating, this lens is a level below the G Master or Gold Master lenses which are designed for very high resolution cameras like the 61 megapixel Sony A7RIV.

The barrel of the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 is a metal design that incorporates grippy rubber on the zoom and focus rings.

Sony A6600 + Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 | 1/100 f/2.8 ISO 160

One downside is the long extension you get when zooming out to 55mm. It would be nice not to have this extension but an internal zoom would make the lens much larger. I'm very happy with how compact it is when zoomed to 16mm.

The autofocus of this lens is extremely fast, especially when paired with a newer camera body like the Sony a6600. The constant f/2.8 aperture is also very useful for locking focus in low light.

For someone who shoots a variety of subjects and wants

one goal to do it all

, the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 is perfect.

It might be top of the line for Sony e-mount lens prices, but I think it will be worth it if you commit to the sensor size on APS-C mirrorless cameras.

3.Sony E 20mm f/2.8

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

20mm main lens (equivalent to 30mm)

Weight:

69g (2.4oz.)

Size (Diameter x Length):

63 x 20mm (2.5 x 0.8in)

Filter diameter:

49mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.2m (7.8in)

Advantages

Small and light

Smooth and quiet autofocus operation

Excellent low light performance

Well controlled distortion

Disadvantages

Durability could be improved

No image stabilization

Check the current price

If you love the compact size of Sony APS-C cameras, you'll love Sony's 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime lens!

The crepe design of this lens allows it to pair very well with Sony compact camera bodies like the a6600. Together they form a powerful, pocket-sized combo that creates professional quality images!

If you're wondering if you should pack a camera for an adventure, you'll never hesitate with this lens mounted on your APS-C camera. It's about the same length/width as a large cell phone and the width of about two decks of cards.

At a 30mm equivalent focal length, the Sony 20mm f/2.8 lens is very versatile. It's similar to the Sony E 24mm f/1.8 with a slightly wider field of view.

The maximum aperture of f/2.8 provides excellent low-light performance. It's not as fast as some others on this list, but it makes up for that by having a very compact size.

Sony A6500 + Sony 20mm f/2.8 | 1/1000 f/4 ISO 200

With the 30mm focal length, it's ideal for shooting a variety of subjects, especially adventure and travel.

It's not the best portrait lens and won't create amazing bokeh, but that's not what it was designed for.

I also like that the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 has well-controlled distortion (as long as you don't shoot -angle subjects with lots of straight lines) and has good

sharpness

over most of the frame.

My main complaint is that it doesn't. feel as durable as other lenses. Maybe the compact/lightweight design will prevent it from having a big impact when dropped, but I think the design could be improved by making it a bit sturdier.

Despite the durability issues, it looks great

sun visor

which protects the front element from scratches. It's nice to be able to skip the lens cap and not worry about putting that lens/camera combo in your pocket.

All in all, this lens is a great option if you want a medium/wide-angle focal length range in an extremely

compact and featherweight

!

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

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

10-18mm (equivalent to 15-27mm) wide angle zoom

Weight:

225g (7.9oz)

Size (Diameter x Length):

Filter diameter:

62mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.25m (9.8 inches)

Advantages

Amazing for landscapes

Compact

Excellent image quality

Excellent autofocus and subject tracking

Disadvantages

Strong but not completely durable

Average low light performance

Check the current price

The Sony 10-18mm f/4 was the first Sony e-mount lens I bought for their APS-C system.

As a lover of wide-angle images

, this lens was a must-have for capturing large, dramatic landscapes!

With a similar focal range to my favorite lens (the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM), this lens is perfect for capturing the large landscape, small person style images that are popular on Instagram. Yes, I love taking these pictures too!

Although this lens won't fit as well in your pocket as the Sony 20mm f/2.8, it has a versatile zoom range that allows you to really bring the viewer into the frame.

The constant f/4 maximum aperture makes this lens very compact, but it doesn't let you shoot in low light as easily as the other lenses on this list. I find myself switching to a faster lens after the sun goes down and the stars come out.

If you want a

astrophotography lens for your Sony camera

, I would test the affordable (but manual focus) Rokinon 12mm f/2.

Sony A7II + Sony 10-18mm f/4 | 1/2500 f/4 ISO 100

Another useful note about this lens is that the image covers a full frame camera sensor of around 12-17mm. Outside of this range you will get vignetting.

Also, this lens isn't as sharp as other offerings for full-frame cameras, but if you're looking for a super wide lens for the A7 series, this might be an option.

The build quality is solid but not extremely sturdy on this lens. I have dropped it several times and it has survived but shows some wear. Despite this, the image quality remains excellent!

auto focus

on the Sony 10-18mm f/4 is fast and efficient. I never had a problem tracking subjects and with the very wide zoom range, most things are sharp beyond about 1.5 meters (5 feet).

If you want a wide-angle lens that pairs well with the Sony APS-C camera, the Sony 10-18mm f/4 is a great choice!

5. Sony FE 35mm f/1.8

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

35mm main lens (equivalent to 53mm)

Weight:

281g (9.9oz.)

Size (Diameter x Length):

66 x 73mm (2.6 x 2.9in)

Filter diameter:

55mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.25m (9.8in)

Advantages

Compact and well-balanced design

Auto/manual focus switch and focus hold button

Very good in low light

Fast and quiet autofocus

Disadvantages

Relatively high price

Check the current price

Launched in 2019, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Prime Lens is a great upgrade over previously available Sony e-mount lenses in this focal range.

Although it's designed for full-frame cameras like the A7 series, it also performs very well on the APS-C range.

This full-frame e-mount lens is extremely sharp (even wide open) and offers excellent low-light performance with the maximum aperture of f/1.8.

The design is very light and compact for the performance it offers. It balances well on Sony APS-C bodies as well as the full frame range.

One of the benefits of choosing a lens that's compatible with Sony's full-frame and APS-C cameras is that it'll still be usable if you decide to upgrade.

Some people say sharpness can be an issue if you're using a full frame lens on an APS-C sensor, but I haven't found that to be the case with the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 (

see review

).

I appreciate that this lens has a few extra features that others in this range don't. These include an auto/manual focus switch and focus hold button, found on other Sony FE lenses (especially G Master lenses).

The AF/MF switch comes in handy if you shoot video and don't. want the camera to seek focus during time-lapse shooting.

The focus hold button can be programmed for a variety of things like eye autofocus or auto exposure lock.

Sony A6600 + Sony 35mm f/1.8 | 1/1000 f/4 ISO 200

The autofocus of this Sony FE lens is very fast and silent. I never have problems tracking fast-moving subjects with continuous AF. A great feature is its minimum focusing distance of just 25cm.

As expected with the most recent high quality Sony e-mount lenses, there are no major issues with distortion or chromatic aberration.

Although not as wide as most people prefer, it could be a great lens for astrophotography

due to its poor lighting capacity

and its high image quality.

Although the Sony 35mm f/1.8 is a bit more expensive than the previous APS-C lens in this format, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is still excellent value for money. The quality and performance are worth the extra cost, and it's actually one of the most affordable lenses for Sony's mirrorless cameras.

I was hoping Sony would release this e-mount lens for a long time. After owning it for several months, it has exceeded my expectations and lives on my camera most of the time!

6. Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS

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Editor's Choice

Focal length:

35mm (equivalent to 52.5mm) prime lens

Weight:

154g (5.5oz)

Size (diameter x length):

63 x 45mm (2 -1/2 x 1-13/16in.)

Filter diameter:

49mm

Minimum focus distance:

0.3m (0.99ft)

Advantages

creamy bokeh

Light and compact

Includes Optical SteadyShot Stabilization (OSS)

Disadvantages

No weather sealing

Not the most durable build

Check the current price

The Sony E 50mm f/1.8 surprised me when I first tested it. I wasn't sure I liked the long focal length (full-frame 75mm equivalent).

After using it for a while, I really enjoyed the creamy bokeh this lens can create and the focus it brings to a scene.

Having a smaller field of view can encourage you to be more creative with your images.

Sometimes it can be difficult to shoot indoors with this lens due to the smaller field of view, but the

background blur

it creates is great for portraits.

Turning this lens wide open to f/1.8 will make the sharp parts of your images (usually the eyes if you're shooting portraits) appear to the viewer.

Sony A6500 + Sony 50mm f/1.8 | 1/1000 f/2 ISO 100

One of the features that make me appreciate this lens is its compactness! Small aperture portrait lenses can be heavy, but this lens is featherweight at 202g (7.1oz).

Another feature worth noting is the inclusion of Optical SteadyShot (OSS), Sony's version of optical image stabilisation. This is ideal for improving the sharpness of images when shooting at low shutter speeds.

Combining optical image stabilization with the fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, this e-mount lens delivers excellent low-light performance.

The build quality is adequate, but I wouldn't say this lens is very durable. The design has a metal exterior but probably contains some plastic as it is so light.

Although it may not be the most durable, it is relatively inexpensive. At around $350, this lens is good value.

For anyone looking for a

amazing portrait lens

at a great price that will make for a very compact setup on a Sony APS-C body, check out the Sony E 50mm f/1.8.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Sony APS C lenses be used on full frame mirrorless cameras?< /p>

This is not recommended – Sony lenses designed for the APS-C sensor should only be used on crop sensor (APS-C) camera bodies. The only lens in this roundup designed for full frame is the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8. The reason I'm recommending it here is that it's a huge improvement over the previous APS-C offering in the same format.

Do all Sony lenses fit all Sony mirrorless cameras?

All e-mount and FE-mount lenses (including any G Master lens) will fit any Sony mirrorless camera as they all use the universal e-mount. However, it is not recommended to use APS-C lenses on full frame bodies as they generally do not cover the entire sensor (or have a strong vignette).

Can you use Sony FE lenses on APS-C mirrorless cameras?

Yes you can, but the result will be a “cropped” focal length and a consequent change in the maximum aperture of the lens. On the plus side, you won't need to upgrade the lenses if you choose to upgrade from an APS-C sensor body to full frame. Some people say FF ​​lenses aren't as sharp on APS-C sensors because they're designed for a larger sensor.

Do all Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras use the e-mount lens system? p>

Yes, the e-mount lens system is universal on Sony APS-C and Sony full-frame cameras. This means you can use any wide angle lens, standard zoom, wide angle zoom, manual focus lens or any for Sony mirrorless lens.

Sony has several excellent APS-C mirrorless cameras here in 2021, and we can assume they'll continue to support the format with their selection of e-mount lenses.

The APS-C format offers advantages in terms of size, weight and cost, while increasing the relative focal length of any attached lens - for photographers requiring greater "reach" from their lenses, this can be a great advantage.

All of the best Sony e-mount lenses recommended in this guide will help you get the most out of your APS-C format Sony camera and offer excellent value for money.

Whether you choose a zoom lens or a prime lens (or both), I'm confident you'll get the most out of your Sony e-mount cameras.

Leave a comment below if you have any questions and happy shooting!

Editor's Choice

Sony 24mm f/1.8

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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