Best E-Mount Lenses for Sony α6100, α6400 and α6600 Cameras

In May 2010, Sony introduced the NEX-3 and NEX-5 as its first mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras with an APS-C sensor and the new E-mount. Current camera models include the Sony α6100, α6400 and α6600.

This page provides an overview of the growing catalog of E-mount APS-C lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included. Note that E-mount lenses for cameras with a larger full-frame sensor can also be used.

For every lens, the following major characteristics are given:

  • Focal length.
  • Maximum aperture. It has a strong influence on the light conditions in which the lens can be used, and how shallow the depth of field can be. Fast lenses also tend to be much more expensive. Green labels indicate fast lenses (> f/2), red labels indicate slow lenses (< f/4).
  • Filter size. It serves as a representative of the length, diameter and weight of the lens. Green labels indicate compact lenses (filter size < 60 mm), red labels indicate big lenses (> 70 mm).
  • Minimum focus distance (MFD). It has a major influence on the magnification that can be achieved, as well as the depth of field.
  • Another interesting point is of course the price, but it is different in every market and currency. Instead, links to independent reviews are given.

Note that additional designations such as OS, OSD, OSS, T* and ZA which are not required to identify a lens are omitted.

*Manual focus lens with digital coupling between lens and camera.

**Manual focus lens without digital coupling between lens and camera.

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong distortions.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  

1.2 Wide angle lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Zeiss Touit 12 2.8 67 0.18  
Sigma DC DN Contem­porary 16 1.4 67 0.25 LT, OL
Sony E 16 2.8 49 0.24  
Sony E 20 2.8 49 0.20  
Sony Zeiss Sonnar 24 1.8 49 0.16 OL

1.3 Standard lenses

Lenses with a focal length similar to the image sensor diagonal of 28 mm. Images created with these lenses are generally perceived as looking natural.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sigma DC DN Contem­porary 30 1.4 52 0.30 LT
Zeiss Touit 32 1.8 52 0.30  
Viltrox AF E 33 1.4 52 0.40  
Sony E 35 1.8 49 0.30  

1.4 Telephoto lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sony E 50 1.8 49 0.39  
Sigma DC DN Contem­porary 56 1.4 55 0.50 CL, LT, OL
Viltrox AF E 56 1.4 52 0.60  

1.5 Macro lenses

Lenses with a high magnification.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sony E Macro 30 3.5 49 0.095  
Zeiss Touit Macro 50 2.8 52 0.15  

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length.

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sony E 10-18 4 62 0.25  

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sony E PZ 16-50 3.5-5.6 40.5 0.25-0.30  
Sony E G 16-55 2.8 67 0.33 CL
Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar 16-70 4 55 0.35 OL
Tamron Di III-A VC RXD 17-70 2.8 67 0.19  
Sony E 18-55 3.5-5.6 49 0.25 LT
Sony E PZ G 18-105 4 72 0.45-0.95 ML, OL
Sony E PZ G 18-110 4 95 0.40-0.95  
Sony E 18-135 3.5-5.6 55 0.45  

2.3 Superzoom lenses

Like standard zooms, but with an approximately 10x zoom range.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sony E 18-200 3.5-6.3 67 0.30-0.50  
Sony E LE 18-200 3.5-6.3 62 0.50  
Sony E PZ 18-200 3.5-6.3 67 0.30-0.50  
Tamron Di III VC 18-200 3.5-6.3 62 0.50  

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Sony E 55-210 4.5-6.3 49 1.00  
Sony E G 70-350 4.5-6.3 67 1.10-1.50 CL, OL

3 Teleconverters

Teleconverters extend the focal length of matching telephoto lenses by a certain factor.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws

References

The linked reviews are by CameraLabs (CL), LensTip (LT), MirrorLessons (ML) and OpticalLimits (OL, formerly known as Photozone). LT and OL focus on laboratory testing, CL and ML on real world photography.