Best lens for the Sony A6400

Buy the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 if you want one lens for nearly everything on the A6400. Add the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 if you shoot people or dim rooms. Leave the big full-frame zooms alone unless a full-frame body is your next purchase.

The A6400 is an APS-C camera with a 1.5x crop. Multiply any focal length by 1.5 to see how it will frame. The Sigma 18-50mm frames like 27-75mm on this body, which covers a room, a street and a head-and-shoulders portrait without a lens change.

What to pick at each budget

Smallest budget. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 weighs 186g and frames like 75mm on the A6400. That is a good portrait length and a poor everyday length, because indoors you will keep stepping backwards.

Middle. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 frames like 45mm, close to how your eye sees a scene. At f/1.4 it takes in four times the light of an f/2.8 zoom, which is the difference between a usable photo at a dim sangeet and a noisy one.

One lens for everything. The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 weighs 290g, lighter than the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 at 525g. The Tamron reaches further, framing like 105mm at the long end, and it outweighs the 403g camera it is mounted on. Choose it only if that extra reach matters to you.

Travel. The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS frames like 27-202mm at 325g. The aperture is slower, so it suits daylight. OSS means the lens is stabilised, and that counts here because Sony's spec list for the A6400 shows no stabilisation in the body.

For wide shots and vlogging

The Sony E 11mm f/1.8 frames like 16.5mm at 181g. The Sony E PZ 10-20mm f/4 frames like 15-30mm at 178g and has a power zoom, which is smoother than a hand on a zoom ring during video. Pick the 11mm for low light and the 10-20mm for flexibility.

What to skip

Skip the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II on this camera. It weighs 695g, frames like 36-105mm, and you pay for full-frame coverage the A6400 cannot use. The Sigma 18-50mm has the same f/2.8 aperture and covers a wider view.

The full list of lenses that fit the A6400 is worth a look if you need something specific, like a macro.

Before you buy

Ask the shop whether the Sigma or Tamron is the Sony E version, since the same lens is sold for other mounts. Mention which body you own and what you shoot most. A seller who handles these lenses every day can tell you if a different one suits you better.