Best Camera & Lens

Quick Picks

Use case	Native Sony pick	Why this pick works on a6400
Everyday zoom	Sony 16–55mm f/2.8 G	Pro-level sharpness and fast AF in a compact package; constant f/2.8 covers indoor light without swapping lenses.
All-in-one travel	Sony 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 OSS	Light, stabilized range from wide to solid tele; OSS offsets the a6400’s lack of IBIS for smoother handheld shots.
Portrait prime	Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS	Classic 75mm-eq look with stabilization; flattering rendering and steadier handheld video/talking heads.
Low-light/cinematic	Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS	“Normal” 52.5mm-eq perspective, bright aperture, and OSS—your easiest indoor storyteller.
Video/vlogging wide	Sony PZ 10–20mm f/4 G	Ultra-light, power-zoom control, low focus breathing, and reliable AF—built for walk-and-talks and room tours.

Best Lenses for Sony a6400

You asked for more depth on the actual glass. Below are five practical categories for the a6400, each with a native Sony pick and a high-value third-party option. I focus on what the images look like, how the lenses behave on the a6400 body, and where each one shines or struggles.

1) Everyday walkaround zoom

Sony E 16–55mm f/2.8 G

This is the “do-it-all, do-it-right” zoom for a6400 shooters who want pro sharpness without going full frame. Wide open at f/2.8 it’s already crisp, and by f/4 the edges lock in. Contrast is snappy but not harsh, and colors lean neutral—easy to grade. Flare control is good; you’ll still get a mild veil if you point it right at the sun, but ghosts are well-behaved.

AF is fast and confident with people and pets; Eye-AF sticks even in backlit scenes. Focus breathing exists but isn’t distracting for casual video. The handling is excellent on the a6400: the lens is not tiny, but balance is good and the zoom ring has a premium damped feel. The only real penalty is the lack of OSS—more on how to work around that in “Realities.”

Great for: day trips, family, street, food, indoor events where f/2.8 helps
Less great for: long handheld video in dim light (no OSS)

Spec snapshot (mobile)

• Aperture: f/2.8 constant
• Weight: ~494 g
• Filter: 67 mm
• Stabilization: No (camera has no IBIS)

Pros

• Pro-level sharpness at any focal length
• Clean contrast and color; minimal distortion after in-camera correction
• Fast, quiet AF; solid weather resistance

Cons

• No stabilization
• Pricey vs. third-party alternatives

Starter settings
People indoors: f/2.8, 1/160–1/250 s, Auto ISO (cap 6400), AF-C + Eye AF

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Sigma 18–50mm f/2.8 DC DN

Third Party Everyday Zoom Lens

Sigma’s 18–50/2.8 is shockingly small for a constant-aperture zoom, which makes the a6400 feel nimble. Rendering is modern and crisp but a hair gentler than the Sony G—very pleasing for skin. Center sharpness is excellent at f/2.8; corners improve as you stop down. AF is quick and essentially silent.

Because it’s so light, it’s a joy for long days and gimbal work. The tele end tops out sooner than the Sony 16–55, but for most everyday frames that’s a fine trade for size and price. Like the Sony, there’s no OSS—use faster shutter speeds or a small grip for video.

Great for: everyday carry, travel light, hybrid photo/video
Less great for: long-reach portraits at 55mm that you’d get on the Sony

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/2.8 constant
• Weight: ~290 g
• Filter: 55 mm
• Stabilization: No

Pros

• Tiny, light, and sharp
• Quiet AF, minimal focus breathing for casual video
• Strong value

Cons

• No stabilization
• 50mm long end feels short if you love tighter framing

Starter settings
Street: f/4, 1/250 s, Auto ISO 100–3200; People: f/2.8, 1/200 s, Eye AF

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2) All-in-one travel zoom

Sony E 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 OSS

This is the travel sweet spot: wide enough for city streets, long enough for details and portraits, and it’s stabilized. Image quality is better than most “superzooms”: at 18–70mm it’s quite crisp; at 135mm it’s softer wide open but cleans up stopping to f/7.1–f/8. Close-focus is excellent—you can do food, flowers, and small souvenirs without swapping lenses.

AF is snappy, the lens is light, and OSS buys you a couple stops for stills and smoother handheld clips. For a single-lens vacation, it’s hard to beat.

Great for: vacations, day hikes, one-bag travel, family trips
Less great for: low-light interiors where you’ll wish for a faster lens

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/3.5–5.6 variable
• Weight: ~325 g
• Filter: 55 mm
• Stabilization: Yes (OSS)

Pros

• Sharp for the class, especially mid-range
• Light, balanced, and stabilized
• Useful close-focus

Cons

• Slow at the long end
• Corners at 18mm improve when stopped down

Starter settings
Travel walk-around: Program mode, min shutter 1/200 s, Auto ISO; zoom as needed

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Tamron 18–300mm f/3.5–6.3 Di III-A VC VXD

Third Party Travel Zoom Lens

If you truly never want to swap glass, this is the “from skyline to squirrels” lens. It’s stabilized (VC) and focuses fast for the range. Optically, it’s strongest from ~18–150mm; past that, it’s competent if you manage expectations (tele superzooms always trade some bite for reach).

AF tracking is confident for casual sports and wildlife. It’s larger than the Sony 18–135 but still reasonable on an a6400 with a decent strap.

Great for: “one lens for everything,” safaris/zoos, air shows, travel with kids
Less great for: low-light interiors; you’ll raise ISO at the long end

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/3.5–6.3 variable
• Weight: ~620 g
• Filter: 67 mm
• Stabilization: Yes (VC)

Pros

• Enormous range with effective stabilization
• Fast, quiet linear-motor AF
• Respectable close-up capability

Cons

• Bigger/heavier than 18–135
• Sharpness tapers at 300mm unless well lit and stopped a touch

Starter settings
Tele wildlife: 300mm, 1/800–1/1000 s, Auto ISO, wide open; bump to f/7.1 if bright

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3) Portrait prime

Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS

A classic portrait focal length on APS-C (≈75mm FF), with the huge bonus of OSS. Rendering is flattering—smooth backgrounds, crisp eyes. AF is good (not “flagship fast,” but reliable). In video, OSS plus a modest crop with Sony’s Active stabilization gives very steady talking-head footage.

Great for: headshots, family portraits, indoor natural-light sessions
Less great for: fast action in dim light (AF can hunt more than newer designs)

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/1.8
• Weight: ~202 g
• Filter: 49 mm
• Stabilization: Yes (OSS)

Pros

• Stabilized blur machine—great for both photo and video
• Pleasant bokeh; forgiving for skin
• Compact and light

Cons

• AF shows its age vs. newer motors
• Longitudinal CA and slight purple fringing wide open (fixable)

Starter settings
Headshots: f/2–f/2.5, 1/200 s, Eye AF; Couples: f/2.8 if faces aren’t aligned

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Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN

Third Party Nifty Fifty Lens

This is the beloved APS-C portrait lens. It’s sharp at f/1.4, with gentle, round bokeh and excellent micro-contrast. AF is snappy and quiet. Because it’s 56mm (≈84mm FF), plan a little extra space indoors; outdoors it sings.

Great for: portraits with real separation, evening street portraits, event candids
Less great for: handheld video in low light (no OSS)

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/1.4
• Weight: ~280 g
• Filter: 55 mm
• Stabilization: No

Pros

• Beautiful rendering and color
• Very sharp center and face plane even wide open
• Compact, affordable for the look

Cons

• No stabilization
• Tight in small rooms; pair with a wider prime

Starter settings
Golden hour portraits: f/1.4–f/2, 1/500 s, Auto ISO; backlight? add +0.3 to +0.7 EV

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4) Low-light / indoor wide prime

Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS

On APS-C, 35mm behaves like a normal 52.5mm—natural perspective that flatters people and spaces. Add OSS and you’ve got a super useful “house party” lens. At f/1.8 it’s already good; by f/2.8 it’s crisp edge-to-edge. Focus breathing is there but manageable; for locked-off interviews it’s a non-issue.

Great for: indoor lifestyle, restaurant scenes, talking-head video
Less great for: ultra-shallow background blur addicts (go 56/1.4 instead)

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/1.8
• Weight: ~154 g
• Filter: 49 mm
• Stabilization: Yes (OSS)

Pros

• Stabilization + bright aperture = reliable indoors
• Light, discreet, fast AF
• Versatile “normal” field of view

Cons

• Some breathing in video when racking focus
• Not as dramatic as a 24mm-equivalent look

Starter settings
Indoor stories: f/1.8–f/2, 1/100–1/160 s, Auto ISO; use a tiny LED if faces look dull

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Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN

Third Party Indoor Lens

If you’ve watched YouTube, you’ve seen this look: wide without distortion when framed well, f/1.4 brightness for low light, and a cozy, cinematic background even on APS-C. AF is sticky; face tracking holds even with busy neon or moving crowds.

Great for: night city walks, tight rooms, environmental portraits, astro dabbling
Less great for: handheld video in low light without support (no OSS)

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/1.4
• Weight: ~405 g
• Filter: 67 mm
• Stabilization: No

Pros

• Big-aperture wide look at a friendly price
• Strong center and mid-frame sharpness at f/1.4–f/2
• AF that keeps up with Eye-AF scenarios

Cons

• Large front element; bigger filters/hood
• No OSS—use 1/125–1/200 s or a mini grip/gimbal for motion

Starter settings
Night street: f/1.4, 1/160 s, Auto ISO (cap 12800); expose to protect faces, not signs

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5) Video / Vlogging Wide Lens

Sony E PZ 10–20mm f/4 G

Designed for creators: it’s feather-light, has power zoom for smooth reframes, and keeps focus breathing low so your frame doesn’t visibly “pump” when you focus. AF is confident; face tracking is extremely reliable. f/4 needs light—open a window, add a small LED, or raise ISO a bit.

Great for: walk-and-talk, room tours, handheld B-roll moves
Less great for: very dim interiors without extra light

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/4 constant
• Weight: ~178 g
• Filter: 62 mm
• Stabilization: No (digital stab works with a crop)

Pros

• Ultra-light and balanced on the a6400
• Power zoom with clean transitions
• Quiet AF and low breathing

Cons

• f/4 indoors means higher ISO or more light
• No optical stabilization

Starter settings
Vlog: 10–12mm, 1/60–1/125 s, Auto ISO; enable Active stabilization if you can spare the crop

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Samyang 12mm f/2 AF

Third Party Video Lens

A tiny, bright, autofocus refresh of a long-loved focal length. At arm’s length it frames you and your scene without distortion; f/2 buys you cleaner low-light. AF is quick and quiet, and the lens is so small you forget it’s there.

Great for: pocketable vlog rig, travel nights, tiny rooms
Less great for: zooming flexibility—you’ll foot-zoom

Spec snapshot

• Aperture: f/2
• Weight: ~213 g
• Filter: 62 mm
• Stabilization: No

Pros

• Small, bright, fast AF
• Good edge sharpness stopped slightly
• Excellent price/performance

Cons

• No OSS
• Fixed focal length; mind your distance for flattering faces

Starter settings
Indoor vlog: f/2–f/2.8, 1/60–1/100 s, Auto ISO; keep the camera slightly above eye level

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Final picks at a glance

Use case	Native Sony	Third-party
Everyday zoom	16–55mm f/2.8 G	Sigma 18–50mm f/2.8
All-in-one travel	18–135mm OSS	Tamron 18–300mm VC
Portrait prime	50mm f/1.8 OSS	Sigma 56mm f/1.4
Low-light/cinematic	35mm f/1.8 OSS	Sigma 16mm f/1.4
Video/vlogging wide	PZ 10–20mm f/4 G	Samyang 12mm f/2 AF

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a6400 Realities (read before you pull the trigger)

• No IBIS. The body doesn’t stabilize—lenses with OSS/VC help a ton for handheld video and slower shutters. With non-OSS glass, keep shutter speeds up: people at 1/125–1/250 s, telephoto even faster. A small handgrip or mini gimbal is a smart add-on for video.
• 1.5× crop math. Translate to full-frame feel: 16mm≈24mm, 35mm≈52.5mm, 50mm≈75mm, 56mm≈84mm, 10–20mm≈15–30mm, 18–135mm≈27–202mm.
• AF is a strength. The a6400’s Face/Eye AF is excellent; all lenses above play nicely. Newer designs (Sigma DC DN, Sony G/PZ G) track the most confidently in busy backgrounds and are quieter for video.
• Video breathing. If you rack focus often, pick lenses noted for low breathing (Sony PZ 10–20 is great). For primes that breathe, frame a bit wider and crop in post.
• Filters/NDs. To keep video outdoors clean, buy one good variable ND and a step-up ring path so multiple lenses share the same filter. It simplifies your kit and saves cash.

If you tell me your top two priorities—say, “travel + portraits” or “vlog + low light”—I’ll turn this into a tight two-lens shopping list with one ND, one strap, and one mini-mic so you’re dialed on day one.

FAQ: Lenses for the Sony a6400

What’s the first lens I should buy for my a6400 if I mostly shoot travel?

Go with a stabilized all-in-one: Sony 18–135mm OSS. It’s light, sharp for the range, and covers city streets to telephoto details without swapping lenses.

I want pro-looking photos—should I get the 16–55mm f/2.8 or a prime?

If you want one lens that does almost everything with high image quality, Sony 16–55mm f/2.8 G. If you’re okay swapping and want max blur/low light, add a fast prime like Sigma 56mm f/1.4 or Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS.

Do I actually need OSS since the a6400 doesn’t have IBIS?

For video and dim light, yes, OSS helps a lot. For daytime stills, you can live without it—use faster shutter speeds (≈1/125–1/250s; faster for telephoto).

What’s the cheapest way to get “portrait blur” on a6400?

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 is the value king for creamy background and sharp faces. On a tighter budget, Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS gives blur plus stabilization.

I’m vlogging. What lens will make me look good at arm’s length?

Sony PZ 10–20mm f/4 G (power zoom, low breathing, super light). On a budget and in low light, Samyang 12mm f/2 AF is tiny and bright—just no OSS.

Can I slap full-frame lenses on my a6400 and still be fine?

Yep. All FE lenses mount and work. Remember the 1.5× crop (a 35mm FE behaves like ~52.5mm). FE glass is often bigger and pricier, but very sharp and future-proof.

Sigma vs Sony on a6400—what’s the catch with third-party?

Modern Sigma/Tamron/Samyang AF lenses play nicely with Sony Eye-AF. You might give up OSS or weather sealing on some models, but you gain price/weight advantages and sometimes faster apertures.

I’m getting soft corners at 18mm on my travel zoom—did I get a bad copy?

Probably not. Many travel zooms are softer wide open at the extreme wide end. Stop to f/5.6–f/8 for architecture/landscapes and it cleans up.

What’s the best one-two lens combo so I don’t think about gear again?

• Simple travel + portraits: Sony 18–135 OSS + Sigma 56/1.4
• Light everyday + low light: Sigma 18–50/2.8 + Sony 35/1.8 OSS
• Vlog + portraits: Sony PZ 10–20/4 G + Sony 50/1.8 OSS

I film indoors and everything’s noisy or blurry—lens or settings?

Both. Get a bright prime (Sony 35/1.8 OSS or Sigma 16/1.4). Then set 1/60–1/100s, open the aperture, raise ISO as needed, and add a small LED if possible.

Which shutter speed should I use without OSS so my photos aren’t blurry?

Use the quick rule: 1 / (focal length × 1.5) as a minimum. Then bump for moving people. Example: at 50mm → 1/80–1/125s minimum; for action, 1/200–1/500s.

My video “pulses” when I change focus—what lens fixes that?

That’s focus breathing. The Sony PZ 10–20/4 G keeps breathing very low. With primes that breathe, frame a bit wider and crop slightly in post.

What’s the best budget lens that feels like a real upgrade over the kit?

Sigma 18–50mm f/2.8. Tiny, sharp, constant f/2.8. It makes the a6400 feel like a different camera for both photo and video.

I want the “YouTube room look.” Which lens?

Sigma 16mm f/1.4. Wide but flattering, bright for low light, and great subject separation if you’re close to the camera.

I shoot sports from the stands—what telephoto makes sense on a6400?

If you can handle lens swaps, Sony 70–350mm G OSS is stabilized and reaches far (≈105–525mm eq.). If you prefer one lens travel style, Tamron 18–300 VC is the do-everything compromise.

Can I do macro without going all-in on a dedicated macro lens?

Start with what you have: the Sony 18–135 focuses surprisingly close. For true macro, consider the Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Macro (FE mount works fine on a6400). A cheap stopgap is extension tubes on a sharp prime.

What ND filter setup should I buy for video outdoors?

One good variable ND plus step-up rings so multiple lenses share the same larger filter. It’s cheaper and simpler than buying a filter for each thread size.

Is the Sony 35/1.8 OSS too “boring” compared to the 16/1.4?

Different vibes. 35/1.8 OSS = natural perspective, stabilized, great for people and everyday stories. 16/1.4 = cinematic wide, dramatic framing, better for tight rooms/night streets—just no OSS.

I’m worried about mixing brands—will my colors match?

They’ll be close but not identical. Shoot a quick gray card clip/photo at the start, stick to neutral profiles, and match in post. Most viewers won’t notice with a basic grade.

Used vs new lenses for a beginner—safe to buy used?

Totally fine if you buy smart. Check AF behavior, smooth rings, clean glass, tight mount, and firmware update options. Buy with a return window from a reputable seller.

Do I ever need to calibrate lenses on my mirrorless Sony?

No micro-adjust like DSLRs. If AF consistently misses, update firmware first. If it still misses, that copy may have an issue—swap it.

Can I shoot handheld video with non-OSS lenses and still get stable footage?

Yes, with technique. Use faster shutter (1/100–1/160s), brace the strap, add a small handgrip, or use Sony’s digital stabilization (note the crop). For lots of motion, a mini gimbal helps more than OSS.

I want to look good on camera—what focal length flatters faces?

For vlogs at arm’s length, 10–20mm range works if the camera sits slightly above eye level. For portraits, 50–60mm (≈75–90mm eq.) is classic and flattering.

I hate swapping lenses. Which single lens makes me happiest long-term?

If you can handle size: Tamron 18–300 VC (reach for days). If you want light and stabilized: Sony 18–135 OSS. If you care more about speed/indoors than reach: Sigma 18–50 f/2.8.

If you want, tell me your top two use cases (e.g., “travel + portraits” or “vlog + indoor family”) and your budget, and I’ll build a dead-simple two-lens plan with one ND filter and a tiny mic so you’re dialed on day one.

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