New in the market, the Sony A6100 was released under the awesome Alpha lineup of mirrorless cameras. Subsequently, this camera has become a common number among many photographers and videographers. For its compactness, a whisper-like autofocus system, among others, this camera highly suites grammatically defined amateurs and even professionals, with much consideration being given to its versatility due to the scope of lenses available to it. The A6100 is based on the E-mount system that was developed by Sony for its APS-C mirrorless cameras. In this review, we will look at what the lens compatibility of the Sony A6100 involves, finding out the many types of lenses available, their performance with this camera, and what to put in mind when choosing lenses for special photography needs.
Understanding the Sony E-Mount System:
The whole of the lens compatibility of the Sony A6100 lies with the E-mount system. First introduced in 2010, the mount has been purposely intended to serve both APS-C and full-frame sensors. The APS-C sensor of the Sony A6100 thus allows the effective use of the central part of lenses intended for full-frame cameras, something important when considering the field of view and crop factor.
Crop factor: It means that the Sony A6100 has a crop factor of about 1.5x; thus, a 50mm lens on the A6100 would cover the equivalent field of view of 75mm on a full-frame camera. This feature further underlines the need to keep in mind when choosing any lenses because it determines effective focal length and field of view associated.
The types of lenses that can be used with Sony A6100
Sony E-Mount APS-C Lenses: These lenses are typically made for an APS-C camera like the A6100. Thus, these lenses are quite compact and lighter than full-frame lenses, making them very comfortable when travelling or shooting for the day.
Famous APS-C Lenses:
Sony E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS: It is the kit lens that gets usually bundled with the A6100. It has flexible focal length ranges as well as Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization, which makes it a great option for new users.
Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS: It is a nice telephoto zoom lens as it weighs very little and catches very good distances for such small objects. Thus, it’s great for the people who shoot wildlife or sports.
Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS: A prime lens best known for its exceptional sharpness and low-light performance. Mainly used for portrait photography and street photography.
Sony FE-Mount Full-Frame Lenses:
Though the camera is for full-frame cameras, one can use the FE lenses in the Sony A6100. With the APS-C sensor’s crop factor, the effective focal length becomes one and half times that of the quoted focal length of the lens.
Famous FE lenses:
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8: It’s a standard prime lens; hence, it will become a 75mm equivalent at the A6100. It bears the title for its sharpness and has creamy-like bokeh, making it better for portraits.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM: It’s a professional zoom lens built with length in the focal range. Larger and heavier by default, it can produce brilliant image quality.
Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS: Telephoto zoom lens that caters to all sports and wildlife photography needs. This results in an effective focal range of 105 to 300 mm on the A6100.
Third-Party Lenses:
Third-party manufacturers now have quite an array of E-mount lenses, giving A6100 users yet another hundred lenses to choose from. Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss, and several others offer quality glass that supports the Sony A6100.
Somestim Popular Third Party Lenses:
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: A sharp wideangle prime lens with good low-light performance for landscape and astrophotography.
Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD: It is a multipurpose zoom lens that employs constant aperture value f/2.8 with image stabilization. Well suited for everyday photography and videography.
Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8: This is a superb quality prime lens that would stand for sharpness and color rendition and is great for portrait and street photography.
Key Aspects of Lens Compatibility
There are a number of factors to consider in selecting lenses for the Sony A6100:
Picture Purpose:
Portraits: Typically, lenses between 50mm and 85mm (or 35mm to 50mm for APS-C) are the range people want for portraiture. Especially considered, the shallow DOF and smooth bokeh that can be achieved with wide apertures (f/1.4 to f/2.8).
Landscapes: For wide view persecution, angles less than 35mm can be used with crop sensors. Some people find angles from 18-20mm on full frames appropriate. Look for good edge-to-edge sharpness.
Wild and Sports: Where the subject is far, a telephoto lens has a focal length of at least 200mm. OSS is another plus for handheld shooting of these birds.
Street Photography: Picking a lightweight, compact lens of 24mm to 50mm (APS-C equivalent) generally works best for street photography. A fast aperture prime lens is usually favored.
Aperture:
The aperture of the lens allows light to pass through proportionally; e.g., f/1.4 to f/2.8 allows a larger quantity of light to enter into the camera, which will be good for low-light photography as well as a shallow depth of field. At the same time, the bigger, more expensive, and heavier, lenses are usually wider opening.
Size and Weight:
Compact and lightweight, the Sony A6100 deserves the most careful consideration when it comes to matching its lenses in size and weight. APS-C lenses are in general more compact and lighter than those of full-frame equivalents, making them a better match for the A6100.
Image Stabilization:
The A6100 does not boast in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which is why lenses having Optical SteadyShot (OSS) will be a boon in reducing camera shakes during low-light conditions or at longer focal lengths.
Autofocus Performance:
With 425 phase-detection points, the A6100 boasts sophisticated autofocus which covers 84% of the frame. Although most native E-mount lenses will take advantage of this system, it is still important to check the autofocus performance with third-party lenses. Some may not perform as well, especially in continuous autofocus modes.
Budget:
Lenses can range from affordable to very costly. So, consider your budget and the frequency of the usage of the lens before the purchase. A very high-quality lens can make a lot of difference in photography, but in addition, many inexpensive options are available that yield quite excellent results.
Detailed Lens Recommendations for the Sony A6100
Best All Round Lens:
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS: An all-around lens that provides wide-angle to telephoto focal ranges when using one compact, lightweight optic. Image stabilization is available with this lens’s Optical SteadyShot (OSS). Image quality is impressive for a zoom in this price range, and particularly sharp and contrasty across the focal range. Super lens for travel and everyday photography, and a great single solution for multiple scenarios.
Best Prime Lens for Portraits:
Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS: This lens is a fantastic choice for portrait photography. The effective length on the A6100 is 75mm, which is ideal for taking those stunning close-up photographs. The aperture is wide at f/1.8, which allows for wonderful background blur even in low-light conditions. The Optical SteadyShot (OSS) feature helps net sharp images while shooting handheld. It’s small and lightweight enough to carry around with ease.
Best Wide-Angle Lens:
Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS: It can be one of the best lenses for landscape, architectural, and interior shots. A 15-27mm equivalent has been provided for viewing the wide field, while a constant f/4 aperture helps create a similar exposure on all photos. This feature can also be used for handheld shots, and the lens is known for its sharpness with good minimum distortion, which helps to capture the greatness of all within a span.
Best Telephoto Lens:
Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS: It gives equivalently 105-525mm focal range, and it cannot be summarized without saying that wildlife, sports, and every instance where you needed face action are covered by this lens. Without Optical SteadyShot (OSS), it’s all handshaking with longer focal lengths. This lens offers long focal lengths packing relatively compact and lightweight compared to full-frame telephoto lenses.
Best Macro Lens:
Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro: If you are a macro photography enthusiast, this lens is ideal for you. At its maximum, it provides 1:1 magnification and can take small subjects in detail. A general close-up photography scope is provided as a 30mm focal length is equivalent to 45mm on a full-frame camera.
For photography enthusiasts, the Sony E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS (Kit Lens) is the best budget lens in the market. If you’re budget-conscious, this is a great starter lens that often comes with the Sony A6100 as a kit. It may not be the fastest aperture or have the best build quality, but it’s a handy and compact all-purpose lens, ranging from wide-angle to short telephoto (24-75mm equivalent). The in-built Optical SteadyShot helps to attain very clear shots, especially in low light. This one-lens solution for every situation makes an excellent place for beginners.
Best Video Lens:
Sony E 18-105mm f/4 G OSS: This lens is for those into videography, as it is best suited for such. The power zoom makes smooth transitions, thus being suitable for video works. The same consistent f/4 aperture across the zoom range makes for steady exposure, while the Optical SteadyShot (OSS) complements what is expected-a wider coverage of shooting scenarios, being the equivalent of 27-157.5mm focal lengths. Its quiet Motor for autofocus is also much less noisy in video recordings.
Best Third-Party Lens for Portraits:
Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: This third-party lens is one of the best in sharpness and beautiful bokeh. It is equivalent to an 84mm focal length on the Sony A6100; hence it is just perfect for capturing portraits. With a wide aperture of f/1.4, it is perfect for shooting in low light and generating very shallow depth of field effects so as to isolate your subject, leaving it against a nice, creamy blurred background. Slight in weightage and quite compact, is very suitable for carrying around while shooting portraits on-the-go.
Best All-Around Third Party Lens: Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD: What a super all-rounder! The specification for Tamron’s new 17-70mm f/2.8 lens is phenomenal. A constant F/2.8 from wide-angle to telephoto (25.5 to 105mm equiv) gives that little flexibility it could be used well for everything, from landscapes to portraits, maintaining speed for zooming in. The company’s vibration compensation (VC) technology does the same thing that OSS does that has only become more important given all the aforementioned versatility. An affordable alternative for several expensive lenses of Sony, giving similar performance at a more budget-friendly price.
Best Telephoto Outside Lens: Sigma 100:400 mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary: This lens is great for nature or sports photography, offering very impressive telephoto capabilities through a 150-600mm equivalent on the Sony A6100.
Camera shake can occur, especially at the longer focal lengths, but the included Optical Stabilization (OS) feature helps reduce these involuntary movements. This lens, however, is quite light and compact, making it ideal for photographers who have to travel light. Sharp throughout the zoom range, with good contrast and quality, this is a good all-around lens.
Performance of Third-Party Lenses on the Sony A6100
The E-mount system used by the Sony A6100 has attracted many different third-party lens manufacturers, boasting their own unique lines, often pitted against or rivaling Sony’s lenses when it comes to performance, build quality, and price. Among the most important points that a third party generally considers while using these lenses are:
Such lenses provide an exemplary autofocus performance even when used on a Sony A6100. Generally speaking, Third-party lenses made by reputed brands like Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss are equally good as autofocus. However, whether a lens will be effective for an individual’s purpose would largely depend on the type of the lens and the application. For example, one of the popular features concerning the Sigma contemporary lenses is fast autofocus and an accurate one which suits also for still and video shooting.
Build Quality and Design:
Comparatively, they have a comparable or even better build quality compared to Sony’s native lenses, in fact, some third-party lenses boast a greater build quality than the native options. Such lenses include those of the Zeiss Touit series renowned for their heavy-duty construction and composition of high-quality materials while most of the recently introduced E-mount lenses from Tamron also have features such as moisture-resistant construction, which are valuable attributes for outdoor shooting.
Optical Quality:
The optical quality of third-party lenses has changed a lot for the better in comparison to their performance in previous years. There are lenses like the Sigma Art series, which are famed for their performance in sharpness, contrast, and overall image quality. More often than not, third-party lenses can deliver the same optical quality or, in some cases, exceed that of the Sony lenses, but they often sell for a lower price.
Adaptors for Lens Mounts:
Another aspect of lens compatibility with the Sony A6100 is the possibility of using lens mount adaptors to enable the use of lenses from other camera systems, such as Canon EF or Nikon F mount lenses, in your Sony E-mount camera. In fact, Metabones Speed Booster is an example of such adaptive mechanisms, which allows lens compatibility and at the same time provides favorable benefits such as better low-light use or wider diffusion. Adaptors increase the choice of lenses available to the user; however, they present issues such as a slower focus and reduced functionality for some lenses.
Maximizing Lens Compatibility with Your Sony A6100
Different lenses affect the pictures taken by a camera, and it is very vital for one to take in how the impact these lenses will have on a person’s photography with their Sony A6100. Ways in which one can maximize the lens compatibility are as follows:
Understand the Crop factor:
The APS-C crop sensor in the Sony A6100 has a crop factor of 1.5x, meaning its lenses will narrow the field of view compared to what it provides on full-frame cameras. In that sense, for instance, a 24mm lens will behave like a 36mm lens on the A6100. This really is useful in terms of finding the right lenses to match the images you see in your mind.
Choose Lenses with OSS:
Lack of IBIS means that you need lenses with Optical SteadyShot (OSS) when hand-holding or in low light situations, since it can minimize the effects of camera shake resulting into sharper images and smoother video.
Think of the Future Line-Up of Lenses-you’d Want to End Up with:
Select lenses that fit within your whole kit for each other lens when adding to your lens collection. Many first choose good general zoom lenses covering the greatest focal lengths and then specialist lenses that cater to specific effects, such as macros or ultra-wide angles, when needed. A few high-quality lenses generally yield better results than a lot of lower-quality examples.
Experiment with Manual Focus Lenses:
The camera allows using focus peaking and some magnification features which assists very much while using a manual focus lens. Applying new other vintage lenses or some modern manual focus lenses will be really fun yet, rewarding without spending lots of money on autofocus lenses.
Try Before You Buy:
If you have the chance, try out the lenses before buying them. Renting the lenses or testing them in-store will allow you to see how they fit on your Sony A6100 and serve your unique needs. This will save you from buyer’s remorse like having to buy lenses that would be worth it only in photography shoots.
Consult Lens Reviews and Sample Galleries:
Getting detailed reviews before buying a lens is always a great idea, with sample images taken with the lens before purchase. Sites have thorough reviews of the lens, which cover sharpness tests, bokeh quality, and comparisons with other lenses. In galleries of samples, you will find people really shooting with the lens, giving you a better idea of what to expect from it.
Final Thoughts:
It is among the greatest benefits of the Sony A6100 that it features something for everyone in terms of the lenses: from the E-mount APS-C and full-frame lens lines from Sony itself to high-quality alternatives made by third parties, there is a beautiful plethora of choices for any photographer or videographer using A6100. For those just getting started and looking for a versatile all-in-one lens, or the serious photographer needing specialized lenses for portraiture, landscapes, or macro photography, there is an option available for the Sony A6100. Most importantly, knowing exactly what you want, remembering the crop factor, maybe the features such as OSS, and then choosing the lenses to expand your creativity and help you take the images you want is something every photographer should remember.
Then you will have your lenses-all equipped with one-of-a-kind characteristics and benefits that are unique to every lens in your collection-truly empowering for your photography. The key is such a selection for your Sony A6100, to push boundaries with this extremely capable and versatile camera, whether stills or video.