Sony's mirrorless cameras are quite popular among world photographers. This camera has a sturdy, ergonomic, and easy-to-use body that makes it a favorite of photographers.
In addition, the purchase price and selling price are very stable so that it becomes a special added value for Sony mirrorless camera users. This good camera quality is also supported by a large selection of lenses with various types and uses
Lens prices for mirrorless cameras are also very diverse. Not a few lenses are sold at high prices or even very expensive. Indeed, the price is often directly proportional to the quality of the resulting photos.
However, those of you who have a limited budget don't need to worry. There are several lenses produced by Sony which are still reasonable and affordable. In addition, there are also several manual lenses from other manufacturers, which are no less interesting to choose from.
1. Sony E 16mm F2.8
In the range of lenses that Sony has issued for its mirrorless cameras, the Sony E 16mm F2.8 is the most affordable.
Besides being cheap, this lens has a very minimalist pancake design. This will make the Sony mirrorless camera paired with this lens look smaller and more compact.
Despite being cheap, small and compact, the Sony E 16mm F2.8 lens produces good quality photos. Because, this lens has a fairly large aperture at F2.8.
This lens also has a unique advantage, namely that it can be paired with a special wide and fisheye converter that will make the focal length wider than 16 mm. For those of you lovers of landscape or street photography who want a compact lens, still a Sony manufacturer, but cheap, this lens is a must-have.
2. Sony E 20mm F2.8
The best focal length for street photography ranges from 20 mm to 35 mm. Well, fortunately Sony also issued a lens with a focal length of 20 mm.
In my experience, this focal length is ideal because it is almost the same distance as the human eye can see. This Sony lens also has a compact form and a fairly large aperture, namely F2.8.
The resulting photo quality is similar to the Sony E 16mm F2.8. This lens even has the same uniqueness, which can be fitted with a fisheye and a special wide converter from Sony.
The only difference between these two lenses is the price difference. The E 20mm F2.8 lens is slightly more expensive than the E 16mm F2.8 lens because as I said, it has the best focal length for street photography.
3. Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro
Sony only issued two choices of macro lenses for its mirrorless cameras. One of them is the Sony E 30mm F3.5, which I think is the best. The reason I call this lens the best is because its focal length is right at 30 mm, not too close and not too far. Another reason is of course because the price is affordable.
When compared to other brand macro lenses, the Sony E 30mm F3.5 lens is fairly cheap. This is contrary to the general assumption that macro photography is expensive because most of the lens prices are not pocket friendly.
The shape of the Sony E 30mm F3.5 lens is also very simple. There is only a focus ring that can be used for manual use.
The only drawback of this lens is the absence of stabilizer technology which is commonly used to help produce photos so that they are not blurry.
However, since macro photography usually uses a tripod, even without stabilizer technology, it's not really a problem.
4. Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS
An instant way to produce photos that look slick and clear is to use a large aperture fix lens below the F2 number. With a large aperture, the shutter speed automatically becomes fast so as to produce photos that are not blurry.
Currently Sony has issued several lenses with a large aperture. The cheapest is the Sony E 50mm F1.8. With an aperture of F1.8, we can produce clear photos both when the weather is sunny, or when it is dark or at night.
In addition, with an aperture of F1.8, this lens can produce bokeh photos that are very popular with most photographers.
The bokeh effect can give the impression of a clearer photo object. Bokeh can also disguise the background we don't want, such as crowds or an unsightly scene.
This lens has a focal length of 50 mm, which is ideal for portrait photography, especially close-up portraits. However, the distance is quite far making it only maximal when used outdoors.
I like this lens because it comes with a long hood. In addition to reducing unwanted flare effects, the built-in hood of this Sony E 50mm F1.8 lens gives the impression of a professional lens.
5. Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
A telephoto lens or telephoto lens is a lens that may be a must-have for a photographer. Actually, telephoto lenses are not only useful for taking long distance moments.
This type of lens is unique in that it can make photos that show objects with a background look close together. An example is when shooting in the mountains or at the beach.
Well, Sony issued a telephoto lens series at an affordable price, namely the Sony E 55-210mm. This lens has a standard aperture, but it is sufficient to meet the needs of telephoto photography.
The shape of the Sony E 55-210 is almost the same as the shape of the old Sony kit lens. The difference is only in its length. However, for telephoto lenses, this length is normal.
The sales package for the Sony E 55-210 is equipped with a large hood that makes it stand out when paired with the camera body. Its eye-catching appearance is suitable for those of you who like to be the center of attention. Of course, this lens also produces clear images, typical of Sony cameras.
6. Meike 35mm F1.7
Sony's lens prices are slightly higher. Even though the Sony E 50mm F1.8 is the cheapest portrait lens, it still costs around $200. If you ask, a portrait lens that costs much cheaper, this Meike 35mm F1.7 is the answer.
This lens made by a Taiwanese manufacturer has a very cheap price, around 850 thousand rupiah. This lens has a focal length of 35 mm, wider than the Sony E 50mm. The aperture is also bigger, namely F1.7.
With the size of this focal length, this lens is ideal for portrait photography both indoors and outdoors. An aperture of F1.7 is capable of producing a bokeh effect that is very loved by photographers.
Unfortunately, this lens is made of iron which makes it a bit heavier. Another drawback is the aperture ring and focus ring that don't click so they are easy to shift. Considering this Meike 35mm F1.7 lens is a manual lens, the focus ring that shifts easily will be very distracting when taking photos.
7. 7Artisans 25mm F1.8
In addition to the Meke 35mm F1.7, there are other options to meet the needs of low-cost portrait lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras. The lens is 7Artisan 25mm F1.8. The price is also not much different from the Meike 35mm F1.7, which is around 800 thousand to 1 million rupiah, depending on the shop that sells it.
This lens can be an option because the quality of the material is better than the Meike. The aperture is more clicky, even though both are made of iron. In addition, 7Artisan lenses have a much more compact design so they are not too heavy.
For those of you who like a mix of landscape and portrait, this lens might need to be considered, considering the focal length is quite wide, at 25mm.
8. Kamlan 28mm F1.4
Want a good quality lens, a large aperture, a photographer's favorite ideal focal length, but at a low price? I recommend the Kamlan 28mm F1.4. This lens may still sound foreign in US, but it is actually quite popular in foreign countries. The quality exceeds that of Meke and 7Artisan lenses. This lens is made of good material and the focus ring and aperture click.
This Kamlan can be a favorite alternative lens for you mirrorless camera owners. The body of the Kamlan lens is also lighter when compared to other manual lenses.
Apart from that, the design is also more premium and very similar to Sony's lenses. With an aperture of F1.4, this lens is guaranteed to be able to produce good bokeh photos and low-light photography.
Unfortunately, even though it's cheaper, the price is not much different from Sony's original lenses, such as the Sony E 50mm F1.8, for example. The price difference that is not too far away will probably make you prefer Sony's original lenses.
9. Kamlan 50mm F1.1
Still from Kamlan, they also issued a product that is fairly unique, with a very large aperture. This Kamlan 50mm F1.1 may be the only choice for Sony mirrorless camera users, who want a tough lens in low light conditions. With an aperture of F1.1, this lens is able to display a strong bokeh effect and the resulting photo is very blurry.
Another plus is that this lens is capable of producing bright photos even in low light conditions. I like this lens because the design gives it a premium feel.
The material used is also good, sturdy, and the ring clicks. All these advantages make me feel that the Kamlan lens is the perfect manual lens.
Interestingly, the price of this lens is almost the same as the Kamlan 28mm F1.4 lens, which I discussed earlier. Of course, it all comes down to your choice. Do you choose a lens with a wide focal length but a smaller aperture or a 50mm focal length but the aperture is super large at F1.1.
10. Samyang 12mm F2.0 NCS CS
When looking for an inexpensive super-wide lens for Sony's mirrorless camera, I couldn't get away from the South Korean manufacturer, Samyang. Samyang lenses, also known as Rokinon, are manual lenses whose quality is almost similar to Sony's original lenses.
The Samyang 12mm F2 has become so popular because it offers excellent quality, but at a low price. Compared to other manual lenses, this lens is also lighter because it does not use heavy metal materials.
In addition, the aperture and focus rings of Samyang's lenses are also very clicky, making them comfortable to use.
Samyang's lens designs, which are generally compact, perfectly match Sony's mirrorless cameras. There is no glaring weakness of this Samyang 12mm F2, other than the lens focus that must be adjusted manually.
Conclusion
Thus the range of lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras at low prices that you should try. Although the price is cheap, it does not mean the lens is not of good quality. Moreover, the actual photos do not only depend on the camera and lens used.
Another important thing that greatly affects the quality of the resulting photo is the shooting technique and the experience of the photographer himself.
So, don't be discouraged. Even though we use cheap cameras and lenses, we don't need to feel inferior to professional photographers. Keep practicing so you can produce stunning photos.
