Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I am fully invested in Nikon with about 8 bodies and 20 lenses so I'm not looking to switch systems, however I wanted to get my "feet wet" with mirror less. I purchased a Sony a6000 and have the two kit lenses. My question is: Does someone have a suggestion for a lens that will give me the full potential of the a6000 above the quality attainable with the kit lenses. If I like using mirror less the next generation of the Nikon mirror less will be on my radar screen.

Thanks,
Mike

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

if not looking to switch systems why didn't you just get a Nikon Z6 mirrorless body for all your existing lenses?

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Because I wanted to see if I liked the mirror less system as well as DSLRs. I work for a retail company part time and last year they had a box on a rack back by the employee break room marked for 5.00. It was a complete Sony a6000 kit, but said no camera. The camera was either stolen or damaged while on display. Since I had the two kit lenses, battery, carrying case, all I needed was a body. I determined I would invest 300.00 max. in the body but never was able to find a really nice one for that price. Finally I saw an ad for one in mint, hardly used condition for 337.00. I bought it. To have jumped into the Z6, it would have cost 4 times that and while I did play around with one at the photo show in NYC last Oct., I wanted to carry a mirror less around and give it a good work out. Also I'm not crazy about investing in a first generation new product. When they release their next set of bodies in a year or so, I'm sure there will have been improvements and by then I will know if I like mirror less or want to stick with DSLRs.

MDI Mainer

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

IMO, the biggest bang for the buck in Sony E-mount are the Sigma primes 19,30 and 60mm f2.8.
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a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Mike, if you don't need auto-focus, you can get a MetaBones or similar adapter for about $100 and use your legacy Nikon lenses. I used mine for my 1980-1990 era lenses with very good results. I still have my 28-85 zoom and my 50 prime. Some lenses from the old days are not as good as we thought they were but these two have done well on my 6000 and my 6500.

I don't know about the more recent Nikon lenses but I suggest a look at MetaBones and perhaps other adapters.

timcc Loc: Virginia

For a walk-around zoom, I love the 16-70 Zeiss. It lives on my a6000. The Sony 18-135 also gets good reviews. While prime lenses often offer the best IQ, these zooms are high quality and offer more convenience for travel or getting the quick shot. The a6000 does not have the latest technology, but is still an excellent camera, IMHO.

ColonelButler Loc: Niagara-on-the-Lake ON Canada

The Sony 18-135 is my most used lens on my a6300.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Aah, now we know "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say. Clears up a lot of doubt.

A have the a6000 & a6300. The sharpest lens I have (among >6) is the Sigma 60mm f/2.8. The image sharpness just tops the others by a lot, relatively inexpensive as well $239 new @ B&H.

Carlosu

I use a Sony 24-240. It’s full frame lense,but it works on my a6000. It’s a bit heavy, but versatile. Good quality pics. With a6000 crop factor and built in Clear image zoom, you can get the equivalent of over 700mm, with a pretty good quality picture

jeffhendy Loc: El Dorado Hills, CA

I use the Sony 18-300 as my carry around lens for A6000. It works well for prints up to 13x19 and covers most of my needs. I also use a Sony 10-18. By the way, the camera seems much better since the recent firmware update! Even the batteries seem to last longer, although I haven't done a careful test.

gwilliams6

I have the A6500 and my two most used lenses are the Sony G 18-105mm f4 and the Sigma (in native E-mount) 16mm f1.4

https://www.sony.com/electronics/camera-lenses/selp18105g (the 18-105mm has OSS optical steady shot)

https://www.sigmaphoto.com/16mm-f1-4-dc-dn-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=VWdlFIro6wo (Jason Vong agrees this is the BEST wide angle lens for the A6000 series and right now is $100 off. I recommend you jump on this. I had this lens and it is super)

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

I like the suggestion of a6k, above, that you try getting a Metabones or other appropriate adapter and using it with your Nikon lenses. I have taken a similar approach using my assortment of Canon lenses (though I do not have twenty of 'em). That approach should at least give you a general idea of what to expect from third-party lenses at their respective focal lengths, maximum apertures, physical sizes, etc. I doubt that there is any one lens that will give you "the full potential of the a6000 above the quality attainable with the kit lenses". There are just too many variables regarding the types of photography which one may seek to perform with an a6000. Also, it seems to be fashionable to malign kit lenses, but the Sony kit lenses can turn out pretty respectable performances.

The prices of Sony native lenses have dissuaded me from purchasing any Sony lenses except the kit lenses. My experience with Canon lenses and adapters on the a6000 leads me to believe that one can approach "full potential" in image quality with third party lenses, but to achieve "full potential" of the a6000, including autofocus performance, one would have to bite the bullet and shell out the money for Sony native lenses.

gwilliams6

The reality is you will have MUCH BETTER autofocus performance if you use native E-mount lenses vs adapted lenses of ANY make with even fine adapters like Sigma MC-11, in stills and especially in video autofocus. All tests have shown this and I agree from my own personal use over a few years. So I recommend you get the reasonably priced lenses I linked above or other excellent, but inexpensive native Sony E-Mount lenses like the 28mm f2, 50 mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8 and inexpensive native E-Mount lenses from Sigma including the new APS-C 56mm f1.4 and the linked before 16mm f1.4. I have had a ton of experience with this gear and this is all solid advice. Cheers

Haydon

Yet you see Lanier use adapted Canon lenses frequently?