Sony makes great lenses, period, but some are better for vlogging than others. If you’re a serious vlogger aiming to achieve professional-looking results, it might be time to consider swapping out the kit lens your camera came with and expanding your horizons with something new and different.
Sony offers a wide range of lightweight interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras that are perfect for vlogging and some that are optimized exclusively for this purpose. Likewise, there’s a broad selection of E-mount lenses to complement them, each with its own set of compatible qualities and features. Since mobility, portability and affordability are usually top of mind when it comes to vlogging, we’ll stick with the APS-C format models. These are just a few popular favourites to ponder.
Sony SEL 16-55mm f/2.8 G E-Mount Lens
Before launching its higher-end G Master line of lenses, Sony touted its G Series as the company’s gold standard (the G stands for Gold), and the E 16-55mm f/2.8 G proves that this type of glass can still hold its own. Manufactured to the highest standards of optical performance, this was Sony’s first pro-grade zoom lens designed for its APS-C mirrorless system. It’s a compact multipurpose workhorse with a bright constant aperture and an ample wide to mid-telephoto zoom range. Autofocusing is fast and near silent, and a dedicated switch lets you toggle easily to manual focus. The weather-resistant barrel packs a total of 17 elements in 12 groups, including two aspherical and two advanced aspherical elements, and its nine-rounded-blade diaphragm delivers very pleasant-looking bokeh effects.
- f/2.8 to f/22 aperture range
- 17 elements in 12 groups
- 9 aperture blades
- XD Linear AF motor
Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
This is Sony’s only ultra-wide-angle APS-C format lens, and although it lacks dust and splash protection, it does feature built-in optical image stabilization – indispensable when shooting handheld or in low light and uncommon for this type of lens. An internal focus mechanism delivers fast and responsive autofocus, leaving the total length of this compact lens neatly intact and the filter thread (and any attached filter) untouched when AF is activated. The large gnarled zoom ring is nicely tactile and easy to maneuver. Build quality is solid but still surprisingly lightweight. Featuring a minimum focal length of just 10mm, this lens is perfect for those moments when you want to capture a broad swath of background in your shot with an eye-catching and slightly exaggerated perspective behind the subject.
- f/4 to f/22 aperture range
- 10 elements in 8 groups
- 7 aperture blades
- SteadyShot optical image stabilization
Sony SEL 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS E-Mount Lens
A super-zoom option with a focal range this extensive makes it one of the more versatile choices for anyone seeking a proverbial go-to lens for their vlogging adventures. It’s one of the more budget-friendly ones, too. Its mostly plastic construction helps keep it lightweight and affordable but doesn’t detract from the overall build quality. The limited aperture range does however constrain its usefulness in low-light situations: this lens is definitely more attuned to daylight scenarios and other well-lit applications, but optical image stabilization gives it more leeway when shooting handheld. It also maintains reliably excellent corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the zoom range, which is often one of the biggest trade-offs with this type of multipurpose lens.
- f/3.5 to f/5.6 aperture range
- 16 elements in 12 groups
- 7-blade circular aperture
- OIS optical image stabilization