Posted on: December 12, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 2

Most people don’t realize that the Sony A6500 was released over a year ago, right after the 2016 Photokina. It has since been a very popular camera for everyday users, enthusiasts, and professional photographers alike. The Sony in-body stabilization system, the capable 24-megapixel sensor, and the A6500’s video capabilities make it a great all-rounder for every occasion.

The A6500 is also very compact compared to other, similarly-equipped cameras on the market. All you need to produce great travel photos is a good lens (or several of them), and we have just the options for you.

Sony 18-105mm f/4 OSS

If you want a lens that does everything, the Sony 18-105mm f/4 is definitely the lens for you. With this lens on your A6500, you can capture great holiday photos and travel videos with ease. The lens’s range covers wide to telephoto angles superbly; it is simply one of the most versatile lenses on the market for the Sony APS-C body.

The 18-105mm Sony lens has another trick up its sleeve: Optical Steady Shot. Combined with the IBIS system of the A6500, you can capture great images in low light without using a tripod (or having to carry one). This means you can travel light and enjoy your trip more with this camera-lens combination in your bag.

Do you want to capture great holiday videos as well? Once again, the 18-105mm lens excels in this department. The lens is equipped with a power-zoom, which lets you zoom in and out using a lever for smoother tracking. The cherry on top is its price; the lens is an absolute bargain.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is one of my all-time favorite lenses for the Sony APS-C system. The 30mm focal length is perfect for street photography and general travel shots. The field of view is not too wide, but it is also not too narrow that you have to step back from the delicious cuisine you’re trying to capture for Instagram.

Sigma-rumors.com even noted the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 as THE best lens for Sony A6500 right now. It is incredibly sharp and capable of producing smooth shots thanks to its 1.4 aperture. It may not have an optical image stabilization, but the A6500’s IBIS more than makes up for it.

Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS

This last lens is for those who love capturing landscapes and breathtaking views. The Sony 10-18mm f/4 lens is a super-wide-angle lens designed for travelers. The wide field of view is perfect for landscape shots. Sony also does a very good job correcting this lens in the A6500 body, so you won’t have to worry about distortions and other common issues that you would get with a wide-angle lens.

The Optical Steady Shot isn’t really necessary in such a wide-angle lens, but it is a great addition nonetheless. The lens is also perfect if you want to vlog about your trips; you can attach your A6500 to a Gorillapod and vlog about your trip rather easily.

If you are gearing up for a holiday trip and you want to pick up a new lens for your A6500, these are the options to consider. These lenses also work with other Sony APS-C cameras, including the A6300, A6000, and the A5100.

2 People reacted on this

  1. Great article. I would love to hear you opinion about some of my thoughts concerning upcoming travel. I will be gone for 2-4+ years. Long term travel potentially ending up in relocating. We’ll be moving slower as our last trip (16 months) we moved very quickly. On that trip I brought a a6000 Sony 35mm f1.8 and kit 16-50. The kit was horrible and I actually prefer the weight of a ‘real’ camera lens.

    Currently I’m brining my Sony a6500 + Sony 10-18 & Sigma 30mm F1.4 . I just tried the sony 18-135 zoom and it’s pretty sweet. Nice feel and fairly light weight. So now I’m debating about bringing that lens along too? I typically light street photography, markets, food, landscapes. Not into wildlife or anything generic like that. I fear that if I bring the 18-135 I won’t use my Sigma as much, which is a real shame. I would love to hear your thoughts of using the Sigma 30mm f1.4 as my general walk around lens (instead of the sony 18-135 zoom).

    Also, how important do you think filters are? I was planning on bringing a polarizer + 6 stop ND filer (along with 2 step down rings). But not sure is the value added is worth the 4 ounces and trouble of having to change filters. Can’t wait to get some input, I feel like my head is exploding with ideas but need a sounding board.

    Cheers,
    Scott

  2. A6500 + 10-18mm/F4 + 18-135mm + 30mm/1.4 is the most ideal combo for travel.

    With this combo, you can shoot everything you want: street photography, markets, food, landscapes, not into wildlife

    For landscapes, Polarizer and ND filter are inevitable. ND filter is a must for taking photos of waterfalls, whilst polarizer is a must for landscape photos.

    Use of 18-135 in the daytime will offer your more versatility, and use of 30mm/1.4 offers higher speed of shutter in low light scenes or much shallower depth of field when in need.

    Enjoy the best travel-combo !

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