Sony A58 Lenses That Won't Empty Your Wallet

The Sony A58 uses A-mount lenses. Both Sony and Minolta made them.

Released in 2013, the A58 is still a great camera for learning and enjoying photography.

This guide focuses on lenses that are cheap, light, and fun to use — covering every type of photography so you can find the perfect match.

Need a memory card? There’s a dedicated page covering all the requirements.

Watch Out for E-Mount Lenses

Avoid FE or SEL lenses.

Sony no longer makes A-mount cameras or lenses. Its mirrorless cameras use the E-mount system, and E-mount lenses cannot be used on the Sony A58. The E-mount has a shorter flange focal distance, making it physically incompatible.

Minolta vs Sony A-Mount

Minolta introduced the A-mount in 1985 — the first successful autofocus lens mount. After a costly recall of their first two DSLRs due to a “first black frame” problem, Sony acquired Konica Minolta’s imaging division in 2006.

A-mount lenses can still be used on E-mount mirrorless cameras with an adapter, such as the Sony LA-EA5.

Sony Lens Abbreviations

• SAL — Sony Autofocus Lens. Found in the product number.
• DT — Digital Technology. Designed for APS-C sensor cameras like the A58.
• SSM — SuperSonic Motor. Sony’s ultrasonic motor for fast, quiet autofocus.
• SAM — Smooth Autofocus Motor. Found on lower-end lenses.
• OSS — Optical Steady Shot. Sony’s optical image stabilization for sharper handheld shots.
• ED — Extra-low Dispersion. Reduces chromatic aberrations.
• G — Gold. Sony’s highest-end lens tier.
• ZA — Zeiss Alpha. Developed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss.
• APO — Apochromatic. Reduces distortion and chromatic aberration.
• IF — Internal Focus. The lens does not extend while focusing.
• SEL — E-mount autofocus lens. These will not work on the Sony A58.

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Cheapest Lenses

If you don’t have a lens yet, start here. These are the cheapest way to verify your camera is fully functional — and to find out if you actually enjoy carrying a camera around.

Sony DT 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM II

• 213 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL18552

This was the kit lens for the Sony A58. There are two versions, and both are the most common A-mount lenses available — which also makes them the cheapest best value.

The zoom range covers the most widely used focal lengths, making it a solid choice for buildings, groups, and portraits. You’ll likely need flash indoors, and it’s a great lens for learning about shutter speed and ISO.

Limitations: It won’t blur backgrounds well. For bokeh, you’ll need a faster prime (larger aperture, smaller f-number). For sports, action, or wildlife, you’ll want a telephoto zoom.

Sony DT 55-200mm f/4-5.6 SAM

• 305 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL55200/2

If you have any interest in sports, action, or wildlife, this is the lens to get. You’ll be able to capture action across a field or at the bird feeder.

Its light weight makes it comfortable for long walks — most photographers won’t need a monopod or tripod. The balance of size, image quality, and price is hard to beat for casual use. It also holds its resale value well if you decide to upgrade later.

Primes for Blurry Backgrounds

A lens with a large aperture produces a shallow depth of field — what’s in focus can span just a few centimeters, with everything else gradually blurring. Longer focal lengths increase bokeh, while shorter focal lengths are better for everyday shooting, events, and street photography.

Tip: For portraits, shoot during golden hour — the hour after sunrise or before sunset. The soft, diffuse light is flattering. Avoid shooting at noon when harsh overhead light creates unflattering shadows.

Sony 35mm f/1.8 DT SAM

• 170 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL35F18

This would be the first lens I’d recommend.

The A58 has an APS-C sensor with a 1.5x crop factor, so 35mm behaves like a 50mm equivalent on a full frame camera. As long as you have a bit of room to move, framing shots is easy and intuitive. The f/1.8 aperture handles low-light situations — including indoors — very well.

Sony 50mm f/1.8 SAM DT

• 170 grams
• 49mm filter thread
• SAL50F18

One of the best-value portrait lenses available for any camera mount. If bokeh is your goal, get this lens.

It features circular aperture blades, so even when stopped down, the background blur stays pleasing. To maximize blur, increase the distance between your subject and the background. A circular polarizer is also a great addition — it deepens blue skies and makes sunsets pop.

Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm f/1.7

• 182 grams
• 49mm filter thread
• Not rebranded by Sony

The autofocus isn’t the fastest, but it delivers a classic Minolta rendering that many photographers love. The f/1.7 aperture adds a little extra light-gathering ability over the Sony f/1.8 (there’s also an f/1.4 version if you want to go further).

Since it’s a full frame lens, it works on older 35mm film SLRs too. Note that autofocus relies on the body’s motor, so expect it to be noisier and slower than SAM or SSM lenses.

Sony 50mm f/1.4 SAM

• 220 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL50F14

This full frame lens offers better low-light performance, stronger background blur, and improved optics compared to the lenses above.

That said, it’s not the right choice for beginners. It’s best suited to enthusiasts who plan to also use it on a full frame A-mount body, a Minolta 35mm film SLR, or adapted to E-mount.

Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM

• 175 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL85F28

A small, light portrait lens at an accessible price. Build quality and image quality are modest, but the price reflects that.

The main drawback is working distance indoors — you’ll need to stand quite far back for a head shot, and a full-body shot may not be possible at all. Faster 85mm options (f/1.8 and f/1.4) exist but cost significantly more and are better suited to full frame cameras.

Zooms for Action & Wildlife

These telephoto lenses bring distant subjects close. They tend to be larger and heavier than standard zooms, but they open up sports, wildlife, and event photography.

Sony 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

• 460 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL75300

The extra 100mm of reach over the 55-200mm makes a real difference for birds and distant subjects. The weight is still manageable for handheld use.

It was designed to be an affordable lens, and great deals are still easy to find. Optically better options exist, but they cost significantly more and are much heavier.

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD

• 765 grams
• 62mm filter thread
• A005

This Tamron is roughly half the price of the Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM ED, though it may still feel expensive relative to the camera’s value.

The VC (Vibration Control) optical image stabilization is a genuine advantage on a telephoto lens — it helps produce sharper handheld shots. This is a well-regarded lens that was also sold in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts, so double-check the mount before buying.

Wide Angle Lenses

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6

• 360 grams
• 77mm filter thread 🤑
• SAL1118

The most affordable wide-angle zoom for A-mount. Filters will cost you, but at least they’re compatible.

It’s a great choice for daytime landscapes and architecture, especially on a tripod. The slow aperture makes it poorly suited for astrophotography.

Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 DX II

• 560 grams
• 77mm filter thread 🤑
• Focus clutch

A well-built lens with a faster aperture, making it the better choice for astrophotography. The focus clutch allows quick switching between manual and autofocus by simply pushing or pulling the focus ring — no fumbling with a small switch. It also features internal focus, so the front element stays put while focusing.

As with the Tamron above, this lens was sold in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts — make sure you get the Sony A-mount version.

Sony 20mm f/2.8

• 285 grams
• 72mm filter thread 😭
• SAL20F28

The older Minolta version is less expensive and optically identical — Sony’s changes were cosmetic only.

With the APS-C crop factor applied, 20mm gives a 30mm equivalent field of view, which isn’t particularly wide. Filters are also expensive at this size. For most shooters, one of the wide-angle zooms will be a better choice.

Fisheye Lenses

Sony 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye

• 400 grams
• 4 built-in filters: Normal, 056, B12, A12
• SAL16F28

The bulbous front element prevents the use of external filters, but four built-in filters are included. These were designed for film and have limited use with digital cameras:

• 056 — Enhanced contrast for black and white.
• B12 — Warms the image by reducing red tones.
• A12 — Cools the image by reducing blue tones.

An earlier Minolta version exists but offers little savings. Given this lens originally retailed for $999, current used prices are genuinely impressive.

Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye

• 443 grams
• 180° angle of view
• Manual focus only
• Designed for APS-C sensors

Image quality is mediocre, but the dramatic fisheye effect more than makes up for it. The trade-offs are no filter compatibility and manual-focus-only operation. Also sold as the Samyang 8mm f/3.5.

Between the two fisheyes, this is the one I’d choose.

Macro Lenses

Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro

• 295 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL50M28

A solid choice for tabletop photography and close-up work. For 1:1 macro shooting, the short working distance can be a frustration — it may scare off insects or make lighting tricky.

Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro

• 505 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• SAL100M28

The longer focal length gives you much more working distance at 1:1 magnification, making it easier to light subjects and avoid startling wildlife. Its 9 circular aperture blades also produce smooth bokeh, so it doubles as a capable portrait lens.

Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP

• 405 grams
• 55mm filter thread
• 272E

Slightly cheaper than the Sony 100mm and optically competitive. The focus clutch makes manual focusing faster and easier. This version (272E) offers the best balance of features and image quality across the many Tamron 90mm variants.

Watch out for Nikon F, Canon EF, and Pentax K mount versions — make sure you’re buying the Sony A-mount.