The Best Cheap & Fun Sony A5100 Lenses

The Sony A5100 has a good lens selection. Sony has done the best job of supporting their mirrorless APS-C cameras.

The Sony E-mount has a better APS-C lens selection than the Nikon Z or Canon RF-S.

Sony has released 16 zooms. 6 of them are Power Zoom (PZ) lenses, which are great for video.

There are 8 prime lenses that range from 11mm to 50mm.

The A5100 can be found for less than $400, with the kit lens.

Lens recommendations will be in line with that price.

The complete list of lenses is on the Sony E-mount page.

Sony A5100 memory card compatibility

Can the A5100 use full frame lenses?

Full frame (FE) lenses can be used. The Sony A5100 has a 1.5x crop factor when using full frame lenses.

That’s an advantage for telephotos, but not good for wide angle lenses.

Lens Abreviations

Kit Lens (Sony E 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 PZ OSS)

• Released 2013
• 116g, 40.5mm Filter Threads
• SELP1650

The Sony E 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 PZ OSS was the kit lens for the Sony A5100.

It’s a power zoom lens that retracts when powered off to keep it compact. The zoom range is useful for general photography and would be good for travel.

The lens was released in 2013 and has been bundled with many other cameras. It’s easy to find and affordable, especially used.

An updated second version was released in 2024 that weights 107g and used the same 40.5mm filters.

Wide Zooms

Wide zoom lenses are great for landscapes, architecture, travel, and video.

Sony E 10-18mm f4 OSS

• Released 2012
• 225g, 62mm Filter Threads
• SEL1018

The Sony 10-18mm f4 OSS is the lens to get if you want a zoom ring.

There are used deals thanks to how long the lens has been sold.

Sony E PZ 10-20mm f4 G

• Released 2022
• 178g, 62mm Filter Threads
• SELP1020G

The Sony 10-20mm f4 G PZ is weather resistant! It’s such an attractive overall package if you are going to be shooting video.

The one missing feature is Optical SteadyShot. I think Sony skipped OSS because the expectation is that cameras will have IBIS.

Keep in mind that the Sony A5100 does not have IBIS.

Sony E 16-55mm f2.8 G

• Released 2019
• 494g, 67mm Filter Threads
• SEL1655G

The Sony 16-55mm f2.8 G is possibly the best APS-C E-mount lens. It covers the same range as a full frame 24-70mm f2.8 lens, but in a smaller and lighter package.

The fast constant aperture is perfect for events, weddings, photojournalism, and other types of professional photography.

If you want the best the APS-C E-mount has to offer, it’s this lens. Though, I think it would handled better on a larger camera with a more substantial grip.

All-in-One Superzooms

Superzooms can do it all, from landscapes to wildlife. Modern lenses even have good image quality.

What’s hard to get around is the size and weight of these lenses compared to the Sony A5100, which only weights 283g.

Another issue is they only go as wide as 18mm. That’s the equivalent to 27mm on full frame, which is not very wide. Your phone likely has a wider angle lens than that.

Compared to a lens like the 69g Sony 20mm f2.8, superzooms will draw much more attention. Most of the primes and the Sony 55-210mm f4.5-6.3 OSS would be lighter than most of the superzooms.

Sony E 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 OSS

• Released 2018
• 325g, 55mm Filter Threads
• SEL18135

The Sony 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 can do it all. It’s a popular lens because of the wide range of photography it covers.

It has a linear motor, which provides fast and quiet autofocus. The 45cm minimum focus distance is good for closeups.

A good choice if you don’t need additional telephoto range.

Sony E 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 OSS

Sony 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 - under $250

• Released 2010
• 524g, 67mm Filter Threads
• SEL18200

The Sony 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 OSS has an impressive zoom range and the price is affordable.

That comes at the cost of some chromatic aberration when shot wide open at both ends of the zoom.

It’s also heavy. I wouldn’t want to walk around with it dangling from my neck.

Sony E 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 OSS LE

• Released 2012
• 460g, 62mm Filter Threads
• SEL18200LE

The Sony 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 OSS LE is 64g lighter. (2.25 ounces)

For a “Light Edition,” I would have expected a larger weight savings.

Like the previous version, it doesn’t have weather sealing. That shouldn’t be too concerning because the Sony A5100 isn’t weather resistant.

Sony E PZ 18–200 mm f3.5-6.3 OSS

• Released 2012
• 694g, 67mm Filter Threads
• SEL-P18200

The Sony 18–200 mm F3.5-6.3 OSS PZ was designed with video in mind.

It has internal focusing and circular aperture blades.

There is some loss of sharpness at 200mm. The f6.3 aperture will be difficult to use indoors due to a lack of light.

Telephoto

Sony E 55-210mm f4.5-6.3 OSS

• Released 2011
• 345g, 49mm Filter Threads
• SEL55210

The Sony 55-210mm f4.5-6.3 OSS is a great cheap option that pairs well with another lens. That’s why is was commonly sold as a second kit lens along side the 16-55mm.

It has a slightly longer reach than the superzooms, while being lighter and less expensive.

It’s the best choice to try out wildlife photography or outdoor sports.

Sony E 70-350mm f4.5-6.3 G OSS

• Released 2019
• 625g, 67mm Filter Threads
• SEL70350G

The Sony 70-350mm f4.5-6.3 G OSS offers an impressive reach that is great for sports, action, and wildlife.

It’s a G lens, which means it has weather sealing and is very sharp.

Being designed for APS-C, it is compact, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive for the zoom range.

Primes

There are 8 APS-C prime lenses for the Sony A5100.

I like that the first 6 released all use 49mm filter threads.

Sony E 11mm f1.8

• Released 2022
• 181g, 55mm Filter Threads
• SEL11F18

The Sony 11mm f1.8 is an impressive ultra wide lens. Not just for it’s image quality, but light weight.

It’s a weather sealed lens, making it an excellent choice for landscapes and architecture.

The fast aperture makes it good for astrophotography and video.

Sony E 15mm f1.4 G

• Released 2022
• 219g, 55mm Filter Threads
• SEL15F14G

The Sony 15mm f1.4 G is small, sharp, and has less distortion than the 11mm.

It has the fastest aperture of any Sony APS-C lens, making it the best for low light.

There is the option to have a clickless aperture and the autofocus motor is very quiet. The lens is well suited for video use.

Sony E 16mm f2.8

• 2010 67g 49mm - 24mm equivalent

• Released 2010
• 67g, 49mm Filter Threads
• SEL16F28S or B (silver/black)

The Sony 16mm f2.8 is an incredibly small and light pancake lens. It’s called that because it’s as thin as a pancake.

The cheap price makes it good if you want to try out architecture or landscapes.

With an equivalent focal length of 24mm, it is likely a little too wide for street photography.

Sony E 20mm f2.8

• Released 2013
• 69g, 49mm Filter Threads
• SEL20F28B or S (black/silver)

The Sony 20mm f2.8 is another small lens, that might be a more usable focal length.

It won’t draw attention, making it a good option for street photography. The 30mm equivalent is similar to 28mm, which is very popular for street and travel.

Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm F1.8 ZA

• Released 2011
• 225g, 49mm Filter Threads
• SEL24F18Z

The Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm F1.8 ZA has minimal distortion while remaining sharp corner to corner.

It’s an incredible value used that can be found for less than half the MSRP.

The aperture is fast enough to create a blurry background to help isolate your subjects.

Sony E 35mm f1.8 OSS

35mm f1.8 - 2012 154g 49mm - standard prime

• Released 2012
• 154g, 49mm Filter Threads
• SEL35F18

The Sony E 35mm f1.8 OSS is a perfect walking around lens. It has a “standard” focal length, meaning framing images will be easy and feel natural.

Autofocus is fast and accurate. Though the 30cm close focusing distance isn’t that close.

Sony E 50mm f1.8 OSS

50mm f1.8 - 2011 202g 49mm - longest prime, portraits

• Released 2011
• 202g, 49mm Filter Threads
• SEL50F18

The Sony E 50mm f1.8 OSS is the affordable portrait lens to get. There isn’t anything close for the Sony A5100.

That’s because it was released two years before full frame E-mount cameras.

It’s smaller, lighter, and less expensive than the 371g Sony FE 85mm f1.8.

You do need to watch out because there is similar lens, the larger full frame Sony FE 50mm f1.8 lens.

Sony E 30mm f3.5 Macro Lens

• Released 2011
• 225g, 49mm Filter Threads
• SEL30M35

The Sony 30mm f3.5 macro is the only APS-C macro lens offered by Sony. Used copies are an excellent value.

At 1x magnification it has a working distance of 2.4cm. That’s not a ton of room, but the lens is going to be great for close-up photography.

It’s also not weather sealed.

For more working distance, weather sealing, and a better build, there’s the more expensive Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro G OSS.