Check out the Sony metadata list. Sony E 11mm F1.8 is *amazing* for bokeh, but Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary gives way more versatility. Honestly, both fit ur budget perfectly tho!!

> Look at the Sony E PZ 10-20mm F4 G. Since it’s an internal zoom, the barrel never extends, which is a massive safety plus for your gimbal motors... Yeah I totally agree that the internal zoom thing sounds WAY safer for the camera especially if youre like me and still figuring out how to balance a gimbal properly without breaking something!! Honestly I’ve been doing tons of market research since I just got the ZV-E10 II and I found that the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD is actually a really solid alternative to the Sigma 10-18mm. It’s a bit bigger but it has weather sealing which makes me feel way more comfortable taking it outside in the humidity or rain idk if that matters to you but for the price it feels like a tank. The Sigma is super small but I worry about how delicate it feels compared to the Tamron or the Sony G lenses. Tbh picking between all these brands is so confusing because they all have different strengths but if you want that f/2.8 brightness and weather protection for your investment the Tamron is definitely worth a look even if native Sony glass is better for the stabilization metadata stuff!

Just saw this thread and ngl i am also pretty new to this. I have been really worried about the crop factor too because I dont want my face to look like a giant potato on screen. Since you are worried about the active stabilization crop, have you thought about a more diy stabilization route? I have been trying to use Sony Catalyst Browse on my computer instead of the in-camera settings. It is basically a diy way to fix shaky footage and it gives you more control over the crop than the camera does, which might save you from needing the widest lens possible. For a lens that isnt too expensive, I have been looking at the Samyang AF 12mm f/2.0 E. It is pretty light and seems easy to handle for someone like me who is still learning the ropes.

• It fits your budget easily at around $300 to $400
• It is small so it wont mess with your gimbal balance too much
• The autofocus is pretty quiet afaik Honestly i am still a bit scared of breaking my gimbal if the lens is too heavy, so keeping it light is my main goal. Does the 12mm feel wide enough with the crop to you? I am still trying to figure that out myself before I buy anything.

> I’m curious if certain lenses work better with the camera's electronic steady shot than others. Honestly, for maximum reliability with Active SteadyShot, you need native glass that supports full gyro metadata and breathing compensation. Look at the Sony E PZ 10-20mm F4 G. Since it’s an internal zoom, the barrel never extends, which is a massive safety plus for your gimbal motors during long shoots. Their isn't a better option if you want to ensure the electronic stabilization works *perfectly* without frame jitters. It’s super lightweight and the 10mm focal length is basically required to fight that heavy crop. F4 might seem slow, but for vlogging it’s the most reliable "set it and forget it" lens in the lineup tbh.

Just sharing my experience: 1. I struggled with that heavy crop too... basically had to switch to a wide prime from Sony to get my field of view back.
2. Native glass is just more reliable for the electronic steady shot metadata!!
3. Honestly, go with Sony; you cant go wrong for the AF speed and it keeps the gimbal motors safe since it's so light... gl!

^ This. Also, I've gotta politely disagree with the idea of relying on software fixes like Catalyst Browse. In my experience, spending hours at a desk trying to stabilize footage is just a massive time sink. Over the years, I've tried many of those DIY post-processing methods and they usually just result in more frustration than they're worth... you lose so much time.

• Honestly, just search YouTube for ZV-E10 II vlogging lens comparison
• There are tons of side-by-side videos showing the exact crop factors for every lens mentioned here
• Check the Sony Alpha subreddit too, people post spreadsheets of this stuff all the time I saw a really great video about this exact setup a few days ago that basically answers everything about the active stabilization crop and which lenses actually play nice with it. Just google best wide angle for ZV-E10 II and it is like the first result. Way easier than me typing out a whole technical manual here when those guys have already done the legwork.