Best compact prime lenses for Sony a6400 street photography setups?

Question

im honestly so fed up with the kit zoom and that huge 18-105 i bought. its just way too massive for my a6400 and every time i try to do some street photography in the city i feel like a giant target. people literally stop and stare which totally kills the candid mood i’m going for. i really need to simplify before my trip to chicago next month but i dont want to sacrifice image quality just for size.

budget is maybe $450ish for something used or new. i just want to blend in and not have a sore neck by noon. what are the best compact prime lenses that actually fit the a6400 well?

Phoenixdoxife · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I was in the same boat till I grabbed the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens. It makes the a6400 basically pocketable, which is huge for Chicago street shots. If you want something sharper tho, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E-mount is my daily driver. Its way smaller than that 18-105 beast and the image quality is just fantastic for the price. Zero complaints here.

erkiphoto · Answer

Saw this earlier and had to chime in... Re: "I once ruined a set because focus breathing..." - honestly, sticking to simple primes fixed my issues. I am so satisfied with how light my bag is now and no one stares anymore.

The Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE Sony E is basically weightless and super discreet for candid shots.

Check out the Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS for great image quality and stabilization. Works well for Chicago street stuff without breaking the bank!

FlowingRiver · Answer

I once ruined a set because focus breathing was insane. Spec-wise, watch for:slow linear motorschromatic aberration Basically, dont ignore motor speed or youll miss shots.