The best lenses for the Sony ZV-E10 in 2024

We like the Sony ZV-E10 a lot. It’s not exactly cutting-edge, using the same sensor and video features we’ve seen in the Sony A6000 series, and it doesn’t even have a viewfinder. But it has been designed brilliantly for vlogging.

In fact, we think it is one of the best cameras for vlogging right now, not to mention one of the best cameras for beginners. With that in mind, we’ve picked the best lenses to go with the Sony ZV-E10, based on what we think you’ll find most useful when you’re just starting out, and later on when you’re ready to try new subjects and techniques. The 16-50mm power-zoom lens that comes with the camera will get you started, but it’s not the best optic in the world, and you can do a lot better.

If your filmmaking needs are more advanced, check our Sony FX30 vs ZV-E10 comparison.

The ZV-E10 is not just for vlogging. While it’s probably one of the most basic cameras in the range, we think it’s still one of the best Sony cameras for anyone just starting out. Its 24MP sensor and access to the full Sony E-mount lens range means that it’s a really good stills camera too – and there are plenty of lenses that are just as effective for video as stills. 

Rod Lawton
Rod Lawton

Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews Editor. He has used practically every interchangeable-lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium-format cameras, so he has the expertise to select the best Sony lenses for you.

The Quick List

Best lenses for Sony ZV-E10 in 2024

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Best everyday lens for the ZV-E10

(Image credit: Matthew Richards)
A much better-quality standard zoom for photography with the ZV-E10

Specifications

Focal length: 18-50mm (27-75mm equivalent)
Maximum aperture: Constant f/2.8
Elements/groups: 13 elements in 10 groups
Diaphragm blades: 7
Stabilizer: No
Minimum focus distance: 0.12m (W) 0.3m (T)
Maximum magnification: 0.36x (W) 0.2x (T)
Filter thread: 55mm
Dimensions: 65 x 75mm
Weight: 290g

Reasons to buy

+
Constant f/2.8 maximum aperture
+
Value for money
+
Image quality

Reasons to avoid

-
No stabilizer
-
Small... ish

Our picture shows the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN fitted to the Sony A7R III we use for testing, but it's actually an APS-C lens designed to fit the sensor in the ZV-E10. It offers a classic 3x zoom range for a standard zoom, with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. 

Sony makes a 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens, but it's a lot larger and a lot more expensive, and we think this Sigma alternative is a much better match. it’s surprisingly compact – we say surprisingly because lenses that offer a constant aperture normally end up larger than this. It’s also well-built and weather-resistant

During our testing, the lens delivered great images, and the autofocus system was responsive enough to keep up with our demands. It’s a really excellent little lens. 

Read more: Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary review

Most versatile lens for the ZV-E10

(Image credit: Future)
A great long-zoom standard lens that's neat, simple and versatile

Specifications

Focal length: 18-135mm (27-200mm equivalent)
Maximum aperture: f/3.5-5.6
Elements/groups: 16/12
Diaphragm blades: 7
Stabilizer: Yes
Minimum focus distance: 0.45m
Maximum magnification: 0.29x
Filter thread: 55mm
Dimensions (WxL): 67.2x88mm
Weight: 325g

Reasons to buy

+
Effective zoom range of 27-202mm
+
Optical SteadyShot
+
Compact and lightweight

Reasons to avoid

-
Relies heavily on digital corrections

If you want something with a bit more range than the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8, how about this affordable zoom lens? The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS gives you an extensive zoom range – the equivalent of 24-202mm thanks to the ZV-E10’s APS-C sensor. But despite the range, it’s able to maintain good performance, even at 135mm.

If you use a raw processing program that doesn't automatically apply lens corrections, you'll see how much digital corrections are needed, but if that's the price you pay for this level of optical quality, we'll take it! Our picture shows this lens on our Sony A6000, but it's also a perfect fit for the ZV-E10 and makes an ideal do-it-all travel lens. 

Read more: Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS review

Best vlogging lens for the ZV-E10

(Image credit: Matthew Richards)
If you want to film yourself vlogging, this is the perfect lens!

Specifications

Focal length: 10-20mm (15-30mm equivalent)
Maximum aperture: Constant f/4
Elements/groups: 11 elements in 8 groups
Diaphragm blades: 7
Stabilizer: No
Minimum focus distance: 0.2m (AF), 0.13-0.17m (MF)
Maximum magnification: 0.14x (AF), 0.18x (MF)
Filter thread: 62mm
Dimensions: 70 x 55mm
Weight: 178g

Reasons to buy

+
Ultra-wide angle of view
+
Constant f/4 maximum aperture
+
Power zoom mechanism

Reasons to avoid

-
No stabilization
-
Quite expensive

If you want to walk and talk to the camera at the same time, the ZV-E10, with its flip-around screen, can oblige – but you'll need something wider than the standard 16-50mm kit zoom, especially if you want some background scenery and a friend in the frame as well. 

That's where you need this new Sony E PZ 10-20mm ultra-wide zoom. It doesn't just give you the wider angle of view you need for selfies, not to mention travel photography, it's a power zoom lens to go with the ZV-E10's zoom switch on the top of the camera. If this lens is a little too pricey, go for Sony's older but cheaper 10-18mm f/4 OSS lens instead. 

Read more: Sony E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G review

Best wide-angle lens for the ZV-E10

(Image credit: Matthew Richards)
Prime lenses are making a comeback, and this is one of the best for ZV-E10 vloggers

Specifications

Focal length: 11mm (16mm equivalent)
Maximum aperture: f/1.8
Elements/groups: 12 elements in 11 groups
Diaphragm blades: 7
Stabilizer: No
Minimum focus distance: 0.15m (AF), 0.12m (MF)
Maximum magnification: 0.13x (AF), 0.2x (MF)
Filter thread: 55mm
Dimensions: 66x58mm
Weight: 181g

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive sharpness across the frame
+
Weather sealed

Reasons to avoid

-
Noticeable vignetting & barrel distortion
-
No aperture control ring

This is Sony's widest prime lens available for the ZV-E10. Its ultra-wide view, equivalent to 17mm when you take the ZV-E10’s APS-C sensor into account, is ideal for epic scenes such as landscapes and interiors, while its fast f/1.8 aperture means it can take in lots of light, so it’s a strong choice for astrophotography.

The use of two linear stepping motors makes the autofocus system very quick for stills, but also deliver smooth and near-silent transitions while you’re shooting video.

Read more: Sony E 11mm f/1.8 review

Best telephoto lens for the ZV-E10

(Image credit: Matt Richards)
The perfect lens for sport and wildlife photographers

Specifications

Focal length: 70-180mm (105-270mm equivalent)
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Elements/groups: 19/14
Diaphragm blades: 9
Stabilizer: No
Minimum focus distance: 0.27-0.85m
Maximum magnification: 0.22-0.5x
Filter thread: 67mm
Dimensions (WxL): 81x149mm
Weight: 810g

Reasons to buy

+
Remarkably compact and lightweight
+
Advanced autofocus system
+
Impressive image quality

Reasons to avoid

-
No optical stabilization

A 70-200mm f/2.8 is what’s often called a ‘trinity’ lens – one of three must-haves for most busy photographers. But the optics required to achieve that combination of reach and wide aperture mean that this lens configuration is typically too big to comfortably fit on the compact ZV-E10.

Tamron has been very clever with this telephoto zoom, though: reducing the maximum focal length by only 20mm means the overall lens is much smaller and lighter than, say, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS, making it a better partner for the ZV-E10. 

There’s no compromise with image quality or autofocus responsiveness: both are excellent.

Read more: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD review

Best super-telephoto lens for the ZV-E10

(Image credit: Matthew Richards/Digital Camera World)
A great long-range telephoto zoom for sports and wildlife

Specifications

Focal length: 70-350mm (105-525mm equivalent)
Maximum aperture: f/4.5-6.3
Elements/groups: 19/13
Diaphragm blades: 7
Stabilizer: Yes
Minimum focus distance: 1.1-1.5m
Maximum magnification: 0.23x
Filter thread: 67mm
Dimensions (WxL): 77x142mm
Weight: 625g

Reasons to buy

+
Very good image quality
+
Virtually silent autofocus

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow-ish maximum aperture
-
Quite expensive

If you’re into capturing wildlife in pictures, you’ll know that you can never get close enough. On the ZV-E10, the reach of this lens is extraordinary, equating to 105-525mm in full-frame terms, and definitely in superzoom territory.

Despite the relatively modest aperture rating, you can expect to get high-quality images from this lens, and it’s light enough that handheld shooting is perfectly possible. Built-in optical stabilization helps to maintain sharpness.

Read more: Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS review

How to choose the best lens for the Sony ZV-E10

The ZV-E10 uses the Sony E lens mount. Sony’s own E-mount lenses have either FE or E in their model names: all work on the ZV-E10. Very broadly speaking, an FE lens will be heavier and more expensive than an equivalent E lens, but deliver better image quality. E lenses (again very broadly) will tend to be smaller and lighter.

For shooting at shorter focal lengths and wider angles of view – specifically kit lenses or ultra-wide zooms – you are probably better off with an E lens. The APS-C crop factor of the ZV-E10 means that FE lenses offer a reduced angle of view, curtailing their wide-angle capability with the smaller sensor.

If you are buying a third-party E-mount lens, check whether the lens is designed for use with APS-C Sony cameras like the ZV-E10, or with full-frame Sonys.

Check out our guide to the best Sony lenses if you want to know more

How we test lenses

The lens experts in our testing lab run a range of tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.

We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the centre of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths.

There's more to it than just the technical side, though! Beyond the lab, our reviewers test lenses in real-world environments – and sometimes on professional shoots! We work with lenses both indoors and outdoors, in studio conditions and in natural light, with as many different subjects as is possible (or appropriate – there's no point testing a landscape lens' ability to shoot a portrait!). 

We take into account everything from handling and ease of use to speed of autofocus and the overall quality of the images produced. 

Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World

Rod Lawton
Contributor

Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com