“Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase.” Photography is an incredibly rewarding hobby that uniquely combines technical and creative realms. Mastering these drastically different components ignites a life-long journey filled with adventure and beauty both in front of and behind the camera lens.
Jumpstarting your photography hobby comes at a price. The initial investment of a quality camera and lens is unavoidable for a photographer just starting out. This is what poses a concern to many aspiring photographers who want to start their hobby without breaking the bank.
Over the last few decades, some of the biggest camera manufacturers in the world have realized and worked to overcome this stumbling block. Sony, for example, offers an outstanding and affordable entry-level camera in their Sony a6000. It offers the renowned quality of the Sony brand with a long list of features and an affordable price tag.
Photography Bundles: Are They Truly Valuable?
While Sony and other leading camera manufacturers offer affordable entry-level options, photography is still an investment. As a new photographer, there is a lot of equipment that you need beyond a camera and lens. So, how can you get everything you need without spending a small fortune?
As with any investment, if you strategically approach buying your first camera and lens, you can save quite a bit of money and time. Purchasing these products as part of a bundle is convenient and economical. However, it is important to remember that not all bundles are created equal.
3 Sony a6000 Bundle Scenarios
- The bundle offers real savings and value.
- The bundle is a sham in disguise. Buying the components separately is cheaper than the bundle itself.
- The bundle is a marketing scheme and includes useless junk meant to make the bundle appear more valuable than it is worth.
Here is the list of items to look for and to avoid as you select the perfect Sony a6000 bundle for your photography needs.
Quick Summary
Best Sony Alpha a6000 Bundle Deals
- Sony Alpha a6000 Kit
- Sony Alpha a6000 2 Lens Bundle
- Sony Alpha a6000 & 18-135 Lens Bundle
- Sony Alpha a6000 with 50mm Lens
- Sony Alpha a6000 Landscape Bundle
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Sony a6000: Best Bundle Components
#1 – 16-50mm Kit Lens
Whether it’s Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, or another leading camera brand, all camera manufacturers offer a kit lens.
The kit lens is designed to give first-time DSLR buyers a quality, affordable lens that is suitable for any type of photography. When first starting out, photographers typically do not know what type of photography excites them the most. The kit lens gives them a chance to take a lot of pictures and discover their photography interests before they upgrade to a more specialized lens, such as a fast, prime lens for portrait photography or a wide-angle lens for landscape photography.
A 16-50mm lens usually costs around $200. As part of a kit lens bundle, the 16-50mm lens costs $50 or less, which makes it the top value in the entire bundle.
#2 – 55-210mm Lens
Are you interested in wildlife photography? Do you plan to photograph your children or grandchildren playing their favorite sports? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, the Canon entry-level telephoto lens is a great option for you.
Bundling the Sony a6000 with the 16-50mm Kit Lens and the 55-210mm lens can save you a lot of money!
#3 – Camera Bag
“There is no such thing as having too many camera bags.” Any photographer will tell you that the search for the perfect camera bag is ongoing. The process is very personal since the perfect bag means something different to each photographer. That is why you simply cannot find the perfect bag from reading reviews or doing research online.
Related: Sony a6400 vs Sony a6100
Purchasing your first camera bag as part of a bundle is the first step in your search for the perfect camera bag. There is no better way to find the perfect bag for you other than putting the bag to the ultimate test and using it for yourself.
#4 – Memory Cards
Can a photographer ever have too many memory cards?
Memory cards are vital to photography, which is why many bundles come with memory cards to sweeten the deal. Just make sure to do your research before you blindly buy a bundle simply because it includes an SD card. A slow memory card can cripple the performance of your new camera and a poor-quality card increases the risk of you losing your photos.
How to Choose the Right Memory Card
Look at reputable brands like San Disk, Lexar, and Transcend for a memory card that is 16GB or larger. Also, be sure to take a look at my in-depth guide on choosing the right memory card for your camera.
Other Useful Bundle Components
#1 – Wireless Shutter Release
A wireless shutter release is a small, inexpensive tool that can be extremely useful since it allows you to trigger the shutter release remotely. While this is not a necessity, it is definitely useful when you want to take a family portrait or a selfie.
#2 – Cleaning Kit
An air blower is great for removing dust from the sensor and a microfiber cloth is ideal for keeping the front element of your lens clean and free of debris. This makes a cleaning kit a useful addition to any photography bundle.
#3 – Memory Card Wallet
Although it is not essential, a memory card wallet is great for organizing your memory cards.
#4 – Screen Protector
Photographers fall on one of two sides when it comes to screen protectors—they love them or hate them. Personally, I find that screen protectors become hazy after a few weeks of use. They are also too reflective in sunny conditions, which makes them useless in my landscape photography.
Sony a6000 Bundle – Things to Avoid
#1 – Tripod
Quality tripods are an investment and depend wholly on your style of photography. This means that any tripod included in a photography bundle will do more harm than good and is not worth the time and frustration.
Invest in a quality tripod only when you absolutely need it. Until then, steer clear of any tripod in a bundle deal.
#2 – Lens Attachments
Do not be fooled by lens attachments. It makes no sense to purchase a high-quality camera and lens only to use a low-quality attachment that will distort and soften your photos.
#3 – Lens Filters
Most lens filters are now obsolete since the same effects can be applied in editing programs like Lightroom and Photoshop.
There is one exception, however. A polarized filter cannot be replicated in an editing program. A quality polarized filter averages between $80 to $100. The polarized lens filter included in many photography bundles costs around $0.50.
#4 – Flash
Most flashes that are included in a bundle average around $10 or more. This pales in comparison to the sophisticated and high-quality flash that is already built into your camera.
Sony Alpha a6000 Kit
Useful Components
- Sony Alpha a6000 Camera
- 16-50mm Lens
- 2 x 64GB SDHC Memory Cards
- Camera Bag
Somewhat Useful Components
- Paint Shop Pro X7 Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Useless Components
- Tripod
- PC Software Package
Sony a6000 2 Lens Bundle
Useful Components
- Sony Alpha a6000 Camera
- 16-50mm Lens
- 55-210mm Lens
- 128GB SanDisk Memory Card
- 2 Rechargeable Batteries
- Dual Charger
- HDMI Cable
Somewhat Useful Components
- 12″ Spider Tripod
- Corel Deluxe Photo Software Kit
Useless Components
- UV Filter
- Filter Kit
Sony a6000 Travel Bundle
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Useful Components
- Sony Alpha a6000 Camera
- 16-50mm Lens
- Sony 18-135mm Travel Lens
- Camera Bag
- USB Card Reader
- 32Gb Memory Card
Somewhat Useful Components
- Microfiber Cloth
Useless Components
- none
Sony a6000 & 50mm Lens Bundle
Useful Components
- Sony Alpha a6000 Camera
- 16-50mm Lens
- Sony 50mm F1.8 Lens
- Camera Bag
- Sandisk 32GB Memory Card
- Card Reader
- Hang Grip
Somewhat Useful Components
- Cleaning kit
Useless Components
- 2 x UV Filters
Sony Alpha a6000 Landscape Bundle
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Useful Components
- Sony Alpha a6000 Camera
- Zeiss 16-70mm f/4 Lens
- Camera Bag
- Sandisk 64GB SD Card
- Camera Battery
- Microfiber Cloth
- Screen Protectors
- Card Reader
- Dust Removal Blower
Somewhat Useful Components
- Corel PaintShop Pro X9
- Cleaning Kit
- Mini Tripod
- Wireless Remote
Useless Components
- Filter kit
- Bounce Zoom Slave Flash