Recommendations for the best budget wide-angle lenses for Sony E-mount?

Been thinking about your lens search and had a quick question tho... do you actually need autofocus for those landscape shots? If you are mostly using a tripod for astro and views, going manual focus can save you a ton of money while getting better glass. One quick tip: if you're hiking a lot, look for something with internal focusing so dust doesn't get sucked in as easily. It's a lifesaver for longevity when you're out in the elements. If you're okay with manual, maybe look at the TTArtisan 10mm f/2.0 ASPH Sony E. It's super wide and really affordable. Just be careful with these smaller brands since quality control can be a gamble sometimes... honestly, always check the corners for decentering as soon as it arrives so you can swap it if it's a bad copy.

Checking back in on this thread today... I remember being exactly where you are when I first got my a6400. Honestly, I spent way too many nights scouring eBay and FB marketplace because I couldnt justify five hundred bucks for a single lens. My big breakthrough was realizing that buying used is the absolute way to go for us budget-conscious folks. I managed to snag a Viltrox 13mm f1.4 STM AF slightly used and it totally changed my landscape game. The f1.4 is a beast for astro too, basically lets in a ton of light compared to the kit lens. If you are okay with manual focus to save even more cash, I actually played around with the 7artisans 12mm f2.8 II for a bit. Its super cheap and surprisingly sharp for the price, plus its tiny for hiking. Just keep an eye on used listings for the Tamron 11-20mm f2.8 Di III-A RXD too, sometimes you get lucky and find one near your 400 dollar limit if you look hard enough!

Checking back in on this thread today... if you want to maximize your budget, you gotta look at TTArtisan 10mm f/2.0 ASPH Sony E. It is surprisingly sharp for the price and the f/2.0 aperture is a lifesaver for astro. Compared to the bigger names, these newer Chinese brands are basically winning the budget market right now by focusing on solid metal builds and manual controls instead of pricey electronics. If you can find a good deal, the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D Sony E is also legendary for landscapes because it has almost zero distortion. It is tiny too, so perfect for hiking. Quick tip tho: if you go manual, definitely enable focus peaking on your Sony a6400. It makes hitting your focus a total non-issue even if you are new to manual glass. Way better value than sticking with a slow kit lens imo.

Honestly, I totally get the feeling of being overwhelmed by all the options out there. I tend to be pretty cautious with my gear because I hate dealing with returns if a lens has bad quality control. For under 400 bucks, the most reliable budget choice I have used is the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS. It is manual focus, which might sound a bit intimidating at first, but for landscapes and astro, you are basically setting it to infinity and leaving it anyway. It is super light for hiking and very sharp. If you really need autofocus to feel safe, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E is a legendary lens for the price. It is a bit heavier tho, so it might pull on your neck during long hikes. Both are solid, safe picks that wont break the bank.

Just saw this and had to jump in! I have been shooting with the a6400 for years and honestly, it is such a beast of a camera once you get the right glass on it. I remember taking my kit lens out to Zion and feeling so bummed that the mountains just looked... small? Then I grabbed the Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary and my mind was literally blown! It is slightly tighter than some of those 12mm options but the image quality is miles ahead of the cheaper Samyang or Viltrox stuff I have tried. The f1.4 aperture is absolutely amazing for astro too. I have spent cold nights out in the desert and the way it handles coma and stars is just fantastic. It feels way more professional and sturdy than those super budget manual brands. If you are hiking, it is a bit heavier but the weather sealing has saved me in light rain more than once. You can usually find it right around $375 brand new which fits your budget perfectly. It is basically the gold standard for a reason!