Sony A1 Lenses Guide

The Sony a1 is capable of shooting up to 30 frames per second with full autofocus, that’s pretty impressive for a camera with a 50.1 megapixel sensor.

However, although many of Sony’s lenses can keep up with the blistering speed of the a1, some of the older lenses are simply not fast enough to achieve 30 FPS with continuous autofocus (AF-C).

In this guide you’ll find a complete list of native Sony E-mount lenses along with the maximum frame rates that they support when shooting with the Sony a1.

I’ll also be adding third-party lens compatibility just as soon as this information becomes available.

Prerequisites for 30 FPS

In order to achieve 30 FPS there are some pretty stringent prerequisite conditions that need to be met:

1. You need to be shooting in compressed raw or jpeg file format.
2. Focus mode should be set to AF-C and drive mode to Hi+.
3. Electronic shutter speed between 1/250 – 1/32000 sec.
4. Priority Set in AF-C set to ‘Release’. The default is ‘Balanced Emphasis’. With it set to ‘Release’ the shutter will be released even if the subject is out of focus. With ‘Balanced Emphasis’ the camera tries to achieve a balance between focus and shutter release, however this reduces the maximum FPS slightly.
5. Use a focus mode other than tracking. If any of the tracking focus modes are used then you will not achieve the maximum FPS. So you’ll need to use a focus area like Wide or Zone instead.
6. Have the latest lens firmware version installed.

Lenses That Support 30 FPS

Here’s the full list of native Sony E-mount lenses that according to Sony’s lens compatibility guide and continuous shooting guide support shooting at 30 FPS with full autofocus on the Sony a1.

I’ve also added a column for ‘Shots in Focus’ and will update this as and when I hear how many frames from 30 are actually in focus. If you can help contribute to this column (preferably with tests on fast moving subjects), then please drop a comment at the bottom of this article, thank you.

Full Frame Lenses

Lens Model	Shots in Focus	Firmware	Check Price & Reviews
Prime
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 35mm F1.8	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 85mm F1.8	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Zoom
Sony FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM	n/a	Ver.03	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS 1	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 1 | 2	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS	n/a	Ver.05	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H

APS-C Lenses

Lens Model	Shots in Focus	Firmware	Check Price & Reviews
Zoom
Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G Lens 1 | 3	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 18-110mm F4 G OSS 3	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS 1 | 3	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS 1 | 3	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H

Lenses That Support 20 FPS

These lenses support shooting at a maximum of 20 FPS on the Sony a1.

Full Frame Lenses

Lens Model	Shots in Focus	Firmware	Check Price & Reviews
Prime
Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 50mm F1.8	n/a	Ver.03	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H

Lenses That Support 15 FPS

These lenses support shooting at a maximum of 15 FPS on the Sony a1.

Full Frame Lenses

Lens Model	Shots in Focus	Firmware	Check Price & Reviews
Prime
Sony FE 28mm F2 1	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Distagon T* FE 35mm F1.4 ZA	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA	n/a	Ver.03	Amazon | B&H
Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA 1	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Zoom
Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS 1	n/a	Ver.03	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS 1	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS 1	n/a	Ver.03	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS	n/a	Ver.03	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony FE 28-135mm F4 G OSS 1	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H

APS-C Lenses

Lens Model	Shots in Focus	Firmware	Check Price & Reviews
Prime
Sony E 20mm F2.8 3	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sonnar T* E 24mm F1.8 ZA 3	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro 3	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS 3	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS 3	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Zoom
Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS 3	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS 1 | 3 | 4 | 5	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS 3	n/a	Release	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS 3	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 18-105mm F4 G OSS 1 | 3	n/a	Ver.04	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE 3	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS 3 | 5	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS 3	n/a	Ver.02	Amazon | B&H

Notes

1. The [Lens Comp.: Distortion] setting will be set to “Auto”.
2. If the focal-length index setting is outside the range of the focal-length scale (28 to 60 mm), no warning is displayed, and although shooting is possible it is not possible to capture images correctly. Images shot in this state will have problems such as incorrect focus. Also, on still images the lens name in the Exif data will appear as either F0 or with (Retract) after the name.
3. The angle of view will be narrower down to that of APS-C size.
4. Some noise may occur shooting with high-sensitivity. In that case change the ISO sensitivity or ISO AUTO maximum.
5. The rotational direction of the zoom lens cannot be assigned.

Top 10 Lenses

Here are my top 10 lens recommendations for shooting sports and wildlife with the Sony a1.

1. Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS

If you have the money then the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lens is really a no brainer providing you don’t mind the size and weight of this 600mm F4 beast.

I don’t own this lens myself but have hired it for a couple of weeks and it really is exceptionally sharp.

The autofocus is also very fast and it works well with both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, although there is some vignetting when using the teleconverters.

Whilst not an in-depth review, I’d highly recommend watching this video from Mark Smith to see exactly what this lens is capable of in the right hands:

Pros: Extremely sharp, fast f/4 aperture, lightweight for a 600mm f/4
Cons: Very expensive
Minimum Focusing Distance: 4.5 m (14.8 ft)
Minimum Aperture: 22
Maximum Aperture: 4
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 40.5 (slot-in)
Length: 449 mm (17-3/4 in.)
Diameter: 163.6 mm (6-1/2 in.)
Weight: 3040 g (107.3 oz.)

2. Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS

If you don’t need the 600mm reach or would prefer a faster aperture then the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS might be the lens for you.

Just like the 600mm F4 it supports both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters taking the reach to 560mm and 800mm, which makes it a very versatile lens capable of shooting a variety of subjects.

He is a Sony Ambassador, but Mark Galer definitely has one of the best reviews of this lens and it is the one that I’d recommend watching to learn more about it:

Pros: Lightening fast autofocus, low light performance, sharpness, weight, handling
Cons: Very expensive
Minimum Focusing Distance: 2.7 m (8.86 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 40.5 mm (slot-in)
Length: 359 mm
Diameter: 158.1 mm
Weight: 2895 g (102.12 oz.)

3. Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Despite loving my FE 100-400 lens I always craved a little more reach especially for shooting wildlife. So when the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS was announced I ordered it on day one.

Despite being labelled as a G lens and not a GM lens, the build quality is still very similar to the 100-400 GM.

This is an internal zoom lens so it does not extend as you zoom in, making it much easier to balance on a gimbal. Also the zoom ring has a very short throw which means you can go from 200mm to 600mm with just a short twist of the wrist.

If 600mm is not long enough then it is also compatible with both the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters that take the range up to 900mm and 1200mm.

This lens has definitely spent more time mounted to my cameras than any other lens that I own.

If you do buy this lens, then I’d recommend taking a look at my Sony 200-600 Bag Guide as you might need a larger bag!

I’d recommend watching this review from Jay to learn more about the FE 200-600:

Pros: Internal zoom, sharpness, 1.4x & 2.0x teleconverter compatibility
Cons: Size, weight, chromatic aberration
Minimum Focusing Distance: 2.4m (7.88 ft)
Minimum Aperture: 32-36
Maximum Aperture: 5.6-6.3
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 95mm
Length: 318 mm (12 5/8 in.)
Diameter: 111.5 mm (4 1/2 in.)
Weight: 2115g without tripod mount (74.60 oz.)

4. Sony FE F4.5-5.6 100-400mm G Master

If the 200-600 is a little too large and heavy, then the Sony FE F4.5-5.6 100-400mm G Master might be the lens to mount on your a1.

Like with the 200-600 I bought this lens on the very first day that it was released and it has always impressed me. However, since the 200-600 came along it doesn’t see a great deal of use unless I want to travel light or shoot bugs close-up.

Weighing in at only 1395 g (49.21 oz.) and measuring 205 mm (8.07 in.) in length at 100mm, this is a very packable and travel friendly lens that I spent a couple of weeks together with in Borneo (my Borneo adventure).

Both the Sony FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters are supported, these extend its reach up to 560mm with the 1.4x and up to 800mm with the 2x.

If you would like to learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this review from Jay:

Pros: Fast autofocus, very sharp across the frame, color rendition, bokeh, build quality
Cons: Price
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.98 m (3.22 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/32-40
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 77 mm
Length: 205 mm
Diameter: 93.9 mm
Weight: 1395 g (49.21 oz.) without tripod mount

5. Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM

Roger Cicala from LensRentals.com tested the new Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM lens and said: “This is the sharpest lens we’ve tested. Period. (At last count, that’s out of 300+ lenses tested.)

CA correction is very good as are the low levels of distortion and vignetting. The XD linear focus motors are extremely fast and quiet and the bokeh is buttery smooth.

To take a closer look at this lens I’d recommend this review from Gordon Laing:

Pros: Excellent sharpness, bokeh, build quality
Cons: Price
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.7 m (2.3 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 82mm
Length: 127 mm (5 in.)
Diameter: 89.5 mm (3-5/8 in.)
Weight: 950 g (33.6 oz.)

6. Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS

Although this lens is starting to show its age the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS lens is a great choice for when you can get closer to the action. I own this lens myself and it can tackle a range of subjects with ease.

The zoom mechanism is all internal, so the lens doesn’t extend as you zoom in. The zoom ring also has a very short throw that allows you to go from 70mm to 200mm with just a short twist of the wrist.

This lens also supports both the Sony FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters that extend the reach to 280mm with the 1.4x and up to 400mm with the 2.0x.

For a closer look at this lens the following review from Wes Perry is worth watching:

Pros: Very sharp, excellent color rendition, extremely fast autofocus, creamy bokeh
Cons: Expensive, heavy
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.96 m (3.15 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 77 mm
Length: 200 mm
Diameter: 88.0 mm
Weight: 1480 g (52.20 oz.) without tripod mount

7. Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens is one of the sharpest lenses that Sony has ever built and it’s my goto macro lens.

DxOMark reviewed this lens and said that its outstanding, scoring higher marks than both the Canon and Nikon equivalents.

On the Sony a1 this lens supports a maximum frame rate of 15 FPS, but since a lot of macro work will be using manual focus I don’t think it’s a big issue. If you really need 30 FPS with autofocus then the FE 100-400 with a minimum focussing distance of just 0.98 m (3.22 ft) can produce some really nice close-ups.

It is very hard to find fault with this lens but if I’m being very picky then AF performance could be faster and the manual focus ring adjustments could be finer for more precision.

Pros: Very good sharpness at all apertures, excellent color rendition, CA well controlled, build quality
Cons: Autofocus isn’t the fastest, manual focus could allow for finer adjustments
Maximum Magnification Ration: 1:1
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.28 m (0.92 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 62 mm
Length: 130.5 mm
Diameter: 79 mm
Weight: 602 g / 21.2 oz.

8. Sony FE 12-24 F2.8 GM

If you are looking for a super-wide-angle lens then you don’t need to look much further than the Sony FE 12-24 F2.8 GM.

Since it wears the GM badge you’ll find that this lens is very well built and weather sealed to prevent dust and moisture getting in. This level of build quality does come at a price, since it weighs in at 847 g (29.9 oz) making it a fairly heavy lens to carry around.

If you’d like to learn more about the Sony FE 12-24 lens then this review from Sony Ambassador Mark Galer is worth watching:

You can also find additional early reviews in my Sony 12-24 F2.8 GM announcement post.

Pros: Fast aperture, very sharp, almost no longitudinal color aberrations or coma.
Cons: Expensive, large, doesn’t except standard threaded filters
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.28 m (0.92 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Angle of View (35mm): 122°–84°
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: No filter thread available.
Length: 137 mm
Diameter: 97.6 mm
Weight: 847 g (29.9 oz)

9. Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS

The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens is the best all-in-one 24-105 zoom lens available for Sony full-frame E-mount and the a7R IV.

This lens is sharp from 24mm to 105mm even at the maximum aperture of f/4. If you are a fan of MTF charts then Roger has tested this lens over on LensRentals.com.

Unfortunately I don’t own this lens myself but if I had money to burn I would certainly pick one up.

Pros: Covers a useful focal range with excellent sharpness across the frame, chromatic aberrations and flare well controlled, quiet and fast autofocus
Cons: Expensive
Recommended Reviews: Dustin Abbott | Lens Rentals
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.38 m (1.25 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/4
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization (OSS): Yes
Filter Thread Size: 77mm
Length: 113.3 mm
Diameter: 83.4 mm
Weight: 663 g (1.46 lbs)

10. Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS

The Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS is an APS-C lens that is designed for APS-C bodies like the Sony a6400, so it doesn’t cover the full-frame sensor of the a1.

So why am I including it in this list?

Because if you switch the a1 into APS-C/Super 35 mode you still have 21MP to play with, and this lens is really pretty amazing.

When shooting this lens in APS-C mode on the a1 you’ll be getting a full-frame equivalent focal length of 525mm.

This lens also has the faster XD linear focus motors that are found in much more expensive lenses like the FE 600mm F4, so it should have no trouble hitting 30 frames per second.

The lens is well built and very light, so it makes for a great walk-around or travel lens when you don’t want to carry anything larger. I use it quite often on my Sony a7R IV in APS-C mode.

To learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this video from Christopher Frost:

Pros: Very fast and quiet autofocus, lightweight and compact, sharpness
Cons: No focus limiter or panning modes
Format: APS-C
Lens Construction: 13 groups, 19 elements
Angle of View: 22°-4°40′
Aperture Blades: 7 circular
Minimum Aperture: f/4.5-6.3
Maximum Aperture: f/22-32
Minimum Focusing Distance: 3.61–4.93 ft (1.1–1.5 m)
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 0.75
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 67mm
Length: 142mm
Diameter: 77mm
Weight: 625g / 22.1 oz

Teleconverters

There are two Sony E-mount teleconverters available, a 1.4x and 2x. For details on which lenses they are supported with please see below.

Sony 1.4x Teleconverter Lens (SEL14TC)

The Sony 1.4x teleconverter (SEL14TC) can only be used with the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM, Sony 100-400mm GM, Sony FE 200-600 G, Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM and Sony FE 600 F4 GM lenses.

You will lose one stop of light when using this teleconverter but autofocus performance remains very good no matter which lens you are using it on.

Pros: Extends focal length by 1.4x, autofocus speed, size and weight
Cons: Price
Length: 33.6 mm
Diameter: 62.4 mm
Weight: 167 g (5.89 oz.)

Sony 2x Teleconverter Lens (SEL20TC)

The Sony 2x teleconverter (SEL20TC) is also only compatible with the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM, Sony 100-400mm GM, Sony FE 200-600 G, Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM and Sony FE 600 F4 GM lenses.

With this teleconverter you will lose two stops of light and depending on which lens you are using may see a little drop off in AF performance.

Pros: Extends focal length by 2x, size and weight
Cons: Price, can impact AF performance
Length: 62.4 mm
Diameter: 42.7 mm
Weight: 207 g (7.30 oz.)

Sony a1 Resources