The Best Sony A7CII Lenses To Buy in 2024

Welcome to my lens guide for the Sony A7CII mirrorless camera in which you’ll find 14 of the best E-mount lens options for the Sony Alpha 7C II.

You’ll also find advice on the best lens options for travel, portrait, landscape and wildlife photography.

If you’d like to view all of the E-mount lenses available then please visit my Complete List of Sony E-mount Lenses where I also list the latest firmware update for each lens.

Which Lenses Are Compatible With the Sony A7C II?

The Sony A7C II is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C E-mount lenses from Sony and also from third-parties such as Tamron and Sigma. Sony maintains a compatibility list of all of their supported lenses for the A7C II here.

Lenses with different lens mounts such as the Canon EF mount are also compatible with the A7C II but only when used with an EF to E-mount adapter such as the one from Metabones or the Sigma MC-11 adapter.

Which Are the Best Lenses To Buy for the Sony A7C II?

With over one hundred E-mount lenses to choose from including E-mount lenses from third-parties, buying a lens for your A7C II can be a little overwhelming.

To help make your choice a little easier I’ve selected 14 of the best lenses available today, including some third-party lens options that should definitely not be overlooked.

Please visit my Complete Sony E-Mount Lenses List if you’d like to see every E-mount lens available.

1. Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II supersedes the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens. If you are curious about the differences between these two 16-35mm GM lenses then please read my Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM vs GM II Comparison.

This Mark II lens is a great choice for landscape, astro, real estate, architectural, and many other forms of photography where a wider perspective is required.

The lens is constructed of 15 elements in 12 groups and the build quality is excellent, it’s also weather sealed against dust and moisture. There’s an aperture ring with both a click ON/OFF switch and an iris lock switch for quick, flexible aperture control.

The lens utililizes four XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors for precise high speed lens control. It achieves approximately 2x higher AF speed compared to the Mark I when shooting with the Sony A1. Focus breathing, focus shift, and axis shift are also reduced.

This lens also features Linear Response MF. With Linear Response MF the focus changes linearly in response to focus ring rotation similar to mechanical focus, giving the user more control for fast, accurate and consistent manual focusing.

The 11 circular aperture blades delivers ultra-smooth bokeh and beautiful sunstars, focusing is fast and silent, and the sharpness is excellent across the frame.

It weighs in at only 19.3 oz. / 547 g which makes it roughly 20% lighter than the Mark I, it’s also 10.1 mm shorter in length.

If you are a landscape, astro, real estate, or architectural photographer then this is a great lens to pair with the A7C II but this pairing does come at a price.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL1635GM2
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	16-35 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	107°–63°
Maximum Aperture:	F2.8
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	12–15
Aperture Blades:	11 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.22(W,T) m (0.73(W,T) ft)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.32x
Lens Image Stabilization:	No
Filter Diameter:	82 mm
Diameter:	3-1/2″ / 87.8 mm
Length:	4-1/2″ / 111.5 mm
Weight:	19.3 oz. / 547 g

Pros

• Excellent sharpness across the frame
• Beautiful sunstars
• Very little coma and distortion
• Well controlled chromatic aberration
• Aperture control ring
• Minimal focus breathing
• Only 19.3 oz. / 547 g

Cons

• Price

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II lens
• Hood (model): ALC-SH177
• Lens front cap: ALC-F82S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Soft case and strap

Review

To learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this review from Chris Niccolls at PetaPixel:

2. Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Weighing in at only 17.3 oz. / 488 g the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G zoom lens is a great choice for the A7C II’s compact body.

With a very useful focal length of 20-70mm and a maximum aperture of F4, this lens is a great choice for travel, landscape and urban photography.

This introducing video from Sony is a great way to learn a little more about this lens.

This lens is constructed of 16 elements in 13 groups and is extremely well built. It’s also very well sealed against dust and moisture.

On the lens itself you will find two focus hold buttons that can be customized, an AF on/off switch, an aperture ring and a click on/off switch for the aperture ring.

The minimum focus distances is 25cm (9.8″) at 70mm which gives a very high 0.39x magnification.

Two XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors provide high thrust for fast, quiet, smooth focus drive. Compared to the older SEL2470Z lens there’s a 60% increase in AF speed, and tracking performance has been improved by up to 2 times.

This lens also supports the breathing compensation function with supported cameras like the A7C II.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL2070G
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	20-70 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	94°-34°
Maximum Aperture:	F4
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	13–16
Aperture Blades:	9 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.3(W)-0.25(T) (AF) 0.25 (MF)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.39x
Lens Image Stabilization:	No
Filter Diameter:	72 mm
Diameter:	3-1/8″ / 78.7 mm
Length:	4″ / 99 mm
Weight:	17.3 oz. / 488 g

Pros

• Compact size and low weight
• Well built and weather sealed
• Very sharp in the center and mid-frame throughout the zoom range
• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Minimal focus breathing
• Low vignette
• Lood flare resistance
• Low aberrations

Cons

• Strong barrel distortion at 20mm
• Corners are a little soft wide open at 20mm

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G lens
• Hood (model): ALC-SH174
• Lens front cap: ALC-F72S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM

Review

To learn more about the Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G lens I’d recommending watching this excellent review from Dustin Abbott.

3. Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM

With the creation of the Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM lens Sony really knocked the ball out of the park and proved that an exceptionally high quality lens needn’t be the size of a bus or the weight of an elephant.

This lens is constructed of 13 elements in 10 groups and is extremely well built, as it should be for a G Master (GM) lens. It’s also weather sealed against dust and moisture and weighs in at only 15.7 oz (445 g).

On the lens itself you will find a focus hold button that can be customized, an AF on/off switch, an aperture selection ring and a click on/off switch for the aperture ring.

This lens is extremely sharp across the frame even when wide open at its maximum aperture of f/1.4. Distortion is well controlled as is the coma making this a great lens for astro photography.

The bokeh is silky smooth and possibly the best of all the current 24mm f/1.4 lenses available. Autofocus is fast, quiet and super accurate.

24mm is an excellent focal length for many subjects including: architecture, wedding and event photography, street photography, astrophotography and even environmental portraits.

I also own this lens myself and will not be letting it go anytime soon. If you are shooting with the A7C II and want a fast 24mm prime, then this is the lens to get.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL24F14GM
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	24 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	84°
Maximum Aperture:	F1.4
Minimum Aperture:	F16
Lens Groups / Elements:	10-13
Aperture Blades:	11 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.79 ft (0.24 m)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.17x
Lens Image Stabilization:	No
Filter Diameter:	67 mm
Diameter:	3″ / 75.4 mm
Length:	3 3/4″ / 92.4 mm
Weight:	15.7 oz. / 445 g

Pros

• Very sharp across the frame wide open
• Beautiful bokeh
• Size & weight
• Aperture ring
• Fast autofocus

Cons

• Strong vignetting wide open
• Flare resistance

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM lens
• Hood (model): ALC-SH154
• Lens front cap: ALC-F67S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Case

Review

To learn more about the Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM lens I’d recommending watching this excellent review from Dustin Abbott.

And if you enjoy astrophotography then this review from Alyn Wallace is a must watch.

4. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is one of the very few zoom lenses that can keep up optically with many of the best prime lenses.

Constructed from 20 elements in 15 groups, this is also a very well built and weather sealed lens. The 11 bladed circular aperture helps to create a silky smooth bokeh that will really make your subjects pop.

Four of Sony’s original XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors help to achieve very high autofocus precision and approximately 2x better tracking performance while zooming than the previous Mark I lens.

Weighing just 24.6 oz (695 g) this updated Mark II lens is an incredible 6.74 oz (191 g) lighter than its predecessor the Mark I.

On the lens body itself you’ll find a customizable focus hold button, a separate focus, zoom and de-clickable aperture ring, an iris lock switch, AF/MF switch and a zoom smoothness switch.

Sharpness is outstanding throughout the entire zoom range at all apertures and chromatic aberrations are well controlled too.

Whether shooting landscapes, weddings, sports, or portraits, this lens will handle pretty much everything that you can possibly throw at it and more.

I don’t own this lens myself yet, but if I win the lottery it would be one of my first purchases.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL2470GM2
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	24-70 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	84°-34°
Maximum Aperture:	F2.8
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	15-20
Aperture Blades:	11 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.21 ft. (W)-0.3 ft. (T) 0.69 m (W)-0.99 m (T)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.32 x
Lens Image Stabilization:	No
Filter Diameter:	82
Diameter:	3-1/2″ / 87.8 mm
Length:	3-1/2″ / 119.9 mm
Weight:	24.6 oz. / 695 g

Pros

• Size and weight
• Build quality and weather sealing
• Fantastic autofocus
• Excellent resolution and contrast throughout the zoom range
• Near perfect center and mid-frame sharpness

Cons

• Very expensive
• Some distortion and vignette

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens
• Lens hood: ALC-SH168
• Lens front cap: ALC-F82S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM Lens
• Case

Review

To learn more about this excellent lens I’d recommend watching this brilliant review from Gerald Undone.

5. Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS

If you are looking for a great all-rounder then the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens definitely ticks this box.

It’s the perfect choice for travel, landscape, or even events photography with the A7C II.

The lens is sharp from 24mm all the way up to 105mm even when you are shooting wide open at f/4. If you like MTF charts then Roger Cicala has some over at LensRentals.com.

The lens is constructed from 17 elements in 14 groups and built extremely well. The 9 bladed circular aperture helps to produce nice soft backgrounds that will help your subjects to standout.

On the lens body itself you’ll find a customizable focus hold button, separate focus and zoom rings, an AF/MF switch and a Steady Shot On/Off switch.

The autofocus is fast, accurate and very quiet. It also has optical stabilization built into the lens.

This is one of the best if not the best 24-105 zoom lens on the market today and it would be in my bag today if I had the cash to splash.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL24105G
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	24-105 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	84°-23°
Maximum Aperture:	F4
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	14-17
Aperture Blades:	9 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	1.25 ft (0.38 m)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.31x
Lens Image Stabilization:	Yes
Filter Diameter:	77
Diameter:	3-3/8″ / 83.4 mm
Length:	4-1/2″ / 113.3 mm
Weight:	23.4 oz. / 663 g

Pros

• Useful focal range
• Excellent sharpness across the frame
• Chromatic aberrations and flare well controlled
• Quiet and fast autofocus

Cons

• Expensive
• No zoom lock switch

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens
• Lens hood: ALC-SH152
• Lens front cap: ALC-F77S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Case

Review

To learn more about the Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens I’d recommend this in-depth review by Dustin Abbott.

https://youtu.be/qdRC8XQEQEI

6. Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2

Tamron enjoyed so much success with their 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD lens that they decided to introduce a Mark II version sooner rather than later.

It appears that Tamron is trying very hard not to tread on Sony’s toes my introducing a unique 28-75mm focal length instead of going with the standard 24-70.

The lens is constructed of 17 elements in 5 groups and there’s a 9 bladed circular aperture. Despite the very attractive price this lens is still extremely well built, it’s also weather sealed.

It shares the same 67 mm filter thread like many of Tamron’s other Sony E-mount lenses, which saves you the trouble and cost of purchasing multiple filters.

The lens delivers a very strong optical performance throughout zoom range, there’s also excellent contrast and control of chromatic aberrations.

The VXD focus motor is both fast and quiet. However, like with many of Tamron’s lenses there is no stabilization built into the lens so you’ll need to rely on your cameras IBIS (in-body stabilization). Thankfully the Sony A7C II does have IBIS which offers 7 stops of stabilization.

If you are looking for a more affordable alternative to the rather expensive Sony 24-70 F2.8 GM II lens for your A7C II then this is the lens to take a closer look at.

Key Specs

Model Name:	A063S
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	28-75 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	75°23′-32°11′
Maximum Aperture:	F2.8
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	5-17
Aperture Blades:	9 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.59 ft / 0.18 m (wide angle), 1.25 ft / 0.38 m (telephoto)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	1:2.7 (Wide angle), 1:4,1 (Telephoto)
Lens Image Stabilization:	No
Filter Diameter:	67 mm
Diameter:	3.10″ / 78.8 mm
Length:	4.63″ / 117.6 mm
Weight:	19.05 oz. / 540 g

Pros

• Very good build quality and handling
• Advanced weather sealing with 8 seal points
• Fast and quiet VXD focus motor
• Strong optical performance throughout zoom range
• Exceptional contrast
• Excellent control of chromatic aberrations
• Nice looking bokeh
• Price

Cons

• Limited 28mm wide-end
• A little color fringing

What’s in the Box

• Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 lens
• Lens cap
• Lens hood

Review

To learn more about the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 lens I’d strongly recommend watching this review from Chris and Jordan at DPReview.

7. Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM

There’s no shortage of 35 mm lens options in Sony’s E-mount line-up, but if you want the best and money is no object then the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM is a very good choice.

This lens has been created for both stills and video shooters and features Sony’s de-clickable aperture ring and a programmable focus hold button for multiple custom functions.

The lens is very well built and constructed of 10 groups and 14 elements. The 11 circular aperture blades help to create a beautifully soft bokeh and the lens is weather sealed at all of the important points.

Two XD Extreme Dynamic Linear motors provide fast, quiet and very precise subject tracking.

This lens delivers excellent sharpness at f/1.4 across the frame, has good flare resistance and coma handling, and also low chromatic aberrations.

If you are looking for a 35mm full frame lens for your A7C II then this is definitely the one to take a much closer look at.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL35F14GM
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	35 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	63°
Maximum Aperture:	F1.4
Minimum Aperture:	F16
Lens Groups / Elements:	10-14
Aperture Blades:	11 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.89 ft (AF), 0.82 ft (MF) (0.27 m (AF), 0.25 m (MF))
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	x 0.23 (AF) x 0.26 (MF)
Lens Image Stabilization:	No
Filter Diameter:	67 mm
Diameter:	3″ / 76 mm
Length:	3.88″ / 96 mm
Weight:	18.5 oz. / 524 g

Pros

• Small size and weight
• Great build quality and weather sealing
• Fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus
• Excellent sharpness at f/1.4 across the frame
• Beautifully bokeh
• Low chromatic aberrations
• Good flare resistance and coma handling

Cons

• Expensive
• Some focus breathing

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM lens
• Lens hood: ALC-SH164
• Lens front cap: ALC-F67S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Soft case

Review

If you’d like to learn more about the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM lens then this review from Gerald Undone is worth a watch.

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

Despite being called a macro lens, the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens is also an excellent portrait lens and one of the sharpest lenses that Sony has ever built.

DxOMark reviewed this lens and said that its outstanding. It also scored higher marks than both the Canon and Nikon equivalents.

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.

The lens is constructed from 15 elements in 11 groups and has a 9 bladed circular aperture.

Being a macro lens it offers a magnification ratio of 1.0x and a minimum focussing distance of 0.92 ft (0.28 m). This lens also has optical stabilization built in.

For shooting portraits this lens is ridiculously sharp. So if you don’t want to show every spot, blemish and wrinkle on your model this lens probably shouldn’t be your first choice for portrait work.

Hopefully my mum won’t mind me posting this photo of her!

If you are looking for a dedicated macro lens, or a lens that can combine both macro and portrait photography roles, then look no further than the 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS lens.

I own this lens myself and love using it for macro work and the odd portrait.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL90M28G
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	90 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	27°
Maximum Aperture:	F2.8
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	11/15
Aperture Blades:	9 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.92 ft (0.28 m)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	1.0x
Lens Image Stabilization:	Yes
Filter Diameter:	62 mm
Diameter:	3-1/8″ / 79mm
Length:	5-1/4″ / 130.5 mm
Weight:	21.3 oz. / 602 g

Pros

• Incredible sharpness at all apertures
• Excellent color rendition
• Chromatic aberrations are well controlled
• very well built
• Price

Cons

• Autofocus isn’t the fastest
• Manual focus could allow for finer adjustments

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS lens
• Lens hood: ALC-SH138
• Lens front cap
• Lens rear cap
• Case

Review

If you’d like to learn more about the Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS lens then this review from Pav is well worth watching.

9. Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM

Roger Cicala from LensRentals.com tested the 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.)

Roger isn’t the only person to praise this lens, many reviewers are saying that this is the sharpest lens that they have ever laid hands on as well.

Thankfully it’s not only sharpness where this lens shines, it also displays minimum chromatic aberrations, very low distortion and vignetting.

The autofocus motors are also extremely fast making this lens a great choice for sports and action photographers as well as portrait shooters.

Constructed from 13 elements in 10 groups with a 11 bladed circular aperture, this is a very well built and weather sealed lens.

On the lens body itself you’ll find a customizable focus hold button, separate focus and zoom rings, an aperture ring, an aperture click on/off switch, an AF/MF switch and a focus limiter switch.

There’s no stabilization built in but with a maximum aperture of F1.8 you’ll be able to increase your shutter speed and freeze the action without bumping up the ISO too much.

If this is a focus range that you shoot at often then it’s well worth taking a closer look at this lens.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL135F18GM
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	135 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	18°
Maximum Aperture:	F1.8
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	10–13
Aperture Blades:	11 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	2.3 ft (0.7 m)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.25x
Lens Image Stabilization:	No
Filter Diameter:	82 mm
Diameter:	3-5/8″ / 89.5 mm
Length:	5″ / 127 mm
Weight:	33.6 oz. / 950 g

Pros

• Very high build quality
• Extremely fast and accurate autofocus
• Excellent sharpness and contrast across the frame
• Lovely bokeh and color rendition
• Weather sealing

Cons

• Pretty expensive
• Prone to flare in some situations

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM lens
• Hood (model): ALC-SH156
• Lens front cap: ALC-F82S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Case

Review

To learn more about the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM I’d recommend watching this review form Dustin Abbott.

10. Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS Ⅱ

The Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS Ⅱ lens is the second generation of one of Sony’s earliest E-mount lenses first released in 2014.

Sony say that they have improved the AF by 20%. It’s also 15% lighter and 15% shorter that the Mark I. The 1.4x and 2x teleconverters are now also supported which were not supported with the Mark I lens.

Focus is powered by two independently moving focus groups driven by four XD ‘High thrust’ linear motors (two per group) which allow the lens to focus down to just 26 cm (10.2″).

A maximum magnification of 0.5x is the reason this lens has Macro in its name. Although not a true 1:1 macro lens if you attach the 2x teleconverter you will now have 1x magnification.

Focus breathing is minimal and this can also be reduced further by the breathing compensation function on compatible cameras like the A7C II.

The lens is composed of 19 elements in 13 groups, including one advanced aspherical element, three extra-low dispersion (to reduce chromatic aberration), one ED aspherical element and one conventional aspherical lens.

On the lens body you’ll find independent control rings for focus and zoom. There’s a full-time DMF on/off switch, a focus-range limiter, Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3 optical image stabilisation, an AF/MF switch and a zoom lock.

Optically the lens delivers exceptional sharpness and contrast throughout the zoom range, low distortion and vignette and stunning bokeh.

I own both the Mark I and Mark II versions of this lens and hope to put together an in-depth comparison very soon. Until then you’ll just have to take my word that’s it’s definitely worth the upgrade!

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL70200G2
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	70-200 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	34°-12° 30′
Maximum Aperture:	F4
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	13-19
Aperture Blades:	9 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.26-0.42 m(0.86-1.38 ft)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.5x
Lens Image Stabilization:	Yes
Filter Diameter:	72 mm
Diameter:	3-1/4″ / 82.2 mm
Length:	5-7/8″ / 149 mm
Weight:	28.1 oz. / 794 g

Pros

• Small and compact
• Good build quality and weather sealing
• Very fast and quiet autofocus motors
• Compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters
• Exceptional resolution and contrast throughout the zoom range
• Lovely bokeh
• Low distortion and vignette
• Flare resistance
• Minimal focus breathing
• Removable tripod collar

Cons

• Pincushion distortion throughout the zoom range
• Tripod foot not Arca-compatible (like all of Sony’s lenses)
• External zoom but this does make it more travel and backpack friendly

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS Ⅱ lens
• Lens hood: ALC-SH176
• Lens front cap: ALC-F72S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM

Review

If you would like to learn more about the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS Ⅱ lens then I’d highly recommend this excellent review from Dustin Abbott.

11. Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

The Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS Mark II lens offers significant improvements over its Mark I predecessor, both optically and physically.

It still maintains the excellent internal zoom design which makes handling this lens such a pleasure, but somehow Sony has also managed to shave an incredible 15.34 oz / 435 g off the weight, which makes it around 29% lighter than the Mark I.

Four of Sony’s original XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors boost AF speed by up to 4x compared to the previous model. When tracking a short-distance runner, for example, tracking while zooming is improved by approx. 30% compared to the previous model.

The Mark II lens features new video features including: reduced focus breathing, focus shift when zooming, and axis shift when zooming.

On the lens body you’ll find independent control rings for focus, zoom, aperture with a click on/off switch for the aperture ring and an iris lock. There’s also a full-time DMF on/off switch, a focus-range limiter, Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3 optical image stabilisation, and AF/MF switch.

Optically the lens delivers exceptional sharpness and contrast throughout the zoom range, low distortion and vignette and stunning bokeh.

This lens also supports Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. If you’d like to see how well it performs with the 2x teleconverter attached then head over to my Sony 100-400 vs Sony 70-200 F2.8 GM II + 2x Comparison.

I own both the Mark I and Mark II versions of this lens and can confidently say that the Mark II is a significant improvement over the Mark I and worth the extra dollars that it costs.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL70200GM2
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	70-200 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	34°-12° 30′
Maximum Aperture:	F2.8
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	14-17
Aperture Blades:	11 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.4 – 0.82 m (1.32 – 2.69 ft)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.3 x
Lens Image Stabilization:	Yes
Filter Diameter:	77 mm
Diameter:	3-1/2″ / 88 mm
Length:	7-7/8″ / 200 mm
Weight:	36.9 oz. / 1045 g (Without tripod mount)

Pros

• 29% lighter than the MK 1 lens
• Great build quality and weather sealing
• Fantastic autofocus
• Compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters
• Exceptional resolution and contrast throughout the zoom range
• Lovely bokeh
• Low distortion and vignette
• Flare resistance

Cons

• Expensive
• Tripod foot not Arca-compatible

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II lens
• Lens hood: ALC-SH167
• Lens front cap: ALC-F77S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Lens case

Review

If you would like to learn more about the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II lens then I’d highly recommend this excellent review from Gerald Undone.

I’ve also compared the autofocus performance of this lens with the 2x teleconverter attached to the Sony FE 100-400 GM lens in this video.

https://youtu.be/JZSdIZjIdL8

Visit my Sony 100-400 vs 70-200 F2.8 GM II with 2x article for my in-depth comparison.

12. Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

The Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 lens is a great lower cost alternative to the Sony 70-200 F2.8 GM II lens.

Constructed of 20 elements in 15 groups and a 9 blade circular aperture, this lens is also weather sealed against dust and moisture.

It weighs just 30.16 oz (855 g) making it 6.70 oz / 190 g lighter than the Sony 70-200 F2.8 GM II lens.

A lot of these weight savings come down to the reduced telephoto end of 180mm compared to 200mm of the Sony lens.

The autofocus however is fast, accurate and quiet and the lens delivers very good sharpness across the frame.

On the lens body you’ll find a focus and zoom ring and a zoom lock switch. There’s also a custom button and switch that can be customized through Tamrons Lens Utility™ and the TAMRON Lens Utility Mobile™ apps.

The G2 version now features linear manual focus coupling as an option and is customizable through the apps.

The filter thread is 67 mm like many of Tamron’s E-mount lenses.

I’m also fortunate to own this G1 version of this lens that has performed exceptionally for its price. I’m not tempted to upgrade since I’m fortunate to own the Sony FE 70-200 F2.8 GM II but if I was purchasing the Tamron today the G2 would be a no brainer.

Key Specs

Model Name:	A065S
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	70-180 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	34°21′-13°42′
Maximum Aperture:	F2.8
Minimum Aperture:	F22
Lens Groups / Elements:	15-20
Aperture Blades:	9 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.3m (WIDE), 0.85m (TELE)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	1:2.6 (WIDE) , 1:4.7 (TELE)
Lens Image Stabilization:	Yes
Filter Diameter:	67 mm
Diameter:	3.27″ / 83 mm
Length:	6.16″ / 156.5 mm
Weight:	30.16 oz. / 855 g

Pros

• Small and light
• Weather sealed
• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Very good sharpness across the frame
• Good color rendition
• Good chromatic aberration control
• Good bokeh
• Excellent price

Cons

• 20mm shorter focal length than the Sony 70-200 lenses
• No teleconverter support

What’s in the Box

• Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 Lens for Sony E
• Tamron SP Front Lens Cap (67mm)
• Rear Lens Cap
• Lens Hood

Review

To learn more about the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 lens this review from Dustin Abbott is worth watching.

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

I purchased the Sony FE F4.5-5.6 100-400mm G Master on the first day that it was released and it has probably spent more time attached to my cameras than any other lens I own, well at least it did until I bought the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens.

Being a GM lens the build quality is excellent and despite its focal length it weighs in at only 1395 g (49.21 oz.) and measures 205 mm (8.07 in.) in length. This makes it a very good option for travelling with and I did just that when I took this lens to Borneo for a couple of weeks (my Borneo adventure).

The lens is weather sealed against dust and moisture and I had no issues with condensation even in Borneo which was extremely hot and humid.

Sharpness across the frame is excellent and DxOMark rate this as the sharpest lens in the 100-400mm focal range.

The lens is compatible with both the Sony FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, helping to extend its reach up to 560mm with the 1.4x and up to 800mm with the 2x.

The autofocus is fast, accurate and virtually silent and the lens also features optical image stabilization built-in with 2 panning modes.

On the lens body you’ll find both a focus and zoom ring, there’s also a zoom smoothness adjuster that provides mechanical control of zoom ring torque. Unfortunately there is no zoom lock switch and this lens can creep when pointing towards the ground.

You will also find an array of switches on the side of the lens which include: AF/MF switch, AF distance limiter to reduce focus searching to 3 meters and greater, OSS (Optical Steady Shot) on and off switch which also overrides the build in IBIS of your camera if present, and the panning mode switch.

This really is the best 100-400mm zoom lens available for Sony E-mount today. An alternative would be the Sigma 100-400 but the autofocus speed and tracking stickiness lags behind by quite some distance.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL100400GM
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	100-400 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	24°-6°10′
Maximum Aperture:	F4.5-5.6
Minimum Aperture:	F32-40
Lens Groups / Elements:	16-22
Aperture Blades:	9 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	3.22 ft / 0.98 m
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.35x
Lens Image Stabilization:	Yes (2 modes)
Filter Diameter:	77 mm
Teleconverter Support:	Yes: 1.4x / 2x
Diameter:	3-3/4″ / 93.9 mm
Length:	8-1/8″ / 205 mm
Weight:	49.21 oz. / 1395 g (without tripod mount)

Pros

• Very sharp from 100mm to 400mm
• Fast and silent autofocus
• Well controlled vignetting and chromatic aberration
• Pleasing bokeh
• Well balanced
• Dust and moisture resistance
• Zoom ring tension adjustment
• Flare resistance

Cons

• Focus ring is too loose
• Expensive

What’s in the Box

• Hood (model): ALC-SH151
• Lens front cap: ALC-F77S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Case
• Tripod mount

Review

If you’d like to learn more about the Sony FE F4.5-5.6 100-400mm G Master lens then you’ll find my complete review here. This review from Jay is also worth a watch.

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

The Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is an exceptional telephoto lens for wildlife and sports photographers.

This lens might be overkill for the small body of the A7C II but the grip extension for the A7C II will make it much more comfortable to hold.

With a focal range of 200-600mm and a maximum aperture of f/6.3 at 600mm this lens will help you to get closer to wildlife than ever before. If 600mm is not long enough then you can also add the 1.4x or 2.0x teleconverters.

Constructed of 24 elements in 17 groups this is a big lens and it weighs 74.7 oz (2,115 g) without tripod mount and is 318mm in length. It’s also weather sealed and has 3 mode image stabilization built-in.

It’s an internal zoom lens which really helps with the balance and a short zoom throw makes going from 200mm to 600mm a breeze.

On the lens body you’ll find a focus and zoom ring, a focus limiter switch, AF/MF switch, Steady Shot on/off switch, mode 1/2/3 OS switch and a customizable focus hold button.

The tripod foot is also removable so you can replace it with something more practical like the Kirk LP-68 (B&H Photo) that includes an arca-swiss plate.

At 600mm this lens is sharper than the Sony FE 100-400 + 1.4x is at 560mm. At 400mm this lens is also a touch sharper than the 100-400 which considering it’s a G lens and not a GM lens is really quite something.

Since owning the 200-600 my 100-400 has been collecting dust, a lot of dust.

If you’d like to find out how this lens stacks up against the Sony FE 100-400 GM lens then head over to my 200-600 vs 100-400 comparison.

Key Specs

Model Name:	SEL200600G
Format:	35 mm full frame
Focal Length (mm):	200-600 mm
Angle of View (35 mm):	12°30’–4°10′
Maximum Aperture:	F5.6–6.3
Minimum Aperture:	F32–36
Lens Groups / Elements:	17–24
Aperture Blades:	11 circular
Minimum Focusing Distance:	7.88 ft (2.4 m)
Maximum Magnification Ratio:	0.2x
Lens Image Stabilization:	Yes (3 modes)
Filter Diameter:	95 mm
Teleconverter Support:	Yes: 1.4x / 2x
Diameter:	4.5″ / 114.3 mm
Length:	12.625″ / 320.67 mm
Weight:	74.7 oz. / 2,115 g

Pros

• Fantastic build quality and weather sealing
• Excellent handling thanks to the internal zoom design
• Very fast and accurate autofocus
• Excellent image quality
• 1.4x and 2x teleconverter support

Cons

• Large and relatively heavy
• Small tripod foot that is not arca-swiss compatible
• Some chromatic aberration when shooting wide open

What’s in the Box

• Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens
• Hood (model): ALC-SH157
• Lens front cap: ALC-F95S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
• Tripod collar
• Soft case
• Lens strap

Review

If you would like to learn more about the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens lens then this excellent review by Olle Nilsson is worth taking the time to watch.

You might also enjoy my own video of this lens where I compare the 200-600 to the Sony 100-400 with the 1.4x teleconverter for birds in flight photography.

Sony E-mount Teleconverters

Sony currently offers two teleconverters for their E-mount lenses, a 1.4x and a 2x. However, these are only supported with the following E-mount lenses:

• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS
• Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
• Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G Macro OSS II
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS

Sony 1.4x Teleconverter Lens (SEL14TC)

Sony 2x Teleconverter Lens (SEL20TC)

Which Is the Best Travel Lens?

The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is a great choice to pair with the A7C II for travel photography.

It covers a very useful focal range for travel allowing you to capture landscapes at 24mm or zoom in to 70mm for tighter shots of scenery or people. And with a maximum aperture of F2.8 your backgrounds will be nice and smooth.

If the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is to expensive then a more affordable option would be the Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens.

A good travel lens will strike a balance between image quality, weight, features and price. You’ll want a lens that will help you to capture the best possible images at the locations you are travelling to.

If you only want to take one lens then you’ll definitely want to go with a zoom lens that will cover a wide focal area.

Which Is the Best Portrait Lens?

The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens is an ideal lens for portrait photography with the A7C II.

It’s reasonably small, sharp, bright and packs a serious punch for how much it costs especially when compared to the much more expensive Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens.

The maximum aperture of F1.8 is ideal for low light portrait photography and producing beautiful creamy backgrounds.

You could use a smaller aperture lens such as F4-F5.6 for portrait photography providing the shot is well lit but the backgrounds won’t be quite so smooth.

Which is the Best Landscape Lens?

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is one of the best choices to pair with the A7C II for landscape photography providing you have the budget for it.

A more budget friendly option would be the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD lens which offers unbelievable image quality for its price.

Which is the Best Wildlife Lens?

The Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens will help you to get closer to your subjects than ever before.

This lens handles well on the A7C II due to its internal zoom design but is more comfortable when you make use of the grip extension.

Both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters are also supported with the 200-600mm allowing you to extend the reach to 900mm with the 1.4x and 1200mm with the 2x. But you will sacrifice one stop of light with the 1.4x and two stops with the 2x.

A good wildlife lens will be both sharp and fast to focus allowing you to track your subjects with ease and also still crop in if necessary without sacrificing image quality.

Complete List of Sony E-mount Lenses & Latest Firmware

Please visit my Sony E-Mount Lenses List for a complete list of Sony E-mount lenses including third-party lenses along with the latest firmware versions.

Sony A7C II Guides & Resources

Sony A7C II Lens FAQs

Sony Lens Abbreviations

Here’s a quick guide to Sony’s lens abbreviations just in case you were wondering what some of them mean.

SEL – Sony autofocus lenses designed for the Sony E-mount mirrorless camera system.

FE – “Full-frame E-mount” lenses designed for 35mm full-frame cameras like the Sony A7C II.

E – Lenses designed for Sony’s mirrorless cameras with APS-C sized sensors, like the Sony Alpha a6000, a6300, a6500.

G – “Gold” series, Sony’s line-up of high-grade lenses.

GM – “Gold Master” series, Sony’s line-up of ultra-high-grade lenses featuring the highest-quality materials.

ZA – ZA lenses are designed and manufactured by Sony in Japan, but only once the designs get approval by Carl Zeiss AG to meet their high quality standards.

OSS – Optical SteadyShot means that the lens has optical image stabilization built in to the lens body.

TC – Stands for Tele Converter and means that this particular lens is designed to increase the focal length (and reduce the maximum aperture) of a telephoto lenses.

STF – Smooth Transition Focus. Lenses that employ special APD lens groups that get thicker towards the edges and, because of that, reduce the amount of light passing through. These lenses are designed to deliver extremely smooth, silky out of focus bokeh.

Before You Go

If you found this guide helpful or have a question on a lens mentioned here, please do drop a comment below.