Welcome to my guide to the best Sony FE (full-frame) E-mount lenses.
This guide covers native full-frame E-Mount (FE) lenses from Sony and third parties that are designed for cameras like the Sony a7 and a9 series.
If you are looking for an APS-C lens for cameras like the a6000 series then visit my APS-C E-Mount Lenses Guide instead.
Please note that this guide does not include every single E-mount lens, it’s just a selection of the most popular lenses based on use in the Alpha Shooters community. Visit my E-mount Lenses Guide for a complete list of lenses.
Contents
- Top 10 Sony FE Lenses
- All-in-One Lenses
- Wide-Angle Lenses
- Portrait Lenses
- Macro Lenses
- Telephoto Lenses
- Street & 35mm Lenses
- Pancake Lenses
- Astrophotography Lenses
- Prime Lenses
- Budget Lenses
- FAQ’s
- Helpful Resources
**Please Note: Unless otherwise mentioned no post processing has been applied to the image samples in this guide except for cropping. Full resolution SOOC JPEG images are available to download. RAW files are also available but password protected to help keep my hosting costs sensible. However, I do provide the username/password to all members of our community forum. All images are copyright protected and may be used for personal use only.
Top 10 Sony FE Lenses
Here are the 10 most popular full-frame Sony E-mount lenses.
- Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
- Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD
- Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art
- Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
- Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
- Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM
- Sony FE 85mm F1.8
- Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
- Sony FE F4.5-5.6 100-400mm G Master
- Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Keep scrolling down to find out more about each one of these lenses and many more.
All-in-One Lenses
All-in-one lenses often cover a wide focal range from wide-angle to short telephoto, allowing you to shoot anything from landscapes, to portraits and even short telephoto shots. These make great walk-around and travel lenses for when you want to keep your gear bag as light as possible.
Here are some of the best all-in-one FE lens choices for Sony E-mount:
Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS (SEL24105G)
If I was travelling and only wanted to bring one lens with me then it would most definitely be the Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens.
This lens is very sharp from 24mm all the way up to 105mm even when shooting at the maximum aperture of f/4. Roger Cicala has tested this lens over on LensRentals.com and says that it’s better than Canon’s own 24-105 F4 II IS lens.
I don’t own this lens myself but when I have the cash to spare I’ll definitely be picking one up.
If you would like to learn more about this lens then I recommend spending a few minutes to watch this review from Christopher Frost:
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 (23.38 oz)
Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD
The Sony FE 24-105 F4 G lens is probably not within everyones budget, or perhaps you simply want a wider maximum aperture, if this is the case than thankfully Tamron hit a home run when they announced their 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD lens for Sony E-mount.
When this lens launched it was sold out everywhere for over 6 months! Until then if you wanted a similar focal range with a f/2.8 aperture your only choice would have been the Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master which costs over twice the price of the Tamron.
The lens weighs in at only 550 g (19.4 oz) and offers a level of sharpness that comes very close to Sony’s 24-70 F2.8 G Master.
If you would like to learn more about this lens then Christopher Frost covers the basics in his review:
Pros: Excellent sharpness even wide open, lovely sunstars, smooth bokeh, lightweight, cost
Cons: Distortion, vignetting
Recommended Reviews: Albert Dros | Jannik Peters
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.19 m (0.62 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 67 mm
Length: 117.8 mm
Diameter: 73 mm
Weight: 550 g (19.4 oz)
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM (SEL2470GM)
The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM had very little competition when it first came out, but now with the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 and the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 both offering exceptional alternatives at much more pocket friendly prices is it even worth you considering the G Master?
If you want the best in autofocus performance then this is still where the Sony G Master shines, but the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 just has a little more sharpness in the center of the image.
Build quality is excellent and the lens is sealed to protect it from both dust and moisture. Vignetting and chromatic aberrations are well controlled, but vignetting when shooting wide-open at f/2.8 will require correction unless you have in-camera corrections turned on and shoot JPEG.
To learn more about the Sony 24-70 F2.8 GM lens I highly recommend this review from Dustin Abbott:
Pros: Excellent center sharpness even when wide open, vignetting, build quality, fast and accurate autofocus, bokeh, chromatic aberration
Cons: Flare resistance, sharpness wide open, size, price
Recommended Reviews: Jordan Steele | Jannik Peters
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.38 m (1.24 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 82 mm
Length: 136 mm
Diameter: 87.6 mm
Weight: 886 g (31.25 oz.)
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art
Sigma was a little late to the party with their 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art lens, however they should be forgiven since this lens has been designed from the ground up for mirrorless cameras and not simply adapted from their SLR lenses.
In true Sigma Art lens fashion Sigma have created a fantastic lens that is not only really well built but also significantly cheaper and also a hair sharper than Sony’s own 24-70 F2.8 GM lens.
If you are having a hard time choosing between the Tamron 28-75 F2.8, the Sony 24-70 F2.8 and the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 then this video from Gerald Undone might just help you to decide:
If I was in the market for a 24-70 F2.8 then I’d grab the Sigma with both hands.
Pros: Built quality, weather sealing, very sharp, quiet autofocus, price
Cons: Flare resistance, distortion at 24mm
Recommended Reviews: Dustin Abbott | Christopher Frost (YouTube) |
Sample Photos: Sigma
Lens Construction: 19 elements in 15 groups
Angle of View (35mm): 84.1° – 34.3°
Aperture Blades: 11 rounded
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Focusing Distance: 18-38cm
Maximum Magnification Ratio: Wide 1:2.9 – Tele 1:4.5
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 82mm
Length: 124.9mm / 4.9in.
Diameter: 87.8mm / 4.9in.
Weight: 830g (29.0 oz.)
Website: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art
Wide-Angle Lenses
Lenses that are 35mm and wider on full-frame cameras are usually classed as wide-angle lenses. Wide-angle lenses allow more of the scene to be included in the frame making them popular choices for landscape, architectural and interior photographers.
Here are some of the best wide-angle lens options for Sony full-frame (FE) E-mount cameras.
Sony FE 12-24 F2.8 GM (SEL1224GM)
The Sony FE 12-24 F2.8 GM has not long been announced. As soon as reliable information about this lens is available this section will be updated.
If you’d like to learn more about the Sony FE 12-24 lens then this early 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:
Cons:
Recommended Reviews:
Sample Photos: Sony Sample Gallery
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)
Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G (SEL1224G)
If you are looking for a super wide-angle lens then you don’t need to look much further than Sony’s own FE 12-24mm lens.
The lens is very well built and sealed to keep dust and moisture at bay, it’s also an internal zoom lens so the body doesn’t extend when you zoom in and out.
Shooting at the maximum aperture of f/4 and 12mm the central sharpness is excellent and the corner sharpness is also very good.
The lens does make use of a bulbous glass front element that protrudes from the front of the lens and means that there is no option to attach standard screw-in filters. However, thankfully there are some third-party filter holders available.
If you’d like to learn more about the Sony FE 12-24 lens then this review from Jay is worth watching:
Pros: Excellent central sharpness, low chromatic aberration, fast and accurate autofocus, great build quality
Cons: f/4 maximum aperture, high price, requires special filter holder
Recommended Reviews: Colby Brown (Sony Ambassador) | Jordan Steele
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.28 m (0.92 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/4
Aperture Blades: 7 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: N/A. Requires Special 12-24 Filter Holder.
Length: 117.4 mm
Diameter: 87 mm
Weight: 565 g (19.9 oz)
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens is one of Sigma’s lenses that has been designed exclusively for mirrorless cameras and not simply adapted from their SLR family of lenses.
The build quality is typical Sigma Art series (excellent), the focus motor is very quiet and the lens has very good sharpness across the frame. If you like to shoot astrophotography then the wide f/2.8 aperture combined with low coma and vignette make this lens a very attractive option.
The lens is weather sealed and there’s an integrated rear holder for gel filters, unfortunately there is no filter thread for conventional filters although NiSi do make an adapter (B&H Photo).
At f/2.8 and 14mm both the center of the frame and corners are extremely sharp and remain sharp through f/11. At 24mm it’s a similar story with excellent central sharpness with the corners being just a little softer at f/2.8 but these sharpen up at f/4.
There is some barrel distortion and vignetting at 14mm and f/2.8 but this improves by f/5.6, and at 24mm there is a little pin-cushion distortion. However, for JPEG shooters if you have in-camera corrections turned on this will be fixed for you.
This review from Christopher Frost is well worth taking the time to watch:
Pros: Great build quality, sharpness across the frame, low coma and vignette
Cons: No traditional filters
Recommended Reviews: Dustin Abbott | Dustin Abbott (YouTube)
Sample Photos: Sigma | Flickr
Lens Construction: 18 elements in 13 groups
Angle of View (35mm): 114.2-84.1°
Aperture Blades: 11 rounded
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Focusing Distance: 28cm / 11 in.
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:7.3
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: N/A (The lens comes with a rear filter holder for attaching sheet type rear filters)
Length: 131mm / 5.2 in.
Diameter: 85mm / 3.3 in.
Weight: 795g (28.0 oz.)
Website: Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
Sigma 14mm 1.8 DG HSM Art
The Sigma 14mm 1.8 DG HSM Art lens is an SLR lens that Sigma has adapted to Sony E-mount, and at 1170 g (41.12 oz) this is definitely one big and heavy lens!
But if you don’t mind the size and weight then this lens is capable of capturing some extremely sharp images even at its maximum aperture of f/1.8.
For astrophotography this lens will suck in a lot of light! You will see some signs of coma from f/1.8 to f/2.5 and you might even see traces of coma at f/2.8 if you have very bright stars at the edges of the frame. However, coma is still not as prominent as on many other wide-angle lenses.
This video from Alyn Wallace is worth watching if you are interested in using this lens for astrophotography:
Pros: Extremely sharp, very well built
Cons: Size and weight
Recommended Reviews: Alyn Wallace (Canon Mount) | DPReview (Nikon Mount)
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.27 m (0.89 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: N/A
Length: 126 mm
Diameter: 95.4 mm
Weight: 1170 g (41.12 oz)
ZEISS Batis 2.8/18
The Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 is a small lightweight autofocus lens designed for mirrorless cameras. It’s well built and is weather sealed to help keep dust and moisture out.
Optically this is a very good lens with excellent central sharpness even at the maximum aperture of f/2.8, the corners are a little softer and unfortunately never reach the same levels of sharpness as the center no matter how far you step down.
The autofocus is fast and quiet and there an infinite scroll focus ring for when you want to focus the lens manually, along with an OLED display that shows the distance and depth of field to ensure the focusing range can be perfectly set.
Coma performance is very good even when shooting wide open at f/2.8. However the lens does exhibit some fairly heavy vignetting and moderate distortion that you will most likely want to correct in post.
If you’d like to learn more about this lens then this video from Dustin Abbott is worth watching:
Pros: Great build quality, weather sealed, fast and quiet autofocus, excellent sharpness across the frame, chromatic aberrations well controlled
Cons: Moderate distortion, strong vignette at wide apertures, expensive
Recommended Reviews: Drew Robinson
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.25 m (0.82 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 77 mm
Length: 95 mm with lens cap, 80 mm without lens cap
Diameter: 100 mm
Weight: 330 g (11.64 oz.)
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM (SEL1635GM)
The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM is really a must have lens if you like shooting landscapes and astro photography, however being a GM lens it unfortunately does not come cheap!
Weighing in at a hefty 680 grams (23.9 oz) this isn’t the lightest of lenses, thankfully the image quality is well worth the weight penalty.
This lens is sharp across the frame even shooting wide-open at f/2.8. There are 11 circular aperture blades that deliver lovely smooth bokeh (always subjective).
I purchased this lens not long after picking up my Sony a7R II, and although I don’t use it a great deal these days since I’m shooting more wildlife than landscapes, I can’t quite bring myself to let it go.
To learn more about this lens take a look at this video from Wes Perry:
Here’s a shot I took with it of Elgol Beach on the Isle of Skye:
a7R II + FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM @ 30sec (Lee 10-stop ND) | f/6.3 | ISO 400 | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Pros: Excellent sharpness across the frame, beautiful sunstars, very little coma and distortion, well controlled chromatic aberration
Cons: Weight, price
Recommended Reviews: Our Review
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.28 m (0.92 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 82 mm
Length: 121.6 mm
Diameter: 88.5 mm
Weight: 680 g (23.9 oz.)
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS (SEL1635Z)
With the hefty price tag of the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens you might be glad to know that the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS is a lot more affordable.
It’s not quite as sharp as the GM lens and the maximum aperture is only f/4. However, if you don’t shoot a lot of astrophotography or indoors then f/4 will often be more than bright enough.
At around 160 grams (5.64 oz) lighter than the GM version and smaller as well, this lens is definitely more backpack friendly. The lens delivers very good sharpness across the frame together at 16mm, but at 35mm you will need to step down to around f/8.
I also own this lens myself and will often take it with me over the GM version when I want to keep my backpack as light as possible, unless I want to shoot astro in which case I definitely prefer to pack the GM.
To learn more about this lens I’d recommend this review from Christopher Frost:
Pros: Very good sharpness across the frame and zoom range, built in stabilization, well built, fast and accurate autofocus
Cons: Flare resistance, not weather sealed
Recommended Reviews: Jordan Steele
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.28 m (0.92ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/4
Aperture Blades: 7 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 72 mm
Length: 98.5 mm
Diameter: 78 mm
Weight: 518 g (18.27 oz)
Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD (A046) Lens
The Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD follows in the footsteps of the very successful 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD lens. Similar to the 28-75mm this lens offers great sharpness wide-open in a compact lightweight body and at a very reasonable price point.
To keep this lens as compact and light as possible whilst still maintaining excellent optical quality, Tamron has sacrificed the zoom range by restricting it to 17-28mm and not the more common 16-35mm.
At 17mm and the maximum aperture of f/2.8 sharpness across the frame is very good. If you are shooting into the sun then you’ll be pleased to know that flare control is also very good.
To learn more about the Tamron 17-28mm I’d recommend this review from Dustin Abbott:
Pros: Very good sharpness across the frame at 17mm and f/2.8, coma performance, flare resistance, size/weight
Cons: Color cast in the corners, distortion
Recommended Reviews: Jordan Steele | Justin Abbott | Phillip Reeve | Chris Turner (YouTube)
Sample Photos: FlickR
Lens Construction: 13 elements in 11 groups
Angle of View: 103°41′-75°23′
Aperture Blades: 9 rounded
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.19m (7.5 in) (WIDE) – 0.26m (10.2 in) (TELE)
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:5.2 (Wide) / 1:6 (Tele)
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 67mm
Length: 99mm
Diameter: 73mm
Weight: 420 g (14.8 oz)
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G (SEL20F18G)
The Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G is well built, compact and tips the scales at only 373g (13.2oz). It’s also weather sealed, has a customizable function button and a de-clickable aperture ring.
This lens features the same quiet and fast XD focus motor found in more expensive lenses like the Sony FE 400 F2.8 GM.
Distortion is extremely well controlled even when you turn off the in-camera corrections. There is a little vignetting at f/1.8 but this clears up by f/2.8. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled as is flare.
The focus ring is silky smooth with a throw of around 160 degrees, however it does suffer from focus breathing most likely due to its very close focusing distance of just 0.59 ft / 0.18 m when focusing manually.
DPReview are calling this a “near-perfect lens”.
Here’s an excellent early review from Gerald Undone:
Pros: Size, sharpness, autofocus, distortion
Cons: Price
Recommended Reviews: Gerald Undone (YouTube) | Albert Dros (Sony Ambassador)
Sample Photos: DPReview
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.63 ft (AF), 0.59 ft (MF) (0.19 m [AF], 0.18 m [MF])
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 67 mm
Length: 3-3/8 in (84.7mm)
Diameter: 3 in (73.5mm)
Weight: 373 g (13.2 oz)
Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM (SEL24F14GM)
According to Rodger Cicala at LensRentals.com the Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM is the sharpest 24mm prime lens ever made and he should know since he’s tested hundreds of lenses.
Weighing only 445 g (15.69 oz) this is a small and compact lens that still manages to deliver excellent sharpness even at the maximum aperture of f/1.4.
On the lens body itself you’ll find a customizable focus hold button, an AF/MF switch and also an aperture selection ring that includes a click on/off switch.
The bokeh is creamy smooth (always subjective) whilst the autofocus motor is fast and barely makes a sound.
To learn more about this lens take a look at this video review from The Hybrid Shooter:
I own this lens myself so here are just a few shots that I have taken with it:
a7R III + 24mm F1.4 GM @ 1/200 | f/16 | ISO 320 | Shadows recovered in LR | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
a7R III + 24mm F1.4 GM @ 1/100 | f/1.4 | ISO 100 | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
a9 + 24mm F1.4 GM @ 1/5000 | f/1.4 | ISO 160 | Highlights recovered in LR | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
This lens is sharp from frame center to the edges even at the maximum aperture of f/1.4. Distortion is very well controlled as is the coma making this a great lens for astro photography if you don’t mind the 24mm focal range.
Pros: Very sharp across the frame wide open, beautiful bokeh, size & weight, aperture ring, fast autofocus
Cons: Strong vignetting wide open, flare resistance
Recommended Reviews: Phillip Reeve
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.24 m (0.79 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 67 mm
Length: 92.4 mm with lens cap
Diameter: 75.4 mm
Weight: 445 g (15.69 oz)
Portrait Lenses
You can pretty much use any kind of lens to shoot portraits with and your choice of focal length and aperture will often come down to the style that you are looking to achieve.
That said, a focal length of somewhere between 70 to 135mm is often the preferred choice for portrait shooters, along with a wide maximum aperture for great low-light performance and shallow depth-of-field.
Here are some of the most popular Sony full-frame lens choices for shooting portraits:
Sony FE 85mm F1.4 G Master (SEL85F14GM)
The Sony FE 85mm F1.4 G Master is one of Sony’s most popular full-frame lenses for shooting portraits.
Wide-open at f/1.4 there’s excellent sharpness from the center of the frame to the edges. Flare control and chromatic aberrations are well controlled and the bokeh is silky smooth.
Sadly this is not a perfect 10/10 lens, as the autofocus motor isn’t the fastest and it will struggle in low light situations.
Despite the AF motor if I was shooting portraits full-time this is one lens that I’d definitely like to have in my bag.
To learn more about the FE 24-70 f2.8 GM lens take a look at this video review from Wes Perry:
Pros: Sharpness across the frame, bokeh, flare resistance, build quality
Cons: Sunstars, slow autofocus
Recommended Reviews: Bastian Kratzke
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.8 m (2.62 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 77 mm
Length: 107.5 mm
Diameter: 89.5 mm
Weight: 820 g (28.92 oz.)
Sony FE 85mm F1.8 (SEL85F18)
If the price of the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens is a little hard to stomach then the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 is an excellent lens and less than half the price of the G Master.
Although not quite as sharp as the 85mm F1.4 GM, it’s not far off. Also the autofocus is also surprisingly faster than the GM!
I own this lens myself and despite not shooting portraits very often (apart from my dog Frank), I don’t plan on letting it go any time soon.
To learn more about this lens I’d recommend this excellent review from Christopher Frost:
Here are just a couple of shots that I’ve taken with it:
a7R III + FE 85mm F1.8 | @ 1/400 | f/1.8 | ISO 100 | Cropped | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Sony FE 85mm F1.8 (Shot on a7III) @ 85mm | 1/1000 | f/1.8 | ISO 250 | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Pros: Build quality, sharpness, bokeh, distortion, price
Cons: Purple fringing at large apertures, flare resistance
Recommended Reviews: Jannik Peters
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.8 m (2.63 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 67 mm
Length: 82 mm
Diameter: 78 mm
Weight: 371 g (13.09 oz.)
Sony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS (SEL100F28GM)
This is a very unique lens and the only Sony FE lens that includes a built in apodization (APD) filter. This is basically a clear glass filter that gets progressively darker the further away from the center of the lens, with the greatest effect when shooting at the maximum aperture.
Although the lens is badged as a f/2.8 because of the filter it actually has a T-stop of 5.6, and therefore the light gathering capabilities and depth of field similar to an f/4 lens.
The filter also makes the bokeh balls darker towards their outer edge, but also produces the creamiest of bokeh balls.
To learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this review from Chelsea Northrup:
Pros: Excellent sharpness, bokeh, build quality, image stabilization
Cons: Weight, poor light transmission, size
Recommended Reviews: Rose and Charles | Stephen Ozcomert
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.85 m (2.79 ft) at “0.85m-∞” position; 0.57 m (1.87 ft) at “0.57m-1.0m” position
Minimum Aperture: f/20 (T22)
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8 (T5.6)
Aperture Blades: 11 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 72 mm
Length: 118.1 mm
Diameter: 85.2 mm
Weight: 700g (24.69 oz.)
Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM) Lens
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.
Thankfully it’s not only sharpness where this lens shines, it also displays minimum chromatic aberrations, very low distortion and vignetting.
It is slightly let down by a glossy filter thread that can make flare performance look worse than it actually is, but providing you don’t shoot without the lens hood on then this will rarely be an issue.
The autofocus motors are also extremely fast making this lens a great choice for sports and action photographers as well as portrait shooters.
I’d recommend watching this video from David Oastler to learn more about this lens:
Pros: Excellent sharpness, bokeh, build quality
Cons: Price, ring flare
Recommended Reviews: Jannik Peters | LensRentals.com | Manny Ortiz (YouTube) | Miguel Quiles (YouTube)
Sample Photos: DPReview
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.)
Macro Lenses
Macro lenses are a great choice for taking photos of insects, tiny objects, food or really anything where you would like to see as much detail as possible.
A true macro lens should have the ability to focus from infinity to 1:1 magnification. A larger working distance (distance form the end of the lens to your subject) is often beneficial for macro photography to help avoid casting shadows from your lens or scaring away shy bugs.
I’ve also created a Sony E-mount Macro Lens Buyers Guide that includes further information for buying macro lenses along with all of the E-mount macro lenses available.
Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS (SEL90M28G)
If you are looking for macro lens then you don’t need to look much further than the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.
DxOMark reviewed this lens and said that its outstanding, scoring higher than both the Canon and Nikon equivalent macro lenses.
I’ve owned this lens for a couple of years now and can confirm that it lives up to its high praise.
However, if I was being fussy then my only complaint is regarding the autofocus performance, which could definitely be faster and quieter, although I normally manually focus anyway for macro so it doesn’t concern me too much.
One other small niggle would be that the manual focus ring doesn’t have the longest throw, so precision focusing can be a little tricky at times.
To learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this review from Shane Bethlehem:
Here are a couple of shots that I’ve taken with it:
Sony a7R IV + FE 90mm F2.8 Macro | 1/1600 | f/2.8 | ISO 160 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a7R III + FE 90mm F2.8 Macro @ 1/500 | f/2.8 | ISO 320 | Cropped | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Pros: Incredible sharpness at all apertures, excellent color rendition, CA is well controlled, very well built, price
Cons: Autofocus isn’t the fastest, manual focus could allow for finer adjustments
Recommended Reviews: Jordan Steele | DxOMark | Philip Reeve
Sample Photos: Flickr
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: 602g (21.23 oz.)
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art
The Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro lens was one of the first SLR lenses that Sigma decided to adapt to Sony E-mount, so this lens hasn’t been built from the ground up for mirrorless cameras like some of their newer lenses.
The build quality is typical of Sigma’s ART Series and it’s very hard to find anything to complain about here.
Despite adapting this lens the optical quality is excellent and the colors it produces straight out of the camera are very pleasing indeed. Images are very sharp across the frame, chromatic aberration is well controlled as is distortion.
The autofocus motor unfortunately doesn’t get the same amount of love as the optical elements of this lens as it’s both slow and rather noisy. Still, I prefer to manual focus most of the time for macro photography and with the help of focus peaking the slow noisy AF isn’t really a problem.
Unlike the Sony 90mm F2.8 G lens the Sigma does extend as you focus but never past the lens hood. The minimum focusing distance is just 0.25m from the sensor so you will need to get pretty close to your subject for 1:1 shots, which might mean that your subject flies off before you hit the shutter button.
For a closer look at this lens I’d recommend this review from Christopher Frost. Although he’s reviewing the Canon version of this lens other than the mount it’s pretty much identical to the Sony E-mount version so it’s still useful to watch:
And here are a couple of shots that I’ve taken with it:
a7R III + Sigma 70mm F2.8 Macro @ 1/1000 | f/5.6 | ISO 500 | Cropped | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
a7III + Sigma 70mm F2.8 Macro @ 1/800 | f/4 | ISO 320 | Cropped | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Pros: Extremely sharp, color rendition, chromatic aberration, build quality, price
Cons: Autofocus, manual focus ring
Recommended Reviews: My Review
Sample Photos: My Review
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:1
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.25m (0.82ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 49 mm
Length: 130 mm (min) 181 mm (max)
Diameter: 70.8 mm
Weight: 622 g (21.94 oz.) with lens hood
Voigtlander 110mm f2.5 Macro Apo-Lanthar Lens
The Voigtlander 110mm F2.5 Macro APO Lanthar is a manual only focus lens, so there’s no autofocusing with this lens.
At the maximum aperture of f/2.5 the lens is very sharp across the frame. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled and the bokeh is very smooth, although you will get cat-eye bokeh balls appearing towards the outside of the frame.
For a closer look at this lens the following review is worth a watch:
Pros: Excellent sharpness, build quality, CA control, bokeh
Cons: Vignetting, Cat-eye bokeh balls
Recommended Reviews: Phillip Reeve | Fred Miranda
Sample Photos: Flickr
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:1
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.17m (0.56ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.5
Aperture Blades: 10
Auto Focus: No
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 58 mm
Length: 99.7 mm
Diameter: 78.4 mm
Weight: 763 g (26.9 oz.)
Telephoto Lenses
Telephoto lenses are the hallmark of sports and wildlife photographers. Sports photographers will work with lenses up to 400mm and occasionally longer, but since wildlife photographers often struggle to get close enough to their subject they generally prefer the longest lenses that they can afford.
Here are the best telephoto lens choices for Sony full-frame e-mount cameras.
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS (SEL70200GM)
If you are looking for a lens for shooting indoor sports and low light photography then the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS lens is a very good choice.
Since this lens wears the G Master badge the build quality is top notch. Optical Steady Shot (OSS) is built in and there’s a Mode 1/2 panning switch on the lens itself along with a AF/MF switch and an AF limiter.
This is an internal zoom lens so it doesn’t extend as you zoom in, and the with a short zoom throw you can go from 70mm to 200mm with just a short twist of the wrist.
Optical quality is very high and the autofocus motor is both fast and quiet.
Compatibility with both the Sony FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters help you to 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:
I’ve owned this lens for a couple of years now and enjoy using it for motorsport events, equestrian events, and pet portraits.
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM (Shot on a9) @ 200mm | 1/1000 | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | Cropped | Exposure Correction in LR | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM (Shot on a9) @ 200mm | 1/1600 | f/2.8 | ISO 500 | Cropped | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM (Shot on a9) @ 165mm | 1/2000 | f/2.8 | ISO 200 | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG
Pros: Very sharp, excellent color rendition, extremely fast autofocus, creamy bokeh
Cons: Expensive, heavy
Recommended Reviews: Nick Smyth (Youtube) | DxOMark
Sample Photos: Flickr
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
Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS (SEL70200G)
If you don’t have the budget for the 70-200 F2.8 GM lens or simply don’t need a fast aperture lens then the Sony FE 70-200 F4 G lens is a worthy contender for your dollars.
Just like the GM version this is an internal zoom lens with a short zoom throw, so it handles very well indeed. There’s a constant aperture of f/4 and although the bokeh isn’t quite as smooth as the f/2.8 it’s still very pleasing on the eyes.
There’s a tripod collar and a mode 1/2 panning switch on the lens body and optical stabilization (OSS) is built it.
The lens is sharp across the frame even at the maximum aperture of f/4 and the autofocus is both fast and silent.
As well as shooting sports and wildlife this lens is also a great choice for shooting landscapes, and since it weighs only 840 g (29.63 oz.) carrying it won’t break your back like the GM version.
For a closer look Wes Perry has also reviewed this lens:
I also own this lens so here are a couple of shots that I’ve taken with it:
Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G (Shot on a7III) @ 113mm | 1/1600 | f/4 | ISO 500 | Cropped | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Sony FE 70-200mm F4 (Shot on a6400) @ 200mm | 1/200 | f/4 | ISO 320 | Cropped | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Pros: Build quality, sharpness, bokeh, weight, price
Cons: A little corner softness wide-open, vignetting
Recommended Reviews: Phillip Reeve | Matt Granger
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 1 m (3.28 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/4
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 72 mm
Length: 175 mm
Diameter: 80 mm
Weight: 840 g (29.63 oz.) without tripod mount
Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
The Tamron 70-180mm f2. 8 Di III VXD has not long been released.
I have purchased it myself so will be adding my own views here shortly.
In the meantime for a closer look at this lens the following review from Dan Watson is worth watching:
Here’s a sample image of Frank for now.
Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 (Shot on a7III) @ 154mm | 1/4000 | f/2.8 | ISO 250 | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Pros:
Cons:
Recommended Reviews: Dan Watson (Youtube) | Camera Labs
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 9
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.85m (Full zoom range) MF: 0.27m (WIDE), 0.85m (TELE)
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No (Can use IBIS in camera)
Filter Thread Size: 67 mm
Length: 149 mm
Diameter: 81 mm
Weight: 810 g (28.57 oz.)
Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS (SEL70300G)
If you prefer your telephoto lenses to be black rather than bright white then the Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS is currently your only option in this focal range. Although I’d recommend that you don’t allow the color to dictate your lens choice, and lens covers can also be purchased if you prefer a little more discretion.
The Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS offer a very good zoom range in a fairly compact body. This is a variable aperture lens which goes from F4.5-F5.6. From 70mm to 82mm its f/4.5, 83mm to 153mm its f/5, and from 154mm to 300mm its f/5.6. The lens body does extend when you zoom.
This lens is sharp in the center when shooting wide open and the AF motor is fast and silent, vignetting and CA is well controlled and build quality is very good.
Unfortunately there is no tripod collar and no panning mode 1/2 switch like you will find on the FE 70-200 F4 G lens.
To learn more about this lens I would recommend watching this review from Mathieu Gasquet:
I do own this lens myself although since I purchased the 100-400 this lens rarely gets used. Here are a couple of shots that I have taken with it:
Sony FE 70-300mm (Shot on a6400) @ 300mm | 1/1000 | f/5.6 | ISO 1250 | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW
Sony FE 70-300mm (Shot on a6400) @ 210mm | 1/1250 | f/5.6 | ISO 100 | ** Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony FE 70-300mm (Shot on a6500) @ 196mm | 1/250 | f/5.6 | ISO 160 | Cropped (I don’t provide full res images for superbike shots I’m afraid)
Pros: Center sharpness, fast autofocus, build quality
Cons: No tripod collar, corner softness wide-open
Recommended Reviews: John Sison (YouTube) | Imaging Resource
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.9 m (2.96 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22-29
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Filter Thread Size: 72 mm
Length: 143.5 mm
Diameter: 84 mm
Weight: 854 g (30.12 oz.)
Sony FE F4.5-5.6 100-400mm G Master (SEL100400GM)
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.
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.
To take a closer look at this lens I’d recommend watching this review from Jay:
Here are just a few images that I have shot with this lens:
a6500 + 100-400 GM @ 345mm | 1/250 | f/5.6 | ISO 400
a9 + 100-400 GM @ 400mm | 1/1600 | f/5.6 | ISO 200 | Cropped | *Full Resolution Download: JPEG | RAW
Sony a6400 + 100-400mm GM @ 400mm | 1/1250 | f/5.6 | ISO 800 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG
Sony a7R III + 100-400 @ 400mm | 1/800 | f/5.6 | ISO 640 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG
Pros: Fast autofocus, very sharp across the frame, color rendition, bokeh, build quality
Cons: Price
Recommended Reviews: My Review | DxOMark
Sample Photos: My Review Samples
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
Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) Lens
The Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens has already proved itself to be one of the most popular lenses for wildlife shooters.
I ordered this lens as soon as it was announced and started working on my 200-600 vs 100-400 review and comparison as many Alpha Shooters are struggling to decide between these two amazing lenses.
With a focal range of 200-600mm and a maximum aperture of f/6.3 at 600mm this lens will bring you closer to your subjects than ever before. And if 600mm is not long enough then it also supports the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters that take the range up to 900mm and 1200mm.
This is certainly not a small lens and it weighs around 2115g (74.60 oz.) and measures 318mm in length. It’s also an internal zoom lens and the short throw of the zoom ring makes going from 200mm to 600mm a breeze.
At 600mm this lens is sharper than the Sony FE 100-400 + 1.4x is at 560mm.
Since owning the 200-600 my 100-400 has started to collect dust but I can’t bring myself to let it go just yet, as it does beat the 200-600 for close-up shots and is also much more backpack friendly.
I’d recommend watching this review from Jay to learn more about this lens:
Here are a few shots that I’ve taken with it:
Sony a7R IV + FE 200-600 G + 1.4x @ 840mm | 1/500 | f/9 | ISO 400 | Crop | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a7 III + FE 200-600 @ 600mm | 1/1000 | f/6.3 | ISO 640 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a7III + FE 200-600 @ 600mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 640 | Cropped | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG
Sony a7III + FE 200-600 @ 600mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 800 | Cropped | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Pros: Internal zoom, sharpness, 1.4x & 2.0x teleconverter compatibility
Cons: Size, weight
Recommended Reviews: Mark Smith (YouTube)
Sample Photos: My Sample Gallery
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.)
Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS (SEL400F28GM)
If money is no object and you demand only the best then the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS may already have your name on it.
I’ve not yet used this lens myself, but I know from many Alpha Shooters who have that it is extremely sharp across the frame and has terrific autofocus performance.
For a large prime lens it still manages to weigh in at only 2895g (102.12 oz.).
It also supports both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters taking the reach to 560mm and 800mm.
If there was one negative it’s definitely the price. At $11,998.00 in the US or £10,499.00 in the UK, many of us will need to start selling body parts to afford it!
He is a Sony Ambassador but Mark Galer definitely has one of the best reviews of this lens and 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
Recommended Reviews: Mark Galer (YouTube)
Sample Photos: Flickr
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.)
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM) Lens
If you thought that the 400mm F2.8 GM was expensive then you should probably skip straight past the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lens, which at $12,998.00 or £11,999.00 is Sony’s most expensive super telephoto lens ever.
Just like the 400mm F2.8 this is an exceptionally sharp lens with lightning fast autofocus performance. Point this lens at your subject and it really has not chance of getting away!
Both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters are also supported, taking this lens to 900mm or 1200mm.
This is definitely my dream lens but I’d probably have to sell my car to afford it.
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
Recommended Reviews: Ryan Mense | Mark Smith (YouTube)
Sample Photos: DPReview
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.)
Sony 1.4x Teleconverter Lens (SEL14TC)
The Sony 1.4x teleconverter (SEL14TC) is currently 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. It will not physically fit any other Sony E-mount lenses.
No matter which lens you use this on you’ll barely notice any impact on the AF performance. Images will appear slightly softer on both the 100-400 and 200-600, but on the prime lenses the impact is barely noticeable.
a7R III + 100-400 GM + 1.4x @ 560mm | 1/200 | f/8 | ISO 800 | *Full Resolution Download: JPEG | RAW
Pros: Extends focal reach by 1.4x, autofocus speed, size and weight
Cons: Price
Recommended Reviews: Danny Eusebio (YouTube)
Sample Photos: Flickr
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 currently 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. It will not physically fit any other Sony E-mount lenses.
Pros: Extends focal reach by 2x, size and weight
Cons: Price
Recommended Reviews:
Sample Photos:
Length: 62.4 mm
Diameter: 42.7 mm
Weight: 207 g (7.30 oz.)
Street & 35mm Lenses
Whether you like to use 35mm or 55mm for shooting in the streets, it often comes down to a matter of personal taste and the style of shot that you are looking for.
Lenses under 35mm are often more challenging to use with street photography as you’ll pretty much need to be on top of your subject! That’s unless you want to shoot an environmental portrait.
Here are some of the more popular FE lenses for shooting street photography:
Sony FE 35mm F1.8 (SEL35F18F) Lens
If you are looking for a small 35mm lens with a fast aperture then the Sony FE 35mm F1.8 is definitely worth considering.
The autofocus motor is both fast and silent and the focus ring is silky smooth. At its maximum aperture of f/1.8 it has very good sharpness across the frame, this improves a little further at f/2 and is excellent when you step down to f/2.8.
Bokeh at short to medium distances is very pleasing and the lens displays minimal pin-cushion distortion. Unfortunately the lens is let down a little when it comes to vignetting, but this is the sacrifice made for squeezing this lens into such a small package.
To learn more about this lens then this review from Christopher Frost is a must watch:
Pros: Sharpness, size and weight, bokeh
Cons: Vignetting, price
Recommended Reviews: Dustin Abbott | Philip Reeve | Ryan Mense (YouTube)
Sample Photos: Sony | Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.22 m (0.73 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 55 mm
Length: 73 mm
Diameter: 65.6 mm
Weight: 280g (9.9 oz)
Sony Distagon T* FE 35mm F1.4 ZA (SEL35F14Z) Lens
The Sony Distagon T* FE 35mm F1.4 ZA is a big fast lens that really excels at environmental portraiture and street photography.
At f/1.4 this lens is very sharp in the center whilst the corners are just a little softer, stop down to f/2.8 and the corners now look much sharper.
There is some distortion and also some longitudinal chromatic aberrations but these are easily fixed in post.
To learn more about this 35mm lens I’d highly recommend watching this review form Wes Perry:
Pros: Very well built, lovely bokeh, very sharp wide open, CA well controlled, fast autofocus
Cons: large and heavy, expensive
Recommended Reviews: Steve Huff | Jordan Steele
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.3 m (0.98 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 72 mm
Length: 112.0 mm
Diameter: 78.5 mm
Weight: 630 g (22.22 oz.)
Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA (SEL55F18Z)
The Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA lens is a very versatile lens that creates a different look versus a 24mm or 35mm because of its narrower field of view.
It’s one of the most popular choices for street photography providing you don’t mind its size.
This lens is exceptionally sharp wide open and the bokeh is nice and smooth, but it does exhibit some onion rings as well as the cat-eye effect towards the edges of the frame.
To learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this review from Christopher Frost:
Pros: Very sharp across the frame, excellent build quality, fast and silent autofocus
Cons: Vignetting, cat-eye bokeh balls and onion rings
Recommended Reviews: Rose and Charles | Phillip Reeve
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.5 m (1.64 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Aperture Blades: 9 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 49 mm
Length: 70.5 mm
Diameter: 64.4 mm
Weight: 281g (9.91 oz.)
The Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA and Rokinon/Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE are also both great lenses for street photography. I’m going to cover these two lenses next under pancake lenses.
Pancake Lenses
A pancake lens is simply a lens that is shorter than it is wide, they are often favored by street photographers because their small size makes them very discreet. Here are the best pancake lenses.
Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA (SEL35F28Z)
The Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA is a tiny lens that helps that you’ll barely know is mounted to your camera.
At its maximum aperture of f/2.8 it’s very sharp, the bokeh is smooth and distortion well controlled. Unfortunately there is a price to pay for such a small lens and with lens it’s vignetting that remains even when stopping down to f/5.6.
To learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this review from John Sison:
Pros: Very sharp at f/2.8, bokeh, size and weight
Cons: Vignetting, price
Recommended Reviews: Brian Smith (YouTube) | Richard Wong
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.35 m (1.15 ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 7 circular
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 49 mm
Length: 36.5mm
Diameter: 61.5 mm
Weight: 120 g (4.23 oz.)
Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE
If you are looking for a pancake lens on a budget then the Rokinon / Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE lens is worth taking a closer look at.
Despite its tony size this lens features a fast f/2.8 aperture and is sharp in the center even when shooting wide-open at f/2.8. Sharpness improves a little further from f/4 onwards, but the edges aren’t quite as sharp as the center.
Chromatic aberrations and vignetting are visible shooting wide-open and will require some post work to remove.
To learn more about this lens I’d recommend watching this review from Christopher Frost:
Pros: Compact, cheap
Cons: Slow autofocus, no weather sealing
Recommended Reviews: FStoppers | Drew Robinson |
Sample Photos: Flickr
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.35m (1.14ft)
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Aperture Blades: 7
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Filter Thread Size: 49mm or 40.5mm with hood
Length: 33mm
Diameter: 61.8mm
Weight: 108.1g (3.81 oz.)
Astrophotography Lenses
For shooting astrophotography your best options are the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G, the Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM, the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM, the Sigma 14-24 DG DN Art, or the Sigma 14mm 1.8 DG HSM Art. All of these lenses have been covered in further detail under the wide-angle section of this guide.
Best Prime Lenses
There are many great prime lenses that have been covered under their relevant sections in this guide (just click the following links to jump there).
The Sony FE 24mm F.1 GM is excellent for wide-angle shots, whereas the Sony FE 85mm 1.8 is a great lens if you are on a budget for portrait shots. If your budget is a little higher then the Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM and 135mm 1.8 GM are also excellent prime lenses for shooting portraits.
The Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro is one of the best macro lenses in the photography world and the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM is a superb telephoto lens for shooting sports or wildlife.
Best Budget Lenses
If you are looking for the best budget lens for under $500.00 for then here are some options that you might want to consider:
- Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro
- Sony FE 28mm F2.0
- 7artisans 1.4/28 FE+
- Sigma Art 70mm F2.8 Macro
- Rokinon / Samyang 35mm F1.4 FE
- Rokinon / Samyang 35mm F2.8 FE
- Rokinon / Samyang 24mm F2.8 FE
FAQs
FE means that the lens has been designed for Sony full-frame cameras like the Sony a7 and a9 series.
There is no physical difference. Sony calls their mount for mirrorless cameras the E-mount. When you see a lens abbreviated with FE this means that it’s a full-frame lens for Sony E-mount. If you see a Sony lens with just E in the name then it’s an APS-C lens for Sony E-mount.
Yes. Sony FE lenses are fully supported on the Sony a6400, as well as the Sony a6000, a6100, a6300, a6500 and a6600.
Before You Go
Please note that this guide does not include every single E-mount lens, it’s just a selection of the most popular lenses based on use in the Alpha Shooters community. Visit my E-mount Lenses Guide for a complete list of lenses.
Whichever lens you go for I’d recommend updating both the lens and camera to the latest firmware version, as new firmware releases often address compatibility issues and improve autofocus performance with some lenses.
Do you already own any of these lenses? If you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Or have I missed any lenses that you think should be included? Again, please let me know in the comments below.
I bought the 24-105 bundled with the A7III – you are right, for travel & general use it is fabulous, perfect for city breaks (though I also find the 16-35 f4 is even better if going inside cathedrals). My only downside of the 24-105 is that the bokeh is fairly horrid where there are vertical lines; I do a lot of macro (Sigma 105 & La-ea3) but for larger flowers etc the stems & any grass look fairly terrible if out of focus. These are the only lenses I use, but I did make a discovery: my old a-mount Tamron 70-300 Di APS-C which cost £99 new works really well as a full-frame, the 1:2 macro, if not fully zoomed to 300mm and if stopped down to f7.1 is a cracking lightweight manual zoom for bigger bugs and has a similar close-focus distance as the 100-400 GM…. obvious caveats apply, but on a budget and with a flash means I can put my savings towards the 200-600 which has a terrible close-focus and is a beast to carry in any bag. Thanks for your postings
Thanks for commenting Paul and glad to hear that your old Tamron lens works so well on your a7III. The 200-600 is a lovely lens but close focusing is not its strong point, the 100-400 works much better here. That said, I rarely use my 100-400 after picking up the 200-600, but if I wanted to travel light or shoot some bugs then I’d dust off the 100-400 and throw it in my bag. All the best, Tim