The Best Lenses for Sony a7 III Camera

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by David Em

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The Sony a7 III is a top-notch full-frame mirrorless camera. If you have it or are thinking about getting it, find out which lenses you need.

Sony a7 iii camera body with a lens on the side.

If you’re upgrading your camera or want your first one to be the best, you’ve likely come across the Sony a7 III during your search. It’s a full-frame mirrorless that’s small in size and performs very well. It has fast autofocus, doesn’t get too grainy when you use a high ISO, and has long battery life.

Buy the Sony a7 III from B&H Photo Video for $1,698.

Compared to the previous model, the Sony a7 III has been updated in almost every way possible. Plus, it costs less than $2,000. You get so much value for the price.

Overall, the Sony a7 III has incredible capabilities. If you’re considering it or have already purchased it, the following are the lenses that you need to take your photos to the next level.

Related: 10 best portrait lenses for Sony cameras

1. Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens

Sony 35mm lens.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

A 35mm lens is versatile and can be used indoors or outdoors. It gives you a wide field of view without the fish-eye look. The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM lens is solid, and you need to have it in your camera bag.

The aperture ranges from f/1.4 to f/16. With a large maximum aperture, you can capture a shallow depth of field and well-lit images in low-light situations.

Whether you’re looking for sharp portraits with beautiful bokeh in the background or a deep depth of field where everything is in focus, Sony’s 35mm lens is an excellent choice.

It’s also a part of Sony’s G Master lineup, which means it’s designed to produce high resolution and sharp images because of the correction of many spherical and chromatic aberrations.

Overall, it’s an essential prime lens to pair with the Sony a7 III. It works well in different lighting situations and results in high-quality photos.

Buy the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens from B&H Photo Video for $1,398.

2. Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens

Sony 50mm lens.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens is Sony’s version of the nifty-fifty. It’s a reliable prime lens that has an aperture range of f/1.8 to f/22. You’ll be able to take photos during the day or at night. The large maximum aperture also allows you to use selective focus on a subject, which results in a blurry background.

Costing just under $200, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 lens provides a lot of value at a low price. The main drawback is that the autofocusing is slow and loud. If you prefer to use manual focus or don’t mind slow autofocus, you can’t beat this lens.

A 50mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 will ensure that you can get capture enough light, take detailed and high-quality images. It’s a versatile focal length that’s great for portraits and other types of photography.

Due to its versatility, durability, great results, and affordable price, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 deserves a spot in your camera bag.

Buy the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens from B&H Photo Video for $198.

3. Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens

Sony 85mm lens.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

Sony’s FE 85mm f/1.8 lens is ideal for portraits. It produces exceptionally sharp photos and is capable of capturing beautiful bokeh. The 9-blade aperture results in a smooth defocus effect, and it’s the perfect focal length for the right amount of compression.

With an 85mm lens, you won’t have to worry about distortion. The fast focusing and compressed images will produce excellent results. Whether you’re shooting portraits during the day, at night, or during golden hour, the 85mm lens is a must-use.

Related: How to photography portraits in low-light

It has a double linear autofocus motor, which ensures that the autofocus system is smooth, precise, and quiet. It’s also designed to be resistant to dust and moisture, which means it can endure different weather.

It’s hard to beat $548 for a lens this good. Other comparable lenses may have a maximum aperture of f/1.4. However, they’ll cost two to four times as much as the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens.

Buy the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens from B&H Photo Video for $548.

4. ZEISS Batis 135mm f/2.8 Lens

Zeiss Batis 135mm lens.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

If the 85mm lens isn’t long enough for you, ZEISS offers a 135mm f/2.8 lens that works wonders. It produces excellent headshots and tight portraits. The 135mm lens is also a great way to practice composition techniques, such as filling the frame.

With a longer lens, weight is a common concern. ZEISS knows that one of the attractive features of a mirrorless camera is that it’s lightweight. That’s why they designed the 135mm lens to be lightweight without sacrificing quality. It’s one of the best lenses for the Sony a7 III.

The image quality is phenomenal, autofocus works quickly and quietly, and the design of the lens is beautiful. If you shoot portraits and want to single out your subject, the 135mm lens will give you top-notch results. That’s why it’s a favorite among professional photographers.

Related: Commercial vs. editorial photography

Another great feature of the lens is the OLED display. It tells you the focus distance and depth of field, which is easily readable in different light conditions. It’s an innovative feature that’s very helpful when you’re in the middle of a photo session.

Buy the ZEISS Batis 135mm f/2.8 Lens from B&H Photo Video for $1,529.

5. Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens

Sony 24mm to 70mm zoom lens.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

If you only want to have one lens and don’t want to be stuck with one focal length, Sony’s 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens is what you’ll want to go with. When it comes to versatility, zoom lenses win over prime lenses.

Related: Prime vs. zoom lenses

By having a range between 24mm and 70mm, you’ll able to capture wide-angle and close-up photos. Throughout the entire focal length range, image quality remains consistent. The maximum aperture of f/2.8 is also constant throughout the entire range. When you attach it to your a7 III, you won’t want to swap it out.

The lens is designed with an XA (extreme aspherical) lens element. It provides high resolution from corner to corner and enhances the bokeh. The clarity and contrast in your images will be unbeatable.

Overall, the Sony 24-70mm lens is outstanding. It works well as a general-purpose lens due to the various focal lengths. Whether you’re shooting portraits or landscapes, you’ll find value in it.

Buy the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens from B&H Photo Video for $2,198.

6. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

Sony 70mm to 200mm zoom lens.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

While the 24-70mm lens is great, Sony’s 70-200mm lens takes the range to the next level. With the ability to zoom all the way to 200mm, you can capture close-up portraits, headshots, sports, and wildlife. Plus, it has a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8.

Related: What background should I use for headshots?

Whether you’re shooting wide-open at f/2.8 or stopped down to f/22, you’ll be able to capture sharp and high-quality images. When it comes to speed, it won’t disappoint. The autofocus works precisely and quickly, which means you’ll always get the shot.

One of the best features of the Sony E-mount lenses is that they’re compatible with full-frame and APS-C cameras. On a crop sensor, it provides a 105-300mm focal length range.

The lens is a part of Sony’s G Master series, which means that it’s designed to improve sharpness, image quality, bokeh, and reduce aberrations.

Buy the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens from B&H Photo Video for $2,598.

7. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens

Sigma 24mm to 70mm zoom lens for Sony.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

Sigma’s 24-70mm is one of the best lenses for the Sony a7 III that isn’t a part of Sony’s line-up. It’s a great alternative to the Sony 24-70mm lens because it produces excellent image quality and costs almost half of the price.

Being a Sigma Art lens, the 24-70mm provides a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8. It allows you to take sharp photos in low-light situations and create a smooth and blurry background when using a shallow depth of field.

If you don’t have a lot of room to move around, it’s a great choice because you can shoot with a wide-angle at 24mm or zoom in to 70mm. It’s perfect for street photography and capturing genuine emotions because you can be close to your subject.

The lens is built with three aspherical elements that control spherical aberrations and distortion. This ensures that your images turn out well and render accurately.

Buy the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens from B&H Photo Video for $1,059.

8. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens

Sigma 35mm lens for Sony.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

Sigma’s 35mm f/1.4 lens is another great example of how well-made the Sigma Art lenses are. Just like the 24-70mm, it costs about half of the price of Sony’s 35mm f/1.4 lens. However, the results are on par with it.

The Sigma 35mm Art lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.4, which creates beautiful bokeh and blur. The autofocus works quickly and quietly. It makes getting the perfect sharpness easier.

Whether you’re photographing portraits or landscapes, the 35mm gives you a great field of view. It’s versatile, lightweight, and produces high-quality images.

Buy the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens from B&H Photo Video for $699.

9. Rokinon AF 24mm f/2.8 FE Lens

Rokinon 24mm lens for Sony.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

The 24mm f/2.8 lens from Rokinon produces great images and has fast autofocus. For being $219, it provides a lot of value. If you’re looking for a wide-angle lens, it should be one of your top choices.

It’s lightweight, compact, and is coated to reduce lens flare. You’ll also notice that the sharpness, resolution, and clarity make your images better.

The 24mm lens is versatile and works well in situations where you want to show the background. The wide field of view is great for landscapes, architecture, street photos, and full-body portraits. Be aware that the wide-angle can distort your subject.

Buy the Rokinon AF 24mm f/2.8 FE Lens from B&H Photo Video for $219.

10. Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron 70mm to 180mm zoom lens for Sony.
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

Tamron’s 70-180mm f/2.8 lens is one of the most popular and best lenses for the Sony a7 III. It’s a telephoto zoom lens that’s designed to reduce aberrations, flare, ghosting. It also is built to improve contrast, clarity, and color accuracy.

The Tamron 70-180mm lens has an excellent autofocus system that efficiently captures sharp images. You can focus on composition and exposure, instead of wondering if your photo is in focus.

A nice feature that it has is a zoom lock, which ensures that the barrel doesn’t extend while you’re traveling. It keeps your lens safe and protected.

Buy the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens from B&H Photo Video for $1,199.

Conclusion

Sony, Sigma, ZEISS, Rokinon, and Tamron make the best lenses for the Sony a7 III. When you pair it with a lens with a large maximum aperture, you’ll have a solid range when it comes to the depth of field. It’ll produce great portraits with selective focus and landscapes that are sharp throughout the image.

Featured image courtesy of B&H Photo Video.

About David Em

David Em.

David Em is the founder of Portraits Refined. He’s a published portrait photographer dedicated to helping photographers develop skills, capture incredible photos, and build successful businesses.

About Portraits Refined

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