Best Sony Lenses

The Best Sony lenses are world-renowned for their quality, reliability, and versatility. If you want to shoot sharp, impeccable images consistently, you can always rely on a Sony lens.

The quality of a photo not only depends on the camera but also the lens used. Essentially, the type of lens that you buy for your camera will go a long way to determine the kind of photos you can capture and produce.

Here is a comprehensive list of some of the best Sony lenses on the market today. 

You can also check our lists of best Canon lenses and best Nikon lenses

Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master

To start us off is the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens. This wide-angle zoom lens is compatible with both full-frame and crop sensor cameras, making it the perfect choice for most photographers. It features a larger piece of glass compared to conventional lenses weighing about 680g.

Moreover, the lens features an extremely accurate autofocus system and a customizable focus that give photographers more options for shooting stunning photos. Its build quality is outstanding, given that it comes with a full set of weather seals and nano-structure coatings, for the ultimate protection.

Pros

• Excellent build quality
• Impeccable optics
• Fast Autofocus

Cons

• Somehow bulky
• Pricey

Sony FE 24-105mm F/4 G OSS

The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G Oss boasts of exceptional build and handling quality. It comes in a smaller and lighter design compared to other Sony lenses in its class. This guarantees the perfect balance on various camera bodies.

Moreover, its versatile zoom range coupled with its optical image stabilization makes it ideal for everyday shooting. The only slight concern is that its aperture rating is f/4 rather than the usual f/2.8. However, this does not stop the constant aperture zoom from delivering stunning shots.

Pros

• Better balance on various cameras
• Cheaper than most lenses
• Generous zoom range

Cons

• f/4 aperture rating

Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS

If you are searching for a Sony lens that offers a generous zoom for any style of shooting, then the Sony FE 24-240mm OSS certainly fits the bill. 

With this lens at your disposal, you will never have to swap lenses regularly. It comes with a 10X zoom range, allowing you to shoot far images without leaving your spot. The only drawback is that the lens tends to lose sharpness the farther you go. However, this is barely noticeable.

Pros

• Extremely versatile
• Optical SteadyShot image stabilization

Cons

• Weighs 780g, making it bulky

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8

Camera lenses do not have to be bulky to do a great job. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is just but one example of a lens that is compact, lightweight and extremely efficient. It weighs 168g only, and it comes with all the features you would need in a lens.

Moreover, this prime lens by Sony offers excellent sharpness and contrast for all types of shooting. It comes with a quick, silent autofocus system that ensures that you do not miss any shot.

Pros

• Sharp image quality
• Compact lens

Cons

• No weather sealing

Sony FE 85mm f/1.8

The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is the ideal lens for bokeh photography enthusiasts. Its 85mm focal length offers more compression allowing you to shoot creamy bokeh backgrounds with relative ease. Moreover, it features 11 aperture blades for amazingly sharp shots across the entire frame.

What is more incredible is that the Nano AR coating works extremely well to keep flares and ghosting in your images at bay. You may also capture stunning videos thanks to the de-click aperture and focus hold button that comes with the lens.

Pros

• Excellent for bokeh
• Quality images

Cons

• Pricey

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM is a top-grade standard prime lens designed for street, art, nature and portrait photographers. It features an aspherical optical layout with nine rounded aperture blades for sharp image quality. 

Furthermore, its wide f/1.4 aperture allows you to capture excellent images and videos in low light. However, the lens does not have appropriate weather seals, but it makes up for this with its pro-grade construction.

Pros

• Top-grade construction
• Quick aperture

Cons

• No weather sealing

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

The Sony Sigma 85mm is another lens worth checking out, particularly if you are a bokeh enthusiast. Its maximum aperture is f/1.8, allowing you to turn any background into beautiful, dreamy bokeh. Moreover, the lens has a brisk focus for sharp, quick captures.

Unlike the Sigma 50mm, the Sigma 85mm comes with excellent weather seals. However, it does not have optical stabilization, and it is rather bulky, given that it weighs 1.13 kilograms.

Pros

• Weather sealed
• Produces beautiful bokeh

Cons

• Heavy lens
• Feels plasticky

Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS LE

If you are looking for a versatile Sony lens for your E-mount camera, consider the Sony E 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS LE lens. Firstly, the lens is smaller and lighter than most of its competitors, making it ideal for outdoor shooting. Moreover, the lens has a generous zoom range of up to 300mm, subsequently eliminating the need to swap lenses. As if that is not enough, it features a linear autofocus motor for faster, responsive focusing for both still images and video recording.

Pro

• Zoom lock protects the lens barrel
• 7-blade diaphragm for pleasing bokeh

Cons

• Narrow maximum aperture

Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS

The E 55-201mm is undeniably one of the best and most versatile Sony lenses, given that it is compatible with both E-mount and APS-C format cameras. The lens is renowned for its expansive focal length range of up to 315mm, making it the perfect choice for most telephoto applications. 

In addition, it has a maximum aperture of f/6.3 that easily keeps lens size to a minimum for optimum shooting.

Pro

• Generous telephoto range
• Internal focus mechanism for responsive autofocus
• Fairly priced

Cons

• Feels basic

Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS

The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS is a premium lens designed to meet your macro shooting needs. The lens boasts of a high precision auto and manual focus system for enhanced focusing when capturing small objects. The fact that it has a minimum focus distance of 0.28m means that you can easily enlarge tiny details seamlessly. Most importantly, the lens’ build quality and handling are excellent making it ideal for shooting various objects up close.

Pros

• Excellent build
• High precision focus

Cons

• Expensive

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS

Another lens that deserves accolades for its exceptional quality is the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS. This lens is renowned for its superior performance, thanks to its constant f/4 aperture zoom. It has a min focus distance of 1-1.5mm with 0.13x maximum magnification. The lens also boasts of an optical stabilizer for optimum shots regardless of your preferred shooting style. The only concern is that this lens is rather weighty at 840 grams.

Pros

• Constant aperture zoom
• Features an image stabilizer

Cons

• Bulky as it weighs 840 grams

Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master OSS

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 is an upgrade of the f/4 G version. For this reason, it is more expensive and heavier compared to its predecessor. The lens features a telephoto zoom design that can capture the farthest objects with relative ease. Moreover, it has up to 9 extreme aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements, making it one of the best Sony lenses available in the market today. 

Considering its high price, it is rather obvious that the lens comes with various protective features such as weather seals and nano-structure coatings to protect it from harsh elements.

Pros

• Exceptional image quality
• Excellent shooting performance
• Supreme design and quality

Cons

• The price is on the higher side

Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS

The Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS is a unique type of lens that integrates two extra-low dispersion elements and four aspherical elements to control chromatic aberrations, for enhanced clarity and color when shooting your images. Additionally, it boasts of a wide range of telephoto focal lengths to cover a variety of shooting perspectives. Its linear autofocus motor provides quick and precise focusing, particularly when recording videos.

Pros

• Dust and moisture seals
• Beautiful bokeh capability

Cons

• Not cheap

Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS

When shooting professionally, you need a lens that can capture images with precision and quality. The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS lens delivers to these expectations. This piece features a long telephoto zoom, twice as much as other lenses in its class. Furthermore, it comes with a super-fast autofocus system that combines the properties of a double linear motor and DDSSM systems, for enhanced focusing. Even though the lens is weighty, its excellent build and handling properties make up for its bulky design.

Pros

• Long zoom range
• Superfast autofocus system

Cons

• Pricey

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

Based on its name, you can easily tell that the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS means serious business as far as the zoom range is concerned. The lens has a minimum focus distance of 2.4m and 3X super-telephoto zoom range. Additionally, it has a maximum aperture of f/6.3 making the lens effective for all shooting various images.

Pros

• Super-telephoto zoom range
• Excellent optical quality

Cons

• Very expensive but worth the price

Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS

If you are searching for an ultra-wide zoom lens for your APS-C camera, look no further than the Sony E 10-18mm lens. This lens has a maximum aperture of f/4 that guarantees consistent image quality. Moreover, its zoom range is modest and it features a built-in optical stabilizer for the perfect still photos. The best part is that it is extremely lightweight, which makes it suitable for all styles of shooting.

Pros

• Features an optical stabilizer
• Constant aperture

Cons

• Comparatively expensive

Sony Vario Tessar T E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS

The Sony Vario Tessar lens is a must-have for every professional photographer. It boasts of impeccable features tailored for APS-C camera bodies. The first noticeable feature is its zoom range. This lens has an effective zoom range of up to 105mm for near and far-away shots. Moreover, it offers a constant f/4 aperture for clear and outstanding shots. The lens also features Zeiss’s anti-reflective coating to prevent ghosting, and improve color and contrast.

Pros

• Linear autofocus system
• Compact lens
• Optical image stabilization

Cons

• The less is expensive

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

If you have the A6000 series camera, then the Sony E 18-135mm will make a great addition to your lens inventory. This standard zoom lens is compact and lightweight, and it offers an effective range of up to 202mm. Moreover, it is capable of maintaining its exceptional performance at full zoom. With 7 diaphragm blades and a maximum aperture at f/5.6, you can always rely on this lens for all your shooting needs.

Pros

• Extremely lightweight
• Affordable lens

Cons

• Requires numerous digital corrections

Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro

The Sony E 30mm is not only one of the best Sony lenses, but also one of the least expensive. Besides, it is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for travel and outdoor photography. However, this lens is tailored for shooting macros given that it has a limited focal length of just 35mm.

Pros

• One of the cheapest Sony lenses
• Lightweight

Cons

• No stabilizer

Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS

Another small, lightweight lens worth checking out is the Sony E 35mm f/1.8. Unlike other lenses that are multi-compatible, this lens is only tailored for APS-C format cameras. In terms of focal length, the lens offers a 50mm field of view, making it ideal for undistorted shots. Moreover, it has a very fast autofocus system and a large f/1.8 aperture, allowing you to capture high quality still images even in low light.

Pros

• Allows for low-light shooting
• Image stabilization

Cons

• Misses focus at short distances

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Make a Move!

Now that you know about the best Sony lenses in the market, the onus is on you to take the next step.

Before you can buy one for your camera, consider factors such as build quality, focal length, maximum aperture, weight and image quality, to make the right choice.

Let us know what your favorite Sony lens is!