If you own or planning to buy a Sony a7III, you are probably wondering which lens to use. But with so many options to choose from, you likely find it overwhelming. To help you out, we listed the best lenses for the Sony a7III based on our personal experience and other user reviews.
The best all-around lens for the Sony a7III is the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8. It offers a natural field of view with minimal distortion to capture different subjects. It also has a bright aperture, making it ideal for low-light situations.
But if you are into portraits or street photography, consider better lenses on this list. Below, we will cover the best lenses for Sony a7III, including their pros and cons. We will also teach you the factors to consider before finalizing your purchasing decision. Before we go into the list, though, we would first like to teach you about the Sony a7III lens mount.
What Lens Mount Does The Sony a7III Use?
The mount is the electrical and mechanical connection between the camera and the lens. Different manufacturers use varying mounts, and these have become synonymous with the brand. For example, Canon has an EF mount.
As for the Sony a7III, it uses the Sony E mount. It has a shorter flange focal distance of 18mm, allowing the lens to be closer to the sensor plane than a DSLR. It also makes it possible for the manufacturer to design a lightweight and compact camera.
Sony E-mount lenses come in two types, depending on the sensor format. FE lenses can fit full-frame cameras and crop-sensor cameras. But when attached to an APS-C sensor, FE lenses offer a cropped field of view. Meanwhile, E lenses are specifically designed for an APS-C camera sensor. They have a 1.6x crop factor.
The Sony a7III camera is compatible with FE lenses.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
---|---|---|
Best All-Around Lens |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Best Portrait Lens |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Best Travel Lens |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review | |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review | |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
6 Best Lenses for Sony a7III Camera
Below are the best lenses for the Sony a7III mirrorless camera.
1. Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Standard Lens – Best All-Around Lens
First up on our list is the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Standard Lens.
It has a 50mm focal length, which is considered the most natural field of view. That means it has little to no distortion, so you can capture the subject as accurately as possible. The 50mm perspective is also great for different scenarios, such as portraits, travel shots, or general photography.
This nifty-fifty lens also offers a large maximum aperture of f/1.8. It lets more light inside the sensor, resulting in brighter pictures in poor lighting conditions. At the same time, it creates a shallow depth of field and a defocused bokeh. It helps highlight the subject within the frame.
Plus, the Sony FE 50mm lens uses a double-gauss configuration and aspherical elements. It can help reduce distortion and aberrations.
All these benefits come in a small, compact, and affordable body. The lightweight design of the lens is ideal for a full-frame camera like the Sony a7III. It is one of the best lenses for Sony a7 series cameras.
But due to its low price, do not expect the lens to have superb autofocus. The image quality also decreases at the edges.
Pros:
- Natural perspective without noticeable distortion
- Versatile focal length
- Bright maximum aperture
- Compact and lightweight standard lens
- Budget-friendly lens
Cons:
- Slow and noisy autofocus
- Image is sharp at the center, but the quality deteriorates at the edges
2. Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens – Best Portrait Lens
If you often take portraits with your Sony a7III, consider getting the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens.
It has an 85mm focal length that gets you closer to the subject than a 50mm lens. And similar to the nifty-fifty, the 85mm lens offers minimal distortion. It can help you capture the details of a subject with great accuracy.
Another advantage of the Sony FE 85mm lens is the nine-blade circular aperture. At its widest setting, it can open up to f/1.8. It produces a beautiful background blur or bokeh that adds visual interest to the portrait. The large aperture is also useful in low-light situations or night photography. That is because it allows more light to hit the sensor.
What’s more, this best lens for Sony a7III features accurate and fast autofocus. It can help you track the face of the subject in low light or even when it is moving.
Meanwhile, the extra-low dispersion (ED) glass reduces chromatic aberration. It can also improve corner-to-corner image sharpness.
Finally, this Sony lens has a dust- and moisture-resistant build. It can withstand outdoor use.
However, there are a few downsides to consider. First, the lens is quite bulky. It also lacks image stabilization, which we were expecting for its price.
That said, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is still among the best lenses for Sony a7III.
Pros:
- Large maximum aperture
- Beautiful background blur
- Fast, accurate, and precise autofocus
- Ultra-low dispersion glass elements to reduce aberrations
- Durable lens construction
Cons:
- Relatively bulky lens
- No image stabilization
3. Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens – Best Travel Lens
Those who often travel with their Sony a7III camera might like the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens.
It has a moderately wide-angle 35mm focal length. It is wide enough to include background elements in the frame. However, it still offers a relatively close perspective if you want a detailed look at the subject. The 35mm lens is perfect for street shots and environmental portraits during traveling.
Like the previous lenses, this model also comes with a fast and bright f/1.8 aperture. It can help you capture high-quality images in poor lighting conditions.
There is also a reliable autofocus system. It can keep the subject focused, whether you are taking a still or recording a movie.
Plus, this Sony prime lens offers a 22cm minimum focusing distance and a 0.24x maximum magnification. While it is not a macro lens, it can capture high-quality close-up pictures. It is ideal for nature, jewelry, insects, and other small subjects.
Finally, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 has a solid build. It features a sealed design that can resist dust and moisture.
But before buying this lens, know that vignetting is possible when using large apertures. A few users also said they heard a weird sound when rotating the focusing ring.
Overall, though, we highly recommend the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens. It is among the best travel lenses for the Sony a7III.
Pros:
- A fairly versatile wide-angle lens
- Close focusing distance suits macro photography
- Quiet autofocus is great for stills and videos
- Lightweight and compact
- Water and dustproof lens design
Cons:
- Using a large aperture may lead to slight vignetting
- A few customers noticed a strange sound from the lens while rotating it
4. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens – Best Wide-Angle Lens
Do you often shoot architecture and landscapes? Then, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens might be the right fit.
This wide-angle lens features a variable focal range. The 16mm focal length offers an ultra wide-angle view perfect for architecture and interior shots. Meanwhile, the 35mm has a moderate wide perspective to capture landscapes and travel shots.
The aperture remains constant throughout the entire focal length. That means you can open the aperture wide at f/2.8 regardless if you use the shortest or longest focal length. It is a fairly large f-stop that can offer impressive low-light performance and smooth bokeh.
This wide-angle zoom lens also features a G Master design. It has high-quality optics that minimize aberrations and distortion.
Plus, the package includes a lens hood. It can reduce the amount of light hitting the lens, eliminating flare and glare.
Finally, it has a relatively lightweight build, considering its zoom range. It is an excellent choice for active shooting.
There are a few downsides to this Sony lens, though. First, it has a steep price point. Second, a few customers noticed the image is soft at corners when shooting wide. But if you have the money, the Sony FE 16-35mm lens is worth it.
Pros:
- Ultra wide-angle perspective is ideal for architecture, interior, and landscape photography
- Large and fixed f/2.8 aperture
- High-quality glass improves image clarity
- Lightweight lens
- The package includes a lens hood to prevent glares
Cons:
- High price tag
- The image tends to be soft at corners when shooting wide
5. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens – Best Telephoto Lens
The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens is a high-quality telephoto zoom lens for the Sony a7III.
It offers a short to medium telephoto focal length. The 70mm can help you capture portraits and landscapes from afar. Meanwhile, the 200mm focal length gets you closer to the subject, making it ideal for action and wildlife photography.
This Sony zoom lens also has a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture regardless if you are using 70mm or 200mm. It ensures reliable low-light performance and stunning bokeh to isolate the subject from the background.
Another benefit of this 70-200mm lens is the high-quality optics. Sony uses one extreme aspherical (XA) element and two extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements. When paired with the Nano anti-reflective coating, the lens can deliver high image resolution with minimal flare and ghosting.
Besides optical aberrations, this best lens for the Sony a7III is also designed for movie recording. The latest lens technology can reduce focus breathing or shift when zooming in.
There is also a fast and accurate continuous autofocus. It can help you track the subject across the frame for stills and video. This zoom lens also allows manual focus control.
But like other telephoto lenses, this model is quite bulky and heavy. It is also an expensive lens.
However, after considering its features, we think the Sony FE 70-200mm lens offers great value for your money. It is among the best lenses for the Sony a7III camera.
Pros:
- Telephoto zoom lens is ideal for action, wildlife, and sports photography
- Constant f/2.8 aperture ensures impressive low-light performance and beautiful bokeh
- High-quality optics produce high-resolution images
- No flares and ghosting
- Fast and precise AF system
Cons:
- The most expensive lens on this list
- Bulky and heavy design
6. Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens – Honorable Mention
The last product on our list is the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens.
This third-party lens is compatible with Sony E mount cameras, like the Sony a7III. It offers a 16mm focal length, which is equivalent to a 24mm focal length in a full-frame camera. The moderate wide-angle view can help you capture architecture, landscapes, and street shots.
This Sigma lens also has a large f/1.4 aperture. It delivers reliable low-light performance. At the same time, it produces a shallow depth of field that can highlight the subject within the frame.
Meanwhile, the fast hybrid autofocus can keep the image sharp even when the subject is moving. It is also useful for shooting videos.
Finally, this best lens for the Sony a7III is lightweight and compact. It is convenient to use and pack while traveling.
But before buying the lens, consider its downsides. First, it is a third-party lens, meaning the performance of other camera features might not work as efficiently. Second, a few users reported that they received the item with poor packaging.
Overall, though, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is among the best lenses for Sony a7III mirrorless camera.
Pros:
- Versatile wide-angle lens
- Fast aperture is ideal for low-light situations
- Advanced autofocus system
- Lightweight and compact design
Cons:
- It has an APS-C equivalent, meaning the lens has a greater focal length than stated
- Third-party lens might not be fully compatible with the camera features
- Poor item packaging
Factors To Consider Before Buying The Best Lens For Sony a7III
It can be overwhelming to pick the best Sony a7III lens. To guide you, we listed the important factors you should look for before purchasing a lens.
Focal Length
The focal length is perhaps the first factor you must consider when buying any lens, not just for the Sony a7III. It describes the angle of view you will get and how large or small the subject appears in the sensor.
The focal length also determines the type of lens you can buy. For instance, a prime lens is any lens with a single focal length, such as 35mm or 50mm. Meanwhile, a zoom lens offers a variable focal range, such as 24-70mm or 18-105mm.
Different types of lenses are also classified based on the focal length they offer.
- Wide-angle lens – These have a 35mm focal length or below. As their name suggests, they provide a wide-angle field of view. They are a popular choice of architecture, landscape, and travel photographers.
- Standard lens – This type of lens features a 35mm to 50mm focal length. It has a natural perspective with little to no distortion. This versatile lens is great for everyday photography, portraits, and travel shots.
- Telephoto lens – It offers a focal length of 70mm and greater. It can make the subject appear closer and bigger. This type of lens is suitable for portraits, wildlife, action, and sports photography.
Most photographers own all three types of lenses. But if you are just starting out, stick with a standard lens. Then, upgrade to a wide-angle or telephoto lens if you want to do a specific type of photography.
Maximum Aperture
After the focal length, you must also look into the maximum aperture of the lens. It determines how large the lens opening is. The bigger the opening, the more light enters the sensor. If you did not already know, light is an important aspect of photography.
Aperture can also affect the depth of field, which is the area that is in focus within an image. A large maximum aperture can produce a shallow depth of field where only a small part is in focus. It can isolate the subject from the background, making it ideal for portraits and wildlife. Meanwhile, a small opening means a deep depth of field. It keeps more of the image sharp, which is suitable for architecture and landscape photography.
The lens aperture is expressed in f-stops or f-numbers. A larger f-stop, such as f/5.6 or f/11, has a smaller aperture (less light and deep DoF). In contrast, a smaller f-number is equivalent to a large aperture (more light and shallow DoF).
The best lenses for the Sony a7III have a large maximum aperture. They ensure better low-light performance and sharpness.
Autofocus
Autofocus helps your camera focus on the subject, ensuring its sharpness across the frame. It can also track the subject even when it is moving.
Most lenses already offer built-in autofocus today. However, some models have better autofocus technology than others. Look for a Sony lens with a fast, accurate autofocus. If you are filming a video, you may also want a quiet AF performance.
Image Stabilization
The Sony a7III already has in-body image stabilization. But if you want to eliminate camera shake that leads to blurry photos, invest in a lens with image stabilization. It can counterbalance vibrations and other unwanted movement. It is useful when shooting handheld or using slow shutter speeds at night.
Weight
Weight is an often overlooked factor when shopping for the best Sony a7III lens. While the camera has a compact body, using a bulky lens can significantly weigh you down. So if you often travel, stick with lightweight lenses. But if you are usually in a studio where you can use a tripod, you can go for heavy lenses.
Price
Finally, consider the price of the camera lens. The Sony a7III camera is not cheap by any means, so you probably have little budget left. Fortunately, you will find affordable yet high-quality lenses for your camera. You can always upgrade your gear later on once you have the money.
However, if budget is not a concern, go for quality Sony lenses with G Master design. These lenses are made of high-quality optics to ensure sharp images.
Sony Lens Abbreviations
When shopping for Sony lenses for your camera, you might come across different letters and characters. Know the meanings behind these Sony abbreviations below to understand what you are getting from your money.
- E – It might refer to the mount used by the Sony a7III. It is also the designation for lenses that fit cameras with APS-C sized sensors. These include the Sony a6000, a6300, and a6500.
- FE – It stands for “full-frame E-mount” lenses compatible with 35mm full-frame cameras, such as the Sony a7III.
- G – It describes the Gold series of Sony lenses. These are high-quality lenses with a solid build.
- GM – Also known as Gold Master, it refers to ultra-premium lenses that use the highest quality optics.
- OSS – It is an abbreviation for Optical SteadyShot. It is an image stabilization directly built into the lens body.
- ED – It describes a lens with Extra-low dispersion glass. It can reduce chromatic aberrations.
- FL – The lens has a Fluorite element, which can also decrease optical aberrations.
- XA – It refers to the extreme aspherical feature of the lens. It makes a more compact, higher-performing lens possible. However, it is only found in GM lenses.
- SSM – This acronym means supersonic motor. It offers extremely quiet, fast, and accurate autofocusing. It also allows for full manual override, meaning you can adjust the focus ring after setting your autofocus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lens can I use with Sony a7III?
You can attach Sony E-mount lenses with FE format to the Sony a7III. You can also use other third-party lenses on this camera as long as it has a compatible mount.
As for the type of lens the camera accepts, you can use all lens types with the right mount. These include prime, zoom, telephoto, wide-angle, and standard lenses.
Is Tamron compatible with Sony a7III?
Yes, you can use a Tamron lens on a Sony a7III. In fact, many Tamron lenses offer great image quality when attached to the Sony model. However, look for the proper mount to ensure compatibility with the camera.
Are Tamron lenses as good as Sony?
That depends on what you are looking for as a photographer. Sony lenses natively fit the a7III, meaning they are fully compatible with the camera features. They also provide fast and accurate autofocus. Meanwhile, Tamron lenses offer better value for the money. Sometimes, they offer features on par with the Sony lenses. However, since they are third-party lenses, they might suffer from slow autofocus performance.
Conclusion
The Sony a7III is one of the most capable mirrorless cameras today. If you want to take full advantage of its benefits, you must use the best lens.
Our top pick is the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Standard Lens. It features a versatile focal length to capture a wide range of subjects, from portraits to street shots. It also has a large maximum aperture that provides excellent low-light performance. It can also help isolate the subject from the background to highlight its details.
But if you want a better portrait lens with fast autofocus, get the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens. You can also consider other lenses above, which have positive customer reviews and high image quality. We already did the research for you, so you can save time and go back to taking photos.