Do you ever wonder what lenses are compatible with the Sony A7III? Considering that there are hundreds of Sony lenses, it can be overwhelming to choose ones that will fit your camera. The key to narrowing down your choice is to identify the correct lens mount.
The Sony A7III has the Sony E-mount. It used to be the NEX mount, which was designed for Sony NEX mirrorless cameras. Later on, Sony incorporated the E-mount into their full-frame Alpha series, including the A7III.
However, Sony uses other lens mounts, which we will cover below. We will also answer your other questions about the Sony A7III, including compatibility with third-party brands and the best lenses.
What Lens Mount Does The Sony A7III Use?
The Sony A7III uses the E-mount, previously known as the NEX mount. Sony originally designed the E-mount for the NEX consumer-targeted cameras. Eventually, the manufacturer adopted it for the Alpha series, which includes the A7III.
The Sony E-mount is compatible with both APS-C and full-frame sensors. It can also work with other lenses as long as you use the right adapter.
The main characteristic of the E-mount is its short flange focal distance. This refers to the space between the mount and sensor plane. That means cameras with an E-mount lack an optical viewfinder because it requires a larger flange focal distance. As such, the Sony A7III and other E-mounted cameras have an electronic viewfinder.
What Are The Other Sony Lens Mounts?
Sony has two lens mounts for its interchangeable camera bodies.
Sony E-mount – This is the most standard lens mount found in Sony mirrorless cameras, notably the Alpha (A7, A9, etc.). It was originally designed for the NEX camera series. As of 2017, Sony also uses the E-mount on the VENICE high-end digital cinema camera.
Sony A-mount – The A-mount is designed for Sony DSLRs and SLTs. The latter is essentially DSLRs with unique translucent mirror technology. Sony SLT cameras use built-in mirrors to reflect a portion of incoming light into the sensor while the rest of the light hits the sensor. They enable full-time phase-detection autofocus. As such, Minolta A-mount lenses are compatible with Sony A-mount cameras.
Both camera mounts have full-frame and APS-C sensor size options. The former offers a large image format, while the latter is a medium format. Full-frame and APS-C sensors have their own pros and cons.
What Is The Difference Between E And FE Lenses?
E and FE in Sony lenses refer to the image sensor format they are compatible with.
E lenses are designed to cover the APS-C sensor format found in the Alpha NEX and Alpha A6XXX series. They have a small image circle and a 1.5x crop factor. They can also change the effective focal length of lenses. For example, a Sony E 50mm lens mounted on a crop-sensor camera becomes a 75mm standard telephoto lens. Meanwhile, zoom lenses with a 70-300mm versatile zoom range become a 105-450mm telephoto lens.
On the other hand, FE lenses are compatible with Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. They feature a large image circle, which gives you a wider field of view. The broader perspective is even enhanced when using wide-angle zoom lenses or primes. Sony FE lenses can also work on APS-C cameras, but they will automatically have a 1.5x crop factor.
Can I Use FE-mount Lenses On The Sony A7III?
The Sony A7III has an E-mount. This lens mount is available in either E or FE sensor formats.
The Sony A7III is a full-frame camera, making it compatible with FE lenses. So yes, you can use FE lenses on this camera model.
FE lenses are available in different lens types, namely zoom lenses and prime lenses. They also come in various focal lengths. These include wide-angle lenses, standard or portrait lenses, telephoto lenses, and macro lenses.
Can I Use E Lenses On The Sony A7III?
Here is the better question. Considering that the Sony A7III has a full-frame sensor, does it accept E lenses?
Technically, yes. You can attach E lenses to the Sony A7III mirrorless camera. But since these lenses have a smaller image circle, they result in a vignetted image (with darkened corners). That means you cannot use the full potential of the large 35mm sensor.
Can You Use Third-Party Lenses On The Sony A7III?
Yes, you can use lenses from other brands on your Sony A7 III camera. Ensure they have the E-mount system to achieve full compatibility with your full-frame mirrorless camera.
Popular lens manufacturers that use the E-mount include Tamron, Sigma, Samyang, Rokinon, and Zeiss.
Now, you may wonder: can you use Canon and Nikon lenses on the Sony A7 III? You cannot attach them directly to the Sony camera because these lenses have different mounts. But if you use a lens adapter, you can connect lenses that have distinct mounts (including Canon and Nikon models) to the Sony mirrorless camera. Note that adapters affect the functionality of lenses. You may be unable to control autofocus, aperture, and other features. Hence, using a Sony E-mount lens from the get-go is best for full compatibility.
What Are The Best Lenses For The Sony A7III?
It is difficult to list the best lenses for Sony A7III cameras because each photographer has unique needs. As such, what works best for one photographer may not be suited to another.
That said, we spent hours researching online to compare top products from different sources. We found out that these are the best lenses for Sony A7III mirrorless system.
- Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM – This wide-angle lens is ideal for street and landscape photography.
- Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 – From street and travel shots to portraits, this zoom lens has a versatile zoom range great for everyday use.
- Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM – This prime lens is so versatile that we recommend every Sony photographer to have this in their arsenal. It is among the best Sony lenses for its low-light performance, edge-to-edge sharpness, and fast and accurate autofocus.
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM – This telephoto lens is an excellent portrait lens for Sony cameras. It is one of the best prime lenses due to its incredible image quality.
- Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 – This telephoto zoom lens suits action, sports, and wildlife photography. It has a wide focal range, optical image stabilization, and superb image quality.
- Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD – This third-party lens offers great value for your money.
Conclusion
If you recently bought a Sony A7III, you probably wonder which Sony lens to buy. But before shopping, know the lens mount your camera uses.
The Sony A7III has an E-mount. It is known for its short flange focal distance or the gap between the mount and sensor plane. It allows designers to create advanced optical formulas.
Do you have more questions about Sony lens mounts? Send us a message via our contact page, and we’ll respond right away!
