10 Best Lenses for Sony a7iii 2023 – Our Thoughts & Analysis

Renowned for its highly advanced sensor, the Sony a7iii camera is one of the finest mirrorless digital cameras on the markets today. In fact, some pundits have lauded it for being a one-of-a-kind, well-rounded camera which excels both in video and photo applications.

In order, to unlock its full potential, though, it makes perfect sense to get a well-made lens for it. That way, you can fully bank on it to deliver some incredibly sharp images on different situations.

But which one of the many lenses available out there in the world is best suited for the Sony A7 IIII? Well, although your needs may vary from the norm, we think that a good lens is one meeting the following criteria.

• Fast aperture
• Versatility in low-light and normal-lit conditions
• Ergonomic design

And because there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to lenses, your best bet is to follow the run-down of the 10 most popular lenses for Sony a7iii as provided below.

Lenses for Sony a7iii 2023 – Comparison

Don’t have the time to scour through our detailed paragraphs? Worry not. We have a simplified list available for you, right below.

1. Sony-FE 24-70mm Lens F2.8 GM SEL2470GM Standard Zoom

Sony-FE 24-70mm Lens is a mid-range zoom lens and doesn’t disappoint on Sony A7iii cameras.

The 24-70mm focal length means the lens has a medium size angle and able to suit varying photography needs including capturing good landscapes, standards and also portraits and therefore your go-to street photography lens. More so, it provides the best shallow of depth focus.

The lens has 18 elements in 13 groups, with one ED element, one Super ED element, two aspherical elements and one XA element for the best optics. The lens’ nine-blade circular diaphragm enhances the bokeh effect.

Further, the lens has Nano AR coatings which besides reducing flare, improves color and contrast. Although it is a bit heavy weighing 1 pound, the lens is well constructed with a manual electronic focus ring, a sturdy zoom ring, and an AF/MF switch.

Pros

• It is a zoom lens which meets varying photography needs
• The shutter speed is fast
• The lens aperture makes it suitable for night photography
• It has a good shallow depth of focus
• It is excellent for bokeh

Cons

• The piece is quite pricey

2. Sony-SEL85F18 85mm Lens F/1.8-22 Fixed Prime Camera Medium Telephoto

Sony’s SEL85F18 85mm Lens works well on full frame FE series and APS-C models and perfectly suits Sony A7iii.

The lens has a focal length of 85MM to make it a mid-telephoto prime lens best for portraits but limited in capturing landscapes and standard photos and videos.

The lens is constructed with 9 elements in 8 groups, with one Extra Low Dispersion element(ED) which is high quality for outstanding corner-to-corner image sharpness and also for the bokeh effect. The lens has a minimum focus distance of 2.63 feet (0.8m).

The lens is designed with an electronic focusing ring for Autofocus. Additionally, the lens’ Double Linear Motor system ensures that focusing is silent, fast and accurate. The lens boasts a maximum aperture of f/1.8 and a minimum of f/22, which is a plus feature for photographers looking for a night-time photography lens.

Also, the lens is moisture and dust resistant a feature to be appreciated because you can use the lens outdoors comfortably.

Pros

• It produces amazing corner to corner sharpness
• The lens has Electronic Image Stabilization
• The lens’ autofocus system is silent, fast and precise
• It is a weatherproof lens
• it is ideal for both day and night activities

Cons

• It is a non-zoomable lens
• Not the best lens for landscape photography

3. Tamron 28-75mm Lens F/2.8 for Full Frame Sony Mirrorless E Mount

Tamron has given owners of Sony A7iii a good option unit with their Tamron 28-75mm Lens. This zoom lens is designed with a 28-75mm focal length, which is quite varied to provide versatility to meet different photography needs.

It can serve as your main lens, offering you a bit of everything, landscapes, portraiture, and standard images. Its maximum aperture size of f/2.8 is perfect and provides fast shutter speeds in addition to being useful even in dim environments or at night.

Though the lens is moderately priced and there are way cheaper units with more or less the same features, the good thing is that the construction of its optics and exterior was well thought out. The lens is weatherproof and has a silver ring on its mount.

The lens has 15 elements in 12 groups. Therefore, the lens has good image quality and excellent bokeh. Moreover, the lens’ Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) coating reduces ghosting and flare for clear images.

Further, the lens is quite lightweight at 19.4 ounces and therefore very portable. In addition, it features a stepping motor autofocus unit that is fast and quiet and excellent for video shooting.

What’s more, the lens is backed by the manufacturer’s six-year limited warranty.

Pros

• It is a versatile lens producing landscapes, standards, and portraits
• It suitable for night photography
• The lens is backed by a six-year warranty
• The lens has weather sealing features and great for the outdoors
• The lens is light in weight

Cons

• The lens’ hood has a cheap feel

4. Sony-FE 50mm Lens F1.8 Standard SEL50F18F

Sony-FE 50mm Lens is a budget-friendly prime piece. It has a 50mm focal length, which is regarded as a normal angle view because it is neither too narrow nor wide and makes a perfect lens unit for doing standards and portraits.

However, it is limited in its capacity to produce specialized landscapes.

It features a maximum apertures size of f/1.8 which is large, for fast shooting and low-lit shooting, besides, its minimum aperture size of f/22 gives you many choices as well.

The lens is constructed to minimize chromatic aberrations and distortions for high-quality images. Further, the lens is designed with the DC motor focus actuator for precise and quiet autofocus.

The lens’ minimum focusing distance of 1.48 feet makes it a perfect unit if you want close-up portraits. The lens weighs only 6.56 ounces which is quite a light package and very portable

Pros

• The lens delivers sharp images
• It has a low price point
• It is excellent for night photography
• it is quite light in weight and therefore portable

Cons

• The lens is not zoomable
• It is not ideal for professional landscapes images
• The autofocus speed is slow

5. Sony 55mm Lens F1.8 Sonnar Full Frame Fixed Prime T FE ZA

Sony 55mm Lens F1.8 Sonnar is a prime lens compatible with Sony A7iii. Its 55mm focal length is fixed and will suit standard photography needs.

However, if you want highly specialized landscapes and portraits, this will not work for you because the angle is in the medium range.

Worth noting is that you can take good standard portraits and landscapes but nothing too specialized.

With a maximum aperture of f/1.8, this is quite large for fast shutter speeds and excellent for night photography or videography.

What’s more, the lens has a well-built exterior constructed with a metal exterior and excellent optics.

The lens has excellent image quality across all aperture sizes, besides, you can achieve a shallow depth of field if you use the lens’ wide aperture.

Besides that, the lens weighs only 11.2 ounces and it has a compact construction for easy portability.

Also, the lens is moderately priced in comparison with other lenses.

Pros

• It produces edge-to-edge image sharpness with little distortions
• It is excellent for day and night activities
• It is fast due to a large aperture
• The lens is light in weight and convenient to carry around

Cons

• It is not a budget lens

6. Sony 24-70mm Lens f/4 T FE OSS Vario-Tessar Zoom Interchangeable Full Frame

Sony 24-70mm Lens f/4 is a zoom lens. With a focal length of 24-70mm, its angle size ranges from wide to standard size and will fit photographers looking for a flexible lens.

Making the lens a perfect everyday shooting lens.

It is a versatile lens, thanks to its wide range of zoom, offering various depths of field, including a shallow depth of field, more so, its minimum focusing distance of 0.4m makes it perfect for close-ups.

The lens is constructed with 17 elements in 14 groups. It also features a ZEISS T* which is an anti-reflective coating to help with reducing the flare for sharper images.

Besides that, the lens is also constructed with weather resistant features and therefore great for the outdoors.

Although it comes at a medium price point, it is still not pocket-friendly. Another thing not likable on this lens is its maximum aperture size of f/4 which limits its use at night and also makes its shutter speed to be a bit slow.

Pros

• It is a perfect zoomable lens that meets day to day shooting needs
• The lens is well constructed to offer sharp images with nice color rendition
• It will give the best close-up portraits because of its low minimum focusing distance
• It is splash proof and dust-proof

Cons

• It is expensive
• It does not work well in low lit conditions
• Its aperture is slow

7. Sony 90mm f/2.8-22 Lens SEL90M28G FE Macro G OSS Prime Lens

Sony 90mm f/2.8-22 Lens is a perfect complement to your Sony A7iii Camera. Its minimum Focus Distance is 0.92 ft (0.28 m), and as such, it is your go-to-lens is if you are into macro photography. The lens has other equally appealing features.

The unit sports a 90mm focal length, which is pretty narrow to make it a short telephoto lens, good for close-up portraits. The lens is fitted with the Direct Drive SSM (DDSSM) which provide precise and quiet focusing.

Also, it has image stabilization to minimize the effects of camera shake.

For optics, it has Advanced Spherical elements, Super ED glass with multi-coating, besides that it has a 9-blade circular aperture to produce corner to corner sharpness and outstanding bokeh.

Its f/2.8 is quite a wide aperture for speed and also ideal for use in low-light situations. Additionally, the lens minimum aperture is f/22 meets other photography needs.

Pros

• It is a specialized portraiture lens
• It has image stabilization
• It produces a beautiful bokeh
• It is a good macro photography lens
• It produces images with corner to corner sharpness

Cons

• List It is moderately priced but still expensive
• It is not ideal for landscapes or standard images

8. Sony FE 70-200mm Lens F4 G OSS Interchangeable Lens for Sony Alpha Cameras

Sony FE 70-200mm Lens is built with state of the art technology and works well with Sony A7iii. It has a 70-200mm focal length which is medium to narrow angle.

Therefore, it is a good telephoto lens perfect for portraiture and standards and will work best for wildlife and action sports. It features a fast autofocus system and therefore very reliable.

More importantly, this lens is constructed with premium glass and is such a masterpiece. It has 21 elements in 15 groups and 9 aperture blades. The lens has 2 Super ED elements, 4 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, a double-sided XA (Extreme Aspherical) element, and 2 other aspherical elements.

Moreover, it is dust and moisture resistant to deliver high-quality images. Additionally, the lens has Nano AR Coatings, besides that, the front element has a fluorine coating.

However, it is limited a bit by its moderate aperture. Its other downside is that it is quite pricey and at 1.85 lbs, a bit heavy too.

Pros

• It has a fast autofocus
• It delivers sharp images in most conditions
• It is weather resistant
• It has a well-constructed lens

Cons

• It is quite pricey
• It is heavy
• It is limited as a landscape specialty lens

 9. Rokinon 100mm Lens F2.8 ED UMC Full Frame Telephoto Macro Lens

Rokinon 100mm Lens F2.8 is a prime lens. The lens has a 100mm which is a narrow-angle and a good telephoto lens for specialized portraits.

When coupled with the lens’ minimum focusing distance of 1.0 feet, the lens is good for macro photography and other close-ups. Please note that the angle is quite narrow and the lens will not suffice in landscaping.

The construction of the lens is well-thought out for the best optical performance. It has 15 glass elements in 12 groups.

Besides that, it has a single high refractive index element, a rounded 9-blade diaphragm, a single extra-low dispersion element, and a non-rotating filter mount. The glass has UMC (Ultra Multi-Coated) coating.

Further, the lens’ maximum aperture of f/2.8 provides lots of photographic opportunities, because of fast shutter speeds and also the use of the lens for day and night activities.

What’s more, it is a competitively priced piece and backed by the manufacturer’s one year warranty.

Pros

• It is good for night photography
• It is excellent for macro photography
• It is a good lens for specialized portraiture work
• It is has a one-year warranty

Cons

• It is not ideal for landscape photography

Read another post: Meet the 15 Best PTZ Camera Choices of 2023 – See Which One Wins

10. Sony SEL28F20 f/2-22 Prime Len

This is yet another perfect match for the highly reputed alpha 7 series from Sony. To begin with, it comes with a versatile aperture and that makes it ideal for different kinds of lighting environments.

On top of that, it provides you with a 28mm focal length which as we all know is quite reliable. It actually rivals for space with the 35mm focal length.

Indeed, these two focal lengths are among the most popular ones on the markets. They work pretty well for street photography, portraiture, and even wedding photography.

On top of all that, the SEL28F20 is quite tough and moisture-resistant. And this makes it a perfect bet, especially as a travel lens.

And the icing on the cake is that it packs a 9 blade circular aperture which comes in handy when you want to create bokeh. What’s more? You also get an ED glass that’s complete with multi-coating effectively reducing ghosting and flare.

Pros

• Great for bokeh
• Awesome aperture range
• Compact and light in weight
• Comes with ED glass for minimal chromatic aberration
• Made by Sony itself

Cons

• Some have complained about its distortion
• Some wish it its minimum focusing distance could be shorter

Lenses for Sony a7iii – Buying Guide

So, what are some of the key factors to keep in mind when shopping for some lenses for your lovely camera? Well, even though preferences may vary, we always recommend keeping the following factors in mind when making a decision.

Prime vs Zoom Lens

Prime lenses are the most practical type of lens you can find. And although they do not provide any zooming power, they tend to provide an awesome option especially for low-light photography.

Besides that, they can be a great option especially when the subject is nearby. For example, in weddings, field sports, portraiture and so forth.

However, if you’re looking for versatility and the power to capture images even when the subject is far away, a zooming lens would be awesome. Some of the situations that require you to zoom include wildlife documentaries, news gathering or even some types of landscape photography.

Manual vs Autofocus

Autofocus lenses have become quite common of late. However, if you want to get a little playful, the manual focus option would still be your best bet. But of course, you need to be highly experienced to understand exactly how to go about using the manual lens.

Aperture

The wider the aperture, the better the performance of lens is likely to be especially in low light situations. However, you also want the aperture to be fast so you can enjoy the entire focusing experience.

Why is the Sony a7iii Camera a Good Choice?

The Sony a7iii is argued by many to be one of the best cameras on the market. This is because it offers a list of very high-end specs.

To begin with, the camera is thought by most photographers to be quite versatile. Not only is it great for taking photos of a wedding, portraits but also for landscape and events. Also, it is ideal for photographers with heavy demands on accurate autofocus with fast lenses.

What’s more? The Sony a7iii features an improved sensor that accurately detects the right position of the lens. This ensures precise AF which is suitable when shooting continually moving subjects. More importantly, the camera is much lighter and extremely compact compared to a DSLR.

What Kind of Lenses do you need for your Sony a 7iii?

Depending on your photography needs, you may need one or more of the following lenses to get the best effects:

Wide angle lens

This type of lens is designed for capturing a large scene or a small scene but in a very limited space. Also, it tends to provide a sense of presence with a close to the subject perspective.

Telephoto lens

A telephoto lens features a long focal length and a narrow field of view. As such, it produces a magnified image. What’s more, you can use this lens to isolate your subject.

Prime lens

This is a type of lens with a fixed focal length which is not the case with a zoom lens. While a zoom lens offers a lot of conveniences, there is a trade-off with reduced performance. A prime lens tends to offer superior optical performance with a larger aperture.

Cine lens

Cine lenses are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of cinema production. They offer great optical abilities, superior image quality, and also allow you to record continuous motion with ease.

Fisheye lens

This type of lens boasts a wide-angle with a field of vision that covers up to 180 degrees. The lens produces a visual distortion which helps in creating a wide panoramic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the frequently asked questions about the best Sony a7iii lenses we came across while writing this review. So, before you choose any lens, make sure to go over these questions.

What mount is the Sony a7iii?

It uses the E-mount which is designed to cover the full 35mm sensor.

Can you use a Nikon lens on a Sony a7iii camera?

Yes you can use a Nikon lens on a Sony E-mount camera. However, while the lens will fit physically, some of its functions may not operate correctly. So, we recommend sticking to Sony lenses or other third party lenses that are fully compatible with the a7iii camera.

Is there any major difference between the Sony E-Mount and A-Mount?

Yes. Sony E-Mount lenses are built exclusively for Sony mirrorless camera bodies while the A-Mount is intended for Sony mirror camera bodies.

Are mirrorless cameras better?

They have the advantage of being more compact, lighter, faster, and better for shooting videos. However, these lenses have limited access to lenses and other accessories.

Which One Is The Best?

So, which lens is the best one for anyone who owns a Sony a7iii camera? Well, choices may vary once again depending on who you ask.

Regarding the best prime lens for Sony A 7 III, we’d recommend the Sony SEL85F18 camera particularly due to its wide aperture and focusing power. If you’re after a zoom lens, we’d recommend going for the Tamron 28-75mm. Its dynamic focal range makes it a sure bet for a wide variety of situations.

Final Thoughts

Even the best-made camera needs a well-made lens. Indeed, this is the only way to push your prowess to the limits especially when perfection is of the essence.

We’re glad that you have read this review of Sony a7iii lenses to the end. And now, we hope that you’ll be in a better position to make an informed choice going forward.