Getting the right lenses for your new camera can be a daunting task, especially for a beginner photographer.
The lenses that come with the camera body are almost always mediocre and you'll be itching to upgrade it as soon as you can.
Also, there are so many brands of lenses flooding the market today; making a choice on which one to buy isn't easy.
The good thing is, there are lenses that can deliver top-notch performance while being friendly on the budget.
There are two full-frame mirrorless camera models available in the market today - the Sony A7 and the newer Sony A7R.
We'll be covering both models here but if you're just interested in one of them, you can jump to it by clicking on these links below:
Sony A7 series cameras are great for beginners due to their lightweight build and easy use. However, upgrading this entry-level body will require an additional investment since not all lenses will fit it perfectly. The older E mount lens designs won't work with this camera even with the use of an adapter.
Luckily, there is a growing range of lenses that can be used for this body, and vignetting won't be an issue at all.
For your convenience, we've listed down some of the best-recommended lenses for these cameras:
Sony 16-35mm f/2.8
Sony 16-35mm is worth investing in due to its sublime image quality. Portraits under the lens appear large when captured close to the subject as the lens allows a minimum focal length of 0.28 meters.
The mirrorless Sony lens serves from standard focal lengths to ultra-wide, and when shooting directly to the sun, you get weird green flaring. Take exceptional pictures every day from a 35mm height to 16mm and enjoy the classic appearance.
This lens is the best to carry when traveling due to its compact design and lightweight feature. It measures 3.5-inch diameter and 4.8-inch length weighing 680 grams giving it credit for your investment. The lens can capture epic landmarks making them appear tiny like the panoramic vista as it filters objects from 82mm.
The 16-35mm f/2.8 lens comes with a circular polarizing filter that reduces light reflections and it can be used right out of the box to improve image quality even at night time.
It delivers excellent sharpness and The Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating makes it possible for you to enjoy crisp images even in backlit conditions. This Sony lens comes complete with a dust and moisture-resistant feature, making it perfectly safe for use in harsh weather conditions.
Features:
- 35mm focal range, 35mm full-frame equivalent: 24mm to 52.5mm
- 4 aspherical elements for high resolution and contrast
- Front Filter dimension: 82mm
- Lens length at 16 mm: 80mm; Lens length at 35 mm: 87.8mm; Diameter of lens elements: 93.4mmm
- More than three groups focus lenses and two XA (extreme aspherical) lenses were included in the group focusing mechanism
- Floating mechanism design includes a total of 11 pieces of glass molded into one unit to achieve an aspherical effect as low as 0.01%
- Close focusing distance of 0.28m at all focal lengths, 1x magnification ratio is achieved even at the maximum wide-angle
- Dust and moisture resistant design to work normally even in harsh conditions
Pros
- Faster focus and silent performance
- Moisture, dust resistant
- 11 circular aperture blade for smooth defocused effect
Cons
- Lacks optical stabilization
- Relatively expensive
Conclusion:
It's a practical compact lens that offers fast and silent performance. The reliable optical stabilization technology minimizes blur in images even when handheld. The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 is designed to bring an immersive experience to your photography and it succeeds in capturing great wide-angle views with stunning detail and color rendering. You can't go wrong with this lens if you're looking for the best full-frame lenses available in the market today.
Sony 35mm f/1.8
Due to public demand, the company created an FE 35mm lens with outstanding performance similar to 12-24mm F4. The minimum lens focus is 22cm and holds a focal length of 52mm on APS-C bodies for quality photos. The lens is compatible with any Sony E-mount APS-C or full-frame.
With dust and moisture-resistant properties, it makes it the perfect lens for traveling photographers. The large aperture prime lens lacks optical stabilization and can magnify up to 0.24X.
Features
- Fast focus system with accuracy and silent performance
- Moisture, dust-resistant design
- 11 circular aperture blade for smooth defocused effect
- Close-up capability at 0.24 meters
- One extra-low dispersion element
- 5 aspherical elements
- Lightweight and compact at only 0.7 pounds and 3.1 inches in diameter and 4.9 inches long, respectively.
Pros
- Nine blade circular aperture for attractive and soft bokeh
- Smart optical construction featuring aspherical elements for high resolution
- Reliable and quiet AF tracking system
- Large aperture for full-frame operation including low light
- Moisture and dust-resistant design
Cons
- Lacks image stabilization
- Soft corners at 16mm
In conclusion
Overall, the Sony 35mm f/1.8 is an excellent lens for anyone looking to get into portrait shooting or street photography. The fast focus system makes it possible to capture moments that would otherwise be lost in darkness. Reviewers were impressed with the build quality of this Sony lens and found it useful during their travels.
Sony 85mm f/1.8
One of the versatile, affordable, and lightweight prime lenses with a maximum aperture of 1.8 for shooting beautiful bokeh. Thanks to the punctual autofocus feature, you can now work at night or in dark closed spaces quickly, bringing stunning results. The lens holds a 57mm filter diameter, and you can shoot from 0.8m for clear photos.
The lens works best for portrait photographers who produce crisp pictures and blurred backgrounds when in focus. Feel confident to operate in dust or moist areas as the lens resists both. Sony 85mm measures 78mm diameter by 82mm and weighs 371g, suitable for touring around.
Features
- Compact and lightweight at only 0.6 pound
- Moisture, dust-resistant design
- Sony's AF system for sharp shots with quick response times
- Punctual autofocus feature for capturing moving objects with ease
- 57mm filter diameter for adding accessories like filters or lens hoods (in sold separately)
- Close-up capability at 0.8m.
Pros
- 85 mm maximum focal length
- Nine circular aperture blades
- Versatile and affordable
- Lightweight and durable for daily use
Cons
- Hold stable vignette at wider f-stops as to other options
- Lacks picture stabilization
In conclusion
Overall, the Sony 85mm F1.8 is a great choice for anyone looking to take flattering portraits with creamy backgrounds. The fast autofocus technology helps you capture moving objects quickly and accurately. Reviewers like the ultra-lightweight design that's easy to travel with and appreciate its slim form factor compared to other options in this category.
Sony 28mm f/2
Sony 28mm full-frame lens arrives with a 49mm filter thread for outstanding pictures. The lens has a faster aperture and quiet autofocus for producing beautiful portraits.
Photographers get a better view angle when shooting with the available minimal focal distance of 0.96ft. When shooting at f/2, you can blur the ground with an attractive bokeh, and at 28mm, the lens is wide for capturing epic landmarks. This is the best fit for mirrorless bodies, and it has a 28mm focal length. Sony 28mm measures 3.7 inches in diameter by 1.8 inches long and weighs 7 ounces, making it worthy of traveling with you anywhere!
Features
- Compact and lightweight at only 0.3 pounds (similar to a deck of cards)
- Sony's AF system for sharp shots with quick response times
- Punctual autofocus feature for capturing moving objects with ease
- 49mm filter thread allows you to add accessories like filters or lens hoods (not included).
- Close-up capability at 0.96m.
Pros
- Affordable and lightweight
- Features a linear actuator focusing system for fast and quiet performance
- The minimum focal distance of .96ft
- 28mm wide-angle lens for landscape shots
- Moisture and dust resistance
Cons
- Contain an electronic manual ring for autofocus and manual focus control, so it's not as smooth as regular lenses.
In conclusion
Overall, the Sony 28mm f/2 is an affordable lens that delivers better image quality than most standard kit lenses. Reviewers like the compact design that fits into any travel bag and enjoy traveling with such a lightweight camera body and lens combination. It's perfect for photographing landscapes and objects up close.
Sony 55 mm f/1.8
Sony 55mm lens is versatile, small, and lightweight, measuring 65mm diameter by 71mm length, weighing 281g. The G Master design combines two XA elements for top resolution results.
The prime lens operates quickly in dark spaces due to the robust in-built autofocus that works silently. Sony 55mm is sharp, allowing a photographer to take clear pictures from a distance of 0.5m. With Sony's AF system, the lens focuses fast and accurately when in use. Reviewers like the significant weight reduction that's perfect for traveling and capturing daily lifestyles.
Features
- Lightweight at only 0.4lb (281g)
- Moisture, dust-resistant design
- Sony's AF system for sharp shots with quick response times
- Punctual autofocus feature for capturing moving objects with ease
- 49mm filter diameter allows you to add accessories like filters or lens hoods (not included). Close-up capability at 0.5m.897 autofocus points helps focus on near or far subjects.
Pros
- E-mount full-frame format
- Compact and lightweight
- A wide lens with good angle view
- Nine circular blade aperture for shooting images with beautifully circular bokeh
Cons
- Available with a hefty price tag
- Vignetting may be a concern for some photographers
In conclusion
Overall, the Sony 55mm F/1.8 is a compact and lightweight lens that's perfect for selfies. Reviewers like the sleek design and sharp image quality with this lens. Because it doesn't have optical stabilization, reviewers recommend using a tripod to stabilize your camera when taking pictures in low light conditions or long exposures.
Conclusion
All Sony lenses work magic on your Alpha series camera, but updating the camera and lens to the latest firmware version is crucial. By doing this, you get to improve autofocus performance and address compatibility problems. We recommend the above lenses due to their excellent results. The reasons why these lenses work well on Alpha series cameras are because they are designed to provide low-noise images, accurate colors, and high resolution. They also offer ease of use with smooth focusing systems.