The best lenses for Sony E-Mount

Between first party and third party offerings, Sony's E-Mount has the most extensive lens lineup of any mirrorless camera system. With so many option to choose from, what are our favorites? Find out now.

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0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Wide angle
2:43 - Standard zoom
4:55 - Portrait
6:56 - Telephoto
8:42 - Super telephoto
11:24 - The wrap
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[MegaNardman]

The best reason for buying into Sony, IMO, is the variety of high-quality lens options from multiple manufacturers. It really lets you tailor your setup to your needs, both in performance and in budget.

[mikijourdan]

I’m a huge fan of the Sony 50mm 1.2. It renders so beautifully and is handy in low light situations.

[stripes_in_raw]

The Sony 200-600mm deserved a mention with that swift zoom ring, weather sealing, internal zoom (much less moisture and dust in high humidity area specially than external zooms). It generally performs better than the Sigma 150-600mm & Tamron 150-500mm and on same level as Canon RF 100-500mm with more light & reach.

[shammyh]

I'd add in an honorable mention to the Sony 100-400 GM. I find that paired with the Sigma 24-70 or Sony 24-70 II, it offers an excellent 2 lens "if I can carry a bag with me" setup. Throw in an ultra wide or telephoto prime of your choosing, and you've got an even more versatile 3 lens kit still small enough to fit into a messenger bag.

Yes, the 100-400 is a bit heavy, but it's fairly compact in a bag and optically excellent. And with it you get a standard telephoto zoom, just enough reach for a super telephoto zoom, and it even passes as both a portrait lens and macro lens in a pinch.

[RM-hyso]

Sony 35mm 1.4 GM is all I used with a A7R III on a trip to Italy. It was brilliant, specially at nights. The combination of the focus ability of the A7R III and wide aperture of the 35 mm GM was really effective for low light photography.
It looks like the A7R III can still hold up after all these years.

[brunoberger]

I love my Sony 24-105 f4 G OSS. Itś my go to lens and optically very good.

[dougd]

As a fan of 135mm focal length, I'm so glad you recommended the Sony 135. I have the Samyang/Rokinon 135mm, newly released, and I've got to say that it's one Fine lens. Not even one complaint about it. "Try it, you'll like it."😉

[ZOB]

The Tamron 35-150mm is the most versatile lens I have ever used. If I could only have one lens, that would be it.

[SSPGaming]

Surprised you guys left out the 200-600 OSS G. I love that lens. It’s slower than others, but the reach is superb, sharpness and focus is also second to none. I love third party lenses, I have the 17-28, 28-75 G2 and even the 70-180 all f2.8 from Tamron. But when I got the Tamron 150-500, I wanted to switch to the Sony 200-600 and so glad I did.

[michaelnoah]

A little sad the sigma 24-70 didn’t get an honourable mention, if the tamron 28-75 is on the list the sigma should def be on the list too IMO

[Stefanful]

I use both the Sony 400mm 2.8 GM and Sony 600mm 4.0 GM for Wildlife and Sport. And these lenses are not only optically top-notch, their linear motors make the autofocus simply brutally fast. Absolute stunning design Sony delivered here to users who can afford them.

[Benjamin_Jehne]

The third party support is really the key. The Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 or the 35-150mm F2-2.8 are such unique lenses. I would never ever go back to a normal 70-200mm after a half year with the 70-180mm, so small so leightweight.
But for me, the most interesting lens ist still to come and thats the Tamron 50-400mm. This range is something, I waited over 15 years now. A 16-35mm + the 50-400mm and you’re ready to go, when you just want to shoot landscapes.

[todddammit]

Some other notable amazing Sony mount lenses I've used:
1. 50mm f1.2 (Since I got this lens, it has never ever left one of my camera bodies. It's so useful that I basically treat that with the camera as a fixed lens system, the other camera is for swapping lenses - this also means I never have to clean the sensor.)
2. Sigma 65mm f2 (I really love this focal length. I wish they would do a 1.4, I'd buy that in a heart beat)
3. Sigma 16mm f1.4 (although I think the Sony 15mm is now the new champ there)
4. Sony 35mm f1.4 (terrible breathing but everything else is amazing)
5. 20mm f1.8 (one of my all time favorites. Every time I use this lens I'm always surprised how good it looks. Best "Instagram" lens.)
6. Sigma 85mm f1.4 (best 85 option until Sony eventually comes out with a 1.2)
7. Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (probably the best "vacation" lens ever)

[AstroRoad]

Great picks! Makes you realise the depth of the E-mount ecosystem when the Sony 20mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.4 GM and Sigma 85mm f/1.4 don't even get a mention. How about those Tamron guys though! Just killing it!

[sandboxaperture]

Not that anyone asked, but here's my current favorites for every category.

Do it all lens - Tamron 35-150 2-2.8 (#1)

Wide angle - Sony 20mm 1.8 (#1)

Standard Zoom - Tamron 28-75 V2 (#1)
Standard Zoom - Sony 24-70 GM V2 (#2)

Portrait - Sigma 85mm 1.4 (#1)
Portrait - Sony 135mm 1.8GM (Close #2)

Telephoto - Sony 70-200 2.8 GM V2 (#1)
Telephoto - Tamron 70-180 (Close #2)

Super Telephoto - Sony 200-600 G (#1)

Nifty 50 - Sony 50mm 1.2 GM (#1)
Nifty 50 - Sony 50mm 2.5G (#2)
Nifty 50 - Samyang 50mm 1.4 V2 (#3)

Macro - Laowa 90mm 2x Macro (#1)

[trippalhealicks]

The 135 GM has actually stopped me from switching systems a few times. Just knowing that Sony has that lens makes me forget about other systems. It's that damn good.

[cjlevinsonphotography]

Some great options there. I love the Sony 90mm 2.8 Macro myself, it’s fantastically sharp and great for portraits and tight landscapes too. Very versatile. If you do more of these videos I’d love to see a Fujifilm one. If you did a Canon/Nikon one, I’d be interested in seeing what your favourite DSLR lenses were… kind of like a looking back special celebrating their best DSLR lenses

[HollyRoa]

Zeiss 55mm f/1.8? Small, light, unobtrusive, decently fast, not too expensive, optically lovely. My favorite walk around lens.

[captainpicard]

Loving my Tamron 28-200, the 2.8 at the wide end is perfect for shallow depth of field on close up objects and low light shots. Someday when I can afford it, I'll definitely get the 35-150

[tride.design]

Going ultralight, ultra compact and affordable with A7c:
- wide: Samyang 18mm f2.8
- standard zoom: sony 24-60mm f4-5.6 (kit lens)
- portrait/macro: Sony 50mm f2.8 macro
- telephoto: samyang 75mm f1. 8

BTW that Tamron 70-180 seems all but compact compared to those mentioned x)