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Accordingly, a steadily growing range of E-mount lenses has been developed to fit. With all the choices we have chosen the very Best Sony Camera Lenses that you can buy. And since the older A-mount lenses are still made to deliver a range of Sony’s SLT-line cameras, we’ve also offered some great optical options here. The current range of cameras includes both APS-C format and full-frame cameras, for which Sony’s ‘E’ and ‘FE’ lenses are designed. The full-frame cameras seem to be getting the most attention lately, but we hear rumors that a new high-end APS-C Sony A7000 model is now on the market.
Various autofocus systems are used in Sony lenses, the more advanced being STM (Stepping Motor), LM (linear motor), DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave Motor), and RDSSM (Ring Drive Super Sonic Wave Motor). Typically, SSM systems are used to move relatively large and heavy groups of elements. In contrast, STM and LM systems generally offer virtually silent operation and smooth autofocus transitions during movie recording.
Best Sony Camera Lenses
Many of Sony’s lenses also have optical image stabilization, called OSS (Optical SteadyShot). The system can work independently or in combination with sensor-shift stabilization, as in some of the newest cameras from Sony. Let us take a closer look at the top lenses and the best budget alternatives in all main categories.
Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS
The best Sony E-mount full-frame lens overall, this is the perfect lens for everyday shooting
The best full-frame lens with E-attachment in general: the Sony FE 24-105 mm f / 4 G OSS is not the ‘best’ standard zoom lens from Sony for its full-frame cameras. In comparison with the high-performance Sony 24-70 mm f/2.8 G Master, this lens is smaller, lighter and feels better balanced on A7 series bodies. It also has a more generous zoom range and adds optical stabilization that is missing in the larger lens, and it only costs about two-thirds of the price. Of course, you lose an f/stop in aperture value compared to the G Master lens, but as a versatile zoom lens for daily shots, we would go for 24-105 mm every time. Overall, this is one of the best sony camera lenses right now.
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Sony Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS
The best Sony E-mount APS-C lens overall
The best overall Sony E-mount APS-C lens: for APS-C camera housings, such as the A6000 or A6500, the Sony Vario-Tessar TE 16-70 mm f/4 ZA OSS offers the same ‘effective’ zoom range and constant f/4 aperture as the full-frame compatible FE 24-105 mm f/4 GOSS. It also corresponds to stabilization. The up-market optical path is based on a Zeiss design and contains legendary T * coatings to reduce image shadows and glare while improving color and contrast. Unlike the 24-105 mm lens, the autofocus system is based on a linear motor instead of DDSSM, but this helps to keep the build as compact as possible. Indeed, with only 308 grams, it is refreshingly lightweight for such a powerful standard zoom. Overall, this is one of the best Sony camera lenses on the market.
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Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master
This lens is as good as it gets for a full-frame wide-angle zoom
The best wide-angle zoom with E-assembly (full-frame): with exotic glass that contains two ultra-high precision XA (extreme aspherical) elements, the Sony FE is 16-35 mm f/2.8 G Master Sony’s top-quality wide zoom. Other highlights are nanostructured coatings, a maintenance-friendly fluorine coating on the front element, and extensive weather seals. There is a fast and constant f/2.8 aperture, and when stopping, the aperture remains extremely well-rounded thanks to an aperture with 11 blades. The DDSSM autofocus system is incredibly accurate, and the lens also has an adjustable focus hold button on the barrel. If you want to buy the best for your Sony A7 camera, this is it. Overall, this is one of the best sony camera lenses that you can buy right now.
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Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master OSS
This is a masterclass in telephoto zoom design
The best telephoto lens with E-confirmation: the Sony FE 70-200 mm f/2.8 G Master OSS is simply one of the very best 70-200 mm lenses in the world. A glass party contains a double-sided XA (extremely aspherical) element, two other aspherical elements, four ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, and two Super ED elements. Nano-structure coatings are also applied, plus a fluorine coating on the front part. There are not one but two autofocus systems, with a double linear motor plus an RDSSM (Ring Drive Super Sonic wave Motor), the latter being used for the heavier forward focus groups. This is undoubtedly one of the best sony camera lenses that you can buy.
Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS
Packing a mighty telephoto reach into a relatively restrained build
The best super-telephoto lens with E-mount: it is undeniable that the Sony FE 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS is a large lens, but surprisingly it is barely more significant than the 70-200 mm f/2.8, slightly less heavy and not more expensive. That is even though you have twice as much telephoto range, albeit with a variable aperture that shrinks to f/5.6 at the long end of the zoom range. Although it is physically only 5 mm longer than the 70 – 200 mm, it does not have an internal zoom mechanism, so the inner loop extends when zooming in on the long end of the zoom range. Up-market construction and usage characteristics are very similar to those of the 70-200 mm f/2.8 G Master lens, but this adds variable torque adjustment for the zoom ring. Such specs make it one of the best sony camera lenses that you can buy.
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Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS
One size fits all when it comes to the zoom range
The best full-frame super zoom with E-confirmation: rightly or wrongly, many digital photographers hate to change lenses on their cameras and expose the image sensor to the elements. With its 10x zoom range, this Sony FE 24-240 mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS lens extends from a severe wide-angle lens to a large telephoto range – so this could be the only lens you would ever need. This camera is suitable for most shooting scenarios without interchanging lenses. It is especially ideal for a walkabout and travel shows when you want to chop up the mess you need to pack and transport (especially when traveling by plane). However, it is not all good news. As with most ‘superzoom’ lenses, there is a compromise in terms of image quality. Overall, this is one of the best sony camera lenses that you can buy.
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Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Sony E
An excellent standard prime for full-frame bodies
Sony sells a unique FE 50 mm f1.4 ZA Planar T * standard prime, but it is delightfully expensive. This high-quality Sigma 50 mm f/1.4 DG HSM artificial lens costs less than half the price. One of Sigma’s first prime lenses with ‘Art’ features in the Global Vision setup, it is a significant makeover to the company’s previous 50 mm lens. The revised optical layout contains an aspherical element and three SLD elements (Special Low Dispersion) in a complex build with a total of 13 elements. Typically for Sigma’s f/1.4 Art lenses, there is no optical stabilization.
The lens also lacks weather seals, but is nicely built and feels great in terms of construction and use, and is pro-grade. The ring-type HSM (HyperSonic Motor) autofocus system is super fast and whispers quiet, with the usual availability of manual suppression. The image quality is excellent, but compared to most 50 mm f/1.4 lenses on the market, it is large and heavy. Overall, this is one of the best sony camera lenses that you can buy.
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Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Beautiful bokeh adds to the attraction of this portrait prime
Larger and almost double the weight of many 85 mm f/1.4 lenses on the market, this Sigma 85 mm f / 1.4 DG HSM Art is a handful. A relative latecomer of Sigma’s Global Vision party, it was not launched until the end, about two and a half years after the 50 mm artificial lens. Similar in design to the 50 mm Sigma, this lens has one aspherical element and two instead of three SLD elements, together with a diaphragm with nine blades. The build quality and handling feel almost identical, although the newer 85 mm lens adds weather-proofing in its ‘dust and splash-proof’ construction.
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Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro GOSS
Ready for your close-up? This quality macro prime certainly is
At its minimum focusing distance of 0.28 meters, the Sony FE 90 mm f / 2.8 Macro G OSS lens delivers full 1.0x or 1: 1 magnification. That means that small objects are reproduced on the camera’s image sensor at full life-size. Of course, if you fill the entire image frame with something as little as a stamp, the potential for greatly enlarging little details is enormous. This beautifully built lens has advanced handling attractions, including an adjustable focus button, autofocus range limit switch, and Optical SteadyShot. Since manual focusing is often preferred with extreme close-ups, there is also a handy push-pull mechanism in the focus ring for switching between automatic and manual focus modes. Overall, this is one of the best sony camera lenses that you can buy.
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT SSM
The not-so ‘standard’ zoom
The best standard zoom with A attachment (APS-C): A standard zoom is a lens that most people use most of the time. There are several good budget options on the market, including the Sigma and Tamron 17-50 mm lenses, both of which have a fast f/2.8 aperture value that remains available over the entire zoom range. The Sony 16-50 mm of the own-brand delivers the same aperture value, but gives a slightly larger maximum viewing angle and has a better, weather-sealed build quality. It also features a quiet but fast SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) autofocus system and a focus distance scale that is located under a viewing window. Such specs make it one of the best sony camera lenses that you can buy.
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