If you asked a photographer what their favorite mirrorless Sony camera was, you’d most likely receive the same answer across the board – the a7III. There are many reasons for this, one of them being that it’s simply such a superb camera.
You can use the a7III in low light conditions without a hitch, and the full-frame sensor and high-quality processor makes the image quality hard to beat. For such an impressive camera, you’re going to want to choose an equally as impressive lens.
That being said, it’s not as simple as choosing the highest-rated lens and assuming that it will work the best for you. Choosing the right lens will depend on what you’re going to be capturing most often, and in what type of setting.
We’ll be looking at the types of lenses for different settings a bit more in our buyers guide below, so make sure to read that if you’re stuck on the type of lens you want to get. Having said that, let’s get started by looking at the top five lenses available on the market for your a7III.
In a hurry?
- Superb optical performance, including both outstanding image quality and beautiful background Blur effects (bokeh), provided by fast f/2.8 aperture.
- Comfortably light weight (19.4 oz.) and compact (4.6 in). Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:2.9 (Wide); 1:4 (Tele)
- Close-focusing; minimum object distance: 7.5 in at wide-angle setting and 15.3 in at the telephoto position.
- All-new “rxd” stepping motor AF unit is extremely quiet and therefore perfect for video capture.
- Moisture-resistant construction and fluorine coating for weather protection..Maximum Diameter:Φ73mm
Buying the right lens for your camera can be a stressful task, especially when you don’t know what type of lens to go for. Our top pick today is a zoom lens, as they’re often used for all types of photography and beginners find them easy to use.
Our favorite lens for the Sony a7III is the Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Lens, and here are a few reasons that helped us to come to that decision:
- The design is both lightweight at 19.4 ounces, compact at 4.6 inches, and durable.
- You can use the lens for most types of photography so that you aren’t carrying around multiple different lenses.
- The autofocus is fast to keep up with multiple different subjects in one take.
Best Lens for Sony a7III – Comparison Table
Best Lens for Sony a7III – Reviews
This lens from Tamron is incredibly popular when it comes to a7III lenses, for a number of impressive reasons. The lens is both lightweight and very durable thanks to the polycarbonate casing, so don’t worry about being weighed down by the 28-75mm lens.
It’s worth noting that the autofocus of this lens is so smooth and quick responding that you’ll hardly even notice that it’s in motion. This allows you to use the lens for numerous different types of photography, so it’s a great lens for people who don’t like carrying around multiple lenses.
Expect crystal clear images from this lens, no matter what focal length you’ll be using it at. Thanks to the focal range, you can shoot portraits, smaller details, astrophotography, and landscapes with this lens. If you’re wanting an all-purpose lens for when you’re just starting out, you cannot go wrong with the 28-75mm F/2.8.
- Lightweight and durable design.
- Well-performing autofocus.
- Amazing lens for all types of photography.
- Not the best performing in low light.
- It’s better at capturing photos rather than videos.
Second on our list is a wide-lens that can shoot numerous types of photos, including landscapes and interiors. Have you ever noticed that certain images of inside houses look much larger than they actually are? You’ll be able to achieve this with the Zeiss Batis lens.
This lens is lightweight and very high-quality for the price. Moreover, the autofocus is exceptionally fast and quiet, which is great for taking videos as well as photographs. A wide-angle lens is great for situations where you want to fit as much of the setting in as possible.
You might find that there is a slight distortion to your images with this lens, but this is very easily resolved in post-editing. The rest of the features make up for this, in our eyes. The OLED display keeps you up to date with important information such as the depth of field, which is a great feature.
- Weather sealed so you can use it in any environment.
- Lightweight design.
- OLED display keeps you in the know while shooting.
- There might be a slight distortion to some images.
- A few customers had issues with quality control.
Next up is an impressively affordable prime lens from Sony. Prime lenses are mostly used for portrait photography, but they can be used well for most other types of photography. You’d be hard-pressed to find such a great prime lens at an amazing price like this one anywhere else on the market!
The 28mm is respectable for everyday images where you don’t find yourself too far away from your subject. This allows the lens to be very compact and lightweight, making it excellent for carrying around with you.
We’d consider using this lens for travel photography, or for taking images while on the go. The autofocus is very quick and keeps up well with the Sony a7III. What’s more is that this feature is actually silent, which is great for capturing video footage. The image quality is something to be admired for the low price.
- Compatible with a wide variety of cameras including Sigma, Nikon and Canon Features an optimized and quiet Hyper Sonic Motor that works with an Optical Stabilizer to capture perfect birding and wildlife shots
- The lens features a zoom lock switch that adds to the image stabilization and can be used at any focal length
- Also comes with specially developed software that can be uploaded to the lens via the USB connection port to update the lens’ firmware and parameters
- An oil and water repellent coating has been applied to the front glass for water resistancy and easy cleaning
- People that previously purchased this lens found that it was a little heavier to carry around than some other lenses
Next up we have a simple zoom lens that can be used for a number of different purposes. This is a great lens for beginners who don’t have much experience with lenses or who don’t want to carry around multiple lenses while they’re out capturing images.
Many people have compared this lens to a prime lens, just with the capabilities of a larger zoom range. The sharpness of your images with this lens is simply unmatched, even while using the maximum zoom setting.
Sony has designed this lens to be high-quality and durable without compromising the overall performance. For this reason, you’ll notice the high price point. This lens works well in low light conditions thanks to the consistent aperture and you’ll appreciate the focusing speed.
- Multipurpose lens.
- Offers excellent image quality.
- Performs well in low lighting.
- Excellent build quality.
- Higher price point.
- Quite large so expect it to bulk out your a7III.
Telephoto lenses are best used for sports and nature photography in which you cannot get too close to the subject of your images. The maximum focal range of 200mm for this lens allows you to do just that. While it’s not the longest focal range, you’ll still be able to reach a reasonable distance from your subject.
The autofocus capabilities are very quick and useful when shooting face-paced action, such as horse racing or wildlife. The aperture allows you to fit more of the scene within each image. The lens offers in-lens stabilization which can be helpful when taking images on the move.
You can use this lens in low light settings without a hitch, so you can keep on capturing images into the night. This is especially useful for nature photographers whose subjects tend to be more active at night. Overall, this is a great lens for people who need an impressive zoom feature before anything else.
- Impressive zooming capabilities.
- Great autofocus and in-lens stabilization.
- Best used for sport and nature photography.
- Rather heavy at 1480 grams.
- High price point.
Best Lens for Sony a7III – Buyers Guide
Camera lenses can be a difficult product to purchase as there are a lot of different factors when it comes to each type. Some lenses work better than others depending on the setting, the subject, and the type of photography.
We’ll be discussing some of the most important information to remember when you’re choosing the best lens for you and your Sony a7III.
Types of Lens
Below we’ll be looking at some of the most commonly used lenses with the Sony a7III. We’ll also touch on what they’re best suited for so that you can determine which lens will suit your needs the best based on your personal style of shooting.
Prime
Prime lenses have larger maximum apertures and therefore work well at focusing on one thing in the forefront of your image, rather than focusing on everything else in the background as well. This type of lens offers sharp images and is often rather lightweight for easy usage.
Although there isn’t a particular lens for shooting portraits, as you can use almost any of your favorite models to shoot them, prime lenses are often regarded as one of the best types for this style of photography. Your subject will be the main focus of your images if you use a prime lens.
Wide-Angle
Wide-angle lenses give you the opportunity to fit more of the setting into your images. This is particularly beneficial for landscape photographers who find an idealistic spot and want to capture as much of the view as possible.
Photographers also use wide-angle lenses for interior and architectural images as it gives more of a spacious feel to the space. For the a7III, a wide-angle lens will be one that offers a focal length of 35mm and wider.
Macro
Contrary to what the name suggests, macro lenses are actually used for taking images of smaller objects such as food, bugs, and details. The macro lens can capture every detail and blow it up so that the viewer can see it all.
Macro lenses need to have a focus ability of infinity to 1:1 magnification ratio, to leave you with high-quality images. The minimum focusing distance should be large enough to enable you to get close to the subject without blocking the light with your camera.
Zoom
Zoom lenses are some of the most simple yet effective models out there, and are great for beginners as you can use them for almost any type of photography. It makes for a great well-rounded lens that you can take anywhere without having to change the lens every couple of minutes.
Telephoto
Telephoto lenses are normally used by nature and sports photographers due to the fact that they can capture images from far away from the subject. If you’re in the stands at a sports game, or on the ground looking up into the trees, you’ll need a well-performing lens to rescue the space between the photographer and the subject.
Types of Photography
We’ve already touched on a number of types of photography above, but there are still a few popular types that we haven’t touched upon yet. Let’s look at these and see which is the best type of lens for each.
Astrophotography
This type of photography concerns the stars and sky at night. For this, you’ll need a lens that works well in low light conditions with a wide maximum aperture. Wide-angle lenses are often the most popular lenses for astrophotography thanks to the wide field of view.
You’ll be able to capture more of the sky in one shot. This is particularly useful when you’re trying to shoot images of impressive things such as constellations and the Milky Way.
Street and Travel Photography
You can use almost any lens for these types of photography, as it really depends on your personal style and preference. Wide-angle lenses above 35mm are better so that you can capture more details within your setting.
Anything below 35mm will make it harder to notice all of the smaller details that you might want to draw attention to. That being said, some photographers prefer this aspect and choose to use these lenses. It’s all about what you’re trying to achieve in your photography.
You should also consider choosing a lens that is weatherproof so that you don’t have to stop shooting in case of a sudden change in the weather. This is always a beneficial feature of your lens, but this means that it also comes with a premium price tag.
Quality
The quality of the camera lens needs to be high so that you can capture the best images possible. As we’ve already mentioned, the Sony a7III is a premium camera, so the lens that you purchase needs to match this.
Make sure that the lens you purchase is high-quality and offers you the majority of the features that you need. Investing in a high-quality lens should make it much more likely to last you for a long time, reducing the overall cost in the long run.
Price and Warranty
As we’ve just touched upon, investing in a more expensive piece of gear is more likely to last you for longer, rather than choosing a cheaper alternative that is only going to last you a year, or maybe even less.
If you have the means to, we’d suggest choosing a lens that offers all the features that you need for your style of photography. This will prevent you from having to spend more money on more than one lens.
Choosing a lens that comes with a warranty will protect your money from being wasted should something happen to the lens. This gives you more peace of mind and makes you more willing to spend a higher amount of money on your lens. We would always suggest ensuring that any equipment that costs more than $100 comes with a warranty.
Brand
Choosing a lens from a better-known brand might make you more willing to invest in the lens, as there will be a higher number of loyal customers to put your mind at ease. If thousands of other people believe in the product, why shouldn’t you?
Well-known brands are also more likely to offer better warranties and higher quality products, as they don’t want to lose any customers or be left with bad reviews. Smaller, lesser-known brands can sometimes be less cautious of this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sony a7III good for beginners?
There are many people testifying that the Sony a7III is a great choice for beginners due to its versatility and ease of use. The camera itself can be used in a number of different settings such as dusk and dawn, and is compatible with a great range of different lenses.
The one thing that perhaps might deter beginners is the initial cost of the camera itself and the secondary cost of accessories and lenses. That being said, if you choose one lens that can be used for multiple different types of photography, you don’t have to spend too much.
How do I know what lenses work for Sony a7III?
Checking the compatibility of a lens with the a7III is very easy with certain websites. For example, Amazon allows you to check this factor with a banner at the top of the advertisement where you can input your camera model and it’ll tell you whether or not the lens will fit your camera.
We have ensured that all of the lenses that we spoke about in our list above fit onto the Sony a7III using this method.