Best Telephoto Lens For Sony A7rii

With best lenses for the Sony A7RIII and A7R Four cameras, yous’ll have the tools you need to take advantage of these incredibly high-resolution sensors. The A7R mirrorless cameras are all nigh details, with total-frame sensors that are packed with pixels and evangelize incredible resolving ability. Even so, all that ability won’t mean much if you pair them with lenses that don’t achieve the same standards. That’s where this guide comes in.

The high finish of Sony’south lens range is incredible these days, cheers in detail to the G and G master lens ranges. These optics deliver incredible sharpness, with superior optical paths that let you really get the best out of the A7R cameras. They’ve got other advantages too; the fact that the cameras have v.5-stop image stabilization mean that the lenses don’t need it, and tin can be lighter and more portable (which is much needed, as G Master lenses tend to be heavy in their ain right).

We’ve aimed to pick out a range of lenses in different focal lengths for this guide – as long equally a lens pairs well with the A7R 3 and A7R IV, it merits inclusion on this list. While these cameras pair all-time with expensive, loftier-quality lenses, nosotros acknowledge that everyone’due south financial state of affairs is dissimilar, so where possible nosotros’ve also included budget alternatives to many of the lenses listed hither. Just exist aware that y’all generally won’t become the same level of sharpness when using a cheaper lens!

No matter whether you’re looking for a broad-bending prime number for landscapes, a sharp telephoto zoom for portraits, or a professional person standard zoom for all situations, we’ve got you lot covered in our guide to the best lenses for the Sony A7R 3 and 4.

All-time lenses for the Sony A7R III and A7R IV in 2022

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Was in that location anything incorrect with the original Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
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Treatment has been revamped and is better than e’er, the optical layout is completely revamped, and the lens boasts a new floating autofocus system powered past four XD (extreme Dynamic) linear stepping motors. It’south incredibly precise, as we extolled in our review, and the technical quality is unimpeachable. Our exacting lab tests revealed a basically faultless lens beyond its zoom range.

Of course, all this quality comes at a cost. While we firmly think that the Sony Iron 24-70mm f/2.8 GM 2 is worth its price tag, if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, the original Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM is still a solid buy. Likewise worth because is the Samyang AF 24-70mm F2.8 Iron
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Sony Atomic number 26 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II full review

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Likewise badged every bit ‘Rokinon’, the Samyang AF 24-70mm F2.8 Iron is the visitor’due south first-ever zoom lens but the manufacturer has certainly striking the ground running. Typical of a ‘trinity’ standard zoom, it combines a archetype range of focal lengths with a constant discontinuity design. Built for Sony total-frame East-mount mirrorless cameras, it’s typically big and weighs in at just over a kilogram, making it a fleck of a hefty proposition for Sony’southward smaller cameras. Either manner, this Samyang goes head to head with the first-class Sony Fe 24-70mm f/ii.viii Thousand Primary zoom (to a higher place), but costs just half the price!

Samyang AF 24-70mm F2.8 FE full review

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A 35mm f/1.four lens is null new, but the Sony Atomic number 26 35mm F1.4 Thou Master is something quite special, if simply for how good its results are at that maximum aperture. After all, more than than a few lens have come with this aperture rating, while delivering wide-open results then soft that you might as well not bother. Non so with this K Master prime, as we discovered when we reviewed the lens – provided yous smash the focusing,  the wide-open prototype quality is astonishingly good. It really expands the utility of the lens.

A good 35mm is ideal for street and general-purpose photography, and as such, it needs an autofocus arrangement that can keep upwardly. The Sony FE 35mm F1.4 G Primary passes this examination admirably cheers to its twin XD linear motors, which evangelize friction-gratuitous autofocus with no moving parts. It is just silky smooth in every aspect of operation, including its declickable aperture band. Every aspect of the lens feels well thought-through, and its quality makes it the ideal complement for the high-resolution sensors of Sony A7R cameras.

If this lens is besides expensive, then nosotros’d too thoroughly recommend, the Sony Fe 35mm f2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*
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Sony Iron 35mm F1.4 G Master total review

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We were hugely excited to see the coveted G Master line-up of lenses getting a 100-400mm optic, and the Sony Fe 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 Grand Primary OSS did not disappoint. Blending superb sharpness with well-pitched handling that supports hand-held shooting, this is an platonic lens for long 24-hour interval capturing sports or wildlife on an A7R camera.

Indeed, in our review we couldn’t say enough good things nigh this lens. Its impressively complex optical path gives it first-class prototype quality across the lath, while the treatment is null short of impeccable. The focus operates smoothly, the three customisable buttons give you real customisability, and the ‘zoom smoothness’ ring lets you adjust the torque required to move the zoom in accordance with your preferences.

Sony Atomic number 26 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS total review

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We’re e’er on the lookout man for great budget alternatives to popular lenses, and this optic from SIgma is a doozy. The Sigma 28-70mm f/ii.8 DG DN | C knocks merely 4mm off the broad-end of the standard workhorse 24-70mm focal length, and in doing so, delivers a lens that’s light plenty to have everywhere, at a seriously tempting cost. The centre sharpness of the lens is excellent, as we discovered when nosotros reviewed information technology, though we did note some drop-off in the corners that is worth being enlightened of.

Still, a constant aperture of f/two.8 on a lens this affordable is no mean feat. If yous need an even cheaper choice and tin live with a slower, variable discontinuity, then try the Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.v-5.6 OSS
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Sigma 28-70mm f/2.eight DG DN | C full review

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Full-frame Sony users finally get an in-house f/1.2 lens, and what a lens information technology is. The Sony Atomic number 26 50mm F1.two Chiliad Master is a spectacular nifty-fifty, boasting impressive sharpness right the fashion through its aperture range – yeah, fifty-fifty at f/1.2. Sony has built this lens from the ground up with sharpness in mind, and its optical path includes three XA (extreme aspherical) elements that have been engineered to a surface-precision tolerance of 0.01 microns.

What this means, as we found in our review, is that the lens performance is absolutely stellar – blowing away its rivals from the likes of Canon and Nikon. Our lab tests reported basically null in terms of imperfections, except for some pincushion distortion, and a little vignetting at f/1.2

The handling too is excellent. Information technology’s a heavy lens, as it needs to be with specs like these, but not exceptionally and so in the pantheon of 50mm f/1.ii lenses. This is an all-around fantastic optic, and if its asking toll isn’t too dear for yous, it’ll evangelize zip short of spectacular performance.

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 One thousand Master full review

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If you shoot architecture and interiors, or only prefer to accept a wider perspective, the Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN | C is an platonic lens to pair with your Sony A7R camera. It’southward a minor, metal-bodied and robust lens with loads of sublime handling features, not least of which is the discontinuity ring. A minor signal perchance, but we always capeesh information technology when a lens-maker sees fit to add one.

With a high-quality optical path, the Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN | C produces images of impressive sharpness and item – in our lab tests, we found that sharpness remained impressive even when the lens was used wide-open at f/2. At that place is noticeable baloney, though it’s correctable via software, and color fringing is pleasingly negligible fifty-fifty in the corners of the frame.

Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN | C full review

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This ultra wide zoom kicks things upwards a notch compared with its f/4 cousin, both in terms of optical quality and price. Yet, for those that desire uncompromising quality for their A7R III and Four this is the ultra wide to have. Capable of shooting as wide as f/ii.8 makes information technology perfect for astrophotography and low calorie-free, and the Nano AR Blanket II reduces flare and ghosting impressively.

Autofocusing is fast and authentic, capable of tracking subjects with ease considering of the XD Linear Motors which operate speedily and quietly. There’s no traditional filter thread on the front element though – for that, y’all’ll demand to attach gel filters to the rear of the lens.

Sony Atomic number 26 12-24mm f/2.viii GM full review

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Information technology’s non every 3rd-party manufacturer that’s dauntless enough to become toe-to-toe with Sony’southward G Chief lenses, but the Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 Iron is one that pulls information technology off. This lens is half the price of Sony’s version, and is admittedly excellent, earning a perfect score in our review. Its robust, weather-sealed build boasts exceptional handling, its autofocus perfectly synergises with the latest Sony cameras like the A7R IV, and its epitome quality is top-notch. We were seriously impressed with the results we achieved with the Samyang AF 135mm F1.eight FE in our lab testing – at f/four, the lens achieved incredibly consistent sharpness from the middle of the frame to the corners, which is not a result you see every 24-hour interval.

The Sony Iron 135mm f1.8 GM
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is a near-faultless lens, also achieving the full five stars in our review. If you lot need the absolute all-time, it’southward probably the buy, but the Samyang is an incredible achievement for one-half the price.

Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 Iron total review

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This is the ‘wide’ model of a trio of lenses from Sony that offer portability in a compact design with the same external advent, (the other 2 are a 40mm and 50mm). Three aspherical elements and one extra-low dispersion chemical element help to minimize flare when shooting toward light sources, and minimize color fringing on contrasted subjects.

A fairly fast aperture makes it suitable for interior or whatsoever kind of low light shooting scenario and its circular discontinuity blades produce soft, flattering bokeh. 2 linear motors in the lens make information technology speedy and precise when autofocusing, and a minimum focusing altitude of 24cm keeps information technology versatile for up-close details, too.

Sony FE 24mm f/ii.eight Thousand full review

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Many portrait photographers swear past the 85mm brusque telephoto focal length, and if you’re looking to shoot compelling images of people, the Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM lens is one of the smartest buys you can make. Something that’s critical in portrait photography is existence able to produce images with shine, bonny bokeh (the defocused areas of an image), and the G Main lens delivers that in spades thanks to its 11-bladed aperture.

Sharpness and image quality are exceptional, as we discovered when we reviewed the lens, and the loftier-class structure means that handling is perfectly on betoken. If you need a cheaper alternative though, the Sony Atomic number 26 85mm f1.8
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comes at nearly a third of the price, and still delivers a lot of the characteristics that portrait photographers are looking for.

Sony FE 85mm f1.four GM full review

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If you took a nifty fifty and put it on steroids, this might be the result. As expensive as it is, this 50mm gives you a large bang for the buck. It comes with an unsurprisingly wide aperture of f/1.4 which aids subject area isolation and favors depression light shooting and a T* lens blanket is used to reduce ghosting and flare.

Information technology’s able to produce smooth bokeh for gorgeous out of focus backgrounds because of an 11 blade aperture design that’s specially shaped to produce a round aperture for circular bokeh results. The Super Sonic wave Motor (SSM) enhances the lens farther with fast, silent autofocus response.

Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/one.4 ZA full review

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Fitted with helpful distance markers, this true to life macro lens has a 1:ane reproduction ratio (1.0x magnification) which a lens has to reach before information technology can be considered a truthful macro lens. It’s great value for money and focuses to infinity and so it can be used equally a standard lens too. It’south platonic for portraiture due to the longer focal length and wide f/2.8 discontinuity.

Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization keeps the frame steady when shooting, which aids enormously when photographing macro subjects. A minimum focusing distance of 28cm brings tiny details to the fore and the autofocus/transmission switch can be engaged via a pull on the focus ring itself.

Sony Fe 90mm f/two.viii Macro G OSS full review

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A classic 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens makes information technology into almost every professional photographer’s kit pocketbook at one fourth dimension or another, and many enthusiasts’ besides. It’s so versatile that it performs well at a wide multifariousness of subjects, perfect for low light concert photography considering of its broad f/2.8 aperture which is abiding throughout the zoom range, and ideal for portraits due to easy subject area isolation.

The Yard Chief quality shines through in this lens in the course of an XA (extreme aspherical) chemical element and ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements that keep colour fringing and lens baloney to a minimum.

Sony Fe 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS full review

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How we test lenses

We test lenses using both real world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the
Imatest
testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/movie height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We notice the combination of lab and real-discussion testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics.

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