Last updated: October 18th, 2023
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Are you looking for the best lenses for Sony a7 IV but are overwhelmed by all the choices? With so many full-frame E-mount lenses out there, I don’t blame you.
In this guide, I’ve put together the absolute best Sony a7 IV lenses for all kinds of photography, from wide-angle and portraits to sports and wildlife.
The top tips in this guide are based on my 15+ years of experience as a pro photographer. I’ll also help you figure out which lenses are most suited for your needs and interests.
Looking for a quick answer? Here’s our top pick for the best all around lens for Sony a7 IV.
 OUR TOP PICK | Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 A top-value everyday lens that's lightweight, beginner-friendly, versatile, and impressively sharp. It can shoot everything from portraits and landscapes to starry skies. |
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON📸 The Best Sony a7 IV Lenses: A Quick Overview
This guide covers a lot of lenses, so here’s a quick summary of our absolute top picks. These lenses cover all kinds of photography, and you can find their detailed reviews further down.
🔍 The Best Zoom Lens for Sony a7 IV
A zoom lens allows the camera to smoothly change from a long shot to a close-up (or vice versa) by varying the focal length. Zoom lenses are great for casual everyday shots as well as travel photos as they’re very flexible and allow you to shoot from varying distances.
 BEST ZOOM LENS | Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 This powerful superzoom is a wide-angle, standard zoom, and telephoto lens all at once. It's the most travel-friendly and affordable all-in-one lens for Sony a7 cameras. |
See more best Sony a7 IV zoom lenses
👧🏻 The Best Portrait Lens for Sony a7 IV
The best portrait lenses are prime lenses with a focal length of 85mm or longer. These lenses have very wide apertures, allowing you to create stunning bokeh, a shallow depth of field, and better subject-background separation — all of which would enhance your portraits.
 BEST PORTRAIT LENS | Sony FE 85mm F1.8 A spectacularly sharp, fast, and portable prime lens that delivers stunning bokeh and premium image quality. A must-have for anyone serious about portraits. |
See more best Sony a7 IV portrait lenses
🏞 The Best Wide Angle Lens for Sony a7 IV
Ever seen a scenery so grand that it just does not fit into your frame? That’s what wide-angle lenses are for. These lenses have a maximum focal length of 35mm and are perfect for capturing wide landscapes, grandiose architecture, and close everyday surroundings.
 BEST WIDE-ANGLE LENS | Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM The ultimate wide-angle lens for the best image quality. It has a flexible focal range, is razor-sharp, performs well in low-light situations, and creates stunning bokeh. |
See more best Sony a7 IV wide angle lenses
🎥 The Best Video Lens for Sony a7 IV
Good video lenses should have a fixed aperture for smooth transitions and a wide max aperture (f/2.8 or wider) for beautiful bokeh and low-light performance. If you’re planning to vlog, go for a wide-angle lens with a minimum focus distance of around 0.30 m (1 ft) or less.
 BEST VIDEO LENS | Sony FE 28mm F2.0 An ultra-fast, budget-friendly, and portable lens that takes incredible videos and vlogs. It delivers super sharp results, stunning bokeh, and great low-light performance. |
See more best Sony a7 IV video lenses
⚙️ The Best Prime Lens for Sony a7 IV
A prime lens has a fixed focal length (e.g. 50mm rather than 17-50mm), and typically, an aperture of f/2.8 or wider. This essentially makes it a bokeh king. For this reason, prime lenses are most commonly used for portraits, but are also very useful for videos and everyday shots.
 BEST PRIME LENS | Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM One of the sharpest lenses Sony has ever made. With this prime lens, you'll never have to sharpen photos in post-processing again. Bokeh is also super smooth and creamy. |
See more best Sony a7 IV prime lenses
🐝 The Best Macro Lens for Sony a7 IV
Macro lenses allow you to get incredibly detailed close-ups of microscopic subjects, such as insects, flowers, and water droplets. These specialized lenses can focus extremely close to a subject so that it appears large in your photo, and every tiny detail can be seen.
 BEST MACRO LENS | Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS This specialized macro lens is super user-friendly, versatile, and one of the sharpest Sony lenses out there. It's perfect for close-ups of tiny subjects and doubles as a portrait lens, too. |
See more best Sony a7 IV macro lenses
✈️ The Best Travel Lens for Sony a7 IV
If you’re looking to travel with your Sony a7 IV, you’ll want a small and lightweight lens that’s easy to carry. A versatile zoom range will also come in handy if you want to shoot a variety of things. If you want to capture starry nights or architecture, consider a low-light lens too.
| BEST TRAVEL LENS | Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 This lightweight and travel-friendly lens combines wide-angle and telephoto reach, taking away the need to switch between multiple lenses. It's also incredibly sharp and weather-resistant. |
See more best Sony a7 IV travel lenses
🦉 The Best Telephoto Lens for Sony a7 IV
Telephoto lenses are typically used to shoot wildlife, sports, and other far-away subjects. They also allow you to zoom in on landscapes to capture creative perspectives. Telephoto lenses typically have a minimum focal length of 70mm and can go up to 600mm or more.
 BEST TELEPHOTO LENS | Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS The ultimate telephoto lens for image quality, bokeh, and low-light performance. This lens is ultra-sharp and perfect for shooting indoor events like sports and stage performances. |
See more best Sony a7 IV telephoto lenses
🏜 The Best Landscape Lens for Sony a7 IV
If you’re looking to shoot landscapes, consider a wide-angle lens as it will help you frame more of the scenery and create majestic-looking shots. A low-light lens with a fixed aperture might also come in handy, especially if you want to shoot dark starry skies.
 BEST LANDSCAPE LENS | Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art An incredibly sharp super-wide-angle lens that's perfect for both landscape shots and astrophotography. It boasts spectacular image quality and a weather-sealed build. |
See more best Sony a7 IV landscape lenses
📷 The Best Lenses for Sony a7 IV in 2023: Reviews
📸 Please note: As you go through the lenses in this guide, you’ll see that some lenses provide no image stabilization. This isn’t an issue at all and won’t affect image quality because the Sony a7 IV already has built-in image stabilization.
⭐ Best All-Around Lens: Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 ⭐
A top value everyday zoom lens that’s lightweight, versatile, and impressively sharp
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 540 g (19 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.5 x 11.7 cm (2.9 x 4.6 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.18 m (0.59 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.34x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
Looking for a top-notch everyday zoom lens? Look no further than the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. It’s super sharp, versatile, and the best value entry-level lens.
This lens is small, lightweight, and perfect to travel with. It’s a great multipurpose lens to shoot everything from portraits and landscapes to a sky full of stars.
Moreover, you’ll get very sharp image quality throughout the zoom range, as well as beautiful bokeh (out-of-focus backgrounds) thanks to the f/2.8 aperture. Autofocus is also very fast, accurate, and silent.
This is also a great low-light lens. You can expect high-quality results even when shooting indoors or at dusk. Its zoom range and wide aperture make it perfect for videos too.
You’ll see little distortions with this lens, and just some color fringing when shooting wide open, though you can easily fix that via in-camera corrections.
Overall, given this lens’s top-notch performance, travel-friendliness, and reasonable price, it’s truly hard to find an everyday zoom lens that offers better value for money.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you’re looking for a travel-friendly and affordable everyday zoom lens with very impressive image quality.
📸 Best Everyday Zoom Lenses for Sony a7 IV
While the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 is our top pick, there are many other fantastic Sony a7 IV zoom lenses out there. Here are our other top choices.
💎 Top Value Pro Zoom Lens: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8
The best value professional zoom lens for those who value image quality over weight
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 830 g (29 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.7 x 12.4 cm (3.4 x 4.8 in)
Filter diameter: 82 mm (3.2 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.18 m (0.59 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.34x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
While the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 is a solid entry-level zoom lens, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is a great alternative if you’re looking for a pro/expert-level zoom lens.
Compared to the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, this lens is significantly heavier (therefore less travel-friendly), but it provides even better image quality and sharper results.
It also has a more robust build, produces smoother and rounder bokeh, and is an even better lens for videos as it allows you to switch focus much more smoothly while filming.
Because of all these advantages, this lens is a little bit pricier than the Tamron lens. Overall, it offers fantastic value for money as it’s priced very reasonably and offers top-notch image quality and performance.
On the downside, there’s some visible barrel distortion and vignetting, although they can be easily fixed in-camera or via post-processing.
📸 Which lens to choose: If you shoot for fun and value travel-friendliness, then go for the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. But if you’re looking for a more professional option and want the utmost image sharpness and the smoothest bokeh, then go for this heavier Sigma lens.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you prioritize getting professional-level image quality and don’t mind having a heavier everyday zoom lens.
🚀 The Fastest Pro Zoom Lens: Sony 24-70mm F2.8
The zoom lens with the fastest autofocus performance — ideal for weddings & events
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 886 g (17.4 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.7 x 13.6 cm (3.4 x 5.3 in)
Filter diameter: 82 mm (3.2 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.38 m (1.2 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.24x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM is significantly pricier than the above-mentioned Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. It’s also the heaviest and bulkiest lens of the three. So why should you get it, then?
Simple: it has the fastest and most accurate autofocus performance out of the three.
In fact, if you’re a wedding or event photographer who can’t afford to miss any important fleeting moment, then the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 is the best everyday zoom lens for you.
Compared to the Tamron and Sigma lenses mentioned above, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM also boasts the best flare resistance and the least vignetting when shooting wide-open.
This Sony lens is the sharpest of the three lenses around the corners of the frame, while the Sigma lens performs the best on central sharpness. The Sigma lens also achieves smoother bokeh than this Sony lens, although the difference is minimal.
Both this Sony lens and the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 have better build quality than the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, which is another reason why they’re pricier.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you have a big budget and want the absolute best autofocus performance to shoot fast-moving situations like weddings and events.
✨ Premium Superzoom Lens: Sony FE 24-105mm F4
A versatile, travel-friendly lens with a mighty zoom range and premium image quality
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 663 g (23.4 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.3 x 11.3 cm (3.2 x 4.4 in)
Filter diameter: 77 mm (3 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.38 m (1.25 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.31x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS is part of the Sony G series, which means it delivers top-notch professional image quality. It also boasts a generous wide-angle coverage and a mighty telephoto reach, making it incredibly versatile.
This lens is spectacularly sharp edge-to-edge throughout the whole zoom range, even when shooting wide open. The only lens that can rival its image quality is the previously mentioned Sony 24-70mm f/2.8, which is heavier, more expensive, and offers less focal reach.
Looking for a flexible travel lens? This lens’s mighty zoom range takes away the need to carry and switch between multiple lenses. You can use it to shoot a large variety of things, from landscapes to subjects further away.
This lens also has a premium build and is equipped with fast, accurate, and silent autofocus. It is pretty lightweight given its focal range, and overall, offers excellent value for money.
This lens isn’t cheap, though. There’s also some vignetting when shooting wide-open, although that can be easily fixed on Lightroom. Its f/4 aperture also makes it less of a low-light performer than the previously mentioned f/2.8 zoom lenses. Bokeh also isn’t as smooth.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a lens with both wide-angle and telephoto capabilities, and value professional-level image quality and premium build.
🔭 Top “Do-It-All” Lens: Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6
A very multi-purposeful lens that combines telephoto reach and travel-friendliness
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 575 g (20 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.4 x 11.7 cm (2.9 x 4.6 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.19 m (0.62 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.32x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
If you want a lens that can “do it all”, then look no further than the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. This powerful multipurpose lens is essentially a wide-angle, standard zoom, and telephoto lens all at once. It truly offers spectacular value.
First off, this beginner-friendly lens is suitable for a wide variety of photos, from landscapes and portraits to wildlife and even detailed close-ups (it has some macro capability too).
Typically, superzoom lenses of this kind show mediocre image quality, but this lens is an exception. It demonstrates very impressive levels of sharpness throughout the zoom range, and image quality is overall fantastic.
This lens is also very lightweight, compact, and travel-friendly. Its mighty zoom range takes away the need to carry and swap between multiple lenses. Moreover, it has a tough and weather-resistant build.
You’ll barely see any distortions or color fringing with this lens, and autofocus is fast, accurate, and virtually silent — perfect for capturing movement.
Note that compared to the other zoom lenses mentioned above, this lens has less wide-angle potential and is not as good for videos or low light (due to its variable aperture).
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a lightweight and affordable everyday zoom lens that also has telephoto reach.
👧🏻 Best Portrait Lenses for Sony a7 IV
To take the best portraits, look for a prime lens with a focal length of 85mm or longer. Prime lenses have very wide apertures, allowing you to create stunning bokeh, a shallow depth of field, and better subject-background separation — all of which would enhance your portraits. Here are the best Sony a7 IV prime lenses for portraits.
👧🏻 The Best Value Portrait Lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8
A spectacularly sharp, fast & portable lens with the same quality as pricier lenses
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 371 g (13.1 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.8 x 8.2 cm (3 x 3.2 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.80 m (2.63 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.13x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
If you’re looking for the best value portrait lens, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 takes the cake. This lens is ultra-sharp, produces beautiful bokeh for blurry backgrounds, and has the perfect focal length for portraits. On top of that, it’s also very small and lightweight.
This lens offers spectacular value for money. It’s ultra-sharp from corner to corner at every aperture. In fact, according to Sony’s MTF chart, it’s possibly even sharper than the more expensive premium Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM.
Bokeh is very important for good portraits, and this lens is a bokeh king. It’ll allow you to create beautifully smooth out-of-focus backgrounds for your subjects. This lens also shows fantastic low-light performance.
Autofocus on this lens is fast, reliable, and completely silent. Moreover, you’ll barely see any distortions, ghosts, or flare. While you’ll see strong vignettes at wider f-stops, they can be easily removed in post-processing via Lightroom.
Overall, this lens is truly a must-have if you’re serious about portraits. You’ll essentially get the same value as the premium Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM while paying much less and dragging around 450 g (15.8 oz.) less weight.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a small and portable portrait lens with spectacular image quality, bokeh, and low-light performance.
👧🏻 The Sharpest Portrait Lens: Sony FE 135mm F1.8
The best portrait lens for creamy bokeh & the best subject-background separation
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 950 g (33.6 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.9 x 12.7 cm (3.5 x 5 in)
Filter diameter: 82 mm (3.2 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.70 m (2.3 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.25x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
If you want the most top-notch image quality, then the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is the ultimate portrait lens to get. According to expert Roger Cicala from LensRentals, out of 300+ lenses, this is the sharpest lens he’s ever tested.
This lens is ultrasharp edge-to-edge even when shooting wide open (at f/1.8). You’ll get details so rich that you don’t even have to sharpen your photos at all in post-processing!
This lens creates super smooth and creamy bokeh, so your subjects can sharply stand out against the background. The telephoto reach here is also perfect for headshots and closeups.
Autofocus is insanely fast and reliable, making it easy to capture quick fleeting moments (such as during weddings). And with the Sony a7 IV’s in-camera corrections turned on, you’ll see no distortions. Ghosts and flares are minimal, too.
The only significant downside of this lens is that it’s pretty heavy, bulky, and expensive. However, if you’re serious about portrait photography and want the sharpest results possible, then there’s really no better lens to invest in.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want the sharpest portraits, the creamiest bokeh, and very fast autofocus in order to catch fleeting moments (such as during weddings).
👧🏻 The Best Portrait + Macro Lens: Sony 90mm F2.8
A very user-friendly macro lens that also doubles as a spectacularly sharp portrait lens
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 602 g (21.3 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.9 x 13 cm (3.1 x 5.1 in)
Filter diameter: 62 mm (2.4 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.28 m (0.92 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 1.0x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
Although the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS is a specialized macro lens, it doubles as a fantastic portrait lens as well. It’s also one of the sharpest Sony lenses ever made and will allow you to capture incredibly fine details on your subjects.
Being a macro lens, it’s of course also perfect for shooting closeups of flowers, bugs, and other small subjects, so you get exceptional value with just one multi-purposeful lens.
This lens is very user-friendly. To switch between autofocus and manual focus, all you need to do is push the focus ring out or pull it back in. There’s no need to flip an AF/MF switch like you’d have to do on most lenses. It’s very intuitive.
Autofocus is also very fast and reliable. Additionally, this lens performs fantastically in low-light conditions and creates beautiful bokeh. Sharpness is flawless from edge to edge at every aperture, and there are also no distortions, ghosts, or flares.
Overall, images quality is absolutely exceptional and this is truly one of the best closeup lenses out there. The only downside is that autofocus can be a bit noisy, which might be disruptive when shooting in quiet environments.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you plan to take macro shots in addition to portraits and want a very sharp and user-friendly lens.
🔮 If you’re interested in more portrait lenses, check out my review for the Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA. Though it has a shorter focal length, it’s great for environmental portraits, street photography, and top-notch videography.
🏞 Best Wide Angle Lenses for Sony a7 IV
Wide-angle lenses allow more of the scene to be included in the photo, which is very useful for landscape, architectural, and interior photography, where you may not be able to move farther from the scene to include it all in the frame.
A full-frame wide-angle lens has a maximum focal length of 35mm. Here are the best Sony a7 IV wide angle lenses, including prime and zoom lenses.
🏞 Top Overall Wide Angle Zoom: Sony 16-35mm F2.8
An incredibly sharp premium lens with a very flexible & practical zoom range
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 680 g (24 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.8 x 12.1 cm (3.4 x 4.7 in)
Filter diameter: 82 mm (3.2 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.28 m (0.92 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.19x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM is a premium lens that pretty much has it all. Its zoom range is super practical and allows you to shoot a large variety of wide-angle settings. On top of that, it has a fixed aperture that’s perfect for videos and low-light photography.
This lens is part of Sony’s G Master series, which means it offers impeccable performance, superb resolution, and premium build quality. If you want the absolute best image quality possible, then this is the lens to get.
Even when shooting wide open, this lens is ultra-sharp edge-to-edge. Bokeh is absolutely beautiful too, and you’ll be able to create super creamy backgrounds.
Want to shoot a sky full of stars? This lens can do the job too. It’s a fantastic low-light lens that’s useful for both dark skies and low-lit interiors. Moreover, it autofocuses very quickly, accurately, and quietly.
This lens does show some distortion and vignetting, although you can easily prevent them by turning on in-camera corrections or remove them with editing software like Lightroom.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a very flexible wide-angle zoom range and as little compromises as possible when it comes to image quality.
🔮 If this lens is out of your budget but you like its focal range, check out the Sony Vario-Tessar 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS. It costs a lot less, is sharp throughout the range, relatively compact, but isn’t great for low-light situations.
🏞 Top Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom: Sigma 14-24mm F2.8
An incredibly sharp super-wide-angle lens that’s also excellent for astrophotography
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 795 g (28 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.5 x 13.3 cm (3.3 x 5.2 in)
Filter diameter: N/A
Minimum focus distance: 0.28 m (0.91 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.14x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is an amazing choice for you if you want a zoom lens that’s even wider than the above-mentioned Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM.
This lens is not only 2mm wider than the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM; it’s also a lot more affordable, too. Moreover, its image quality is absolutely outstanding.
Throughout the entire zoom range, you’ll get superb sharpness and contrast, even when shooting wide open. While the edges are a bit soft at f/2.8, they quickly sharpen when you stop down to about f/4.
This lens is very useful for low light situations and given how wide it goes, it’s also amazing for astrophotography. It also has a weather-sealed build quality, and autofocuses quickly and accurately.
On the downside, this lens has a much shorter focal range than the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, so it can be limiting. All in all, it’s a top-value choice for those looking to shoot ultra-wide.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you’d like a relatively affordable lens with an ultra-wide zoom range.
🏞 Top Travel Wide Angle Lens: Tamron 17-28mm F2.8
The most affordable & travel-friendly wide angle zoom lens for the Sony a7 IV
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 420 g (14.8 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.3 x 9.9 cm (2.8 x 3.8 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.19 m (0.62 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.19x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is the best wide-angle lens for you if you prioritize affordability and portability. It’s also an amazing lens for vlogging.
This lens is almost half the weight of the previous two wide-angle zoom lenses, making it super travel-friendly. On top of that, it’s also the most budget-friendly Sony a7 IV wide-angle zoom lens that delivers way beyond a budget-level performance.
Overall, this lens performs really well. It’s impressively sharp in the center even when shooting wide open, has minimal distortions, and is great for low-light situations. Autofocus is fast, reliable, and tracks moving subjects well.
This lens also has a very close minimum focus distance, meaning it’s amazing for vlogs — you can hold the camera up close and it’ll focus on you while creating bokeh in the background.
Note that if you want to print your photos on very large prints or posters, then this lens will fall short, and you’re better off with either of the two above-mentioned wide-angle lenses (the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 or the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8), which are much sharper and crispier.
If your photos will mostly live on screens or small prints, though, then this Tamron lens is proof that you can get spectacular image quality without spending a fortune.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a travel-friendly and affordable wide-angle zoom lens and don’t need to print your photos on very large prints.
🌃 Top Low-Light Wide Angle Lens: Sony 24mm F1.4
The sharpest, lightest, least expensive, and best 24mm f/1.4 ever made
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 445 g (15.7 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.5 x 9.2 cm (2.9 x 3.6 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.24 m (0.79 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.17x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is hands down one of the best prime lenses for Sony a7 IV simply because it’s rare to find a wide-angle lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4.
What this also means is that it’s the best wide-angle lens for low light photography. If you want to take your starry night shots to the next level, then this is an amazing lens to choose.
This lens shows impeccable image quality. It delivers edge-to-edge sharpness throughout the aperture range, especially wide-open at f/1.4. It also autofocuses quickly, accurately, and pretty much silently.
On top of all that, this lens is also very travel-friendly as it is lightweight and compact. With its f/1.4 aperture, there’s also no better wide-angle lens for creating beautiful bokeh.
The only downside to this lens is that it’s in the pricier range. However, it’s still the least expensive, lightest, sharpest, and best 24mm f/1.4 ever made — it’s worth every penny of its price tag, especially if you’re serious about low-light wide-angle photography.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you plan to take lots of low-light wide-angle shots or if you want to maximize bokeh in your wide-angle shots.
🏞 Best Medium Wide Angle Lens: Sony 35mm F1.8
The best Sony a7 IV wide-angle prime lens for street photography & medium-wide settings
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 280 g (9.9 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.5 x 7.3 cm (2.5 x 2.8 in)
Filter diameter: 55 mm (2.1 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.22 m (0.73 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.24x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
If you’re looking for a medium-wide angle lens, then the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is the best choice out there. It delivers stunning image quality and is super lightweight and travel-friendly.
This lens has a slightly wider field of view than normal, making it perfect for street photography, environmental portraits, and medium-wide architecture or landscapes that don’t require an ultra-wide focal length.
In addition, this lens is ultra-sharp from edge to edge even when shooting wide open, and autofocus is super fast and reliable. If you’re a fan of bokeh, you’ll be very pleased. You’ll also be able to get some fantastic low-light shots thanks to the f/1.8 aperture.
On the downside, this lens is quite costly for a lens of its type. There are also some visible chromatic aberrations at wider apertures, especially if there’s a high contrast between the subject and the background. However, this is easy to remove with Adobe Photoshop.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you prefer a medium-wide focal length and want a very lightweight & travel-friendly lens.
💸 If you’re looking for the best budget-friendly Sony a7 IV wide-angle lens, check out my review for the Sony FE 28mm F2.0.
🎥 Best Video Lenses for Sony a7 IV
Looking for the best video lens for Sony a7 IV? First, look for a lens with a fixed aperture. This will allow the exposure level of your video to stay constant even as you zoom in or out, making these transitions smooth and natural.
You might also want a lens with a wide max aperture (f/2.8 or wider) for beautiful bokeh and good low-light performance.
For vlogging, look for a wide-angle lens (max 35mm focal length) with a minimum focus distance of around 0.30 m (1 ft) or less so that you can easily stay in focus while talking to the camera. Here are the best Sony a7 IV lenses for videos.
🎥 Best Everyday Video Lens: Tamron 28-75mm F2.8
A top value everyday zoom lens with a great focal range & super sharp video quality
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 540 g (19 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.5 x 11.7 cm (2.9 x 4.6 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.18 m (0.59 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.34x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
🔮 Also chosen as: The Best All-Around Sony a7 IV Lens
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is the most affordable, lightweight, and versatile choice for shooting high-quality 4K videos.
To start off, the 28-75mm zoom range makes this lens very versatile and multi-purposeful. It’s perfect for a variety of everyday videos and can beautifully capture everything from landscapes to close-ups of people.
Video quality is super sharp and crisp throughout the zoom range, and for an f/2.8 standard zoom, this lens is also unusually lightweight and travel-friendly.
Additionally, its f/2.8 aperture will not only allow you to get high-quality videos even in low-light; it’ll also create stunning bokeh, especially if you zoom in on your subjects.
The fixed aperture of this lens will also allow you to create smooth and natural transitions as you zoom in or out while filming. Given its reasonable price, this is truly a top-value everyday video lens that’s worth every penny.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want the flexibility of a good zoom range to shoot a variety of sharp, high-quality everyday videos.
🎥 Best Video + Portrait Lens: Sony FE 55mm F1.8
A ridiculously sharp lens perfect for videos, portraits, bokeh-lovers & street shots
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 281 g (10 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.4 x 7 cm (2.5 x 2.7 in)
Filter diameter: 49 mm (1.9 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.5 m (1.64 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.14x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA is a ridiculously sharp lens that will take your videos and photos to the next level. In fact, it’s one of the sharpest Sony lenses out there and delivers impeccable image/video quality.
On top of that, it also doubles as a casual portrait and street photography lens thanks to its f/1.8 aperture and 55mm focal length (which is close to the human eye level).
The bright f/1.8 aperture of this lens is what makes it truly spectacular for videos and photos. It’ll allow you to get super smooth bokeh (even better than the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 mentioned above) as well as beautiful, crisp, and noise-free low-light videos/photos.
Weighing a mere 281 g (10 oz.), this lens is also really small, lightweight, and easy to take everywhere. Autofocus is also very fast, reliable, and silent.
The only real downside of this lens is that it’s not the cheapest thing in the world. With that said, given its top-notch video/image quality, travel-friendliness, and fast f/1.8 aperture, you definitely get incredible value for what you pay for.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want ultra-sharp videos and street shots, are a fan of bokeh, and enjoy packing light.
🎥 The Best Lens for Vlogging: Sony 28mm F2.0
An ultra-fast, budget-friendly & portable lens that makes vlogging super easy
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 200 g (7.1 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.4 x 6 cm (2.5 x 2.3 in)
Filter diameter: 49 mm (1.9 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.29 m (0.96 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.13x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
🔮 Also chosen as: The Best Budget Wide-Angle Lens
The Sony FE 28mm f/2.0 is a spectacular vlogging lens thanks to its wide 28mm focal length, close minimum focusing distance, and bright f/2.0 aperture.
This incredibly small and lightweight lens is super easy to vlog with. It focuses ultra-fast and very silently, and its wide focal length allows you to easily talk to the camera.
This lens is very budget-friendly, has a great build quality, and delivers sharp results. You’ll also get fantastic bokeh even when shooting selfie videos and will get excellent video quality in low light as well.
The only downside is that you’ll get some soft edges and chromatic aberrations when shooting wide open. As you increase the aperture value, though, these issues fade away.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you plan to shoot lots of vlogs and want a very travel-friendly and affordable video lens.
🦉 Best Telephoto Lenses for Sony a7 IV
To shoot subjects far away from you, you’ll need a telephoto lens, which typically has a minimum focal length of 70mm. You can also get a super-telephoto lens, which typically has a focal length of 300mm or more. Here are the best Sony a7 IV telephoto lenses.
🦉 Best Pro Telephoto Lens: Sony 70-200mm F2.8
The ultimate telephoto zoom lens for image quality, bokeh & low-light performance
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 1480 g (52.2 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.8 x 20 cm (3.4 x 7.8 in)
Filter diameter: 77 mm (3 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.96 m (3.1 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.25x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS is the absolute best telephoto zoom lens to get for image quality, top-notch performance, and bokeh.
It is ultra-sharp edge-to-edge throughout the zoom range, even wide-open at f/2.8. It delivers extremely detailed photos and videos — if you want the utmost image quality, look no further than this lens.
In addition, this lens autofocuses quickly and accurately without making any noise, which is especially handy for shooting wildlife without scaring them away.
This lens is also amazing for capturing indoor events like sports and stage performances as its wide aperture allows it to perform really well in low-light situations. It is also great for portraits and creates stunning bokeh.
As you can see, this versatile lens can be used for so many types of photos, so even though it’s heavy and expensive, it offers incredible value for money.
With that said, it’s definitely more suited for professional photographers and serious amateurs. If photography is just a casual hobby for you, I recommend the much cheaper Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 mentioned below.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you need a telephoto zoom range and want the sharpest, most professional-looking photos — even when shooting in low-light conditions.
🦉 Best Value Tele Lens: Tamron 70-180mm F2.8
A lightweight & affordable tele-zoom lens that doesn’t compromise on image quality
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 810 g (28.5 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.1 x 14.9 cm (3.1 x 5.8 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.85 m (2.7 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.21x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is the best lower-priced alternative to the above-mentioned Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, and the top value f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens in the market.
For a lens of its kind, it’s very lightweight and travel-friendly. In fact, it weighs a whopping 670 g (23.6 oz.) less than the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8! Despite its smaller size and weight, it makes no compromises on image quality.
This lens delivers very sharp results in the center throughout the zoom range, even when shooting wide-open. It autofocuses very accurately, quickly, and quietly, which makes it great for wildlife shots. It also takes great portraits.
If you plan to shoot indoors (such as sports or performances), you’ll benefit from this lens’s excellent low-light performance. And while bokeh isn’t quite as smooth as that of the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, it’s still very beautiful.
Overall, image quality is very impressive. You won’t notice much difference between this lens and the above-mentioned Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 unless you’re a professional.
Note that this lens offers 20mm less focal reach than the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8. This might be an issue if you’re planning to shoot very far away subjects.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you’re more of a hobbyist than a professional and want a relatively lightweight & affordable telephoto zoom lens that creates great bokeh.
🦉 Best Tele + Macro Lens: Sony 100-400mm F4.5-5.6
A razor-sharp telephoto lens that also outperforms many specialized macro lenses
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 1395 g (49.3 oz.)
Size (WxL): 9.3 x 20.5 cm (3.6 x 8 in)
Filter diameter: 77 mm (3 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.98 m (3.22 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.35x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is the absolute best super-telephoto zoom lens you can get in terms of image quality, performance, and versatility. As a matter of fact, it also doubles as a macro lens thanks to its maximum magnification ratio of 0.35x.
While this lens is pricey, you truly get the ultimate image quality and can shoot anything from wildlife and sports to small insects.
This lens is razor-sharp edge-to-edge, even when shooting wide-open at 400mm. Autofocus is incredibly fast, accurate, and silent. It also has no trouble tracking moving subjects, which is quite important for wildlife and sports shots.
Moreover, this lens focuses faster than many specialized macro lenses, and thanks to its long focal length, you can stand far away from subjects like bugs and insects to avoid scaring them away. It truly replaces the need to get a macro lens.
This lens is quite expensive. You can get the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 for a lower price and get 200mm more zoom reach, although that’s not a good lens for macro shots.
The Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 is also not the best lens for shooting in low light. Because of its narrow max aperture, focusing on small subjects in low light can be difficult and slow.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you plan to shoot close-ups & macro with a telephoto lens, and you want razor-sharp photos but don’t need low-light performance.
🦉 Most Versatile Tele Lens: Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6
A general-purpose telephoto lens with a great zoom range & approachable price
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 854 g (30.2 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.4 x 14.3 cm (3.3 x 5.6 in)
Filter diameter: 72 mm (2.8 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.9 m (2.96 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.31x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS is an excellent option for you if you can’t afford the above-mentioned Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 but would like a lens with more focal reach than the cheaper Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8.
This lens is very versatile and multi-purposeful — you can use it to shoot wildlife, sports, events, zoomed-in landscapes, and casual portraits. Because it focuses so closely, it can also double as a macro lens.
While this lens is not as sharp as the much more expensive Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM, it still shows impressive image quality. It delivers excellent central sharpness throughout the zoom range, although at 300mm, edge sharpness is quite poor.
Under good lighting conditions, this lens focuses quickly and accurately. For a telephoto zoom of its kind, it is also very lightweight, compact, and travel-friendly.
On the downside, do not expect reliable low-light performance from this lens. Under dim lighting, it’s unable to consistently lock focus. For a relatively slow lens, it’s also not exactly cheap, despite its somewhat approachable price.
However, if you don’t need to shoot in low light and don’t need edge-to-edge sharpness, then this lens’s reach, size, and price might just be the perfect fit for you.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a versatile telephoto lens with a big zoom range and don’t need the best low-light performance or utmost sharpness.
🦉 Best Super-Tele Lens: Sony 200-600mm F5.6-6.3
The ultimate Sony a7 IV lens for wildlife photography & super far away subjects
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 2115 g (74.7 oz.)
Size (WxL): 11.1 x 31.8 cm (4.3 x 12.5 in)
Filter diameter: 95 mm (3.7 in)
Minimum focus distance: 2.4 m (7.88 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.2x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS is the best value Sony a7 IV lens to get if you want to maximize focal reach and shoot very faraway subjects, such as wildlife. Despite the mighty telephoto reach of this lens, there’s barely any compromise on image quality.
This lens is ultra-sharp edge-to-edge throughout the focal range. It has a sturdy weather-sealed build that can endure tough environments, which comes in very handy for wildlife shots.
Autofocus is fast, accurate, and practically silent. While bokeh is generally not a strong suit of lenses with such narrow apertures, this lens actually delivers really nice bokeh.
Price-wise, this lens offers incredible value for money as it’s even cheaper than the shorter Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM (mentioned above).
Note that this lens is necessarily big and heavy, and also doesn’t perform too well in low-light situations. It can take a while for it to focus in dim lighting, and you’ll most likely have to use noisy ISO settings too.
If you’re deciding between this lens and the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM, note that if you primarily shoot wildlife, then you’ll largely benefit from the 600mm focal length of this lens. On the other hand, the 100-400mm is a better lens for macro and landscapes.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: focal reach is your #1 priority — you want a telephoto lens that lets you reach as far away as possible (especially useful when shooting wildlife).
🦉 Best Budget Tele Lens: Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3
A high-quality, sharp & lightweight lens that offers incredible value for money
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 1140 g (40.2 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.6 x 19.9 cm (3.4 x 7.8 in)
Filter diameter: 67 mm (2.6 in)
Minimum focus distance: 1.12 m (3.6 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.24x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS is a very lightweight and reasonably priced super-telephoto lens that delivers stunning image quality and fantastic value for money.
It’s the best budget-friendly lens you can get if you plan to shoot lots of far-away subjects such as wildlife, sports, or close-up landscapes and don’t want to spend a fortune.
This lens is very sharp across the whole zoom range. While the corners are a bit softer than the center at all focal lengths, they’re still impressively sharp. Moreover, distortions, color-fringing, ghosts, and flares are all kept at a minimum level.
Under good lighting conditions, autofocus is very quick, smooth, and quiet. It also effortlessly tracks fast-moving subjects. Under dim lighting, though, this lens focuses quite slowly and can hunt for a while. Due to the narrow aperture, bokeh also isn’t the smoothest.
It’s also worth noting that this lens is not weather-sealed, and the Sony E-mount version of it is incompatible with teleconverters. You might also need to venture into noisy ISO settings when shooting in low light since this is a narrow-aperture lens.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want the most budget-friendly telephoto lens that doesn’t compromise on image quality, and you don’t plan to shoot too much in low light.
⚙️ Best Teleconverter Lenses for the Sony a7 IV
A teleconverter gives your lens more telephoto reach by magnifying the images made by it. It fits in between the camera body and the lens and helps you get even closer to your subjects.
Bear in mind, though, that not all lenses are compatible with the best teleconverters. By using them, you’ll also be reducing the maximum aperture of your lens, and sometimes, the general image quality of your shots. Here are the best two teleconverters for the Sony a7 IV.
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
Weight: 167 g (5.8 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.2 x 3.3 cm (2.4 x 1.2 in)
Only compatible with these lenses:
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM
Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G
Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM
The Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter extends the reach of some of the best Sony a7 IV telephoto lenses to the following lengths. Keep in mind, though, that it’ll do so by sacrificing one full aperture stop.
- Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 — reach extended to 280mm, max aperture reduced to f/4
- Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 — reach extended to 560mm, max aperture reduced to f/6.3-8
- Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 — reach extended to 840mm, max aperture reduced to f/8-9
Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
Weight: 207 g (7.3 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.2 x 4.2 cm (2.4 x 1.6 in)
Only compatible with these lenses:
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM
Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G
Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM
The Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter extends the reach of some of the best Sony a7 IV telephoto lenses to the following lengths. Keep in mind, though, that it’ll do so by sacrificing two full aperture stops.
- Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 — reach extended to 400mm, max aperture reduced to f/5.6
- Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 — reach extended to 800mm, max aperture reduced to f/9-11
- Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 — reach extended to 1200mm, max aperture reduced to f/11-13
💸 Best Budget Lenses for Sony a7 IV
If you’re looking to pair your Sony a7 IV with some high-quality budget lenses, there are plenty of choices depending on the kind of photography you plan to do. Here are the absolute best budget lenses for the Sony a7 IV.
💸 Best Budget Everyday Lens: Sony FE 50mm F1.8
An incredibly portable lens great for everyday shots, casual portraits & low light
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 186 g (6.6 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.8 x 5.9 cm (2.6 x 2.3 in)
Filter diameter: 49 mm (1.9 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.45 m (1.48 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.14x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is a very small budget-friendly lens that’s perfect for casual everyday shots. Weighing only 186 g (6.6 oz.), it’s also super portable and travel-friendly.
This lens has amazing edge-to-edge sharpness at every aperture. Its wide aperture will also help you get amazing photos in low-light conditions as well as spectacular bokeh.
On top of that, this lens has no distortions as well as great ghost and flare control. Given its very affordable price and excellent performance, it truly offers incredible value for money.
Thanks to its focal length and wide aperture, this lens also takes amazing casual portraits. However, if you’re serious about portraits, check out the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 — it’s an even better budget portrait lens for the Sony a7 IV.
Because of its low price, the biggest downside of this lens is that its autofocus is quite slow and noisy. It’s definitely not the best lens for those of you who want to catch every fleeting moment and shoot very quickly.
If you prefer a budget lens that focuses faster, I recommend checking out the Sony FE 28mm f/2.0 mentioned below — it’s great for landscapes and everyday shots.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want an incredibly portable and budget-friendly lens for everyday shots and casual portraits.
💸 Best Budget Wide Angle Lens: Sony 28mm F2.0
A very lightweight & travel-friendly lens perfect for landscape & architecture shots
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 200 g (7.1 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.4 x 6 cm (2.5 x 2.3 in)
Filter diameter: 49 mm (1.9 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.29 m (0.96 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.13x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
🔮 Also chosen as: The Best Vlogging Lens for Sony a7 IV
The Sony FE 28mm f/2.0 is a very lightweight and travel-friendly budget wide-angle lens that’s especially good for landscape and architecture shots. Even though it’s affordable, it has a sturdy build quality and offers incredible value for money.
This lens demonstrates excellent central sharpness, which is very impressive even wide-open. Autofocus is ultrafast, accurate, and essentially silent. Focusing manually is also very easy; you can do so with just a fingertip.
Moreover, this lens is very fast and produces great results even in low light, allowing you to capture beautiful starry sky shots. Ghosts, flares, and distortions are very minimal, while bokeh is beautifully smooth and creamy.
The only downside of this lens is that the edges are a bit soft when shooting wide open, and you’ll need to stop down to about f/11 to achieve good corner sharpness.
Chromatic aberrations are also quite high especially towards the corners of the frame when shooting wide open. Stopping down to about f/4 will get it under control, though.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a lightweight and budget-friendly wide-angle lens to shoot landscapes & everyday surroundings.
💸 More Budget-Friendly Lenses for the Sony a7 IV
What’s considered budget-friendly is quite subjective. Some of these lenses are cheaper than others. Regardless, they’re the most affordable high-quality lenses for their categories.
- ⚙️ Best budget Sony a7 IV standard zoom lens: Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2
- 🎥 Best budget Sony a7 IV video lens: Sony FE 28mm F2.0
- 👧🏻 Best budget Sony a7 IV portrait lens: Sony FE 85mm F1.8
- 🐝 Best budget Sony a7 IV macro lens: Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art
- 🦉 Best budget Sony a7 IV telephoto lens: Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS
🔍 Best Macro Lenses for Sony a7 IV
If you want to take detailed, close-up shots of small subjects such as insects, flowers, or water droplets, then I strongly recommend getting a specialized macro lens.
Macro lenses have a 1:1 magnification ratio and typically, a minimum focusing distance of around 0.30 m (0.98 ft) or less. This will allow you to get extremely sharp and detailed close-ups of microscopic subjects.
To get macro shots of insects and bugs, consider a lens with a focal length of at least 90mm so that you can shoot from further away — if you get too close to them, you might scare them away. For medium-sized subjects like flowers, food, or products, any focal length above 60mm would suffice.
🐝 Best Macro Lens for Insects: Sony FE 90mm F2.8
One of the sharpest Sony lenses ever made that’s incredibly user-friendly & versatile
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 602 g (21.3 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7.9 x 13 cm (3.1 x 5.1 in)
Filter diameter: 62 mm (2.4 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.28 m (0.92 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 1.0x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: Yes
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS is the absolute best Sony a7 IV macro lens for shooting microscopic subjects such as insects, bugs, and water droplets. Moreover, this lens also doubles as a fantastically sharp portrait lens.
Macro shots are all about the details, and this lens is one of the sharpest Sony lenses ever built. It is flawlessly sharp at all apertures, even wide-open, and will bring out the tiniest details in your subjects. Bokeh is also very smooth and creamy.
Insects can move very fast, and this lens’s quick and accurate autofocus is very handy for that. Moreover, this lens’s 90mm focal length allows you to shoot comfortably from further away, and you won’t have to risk blocking light or scaring bugs away by getting too close.
This lens is also super user-friendly. To switch between autofocus and manual focus, you just need to push the focus ring out or pull it back in — there’s no need to flip a switch. This lens is also fantastic for low-light situations and shows no distortions, ghosts, or flares.
If I’m being picky, the only downside is that autofocus can be a bit noisy, which might be disruptive when shooting in quiet environments.
All in all, this is the ultimate lens to get if you’re serious about macro photography and want the most exceptional image quality. When it comes to user-friendliness, quality, and performance, this lens is truly hard to beat.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want to photograph very tiny subjects such as insects, bugs, and water droplets and want the utmost image quality.
🌸 Best Macro Lens for Flowers: Sigma 70mm F2.8
A lightweight & affordable lens perfect for sharp close-ups of medium-sized subjects
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 570 g (20.1 oz.)
Size (WxL): 7 x 13.2 cm (2.8 x 5.2 in)
Filter diameter: 49 mm (1.9 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.25 m (0.82 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 1.0x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sigma 70mm f/2.8 DG Macro Art is a lightweight and affordable macro lens that delivers razor-sharp results. If you want to take detailed close-ups of flowers, food, and other medium-sized subjects, then this lens will offer fantastic value.
You can also use it to photograph bugs and insects, but the above-mentioned Sony 90mm f/2.8 is definitely the better lens for that as it allows you to shoot from further away.
This lens is razor-sharp edge-to-edge. Its wide f/2.8 aperture also allows you to get super creamy and smooth bokeh. Plus, it’s a great lens to work with in low-light conditions.
Overall, the image quality is truly impressive. There are barely any distortions, ghosts, or flares, and chromatic aberrations are really well-controlled.
On the downside, autofocus is a bit slow, and even more so in dim lighting. That’s another reason why this is not the best lens for insects and bugs; these fast-moving subjects may fly away before this lens has had a chance to focus. This lens also isn’t weather-sealed.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want to take super sharp and crisp close-ups of flowers, food, products, and other medium-sized subjects.
🔮 As you may remember from earlier, the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM is an amazing telephoto lens that also doubles as a macro lens. It’s another great option to consider if you’re planning to shoot wildlife or sports too!
✈️ Best Travel Lenses for Sony a7 IV
If you’re looking to travel with your Sony a7 IV, you’ll want a small and lightweight lens that’s easy to carry. A good, versatile zoom range might also come in handy if you want to shoot a variety of things. Here are the best Sony a7 IV lenses to bring to dream destinations.
- ✈️ Best standard zoom travel lens: Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 — light & great zoom range
- 🏞 Best wide-angle travel lens: Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 — light & great for landscapes
- 🦉 Best wildlife travel lens: Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 — light & great telephoto reach
- 🎥 Best vlogging travel lens: Sony 28mm F2.0 — very light & wide focal length
- 🌌 Best astrophotography travel lens: Sony 14mm F1.8 — light & wide aperture
- 🏙 Best street photography lens: Sony 55mm F1.8 — light & eye-level focal length
- 🔭 Best all-in-one travel lens: Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 — versatile zoom range
🌌 Best Astrophotography Lenses for Sony a7 IV
To capture a starry night sky or the Milky Way, you’ll need a lens that’s great for astrophotography. Ideally, this would be an ultra-wide-angle lens (which has a max focal length of around 24mm) so that you can frame a lot more of the sky in one shot.
More importantly, this lens should have a wide maximum aperture — at least f/2.8 or wider. Otherwise, your shots are likely to come out grainy. Make sure that this lens is also sharp — preferably edge-to-edge — when shooting wide-open.
Ideally, this lens should also have minimal chromatic aberrations, low vignetting, and good coma control. Here are the best Sony a7 IV astrophotography lenses.
🌌 The Ultimate Astro Lens: Sony FE 14mm F1.8
A razor-sharp wide-angle lens that has everything you need for stunning dark sky shots
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 460 g (16.3 oz.)
Size (WxL): 8.3 x 9.9 cm (3.2 x 3.8 in)
Filter diameter: 49 mm (1.9 in)
Min. focus distance: 0.25 m (0.82 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.10x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM truly has everything you’d dream of in an astrophotography lens and more. First off, it’s very lightweight and travel-friendly. In fact, it’s the smallest, lightest, and sharpest 14mm in the world.
Its ultra-wide 14mm focal length is perfect for shooting dark nights, as it allows you to capture a lot more of the sky. The f/1.8 aperture will also ensure that your shots will be noise-free even in dark lighting.
Image quality is simply impeccable. In fact, this lens is razor-sharp edge-to-edge, even wide-open at f/1.8, which is exactly what you need in an ideal astrophotography lens.
This lens also focuses manually (autofocus will be pretty useless in such dark settings), has very low chromatic aberrations, and shows no significant coma or vignetting – all of which are important things to look for in an astrophotography lens.
So, while this lens may be a bit pricey, it’ll give you the ultimate image quality and is worth every single penny if you’re serious about dark sky shots.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you want a travel-friendly wide-angle lens with flawless image quality so that you can take the absolute best dark sky shots.
🔮 The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM (the top overall Sony a7 IV wide-angle lens) is another amazing lens for astrophotography. It’s sharp edge-to-edge even wide-open and has minimal chromatic aberrations.
🥞 Best Pancake Lens for Sony a7 IV
Pancake lenses are incredibly small and lightweight lenses — so light that you’ll barely feel their weight at all. These lenses are great for travel and street photography in particular, especially if you’re a minimalist and prefer packing light.
🥞 Best Pancake Lens: Sony FE 35mm F2.8
The most lightweight & compact general-purpose lens for the Sony a7 IV
Lens type: Full frame E-mount
Weight: 120 g (4.3 oz.)
Size (WxL): 6.1 x 3.6 cm (2.4 x 1.4 in)
Filter diameter: 49 mm (1.9 in)
Minimum focus distance: 0.35 m (1.15 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.12x
Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilization: No
Sample photos: Click here
A closer look:
The Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA is the smallest lens for Sony a7 IV that you can get. If you’re a minimalist or enjoy packing light for your trips, then this lens is a perfect choice as it weighs a mere 120 g (4.3 oz.). Its build quality is also sturdy and weather-sealed.
Despite its small size, there’s very little compromise on image quality. This lens is ultra-sharp even at f/2.8 across the whole frame. Bokeh is beautifully smooth especially if you shoot wide open, although you might see some onion rings from time to time.
This lens has a very useful and versatile focal length. In fact, 35mm is great for landscapes, street photography, architecture, and general everyday shots.
If you’re planning to shoot in dim lighting conditions, this lens won’t disappoint. You’ll get high-quality, noise-free shots even in low light. Autofocus is impressively fast and very silent, too. There are also minimal flares and great ghost control.
On the downside, there’s some visible barrel distortion as well as vignetting. You can easily prevent distortions by turning on in-camera corrections on your Sony a7 IV, though, and vignettes are easily removable via Adobe Lightroom.
This lens is not cheap, but if having a lens that weighs close to nothing would make a big difference for you, then it’s definitely worth the investment.
📸 In short, this lens is for you if: you’re a minimalist and want the smallest and lightest high-quality lens you can find.
💭 Final Thoughts on These Sony a7 IV Best Lenses
I hope you enjoyed this guide on the top lenses for Sony a7 IV and that it was helpful! If you have any questions at all, feel free to leave a comment below. I’ll try my best to help you 🙂
I hope this comprehensive guide on the best lenses for Sony a7 IV has been helpful!
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Pin These Best a7 IV Lenses for Later
1 Comment
Thank you so much for this ultimate guide. I am in the process of
selling off some lenses and this has given me confidence in doing so .
I have a question where does the Sony 20-70 f4 sit ? What lenses could
it replace as I am considering it for a travel lens ?
Thank you