Best E-Mount Lenses for Sony α1, α7 and α9 Cameras

In October 2013, Sony introduced the Sony α7 (Alpha 7, or A7 for short) as its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with an E-mount and a full-frame sensor. This combination has since grown into one of the most versatile systems in the industry. Current camera models include the compact Sony α7C, the basic α7 III, the high-resolution α7R IV, the video-centric α7S III,  the sports-oriented α9 II, and the newly announced flagship α1 with a 50 MP sensor and 8K video.

This page provides an overview of the extensive catalog of E-mount full-frame lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included. E-mount lenses for cameras with a smaller APS-C sensor are listed separately.

For every lens, the following major characteristics are given:

  • Focal length.
  • Maximum aperture. It has a strong influence on the light conditions in which the lens can be used, and how shallow the depth of field can be. Fast lenses also tend to be much more expensive. Green labels indicate fast lenses (> f/2), red labels indicate slow lenses (< f/4).
  • Filter size. It serves as a representative of the length, diameter and weight of the lens. Green labels indicate compact lenses (filter size < 60 mm), red labels indicate big lenses (> 70 mm).
  • Minimum focus distance (MFD). It has a major influence on the magnification that can be achieved, as well as the depth of field.
  • Another interesting point is of course the price, but it is different in every market and currency. Instead, links to independent reviews are given which will help you to find the best lens for your needs.

The color labels should not be interpreted in a way that a lens like the Sony FE 35 mm f/1.8 with two green labels is better than the Sony FE 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 GM with two red labels. If the zoom lens had the same speed as the 35 mm prime, the diameter of its front element would be at least 222 mm instead of 77 mm, so it is actually a rather compact lens. Color labels are therefore comparable for similar focal lengths only.

Note that additional designations such as OS, OSD, OSS, T* and ZA which are not required to identify a lens are omitted.

*Manual focus lens with digital coupling between lens and camera.

**Manual focus lens without digital coupling between lens and camera.

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong distortions.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m

1.2 Wide angle lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DG HSM | Art 14 1.8 n/a 0.27
Samyang AF FE 14 2.8 n/a 0.20 OL
Samyang AF FE 18 2.8 58 0.25 OL
Zeiss Batis 18 2.8 77 0.25 LT, OL
Sigma DG HSM | Art 20 1.4 n/a 0.28
Sony FE G 20 1.8 67 0.19 CL, OL
Tokina Firin FE AF 20 2 62 0.28 OL
Tamron Di III OSD M1:2 20 2.8 67 0.11 CL, LT
Sigma DG HSM | Art 24 1.4 77 0.25
Sony FE GM 24 1.4 67 0.24 CL, OL
Samyang AF FE 24 2.8 49 0.24 LT
Tamron Di III OSD M1:2 24 2.8 67 0.12 LT
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 24 3.5 55 0.108
Zeiss Batis 25 2 67 0.20 LT
Sigma DG HSM | Art 28 1.4 77 0.28
Sony FE 28 2 49 0.29 LT, ML, OL
Sigma DG DN | Art 35 1.2 82 0.30 CL, LT
Samyang AF FE 35 1.4 67 0.30 CL, LT
Sigma DG HSM | Art 35 1.4 67 0.30
Sony FE GM 35 1.4 67 0.27 CL, LT
Sony Zeiss Distagon FE 35 1.4 72 0.30 CL, ML, OL
Sony FE 35 1.8 55 0.22 CL, LT
Samyang AF FE 35 1.8 58 0.29
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 35 2 58 0.27 LT
Samyang AF FE 35 2.8 49 0.35 LT
Sony Zeiss Sonnar FE 35 2.8 49 0.35 OL
Tamron Di III OSD M1:2 35 2.8 67 0.15

1.3 Standard lenses

Lenses with a focal length similar to the image sensor diagonal of 43 mm. Images created with these lenses are generally perceived as looking natural.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DG HSM | Art 40 1.4 82 0.40
Zeiss Batis CF 40 2 67 0.24 LT
Samyang AF FE 45 1.8 49 0.45 LT
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 45 2.8 55 0.24 LT, OL
Samyang AF FE 50 1.4 67 0.45 LT
Sigma DG HSM | Art 50 1.4 77 0.40
Sony Zeiss Planar FE 50 1.4 72 0.45 CL
Sony FE 50 1.8 49 0.45 CL, LT, ML, OL
Sony Zeiss Sonnar FE 55 1.8 49 0.50 CL, LT, ML, OL

1.4 Telephoto lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 65 2 62 0.55 CL
Samyang AF FE 75 1.8 58 0.69 LT
Samyang AF FE 85 1.4 77 0.90 LT
Sigma DG DN | Art 85 1.4 77 0.85 CL
Sony FE GM 85 1.4 77 0.85 CL, ML, LT, OL
Sony FE 85 1.8 67 0.80 CL, LT, OL
Tokina atx-m FE 85 1.8 72 0.80
Viltrox AF 85 1.8 72 0.80
Zeiss Batis 85 1.8 67 0.80 CL, OL
Sony FE GM STF 100 2.8 72 0.57 OL
Sigma DG HSM | Art 105 1.4 105 1.00
Sigma DG HSM | Art 135 1.8 82 0.88
Sony FE GM 135 1.8 82 0.70 CL
Zeiss Batis 135 2.8 67 0.74
Sony FE GM 400 2.8 n/a 2.70
Sony FE GM 600 4 n/a 4.50 CL

1.5 Macro lenses

Lenses with a high magnification.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Laowa 2.5-5X Ultra Macro** 25 2.8 n/a 0.173-0.234
Sony FE Macro 50 2.8 55 0.16
Sigma DG Macro | Art 70 2.8 49 0.26
Sony FE Macro G 90 2.8 62 0.28 LT, ML, OL
Tokina Firin FE Macro 100 2.8 55 0.30 OL
Sigma DG DN Macro  | Art 105 2.8 62 0.30 CL, LT

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length.

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sony FE GM 12-24 2.8 n/a 0.28 CL
Sony FE G 12-24 4 n/a 0.28 CL, OL
Sigma DG DN | Art 14-24 2.8 n/a 0.28 LT
Sony FE GM 16-35 2.8 82 0.28 CL, OL
Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar FE 16-35 4 72 0.28 ML, OL
Tamron Di III RXD 17-28 2.8 67 0.19-0.26 CL, OL

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DG DN | Art 24-70 2.8 82 0.18 CL, LT, OL
Sony FE GM 24-70 2.8 82 0.38 CL, OL
Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar FE 24-70 4 67 0.40 OL
Sony FE G 24-105 4 77 0.38 OL
Sony FE 28-60 4-5.6 40.5 0.30-0.45
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 28-70 2.8 67 0.19-0.38 CL
Sony FE 28-70 3.5-5.6 55 0.45 OL
Tamron Di III RXD 28-75 2.8 67 0.19-0.39 CL, LT, OL
Sony FE G PZ 28-135 4 95 0.40-0.95

2.3 Superzoom lenses

Like standard zooms, but with an approximately 10x zoom range.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sony FE 24-240 3.5-6.3 72 0.50-0.80 CL, ML
Tamron Di III RXD 28-200 2.8-5.6 67 0.19-0.80 CL

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Tamron Di III VXD 70-180 2.8 67 0.85 CL, OL
Sony FE GM 70-200 2.8 77 0.96 CL, OL
Sony FE G 70-200 4 72 1.00-1.50 OL
Sony FE G 70-300 4.5-5.6 72 0.90 ML, OL
Tamron Di III RXD 70-300 4.5-6.3 67 0.80-1.50
Sony FE GM 100-400 4.5-5.6 77 0.98 CL
Sigma DG DN | Contem­porary 100-400 5-6.3 67 1.12-1.60 CL
Sony FE G 200-600 5.6-6.3 n/a 2.40 CL, OL

3 Teleconverters

Teleconverters extend the focal length of matching telephoto lenses by a certain factor.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
Sony 14TC 1.4x n/a n/a n/a
Sony 20TC 2x n/a n/a n/a

References

The linked reviews are by CameraLabs (CL), LensTip (LT), MirrorLessons (ML) and OpticalLimits (OL, formerly known as Photozone). LT and OL focus on laboratory testing, CL and ML on real world photography. Links in brackets refer to tests of earlier models.