7 Best Lenses For Sony A7IV (…and 2 to avoid)

The a6700 is Sony’s top of the line crop sensor camera and features a 26 MP back-illuminated sensor and more features that put it in the same category with some of their pro-level cameras. So it’s important to have the right lens to get the most out of this camera.

My pick as the best lens for the Sony A7IV is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 because of its combination of versatility, image quality and wide f/2.8 aperture make an exceptional choice for Sony users.

But keep reading for my full breakdown of that lens and more options that might be a better fit for your specific needs.

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The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is both impressive optically and comes in at an impressively affordable price. But it’s not the price alone that made it the top pick.

This is my top pick because of the combination of versatility, image quality, and relatively compact size.

Overall, this lens takes the place of the 24-70mm f/2.8 found in many professional’s bags (more on that below). It is probably the most used focal length range you’ll use which means if you’re looking for one lens to pair with your A74 then this is a great place to start.

You can shoot anything from wide-angle landscapes to longer focal-length portraits with this lens. Plus the f/2.8 max aperture means you’ll have a lot of control over depth of field for great looking bokeh and have the ability to shoot in low light.

Upgrade Option #1: If you want the top of the line at this focal range and aren’t worried about budget, then the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is an upgrade in terms of edge to edge sharpness and build quality, but it is also a little heavier and larger.

Let’s talk about image quality and how it stacks up to the much more expensive Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens…

In the center of the frame you’ll get almost perfect image quality and sharpness out of this lens. It’s actually really good on the edges too but the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 does a little better on the edges, especially at the widest apertures (but it’s rare you ever need edge sharpness at wide apertures unless you’re shooting something like astrophotography).

So you can rest assured you’re getting near top of the line image quality out of this lens.

The autofocus is exceptional as well. It easily handled moving subjects in my testing and is certainly fast enough to capture fast moving kids or even sports.

On top of all that, this lens comes in lighter and smaller than the 24-70mm f/2.8 from Sony.

The combination of a fast aperture, effective focal length, compact design, and affordability makes the 50mm f/1.8 an attractive option for both beginners and experienced photographers looking for a high-quality yet budget-friendly lens.

I think every photographer should have a ‘nifty fifty’ in their bag and it’s a great lens for someone getting started who is budget conscious.

I started my portrait photography business with a crop sensor camera and a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture is excellent for low-light photography and allows for a shallow depth of field, creating a pleasing bokeh effect in the background. This is a great way to get that “pro look” without spending much on a lens.

Most primes are excellent optically and despite the low price tag, this is no exception. 50mm lenses are easier for manufacturers to make well and the result is a lens that is very sharp across the frame.

It is notably small and light, making it an easy lens to carry around when paired with a relatively compact mirrorless body. Despite the small size it has a decent basic build quality.

This lens provides smooth and relatively quiet autofocus performance which makes it a solid choice for video as well. But there’s no stabilization built into the lens.

Overall, this is an amazing option and one of the first lenses an aspiring photographer should pick up.

Upgrade Option: If you shoot portraits and are looking for more low light performance and bokeh in your lens then you may want to look at the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens. It’s bigger and more expensive than the f/1.8 above but its incredibly sharp and the f/1.4 max aperture is great for shooting shallow depth of field portraits.

But if you want something that is a bit longer and more geared towards shooting portraits, then this next lens might be right for you…

This 85mm f/1.4 prime lens is perfect for shooting portraits.

It delivers impeccable image quality and sharpness across all apertures (even wide open at f/1.4) and surpasses its predecessor the GM I in both sharpness and color rendition.

An underrated aspect of this lens is how well it maintains contrast even when shooting into light sources. I love to shoot portraits that are backlit by the sun but in order to do that, you need a lens that isn’t going to get washed out in those conditions.

I like the 85mm focal length for portraits more than any other because it is long enough to get the compression that is flattering to most people but also not so long that it forces you to get far away from the subject.

But if you want more reach and a unique look then try this one…

Alternate Option: If you’re looking for a portrait lens with a bit longer focal length for those “dreamy” individual compressed portrait shots, then Sony also offers a 135mm f/1.8 GM lens. The longer focal length is a little more limiting (especially for shooting larger groups) but it does give a very unique look that many photographers love.

But back to the 85mm f/1.4 GM II…

In addition to the image quality improvements, this lens also comes in lighter and smaller (though only slightly) than its GM I predecessor. This makes it not only better but easier to work with as well.

Of course if you want to focus on places more than people, then this next lens is probably better for you.

A unique feature that’s popular among video shooters is the power zoom. This allows for smooth zooming providing a cinematic quality to zooming movements.