Best lenses for Sony a7 IV in 2023 (Budget to Premium)
The Sony a7IV is a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera that can really 'sing' with the right choice of lenses. These are best options for most photographers.
Today we’re coving the best lenses for Sony A7 IV in2023.
From budget to premium lenses, if you’re looking for great glass to pair with this awesome Sony camera body, this article will help you narrow down which lenses are the right fit for your shooting style and your budget.
I’m a big fan of the Sony A7 IV as a hybrid photo/video camera. It has lots of feature upgrades from the previous version.
Versatile focal range with solid build, incredible image quality, and a fast constant aperture.
With 30mp photos, it has slightly more resolution than the previous version, and with the video features, it is a great all-around camera.
The only thing missing is some awesome glass that will really show off the capabilities of this camera body.
Native lenses offer better build quality and dependability than 3rd party options since they are designed specifically for one camera brand.
All the e-mount lenses below represent the best combination of quality, value, and performance (2).
What are the Best Lenses for Sony A7 IV in 2023?
1. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
Stabilized: No
Weight: 680 g (24 oz.)
Size (Diameter x Length): 3.5 x 4.8″ / 89 x 122 mm
Filter Diameter: 82mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.28m (11 in)
The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 is my number one lens choice for the Sony A7 IV.
It’s a longtime favorite ultra wide-angle lens that makes for a versatile all day lens for shooting landscapes, action sports, and events.
Some people find this to be a little wide angle for an all around zoom lens but my image library shows this lens to be super effective!
At 35mm you can shoot in a documentary style and at 16mm you can capture wide angle landscapes.
Even though it’s a wide angle zoom lens, I do my best to be intentional about the focal length I’m shooting at by choosing to shoot at 16mm, 20mm or 35mm.
For the untrained eye, those focal lengths may not feel very different, but when you really compare, 16mm looks much different than 35mm.
As much as I can, I opt to shoot closer to 35mm to keep the distortion to a minimum giving a more natural feel, but sometimes you need a super wide view, making 16mm very nice to have.
In addition to the focal length variety, the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 is very sharp throughout the aperture range and produces excellent quality images. Chromatic aberration and distortion are very well controlled.
In terms of build quality, this lens for Sony A7 IV camera bodies is solid. It has a metal barrel with nice feeling rubber around the zoom & focus rings. I have dropped it on two occasions, and it has held up to the abuse very well.
The only time I have experienced any trouble is when heavy rain gets between the lens and the camera body. It is weather sealed, but I don’t recommend taking photos in heavy rain.
As you would expect from a top-quality G-Master lens (Sony’s highest designation of quality), this lens is impressive in almost every specification.
In past, I was initially unsure about the lens flare on this lens, but over time I’ve come to like it. It can create a cool circle effect when shooting directly toward the sun, but otherwise, it is well-controlled.
Aside from the lens flare, the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 is my current favorite wide angle lens and arguably a key, best wide angle lens for Sony A7 IV cameras.
If you want a very versatile wide-angle optic among Sony lenses for A7 IV cameras, this is an excellent choice!
2. Sony FE 28mm f/2
Stabilized: No
Weight: 200 g (7 oz)
Size (Diameter x Length): 2.5 x 2.4″ / 64 x 60 mm
Filter Diameter: 49mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.29m (11.4 in)
The Sony 28mm f/2 is a favorite wide angle lens that has been used on the A7 series of cameras for since 2015.
It is super fast, lightweight, and quite inexpensive! For the price, the performance is superb.
Initially, I passed over this lens because it was older and I had the focal range covered with a 16-35, but I have come to love how small and inexpensive this lens is.
With the low price, I don’t have to worry about it as much, and it makes the Sony A7IV a reasonable everyday carry camera.
The 28mm is a close second to the 35mm among street photography enthusiasts and photojournalists.
It’s a nice focal range and I find it more versatile than the 35mm when shooting indoors.
It’s especially compact, which also makes it less intimidating for photographing people because you’re not using a “big camera.” This is why people love it for street photography.
Even at a lower price point, this lens offers excellent performance. The wide f/2 aperture makes shooting fast moving subjects in low light very doable.
Don’t expect a lot of bokeh with this lens simply because of its wide angle lens perspective but it does offer some background separation if your subject is close to the camera.
The Sony 28mm f/2 is sharp, especially in the middle of the frame but does fade toward the edges of the frame at the widest apertures.
Compared with a cheap kit lens, this particular optic will feel like a substantial step up in terms of sharpness.
Paired with the impressive autofocus of the Sony A7IV, the Sony 28mm f/2 produces sharp images quickly and silently. Even though it’s an older lens, it has no trouble keeping up with the latest camera bodies.
If you really dig into the specs of this lens, you may start to focus on the flaws but I assure you that if you try it, you’ll enjoy it. The compact nature and minimalist nature of this lens will not disappoint.
The Sony 28mm f/2 is a great purchase, especially for beginners who want to try out a prime lens.
It will teach you to zoom with your feet and give you a good feel for the ever-popular 24-35mm focal range.
3. Sony FE 35mm f/1.8
Stabilized: No
Weight: 281 g (9.9 oz)
Size (Diameter x Length): 2.6 x 2.9″ / 66 x 73 mm
Filter Diameter: 55mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.22m (8.7 in)
As a slightly more expensive medium/wide angle lens, the Sony 35mm f/1.8 is second only to the Sony 28mm f/2 as an everyday carry lens. For professional jobs, this lens lives on my camera most of the day.
If I could only have one lens, this would be it. The Sony 35mm f/1.8 has it all: lightweight, compact, relatively affordable, high quality, and full-featured.
This makes it especially well suited to variable situations like street photography.
First off, this lens is an excellent balance of size/weight for the Sony A7IV camera body. I knew when it was released, it would become a staple in my kit. You can read more about it in my Sony 35mm f/1.8 review.
With a wide maximum aperture of f/1.8, it excels in low light but is much more compact than an f/1.4 or f/1.2 lens.
When I have to carry my bag up a mountain, the difference between carrying ultra fast lenses like the Sony 50mm f/1.2 and an f/1.8 version is significant. My bank account also appreciates the slightly narrower aperture lenses.
With close subjects, this lens will produce a nicely blurred backdrop and give you the separation/bokeh you expect from a high quality, low aperture lens.
The sharpness of this lens is excellent. The only time you might notice some loss of sharpness is toward the edges of the frame when shooting wide open. This isn’t really a problem since the majority of subjects won’t be at the outer edges of the frame.
Because 35mm is my favorite focal length, this lens has become my go-to for photographing weddings and events. It can shoot a distortion free portrait or a wider scene if you move further back.
It’s a flexible focal length and has enabled me to produce a huge variety of images.
If you want a fast prime that can be used in almost any scenario, check out the Sony 35mm f/1.8 prime lens!
4. Sony FE 55mm f/1.8
Stabilized: No
Weight: 281 g (9.9 oz)
Size (Diameter x Length): 2.5 x 2.8″ / 65 x 71 mm
Filter Diameter: 49mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.5m (1.64 ft)
If you read any beginning photography article, they will suggest a “nifty fifty” as a great portrait lens to learn with.
I’ve found the Sony 55mm f/1.8 to be one of the best lenses available at the ~50mm focal length. It is affordable, super sharp, and very compact/lightweight.
As with some of the other prime lenses in this article, you will quickly notice the sharpness of this lens when compared with cheaper kit zoom lenses. I’ve found it to be one of the sharpest lenses at all apertures and across the frame.
At under 10 oz (281g), this lens is very nicely balanced on the Sony A7 IV and works really well as a video lens. I love how easily this combination tucks into bags or even a jacket pocket.
This lens is so sleek that you might even mistake a bag for being empty because it is so lightweight.
I primarily use this lens when I want a little more subject isolation than the Sony 35mm f/1.8 can provide. It takes excellent full length portraits and you can get in close to isolate details.
The Sony 55mm f/1.8 has excellent bokeh when shot wide open and will give that classic full frame look that people come to expect with professional photographs. Although it isn’t as wide as the Sony 50mm f/1.2, it does surprisingly well at blurring the backdrop.
My other favorite aspect of this lens is the color and contrast that really accentuate how sharp it really is. Over time, you will begin to recognize that each lens has a different feel and I have come to love the character of the Sony 55mm f/1.8.
The Sony 55mm f/1.8 allows you to narrow in on the important things in an image without it being as confining as a telephoto lens.
Overall, this 55mm is a top performer and fits the bill for a fast, mid-range prime lens! If you don’t have a 50mm lens, or you haven’t had the chance to use one yet, definitely check it out.
5. Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Stabilized: No
Weight: 371 g (13.1 oz)
Size (Diameter x Length): 3.1 x 3.2″ / 78 x 82 mm
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.8m (2.62 ft)
For anyone who takes portraits, an 85mm lens is essential. The Sony 85mm f/1.8 is my choice for the best portrait lens that balances image quality, price, and size/weight.
Most of the lenses in this article will have a bigger more expensive G-Master lens that is higher performance but I tend to opt for the cheaper alternative.
In this case, the Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM lens is nearly triple the price but only a 2/3 of a stop faster in aperture. That’s the difference between 1/60 vs 1/100, a minimal difference in my opinion.
Sure, if you want the best and price is no concern, go for the best. The image quality will be superb but you will also have a much bigger/heavier lens to carry around.
In comparison, the Sony 85mm f/1.8 is an excellent lens that is cheaper and almost as good. In my experience, the images are tack sharp, the color rendition is excellent, and it is small enough that you won’t hesitate to bring it in your backpack.
This lens also completes my prime trio of 35mm, 55mm, and 85mm. Each has a distinct look and feel that helps me create a certain type of image.
The Sony 85mm f/1.8 is my go to lens for close up portraits because of the way an 85mm lens portrays subjects without distortion.
Try taking a close up portrait with a 35mm focal length and you will see why the 85mm is the best at this style image.
Additionally, I often use this lens for compression in a landscape. It allows you to make the subject feel closer to the background.
Last but not least, the bokeh of this lens is why most people reach for it. I love this portrait lens when capturing images with city lights in the background.
Those lights will turn into beautiful blurry bokeh backdrops that are classic in so many Hollywood scenes.
When shooting wide open at f/1.8 with this lens, the background falls nicely out of focus, drawing your attention to the subject.
When shooting portraits, I love the fast autofocus of this lens when paired with the eye-autofocus of the Sony A7IV. It locks onto an eye or face and always nails the sharpness.
This lens has a focus hold button that many people like to program to the eye AF on their Sony camera.
(See my full Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens review for more sample images.)
If you’re a portrait or headshot photographer, the Sony 85mm f/1.8 should be on your list! This portrait lens is top-notch!
6. Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
Stabilized: No
Weight: 695 g (1.5 lb)
Size (Diameter x Length): 3.5 x 4.7″ / 88 x 120 mm
Filter Diameter: 82mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.2m (8.3 in)
If you photograph fast-moving subjects in fast-paced environments, you’re likely going to want a 24-70 lens. If you’re using a Sony A7IV, my recommendation is the new Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM II lens.
Although most of the lenses in this article are on the cheaper end, this lens is not. It was recently re-designed by Sony and has the latest in optical performance.
I love this highly versatile lens because it is tack-sharp. If you have ever looked at the first generation version of this lens from Sony, you’ll notice the new one is significantly lighter and more compact. About 200 grams lighter in fact.
A few other features to note about this high end zoom lens are its sharpness, image quality, and fast autofocus. You’re always going to have to make some compromises when designing a zoom lens, but this lens is one of the best on the market in this price range.
While I regularly opt for a cheaper version of a prime lens, it can be a wise choice to step up when buying a zoom lens. Sure, you’re paying over $2000 for this lens, but it covers a wide variety of focal length.
You would be looking at at least three prime lenses to get the same coverage in focal range. With that in mind, you should opt for the best quality with a zoom if you want to achieve similar sharpness to a prime lens.
Paired with the A7IV, this lens is a workhorse. It can capture a wide variety of shots all with the quick rotation of the zoom ring.
I find this video lens especially useful when shooting because I can get a different shot without having to re-balance my gimbal after changing lenses.
The build quality of this lens is top-notch, something you would expect from a lens released in 2022.
It has all the features you can ask for in a lens: smooth zoom ring, quality focus ring, aperture ring, af/mf switch, focus hold button, and even an aperture de-clicking switch.
If you’re on a tighter budget, there’s an f/4 version of this focal length from Sony (see my review of the Sony 24-70mm f/4), which offers great sharpness and decent overall performance in a lighter package, but there’s simply no denying it – the f/2.8 is better in every way.
This lens is excellent and is clearly the king of the 24-70 focal length aka, the best zoom lens for Sony.
Over the past few years, the mid-range zoom lens has become a crowded field with offerings from Sigma, Samyang, and Tamron, but the Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM II is definitely the best when it comes to quality!
7. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM
Credit: Chad Winstead
Stabilized: Yes
Weight: 1480g (52.21oz)
Size (Diameter x Length): 3.5 x 7.9″ / 88 x 200 mm
Filter Diameter: 77mm
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.96m (3.15 ft)
The Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM is the last lens in my roundup, but definitely not to be overlooked.
This telephoto lens covers the essential zoom range focal length for creating compression and capturing far-away subjects.
As the third lens in the zoom trio: Sony 16-35mm f/2.8, Sony 24-70 f/2.8, and Sony 70-200 f/2.8, this lens is an essential piece in many photographers kits.
It excels as a portrait lens in the 70-100mm focal range. At 200mm, it creates awesome compression, giving the feeling that faraway backdrops are right behind your subject.
I find this especially useful when capturing action sports in the mountains.
Additionally, the minimum aperture of this telephoto lens is f/2.8, which is great for isolating subjects against the backdrop. Even at the minimum aperture, this lens is especially sharp, making your subject pop.
This telephoto lens is fully featured, offering a selectable focus range, optical stabilization mode selection, auto/manual focus switch, and a focus hold button! The zoom/focus rings also feel smooth but stable.
Paired with the compact and lightweight Sony A7 IV, this lens is on the heavier side but it comes with a tripod ring that will help balance it when you’re using a fluid head or tripod.
If you want a cheaper telephoto lens alternative, the Sony 70-200 f/4 is an older lens but still offers excellent quality.
The main sacrifice is a full stop of light at the minimum aperture of f/4 vs f/2.8 so if you ever want to shoot indoors with a 70-200, I’d opt for the faster lens. If weight savings is your priority, the 70-200 f/4 may be a better choice.
If you have the budget, the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM is an incredible lens. Especially when paired with the Sony A7 IV, it is one of the best telephoto lenses on the market!
FAQs
What lens mount is Sony a7iv?
Sony a7IV uses the e-mount, which allows the use of both Sony lenses and third-party lenses designed for the E-mount system. Since the sensor is full frame, you can use Sony FE lenses as well as those designed for the APS-C sensor (standard e-mount), although there will be a crop factor.
What is the kit lens with the Sony a7IV?
Some vendors sell the Sony a7IV with the Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS as part of a camera/kit lens bundle, but you can also buy just the camera without a lens.
Can you use Canon lens on Sony A7iv?
Yes, you can use Canon lenses on the Sony a7iv as long as you have an adapter, such as the Metabones Canon EF Lens to Sony E Mount T Smart Adapter (Mark V).
Does the Sony A7iv come with a lens?
You can buy the Sony a7IV with the Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS as a bundle, or you can buy it as ‘body only’ (without any lens).
Final Words
With so many offerings for your sony mirrorless camera, it can be hard to choose what lenses to buy for your Sony A7 IV.
Hopefully, this article helped you narrow in on what will give you the best bang for your buck. From a wide angle prime lens, to an ultra wide lens with a versatile zoom range, to a fantastic portrait lens, I hope you find what you’re looking for.
I am always evaluating what lenses I like and which are going to help me make the photographs I’m interested in creating but really, you can’t go wrong with any of the lenses for the A7IV.
It’s important to look at both prime and zoom lenses to find the best lens that will fulfil your needs.
Aside from the two pro zooms mentioned at the end, which are more for professionals and those with larger budgets, most of the lenses in this article are relatively affordable.
They will hold their value quite well if you decide to sell them and get something else.
I love the characteristics of each of these lenses, and they all have a place in my camera bag for different reasons. I think the most important things to consider are: what do you shoot? and what is your style?
By answering these questions, you’ll be able to evaluate the above lenses to see which are right for you!
Is it size/weight, overall performance/quality, or price that drives your decision? You can usually pick two out of those three traits.
If you have any comments or lens suggestions, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! What a7iv lens did I leave out, and why do you think it should be included?
Versatile focal range with solid build, incredible image quality, and a fast constant aperture.
Marc and Brenda Bergreen are professional wedding photographers and adventurous storytellers based in the Rocky Mountains.
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