The best Sony portrait lenses

Following on from my articles dedicated to Sony lenses, I’m going to focus today on lenses specific to portrait photography. In a way, this is a summary of several articles dedicated to specific focal lengths, especially used for portraits, such as the best 35, 50 and 85mm lenses of the brand. Portrait being a type of photo that we do quite regularly, whether you are an amateur, enthusiast or professional, I would like to present you here the best Sony lenses for portrait photography. To go further, I invite you to read our article explaining in detail how to choose a lens for portrait photography, a general article covering all the basics.

Although it is possible to shoot portraits with any focal length, for artistic reasons (perspective compression and distortions limitation), focal lengths between 35mm and 105mm, or even 135mm are usually preferred, the 85mm focal length being the best one in this discipline. Similarly, a lens with a large aperture, thus allowing a shallow depth of field, will produce a more pronounced background blur (the famous bokeh), often much appreciated by portrait photographers.

For those who are thinking about acquiring a portrait lens, you’ll find in this article a selection of lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras, both APS-C and full frame. You will find some of these lenses among the best current Sony lenses.

But first, let’s get back quickly into the reasons you’d choose a 35mm, 50mm, 85mm or a longer focal length, and why choosing between a prime or a zoom lens.

Here, I’ll present what I consider the best portrait lenses to think about if you own a Sony camera. These choices were made after having compared image quality, construction, optical defects, compactness, and of course prices. Obviously, I had to make choices and not all the possible lenses are here.

Here are in my opinion the best Sony lenses for portrait photography if you have a Sony APS-C body. The lenses are sorted by focal length, from the shortest to the longest. If you want to know the other existing lenses, please check our page with all the Sony lenses for APS-C.

Launched in February 2016, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN is positioned as a bright prime lens. Its f/1.4 maximum aperture and 9-blade diaphragm provide good control of depth of field. The lens is based on an optical formula with 9 elements in 7 groups, including 2 aspherical lenses and 1 glass element. It is quite compact, making it easy to carry.

In terms of ergonomics, the lens is well made, with a large and smooth focusing ring. The build quality is up to standard, with a metal and plastic body. In terms of performance, the sharpness is very good in the center, especially between f/2.8 and f/5.6. On the other hand, there is a slight lack of uniformity at the widest apertures. As for flaws, they are generally well controlled: vignetting is noticeable at f/1.4, but decreases from f/2 onwards. Distortion is slight and easy to correct in post-production.

All in all, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN is well suited to street, portrait and reportage photography. It is clearly a high quality prime lens, with a wide aperture, sharpness and solid construction. Even if the Sigma has some limitations at large apertures, it remains a good alternative at a reasonable price. Enough to enjoy a high performance lens without breaking the bank.

Announced in late 2012, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is a bright prime lens for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. Its optical construction is based on 11 elements in 9 groups, including an aspherical lens element. Thanks to its maximum aperture of f/1.8 and 9-blade circular aperture, it offers a pleasant bokeh effect. Its autofocus is efficient and silent, even when shooting video. For close-ups, the minimum focusing distance (22 cm) and magnification ratio (0.24x) are good points.

In terms of construction, the lens is not tropicalised and has a rather minimalist design. It is not stabilised, but this is not really a problem as it is compatible with the stabilisation of Sony cameras. With its 35mm focal length, it is ideal for street, landscape, reportage and portrait photography. Its wide aperture also makes it easier to shoot in low light.

It combines light weight, optical quality and versatility at an affordable price.

First announced in February 2018, the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is a lens suitable for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. Its very large f/1.4 aperture ensures a shallow depth of field and good image quality, even in low light. Its optical construction is made up of 10 elements in 6 groups, including an SLD glass lens. Its compact size makes it well suited to mirrorless cameras. However, it is not stabilised and relies mainly on the stabilisation of compatible cameras.

In terms of ergonomics, the lens is weather sealed and very well made. There is no AF/MF selector. Its 9-blade aperture gives a soft and natural bokeh. On the downside, vignetting is moderate, but can always be corrected in post-production. Distortion is also minimal.

In short, the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 is bright and of high quality. Frankly, if you want a high-performance lens for portraiture, I recommend it. Considering all that it offers, its price is more than reasonable. In my opinion, it’s a good solution without having to resort to more expensive professional lenses.

The Zeiss Touit 50 mm f/2.8 Macro has been available since January 2014 and is positioned as a lens with a focal length equivalent to 75 mm in full frame. It offers a magnification ratio of 1:1 and a minimum focusing distance of 15 cm (very good for macro photography). It also has a 9-blade aperture and a 52 mm filter thread. However, there is no aperture ring or depth-of-field scale.

In the field, sharpness is excellent from the centre to the edges at f/2.8. The lens suffers from slight distortion, while chromatic aberrations are absent. Vignetting remains moderate at full aperture and disappears at f/4. Finally, the autofocus is fast and accurate, but a little noisy, which could be a problem for videographers.

As you can see, if you have high standards for macro photography and are looking for excellent optical quality, this Zeiss will meet your expectations! However, for a similar price, you can get the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* 55mm f/1.8, which is more versatile. It’s up to you to decide which you prefer!

Announced in August 2011 (yes, it’s not exactly new!), the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is an affordable fixed lens for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. It features a maximum aperture of f/1.8 and a compact, lightweight design. Its optical formula consists of 6 elements in 5 groups, including one aspherical lens. Its minimum focusing distance of 45 cm and 0.14x magnification limit close-ups. Note that it is not tropicalised.

In terms of performance, the lens offers good sharpness in the center from f/2.8, but the very wide apertures (f/1.8 and f/2) are slightly behind. In terms of flaws, vignetting is visible at full aperture, but disappears completely at f/4. Distortion is almost non-existent (ideal for architectural and portrait photography). Finally, the autofocus is said to be slow and noisy, although it remains accurate.

In conclusion, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is quite simply the most affordable E-mount option (at less than €300). It is perfect for beginners and amateurs who want to take portraits.

Introduced in December 2020, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is a standard zoom with a focal length range equivalent to 25-105mm in full format. It offers a f/2.8 fixed aperture, a very good point for controlling depth of field and shooting in low light. Among its strengths is an excellent optical stabilisation system (VC). Its optical construction is based on 16 elements in 12 groups, including two GM lenses and a mirrorless aspherical lens. Autofocus is fast and silent.

Versatile, lightweight and weather-sealed, the lens boasts high-quality construction. It is equipped with a 9-blade circular aperture for a pleasant and natural bokeh. Its minimum focusing distance is between 19 cm and 39 cm, which is an advantage for close-up photography, even if it is not up to the standard of a lens designed for macro photography.

Finally, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 is versatile: it is suitable for landscape, portrait, reportage and travel photography. What’s more, it’s much more affordable than the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G, while offering a longer zoom range and built-in image stabilisation. In my opinion, the lens offers excellent value for money. Enough to please more than one person!

Available from August 2019, the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G is a professional zoom lens with a fixed f/2.8 aperture. It covers a focal length range equivalent to 24-82.5mm in full frame, making it very versatile. It is solidly built and has a weather-sealed construction. It is relatively compact and lightweight, making it easy to transport. It has an efficient, responsive and quiet autofocus. In addition, its 9-blade aperture promises a soft and creamy bokeh. However, there is no optical stabilisation.

In terms of performance, sharpness from f/2.8 is remarkable, from the center to the edges. On the other hand, distortion is noticeable and needs to be corrected in post-production. Vignetting is visible at 16 mm, but disappears at f/5.6. Chromatic aberrations are fairly well managed, although they are noticeable in certain conditions. Thanks to its image quality and versatility, the lens is perfect for reportage, portrait, street and landscape photography.

In short, this Sony is primarily aimed at photographers looking for an alternative to fixed focal lengths without compromising on image quality. The price remains high, but it is still a benchmark standard zoom!

Here is a table summarising and comparing the main characteristics of the lenses mentioned.

Of course, I haven’t covered all the possibilities here, but here are some alternatives you might consider for a Sony APS-C portrait lens.

As an alternative, I forgot to mention the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 STM. I had the opportunity to write a full review after several months of testing it. I’m delighted with it!

If you want to go further, we tell you about the best Sony zoom lenses (and third-party brands, of course) for your camera in our article.

I’ll present you here the best Sony lenses for full frame cameras. As usually, choices had to be made and all available lenses will not be listed here. You can have a look at our complete article about Sony FE lenses, where you’ll find a list with all lenses (Sony and third-party brands) usable on this mount. Lenses are listed by focal length (from 35 to 135mm) and from the “best” to the “least best” one.

The Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM was introduced in January 2021, after some delay in the 35mm range. It joins the 24mm f/1.4 GM and 135mm f/1.8 GM in the brand’s high-end category. It stands out for its optical excellence and compactness, making it easier to handle than its direct competitor: the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art.

Like all GM lenses, this 35mm has a manual focus ring, a dedicated aperture ring and an AF/MF switch. One of its advantages is its minimum focusing distance of 25 cm, which gives it a higher magnification ratio than other 35mm cameras. Its build quality is remarkable and it has a tropicalised coating. Its aperture has 11 circular blades for very good bokeh. As for the autofocus, it is unsurprising that it works well for both still and video images. In terms of optical performance, the results are extremely sharp, superior to those of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art. In terms of flaws, there are very few, apart from a rather pronounced vignetting at full aperture.

In short, this is clearly one of the best 35mm lenses around. It combines performance and compactness. Admittedly, it is not cheap, it is even more expensive than the Sigma f/1.2. If you prefer a less expensive alternative, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art will certainly suit you.

Available from May 2021, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is a high quality lens for mirrorless cameras. Positioned between the f/1.2 and f/2 versions, it replaces the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, originally designed for SLRs, while offering a lighter and more compact format. The only drawback is that it is not stabilised. On the other hand, it is well tropicalised, so you can use it in any situation.

In terms of ergonomics, this Sigma incorporates the control elements of more premium lenses, such as a manual focus ring, a dedicated aperture ring and an AF/MF switch. As with the Sony f/1.4 and the Sigma f/1.2, there are 11 aperture blades for a soft and natural bokeh. In terms of performance, there is nothing to complain about: sharpness offers excellent clarity and homogeneity from the center to the edges. There are also no major optical flaws, making it ideal for astrophotography.

In conclusion, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is the ideal alternative to the f/1.2 version (rather bulky and expensive) and the f/2 version (less bright and considered to be of lower quality). The lens is also very affordable.

Introduced in 2020, the Samyang 35mm f/1.8 FE AF is the latest addition to Samyang’s “Tiny” range of bright optics. It stands out for its compact and lightweight format. In fact, it is much easier to handle than the lenses presented above. In fact, it’s the one I chose for myself.

Although the lens is not stabilized, it is weather-sealed. It offers a maximum aperture of f/1.8, which opens up a wide range of photographic possibilities. It also has a manual focus ring, a customisable ring and an autofocus with unanimous feedback for both still and video images. In terms of image quality, sharpness in the center is exceptional from f/1.8, even if the edges are a little less sharp. For better uniformity, simply go closer to f/2.8. The only thing that can be criticised are a few optical imperfections, such as rather pronounced aberrations at full aperture. Flare control could also be improved. Finally, the bokeh is creamy and pleasant.

As you can see, this is a high-quality lens that combines image quality, high-performance autofocus and robust construction. In my opinion, it’s the perfect combination, and much more affordable than the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8. If you ask me, it’s a better option than the Sony equivalent.

The Samyang 35mm is a quality lens that will be a very nice alternative for smaller budgets. The proof is that I personally chose it! Here is my full review of this lens.

The Sony 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art is one of the best 35mm lenses for the Sony FE mount available today! Simply put, it is the only lens with such a large maximum aperture. It is an exceptionally high quality lens, but one that is imposing in terms of weight and size, as well as being expensive.

In terms of construction, the lens is weather sealed and beautifully designed. It has a large focusing ring and a switch to switch from AF to MF. Furthermore, user feedback and tests are unanimous: the autofocus is efficient and responsive. In terms of results, the quality is remarkable. At full aperture, sharpness is exceptional from the center to the edges (although it is slightly behind the Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM). Bokeh is soft and creamy, ideal for creating beautiful backgrounds. The optics are prone to flare and ghosting, while distortion is quite pronounced.

In short, this lens is a gem with excellent build quality, image quality and bokeh. It’s not cheap, but it’s well worth it for its performance and remarkable aperture. If you have the budget, go for it!

The table below summarises the main features of the above 35mm models.

But of course there are many other alternatives to consider at this focal length. Here are just a few:

To catch up with Canon and Nikon, Sony launched the Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM FE in March 2021. It is a “GM” lens, which means “high-end”. This lens stands out for its wide aperture and compact size. In fact, it is the lightest and shortest lens in its class.

In terms of construction, it is tropicalised but not stabilised. In terms of ergonomics, it has the usual GM features such as the click-stop aperture ring, manual focus ring and AF/MF switch. In terms of optical quality, sharpness in the center is exceptional from f/1.2, even if the edges are slightly less sharp. At f/2.8, the image becomes full and even. There are very few flaws: vignetting and aberrations are visible in extreme conditions, but can always be corrected in post-production. Finally, the bokeh is soft and natural.

Frankly, with this 50mm f/1.2 GM, you’re getting the best that a full-frame camera has to offer. Of course, all this performance comes at a price… But it’s still a good investment if you can afford it and want to treat yourself. I can also recommend a less expensive solution, which is just below.

Of the three 50mm lenses offered by Sony, this Sony 55mm f/1.8, released in 2013, is clearly the most compact and lightweight, with a slightly more modest aperture. It has a minimum focusing distance of 55 cm and is made entirely of metal. One small detail: it has only one focus ring.

In the field, the image quality of this lens is very similar to that of the Sony 50mm f/1.4 ZA Planar T*. The difference in sharpness is only noticeable on very defined sensors, such as the Sony A7R IV. In addition, defects are generally well handled.

In short, more than 10 years after its launch, this 55mm f/1.8 is still a benchmark! If you are looking for a high-performance compact lens, I am almost certain that you will be happy with it! You just have to take into account the lack of an aperture ring… If this is not essential for you, then this lens is a good choice.

At this focal length, the Samyang 45mm f/1.8 FE AF is positioned as an ultra-compact lens. Indeed, it weighs 162 g and is 5.6 cm long. Compared to the lenses mentioned above, it is much lighter and more practical. Despite being made of plastic and metal, the quality is good. However, it is not weatherproof.

In terms of image quality, the result in the center is very good. By stopping down to f/2 or f/2.8, the overall result is better, even if the corners remain a little out of focus. Of course, the Sony 50mm f/1.4 offers better quality, but at four times the price. Finally, there are only a few chromatic aberrations.

In short, this 45mm f/1.8 is an interesting and affordable alternative with an efficient autofocus, a pleasant bokeh and good image quality. Although I can understand that the lack of weather sealing and the slight lack of sharpness at the edges might be a drawback for some, it offers almost unbeatable value for money.

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is a good alternative to the famous (and much more expensive) Sony 50mm f/1.4 GM FE. It also competes with the Samyang 50mm f/1.4 AF II, which is slightly inferior but more affordable. Its relatively decent weight and dimensions make it a good compromise between the Sony f/1.4 and f/1.2, while offering good optical performance.

The optical formula consists of 14 elements in 11 groups, including three aspherical lenses and an SLD element to limit chromatic aberrations. The lens is also weather sealed for use in the most extreme conditions. Although there is no optical stabilisation, the autofocus is fast, accurate and silent. In terms of results, sharpness in the center is remarkable from f/1.4, while the edges are already very good. In order to improve uniformity, it is best to close the aperture to f/2. There are still some imperfections, such as pronounced vignetting and chromatic aberrations that become visible in extreme conditions. Bokeh is soft and natural, and backgrounds are beautifully rendered.

In conclusion, the 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is a premium lens that offers good value for money. Between its meticulous construction, exceptional sharpness and fast autofocus, it scores high. I recommend it if you want to avoid breaking the bank with the Sony 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.2 (both much more expensive).

The lenses are summarized below:

There are, of course, many alternatives at this 50mm focal length for portrait photography. I won’t list them all, but here are a few that I think are worth a closer look.

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is one of the best 85mm lenses currently available for a full-frame Sony camera. This weather-sealed lens is an improved version of its predecessor. It is a high quality and quite compact lens. It is also lighter and shorter than the Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM.

The build quality is excellent. It has a manual focus ring and an aperture ring. A new feature is that the aperture can be locked with a button. There is also an 11-blade aperture, which produces a nice bokeh effect. Opinions on the autofocus speak for themselves: it is considered to be the best, superior to the GM. In terms of performance, the image quality at full aperture is remarkable, from the center to the edges. The only way to improve it is to go closer to f/2. Finally, there are some flaws such as vignetting and distortion, but these can be completely corrected in post-production.

As you can see, I think this is the best lens on the market. It’s simple, it has everything: exceptional image quality, quality bokeh, all in a fairly compact format. What’s more, this Sigma is almost half the price of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM. Suffice it to say, if you want high quality, it’s clearly a good deal!

Available from April 2020, the Samyang 75mm f/1.8 FE AF is positioned as a direct competitor to the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8. Its dimensions and weight make it a very compact and lightweight lens.

Not surprisingly, it is extremely robust. The lens is also part of Samyang’s ‘Tiny Series’. It has a manual focus ring and a customisable button that can be used in two modes. The autofocus is considered to be quite good and responsive. In terms of performance, the lens offers excellent image quality in the center at full aperture. The edges lack sharpness, but improve at f/2.8 and offer good uniformity throughout the image. Finally, the bokeh is very good, another advantage for portraits.

In conclusion, the Samyang 75mm f/1.8 FE AF offers high quality performance at a low price! Frankly, if you’re on a tight budget and want a good quality lens for portraits, you won’t regret it!

The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II, introduced in 2022, is an improved version of its predecessor, the famous Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE (which was already excellent). It offers a new optical formula with four HR lenses and one ED lens. Its autofocus has been improved to be faster and quieter. With its bright f/1.4 aperture and nine-blade circular aperture, it guarantees a soft and pleasant bokeh. The focusing distance has been reduced to 85 cm.

In terms of results, the lens offers very good sharpness in the center from f/1.4, even if the edges are not as sharp. On the downside, there is noticeable vignetting at full aperture and some chromatic aberration. Of course, these can always be corrected in post-production.

In conclusion, the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II is a good choice for videographers and portrait photographers alike. It offers excellent value for money, so it would be a shame to pass it up!

The Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II has become a benchmark for portrait photography. Its optical construction is based on 14 elements in 11 groups. Its autofocus is powered by two XD linear motors, making it fast and accurate, with good subject tracking. Even if it is not stabilised, this can be compensated for by the stabilisation of Sony cameras. Its weight and dimensions are reasonable, while its construction is solid and tropicalised.

In terms of performance, the lens offers very good sharpness, guaranteeing excellent homogeneity throughout the image. Compared to the GM I, its performance is better. It handles flaws such as chromatic aberrations and stray light well.

In short, this Sony has a lot going for it (although it is not cheap), such as its remarkable optical quality, its effective focusing and its control of optical defects. If you are looking for a Sony lens that combines performance and versatility, this is the one to go for!

Here’s a summary of the features of these lenses.

Of course, there are plenty of other options. Special mention for these other lenses:

Announced in February 2019, the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM has established itself as a premium lens in the G-Master series. Its wide aperture of f/1.8 is an advantage when shooting in low light. Its optical construction consists of 13 elements in 10 groups, including an Extreme Aspherical Lens (XA), a Super ED Lens and an ED Lens. Its 11-blade circular aperture brings the background into focus, which is good for portraits.

In terms of autofocus, the lens offers fast and silent focusing, even when tracking subjects and shooting video. Thanks to its minimum focusing distance (70 cm), combined with its magnification ratio (0.25x), the lens can be used for close-ups. It is worth noting that it is tropicalised and delivers high quality results. On the other hand, it lacks built-in stabilisation. This can be a limitation depending on the conditions of use, especially without a tripod.

In conclusion, the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is rather light compared to its competitors, such as the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art. We agree that it is not cheap, but it will be perfect for professionals or enthusiasts looking for high-end and creative optics.

While Samyang already offered the Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC with manual focus for Sony hybrids (adapted from the DSLR version), they decided to release an autofocus version in early 2022. This last one made a lot of noise, because it directly competes with the Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM which is obviously excellent.

This new Samyang 135mm AF has the luxury to be almost as good as the Sony, or even better on some points like flare and chromatic aberration resistance. The lens is lighter than the Sony version and much lighter than the Sigma 135mm version, which makes sense since it is an adapted lens from the DSLR version. The image quality is excellent and compares very closely with the Sony. Reviews mention a slightly slower AF than the Sony.

In addition, there is a distance limiter, which will help you in choosing the focus areas and a customizable button, as on the Sony G. For almost half the price of the Sony, Samyang signs here a brilliant 135mm, perfect for outdoor portraiture. A real bargain in my opinion.

In the middle of 2022, Sony decided to renew its 24-70mm f/2.8, the standard pro zoom lens for full frame, although the previous version was only released in 2016 (6 years of life for a pro version of a lens is relatively short, which shows that the 1st version was really lacking).

This new version, released at the same price as the previous version, is therefore much more expensive than the Sigma Art but, unlike the GM I, it delivers better performance on almost all points. It is lighter, a little shorter when retracted, offers excellent image quality from full aperture at all focal lengths, has the same features as the GM I and the Sigma Art and more (clickless aperture ring and “IRIS lock” switch), an even better AF and an even closer minimum focusing distance with almost no focus breathing.

The Sigma Art is still an excellent choice but, this time, if you are willing to spend the price of the GM I, you will clearly be better off buying this GM II to have the best Sony can offer.

Launched in May 2024, the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Art is a good update of its predecessor. Indeed, there have been significant improvements in terms of size, weight and ergonomics. The lens has a fixed aperture of f/2.8, an 11-blade diaphragm and a tropicalised construction. In addition, its latest-generation autofocus provides fast and efficient focusing for both still and video photography. For close-ups, it has a minimum focusing distance of 17 to 34 cm and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.7 to 1:4.

The performance of this Sigma is exceptional. Sharpness is excellent from f/2.8 to the center, while the extremes are optimal from f/4. At 70 mm, it even offers one of the best resolutions possible. Bokeh is soft and pleasant, even at f/5.6. On the downside, chromatic aberrations and distortion are under control.

Frankly, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II is very good value for money compared to the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, which costs twice as much. What’s more, its focal length makes it suitable for a wide range of photography, including portraiture, reportage, travel and events. In my opinion, this version II is a great success for Sigma.

While Tamron decided to release the excellent Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD that I decided to buy because of its quality and price, Sony was for a while “a bit behind”. So, at the end of 2021, Sony finally decided to release a Mk II version of its famous 70-200mm f/2.8.

This second version offers a better package than the I version which was getting old. The image quality is exceptional from full aperture and closing the diaphragm does not improve much. The lens offers all the classic options of GM lenses such as the distance limiter (used to limit the focus area), three stabilization modes and an aperture ring (a first for Sony on a zoom). The lens is also 500g lighter than the I version.

You have here the best of the best if you are looking for a bright standard zoom, but at a high price. If you are on a tighter budget and looking for a quality lens, my Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 is still a very good choice.

Announced in September 2023, the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 is the second generation of a popular Sony E-mount telephoto lens (I personally own the V1). It retains the fixed aperture of f/2.8, but now has optical stabilisation. Its optical formula comprises 20 elements in 15 groups, including aspherical and low dispersion elements. Its autofocus is remarkable for its precision and silence.

The tropicalised lens offers good performance, in particular exceptional sharpness from f/2.8. The bokeh is pleasant, although it could be better. In backlighting, the lens controls flare and chromatic aberrations, while distortion and vignetting are present but can be corrected in post-production.

In short, the Tamron is an excellent choice for portrait, sports and nature photography, thanks to its wide aperture and effective autofocus. It stands out for its stabilisation, compact size and excellent value for money. In my opinion, it is an interesting alternative to the much more expensive Sony FE lenses.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports is positioned as a high-end telephoto lens. It features an optical construction based on 20 elements in 15 groups, including three aspherical elements, six FLD elements and two SLD elements. Its strengths include an 11-blade aperture and a minimum focusing distance of 65 cm at 70 mm and 100 cm at 200 mm. It is equipped with a high performance autofocus and stabilisation system that allows a gain of up to 7.5 stops.

In terms of ergonomics, the lens is solid and tropicalised. It has several controls, such as a manual aperture ring, three customisable buttons and an Arca-Swiss foot collar. On the other hand, its weight and dimensions make it rather imposing, even cumbersome. On the ground, the depth of field is remarkable, especially between 70 and 100 mm. Thanks to its wide aperture and natural bokeh, this lens is ideal for portraits, wildlife and sports photography.

At around €1,700, the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports is on a par with its competitors, such as the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II. What’s more, it costs almost half as much. In other words, this bright telephoto zoom is an affordable alternative!

Here is a summary of the lenses

A portrait lens is generally chosen according to two features.

You will generally choose the one that gives the portrait a correct perspective, the goal being to give the face and body real, harmonious – even flattering – proportions.

Experienced portrait photographers generally recommend that you stand at least 2 meters away from your subject. To pay attention to perspective, 135mm for face, 85mm for head and 50mm for full-length portrait are good bases to get a natural perspective. I’m talking here about a full frame camera. Remember that with APS-C format, there is a coefficient factor of the focal length (about x 1.5). So, for APS-C sensor, you will rather consider 85mm for face, 50mm for bust and 35mm for full body portrait.

These are obviously only basics, and it is quite possible to shoot portraits with 35 or 50mm focal lengths (close to the human eye) to capture the atmosphere as well as the subject! Ideal when doing street portraits, for example.

When shooting outside, long focal lengths make it easier to isolate your subject from its context. With a short focal length, the context, even blurred, will always be present.

Large apertures offer two main advantages:

• First, they allow you to play a little more with the depth of field to better isolate your subject by accentuating the background blur, the famous bokeh.
• Second, more light can be recovered to the sensor and therefore the exposure time is reduced to better freeze the movements, or to reduce the ISO sensitivity and obtain a better image quality.

The vast majority of portrait photographers use fixed focal length lenses. There are several reasons for this:

• First, the price. This is not a technical point, but if you consider buying a zoom lens, for the same aperture, the zoom will often be more expensive than a fixed focal length, although there are some very expensive prime lenses like the 135mm f/2.8 Zeiss Batis (1500€), as well as cheaper zooms like my 70-180mm f/2.8 Tamron (1200€).
• Second, the maximum aperture of your lens. At best, you will get a maximum aperture of f/2.8 on a zoom. Which is conversely the smallest maximum aperture you can get on an 85mm! Most of them open at f/1.8 or f/1.4. Also, the artistic possibilities will be larger, especially to better blur your foreground/background and make your subject stand out more easily.
• Finally, the compacity. You should know that zooms are often large, both in terms of length and weight. However, there are heavy prime lenses such as the 35mm f/1.4 (600g) while the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN weighs only 450g.

In the end, I think it is a very personal choice. Zooms will often be more versatile, but less bright. A matter of taste!

I’m coming to the end of this article dedicated to the best portrait lenses from Sony. I hope that thanks to all this research, you have found what you were looking for regarding the purchase of your lens! If you enjoyed our article, you can support our blog and our work by purchasing your lens through the links in this article (without it costing you more, of course). If you want to check out the longer focal length possibilities, I invite you to have a look at our article on the best Sony telephoto lenses.

If you want to complete your kit, or simply continue reading about photography equipment, I invite you to look at the article detailing the best wide-angle lenses for Sony cameras!

See you soon,

Written by Sylvain PONS

I've been passionate about photography since 2010, learning as I went along. Today, I dedicate myself to guiding others in their choice of camera gear and sharing a variety of tips to improve their photography skills.

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