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Many photographers and videographers stress that investing in a good lens is more essential than investing in fancy camera bodies. The main reason behind this is lenses have a longer lifespan than the bodies of the camera.
Similarly, while there are new video cameras being manufactured each year, the technology in optics does not advance as quickly. However, lenses have been made a long time ago and come with proper adapters that can be mounted onto the camera body for better and more stunning image quality.
So, where do you start when buying lenses? To help make your judgment easier, we have compiled the top Sony lens for videography.
Contents
Review of the Best Sony Lenses For Video
When going shopping for a Sony Lens for a video, you need to keep in mind their top features, pros, and cons, and even what the buyers claim. In order to help make this decision easier, we have compiled a list of the top Sony lenses for video present. Read on below to find which one is best suited to your needs and get your hands on it right away.
Best Overall: Sony FE 70-300mm SEL70300G
PROS
- Sturdy build ensures a long lifespan
- Comes with optical stabilization for better imaging
- Exceptional image quality makes it a worthy addition
- Has an all-weather design that allows traveling with it
- Comes with quick auto-focus ability that allows crisp images
CONS
- Comes with a narrow aperture
- Can be slightly pricey as compared to other Sony lenses on the market
What Recent Buyers Report
According to the consumers of Sony FE 70-300mm SEL70300G F4.5-5.6 product, the ability to switch to this lens along with OSS and have auto-focus is an improvement worth investing in. Since it comes with auto-focus, taking images is an easy task and can be used for a variety of situations that you wouldn’t be able to capture without it. Also, the sturdy build makes it ideal for traveling.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This lens stands out to us since it is the best one present on the market. It comes with fast primes, ultra-wide-angle, and a special manual focus option as well. The telephoto coverage on this is a strong point and performs excellently. It is a solid option for covering wildlife and even sports videography.
Who Will Use This Most
This lens is ideal for travelers since it has auto-focus ability and good image stabilization. Moreover, it is a good choice for wildlife photographers since they require a weather-resistant design and stabilization. This lens is also perfect for sports imaging and coverage.
Bottom Line
This Sony FE 70-300 mm is a solid lens with a groundbreaking telephoto zoom range. This is a full-frame mirrorless camera lens that can mount onto your camera easily; however, its narrow aperture makes it slightly difficult to use in dim lighting conditions.
- Full-frame 70-300mm G Series F45-56 G Telephoto zoom, Nano AR Coating with Nano-precision structure,...
- 35 mm full-frame. 9-blade circular aperture for smooth defocus background bokeh, 2x Extra-Low...
- Linear actuator achieves fast, smooth, quiet autofocus, Enhanced operability w/ direct control...
Runner-up: Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G
PROS
- Comes with a 5.8x zoom ratio ability
- Optical stabilization that ensures good picture taking ability
- Built-in power zoom design is ideal for moving photography
- Comes with a sharp center along with softness on the outer frame
- Has a zoom rocker present on its side that changes the speed of the zoom according to position
CONS
- Big in size, making it difficult for traveling
- Comes with extreme pincushion distortion present in it
What Recent Buyers Report
According to buyers of Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 Sony Lens, having a wide-angle with good telephoto ability makes it worth investing in. Also, the power zoom range on it, along with the OSS, helps in creating perfect results for videographers and makes it good for use.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This camera lens stands out because of the zoom rocker present on the barrel’s side. This rocker helps in changing the zoom speed based on the position. If you move it from the center slightly, you will get slow and steady movement, and in order to increase the speed, you can move it to the extreme as well.
Who Will Use This Most
This lens has optical stabilization present in it, and this allows quick image-taking ability. Since it has an easy turn and grip and zooming ability as well, it is ideal for wildlife photography and a good lens for a traveler.
Bottom Line
This Sony E PZ 18-105 mm lens has a power zoom design and a long zoom range, which makes it perfect for video taking ability. This lens has no distortion and has some edge softness, even with wide-angle and extreme telephoto capturing ability.
Best for the Money: Sony FE 85mm f/1.4
PROS
- Comes with no distortion at all
- Very bright design for image taking
- Has impressive sharpness from the edges
- Has a physical aperture ring present as well
- Resistant to dust and splash, making it ideal for unpredictable weather
CONS
- Expensive as compared to other lenses
- Does not come with optical image stabilization
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers of Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 Sony Lens claim that it is ideal to buy if you want to get the best prime this system can give to you. The extra light present from the f/1.4 lens makes a huge difference when taking images in a dim-lit environment. Furthermore, the aperture ring gives the lens image quality a nice touch as well.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is one of the best Sony Lenses for video shooters as you can set it easily. Simply click the toggle switch to an off position, and this will allow the ring to turn freely and provide you with smooth aperture control. This is ideal for adjusting the f-stop during videography.
Who Will Use This Most
This lens is ideal for beginners and experts both as it has manual and auto control both. It comes with on-lens control that includes a focus hold button, an AF/MF switch that toggles the focus mode, and has a manual focus ring and an aperture ring for videographers to use.
Bottom Line
Sony FE is an ideal short telephoto lens that is perfect for portraits. Also, since it blurs the backgrounds along with aplomb, it provides you with exceedingly sharp results. Therefore, it makes a great investment.
- E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Minimum Focus Distance : AF 2.79 ft, MF 2.62 ft, Maximum Magnification ratio (x) - 0.13 x,...
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16 , Filter Diameter (mm) - 67 mm
4. Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar
PROS
- Has negligible distortion
- Comes with excellent build quality
- Helps in generating a shallow depth of field easily
- Wide aperture present on this lens ensures good picture quality
- Has a petal-style hood on the lens and does not take extra room in your traveling bag
CONS
- Is slightly expensive
- Does not come with optical stabilization
What Recent Buyers Report
Sony 55mm F1.8 lens is unbelievably sharp and provides users with great color rendition. Another impressive feature of it is its light, small, and compact construction. This is the perfect lens for videographers and is worth every penny, according to the buyers of this product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This camera lens is a high-end mirrorless camera system and comes with a compact design and incredible sharpness ability. It lacks optical stabilization, but since it has no distortion, it works perfectly well. The petal-style hood on it does not take too much space in your bag and makes it the perfect lens for traveling.
Who Will Use This Most
This camera lens is ideal for moving photography and is the sharpest lens you can ever buy. In addition to that, it is ideal for people who want good quality and are not worried about the price point.
Bottom Line
The Sony Carl Zeiss Lens helps in capturing incredibly sharp images and has a compact design that makes it ideal for traveling. This is a great lens that ensures no distortion and has a robust build quality. The sharpness from edge to edge makes it worth every penny spent on this product.
- Diaphragm Blades 9, Rounded. Lens Groups / Elements is 5/7
- Focal Length: 55mm, Filter Diameter: 49mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 19-11/16 inches (.50m)
5. Sony – E 10-18mm F4
PROS
- Compact and light in weight
- Has an ultra-wide angle of view
- Supports the front filters on this lens
- Optical stabilization helps in taking pictures while moving
- Comes with strong optics that ensure a good quality image
CONS
- Comes with slight distortion
- Omits splash and dust protection
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent users of Sony - E 10-18mm F4 unit claim that it is the best wide-angle lens that takes good images even in an indoor shooting. Sony shooters should invest in this lens without any second thought as it has super-fast auto-focus, sharp image capturing ability, and is lightweight to work easily.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is a mirrorless camera lens that works ideally on smaller frames. It has a pure black finish that gives it an elegant touch. Its low weight and small size make it ideal for traveling and a good accessory to invest in.
Who Will Use This Most
This camera lens is ideal for beginners and professionals. It comes with a manual focus and auto-focus ability both. The full-frame coverage it provides ensures good image quality and no distortion in the pictures at a reasonable price point.
Bottom Line
The Sony wide-angle zoom lens is a sharp optic lens that helps in adding ultra-wide perception to your photography and videography system. This is a good lens that helps in supporting front filters. The ultra-wide angle of view makes sure that the image is complete and full.
- Angle of View (APS-C) - 109 ° – 76 °
- Minimum focal length of 10 mm (15 mm in 35 mm-camera equivalency)
- Minimum Focus Distance : 0.82 ft (0.25 m), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.1x
Comparison of the Best Sony Lenses For Video
Can Any Lens Be Used For Video?
When looking for the best lens for video, you need to make sure that the one you are choosing is made for videography and not photography. The reason behind this is that Sony has different lenses for pictures and videos.
When choosing a lens, you need to keep in mind that the one made for videography needs to have higher optics as compared to the one made for photography. You also need to look out for the aperture, focal length, and optical stabilization when investing in a lens.
In order to make it stress-free for you to shop for a Sony Lens for videography, keep on reading.
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4
What Should I Look For When Buying a Sony Lens For Video?
When investing in the best Sony Lens for Video, you need to make sure that you look out for the following features:
Prime Lens
A prime lens is one that comes with a fixed focal length as compared to a zoom lens. It ensures greater optics and more superior performance, has a larger aperture, and comes with a smaller size, making it easy to travel.
Wide-Angle Lens
This kind of lens is important for videographers who need to capture large scenes in one go and also get small scenes in a limited frame. A wide-angle lens is also essential for experts to give a sense of close-to-the-subject perception.
Video Interview Lens
If you are looking for a lens for interviewing, then a video interview lens is the best option for you. It has good image stabilization and also proper zoom capabilities for experts to make use of.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality Sony Lens
There is no better feeling than grabbing a fancy new camera lens for you to use. Lenses are essential tools for professional videographers and even for beginners and people who do photography for fun. Some benefits of investing in a high-quality lens for video include the following:
Lens Has an Impact on the Scene
Even though a camera will provide you with fast burst rates, the additional lens helps in controlling the blurriness in the background along with sharpness and the depth of field. When it comes down to what the audience tends to view, the lens acts as the most influential factor in how the productions and videos turn out to be. If you want to create something groundbreaking, a good lens is the right investment.
Compatibility
Many cameras come with additional lenses for you to use; however, if you want to use the same lens kit for a brand new camera, then this won’t work. Some cameras need different lenses due to their shape. So if you get a new lens, you can save money.
Longevity
Video production companies keep on upgrading their equipment to produce the finest product; however, a camera lens is one of the few equipment pieces that can be used for a long period of time with being upgraded. Investing a good quality video lens provides you with a long usage span.
Conclusion
In order to help find the Best Sony Lens for video, we have compiled a complete guide that can help you in your shopping. Make use of the products mentioned above and enjoy the lens that you invest in for a long period of time. We hope this guide helps you with your decision.
