Sony a7C II: Best Lenses to Buy in 2025

📸 Quick Summary: The best lenses for Sony a7C II

Image	Product	Features
	🏅 Editor's Choice Best All-Around Lens Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM II Lens	Features Great general range Fast aperture Lightweight	Check PriceRead Our Review
	💰 Great Value Best Budget All-Around Lens Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2 Lens	Features Affordable Very Sharp Fast aperture	Check PriceLearn More
	🏅 Editor's Choice Best Landscape Lens Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM II Lens	Features Versatile wide focal range Lightest and most compact of its kind Produce sharp images	Check PriceRead Our Review
	Best Budget Landscape Lens Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 Lens	Features Very lightweight and compact Affordable Great build	Check PriceRead Our Review
	Best Video Lens Sony PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens	Features Power Zoom Internal Zoom Lightweight & Compact	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Vlogging Lens Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens	Features Versatile focal range Compact & Light-weight Fast aperture	Check PriceLearn More
	🏅 Editor's Choice Best Portrait Lens Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens	Features Beautiful bokeh Sharpest 85mm Lens Most compact & lightweight in its class	Check PriceRead Our Review
	Best Budget Portrait Lens Sony FE 85mm f1.8 Lens	Features Beautiful bokeh Great image quality Cheap and light	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Street Lens Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM Lens	Features 35mm, perfect for street photography Compact & Light-weight Fast aperture	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Budget Street Lens Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens	Features Versatile focal range Compact & Light-weight Fast aperture	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Astro Lens Sony FE 14mm f1.8 GM Lens	Features Super Wide field of view Fast aperture Compact	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Budget Astro Lens Sony FE 16mm f1.8 G Lens	Features Wide field of view Fast aperture Compact & Lightweight	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Wildlife Lens Sony FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 G Lens	Features Great telephoto range Compact & Light-weight Weather-sealed	Check PriceLearn More
	Best Budget Wildlife Lens Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens	Features Cheap One of the lightest telephoto lens Optical Stabilization	Check PriceLearn More

👍 What Makes for a Good Travel Lens for Sony a7C II?

For me, what makes a good travel lens is the lens that strikes the perfect balance between high-quality glass, weight, and features that will help me take great photos in any situation I might find myself in without hindering my ability to travel around effectively.

I'll be including lenses for different travel situations and shooting styles that reflect the type of traveler you are, such as street photography, wildlife, and general purpose. I'll also provide budget-friendly alternatives that will help your Sony a7C reach its full potential.

Of course, feel free to mix and match and see which travel lenses fit your needs the most. Let's begin with the most important travel lens of all, the best all-around general-purpose lens that every travel photographer should have in their kit:

🌎 Best All-Around Travel Lens

Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM II Lens: This is, hands down, the best lens you can get for travel for your Sony a7C II cameras. The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is an updated version of the wildly popular but old Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens, bringing new features and technologies to an all-purpose lens while keeping it light and small.

The focal range of this lens is also extremely versatile, allowing you to go wide at 24mm, which is great for architecture and landscape. Meanwhile, you have the option to zoom in at 70mm to shoot portraits.

The Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens's optical performance is also outstanding, with its corner-to-corner sharpness, excellent build quality, and fast aperture at F2.8. The lens can produce stunning bokeh and subject separation while allowing you to capture sharp images even in poor lighting conditions.

The best part about this lens is its form factor. Sony called this lens the world's lightest Full Frame F2.8 constant aperture standard zoom lens, weighing only 690g, which is unheard of for such a versatile lens.

The new form factor also complements the compact body of the Sony a7C II, unlike the previous version that I personally found to be excessively heavy and bulky, especially when mounted on a small camera body like the Sony a7C II.

For those of you who are looking for the best and lightest travel lens to buy for your Sony a7C II, this is the one to get. It is a little expensive, but considering the impressive quality-to-size ratio, I think it is worth the price tag. This lens is truly the one lens to rule them all.

Looking for a complete review of this lens? Check out:A Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens

🌎 Best Budget All-Around Travel Lens

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2 Lens: For a more affordable alternative, the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 G2 lens is also highly recommended for those of you who are looking for a great all-around travel lens. It offers 85% of the quality you get from premium lenses like the Sony GMaster lenses while being more budget-friendly.

Tamron has recently upgraded and released a new version of its popular Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 with new glass and technology, improving the optical and autofocus performance while keeping the price the same as the previous version. This makes it one of the best budget all-around travel lenses available.

Even though the focal range is not as wide as that of the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 lens, you are ultimately paying less than half the price of the Sony lens. If you do not shoot at 24mm as often, there is no better option out there than the Tamron lens.

For more budget Sony lens options, check out:10 Best Sony Budget Lenses To Buy In 2025

🏔️ Best Landscape & Architecture Lens

Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM II Lens: If you are looking for a lens for your Sony a7C II to film landscapes and architecture on your travels, the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II, the latest iteration of its beloved versatile wide-angle lens, is just hard to beat.

With the super-wide focal length of 16mm, you will be able to capture more of the landscape and architecture you are seeing, allowing you to gain a perspective that you wouldn't be able to replicate with other lenses, not even with all-purpose lenses like the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens.

As you could come to expect, with the new Sony GM lenses, the image quality produced with this lens is extremely sharp from corner to corner at almost all focal ranges. The F2.8 aperture allows you to use the lens in any condition, which is great for travel as you are often shooting in an uncontrolled environment. This lens is also perfect if you like shooting during sunrise or sunset, as well as astrophotography. Really, a one lens to rule them all.

Not to mention the fact that Sony was able to reduce the weight of the lens by approximately 80% while still being able to improve the sharpness, the autofocus speed, and minimum close focusing distance, is just incredible. It is a better lens than its previous version that I used to recommend in every way.

This lens allows you to cover the ranges that the general all-purpose lens, like the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens, can't capture, which makes it a perfect secondary lens to go with your all-around lens.

For a complete review of this lens, check out:A Traveler's Review: Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lens

🏔️ Best Budget Landscape & Architecture Lens

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens: Again, the G Master lenses are not cheap, and it might not be reasonable to buy them, especially if you are just starting out. So, for those of you who are looking for an excellent but affordable architecture/landscape wide-angle lens for your travels, I highly recommend you take a look at the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN lens.

Even though the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN lens is cheaper than the Sony 16-35mm lens, the Sigma lens delivers excellent image quality that is quite comparable to Sony's GM lens in most situations. However, it comes in a much lighter and compact package, making it perfect for travel.

Unlike the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 lens that I recommended earlier, the Sigma lens does go all the way to 16mm, which makes it great for many travel applications. The lens doesn't go as tight as the Sony GM with its 35mm focal range, but I am happy to sacrifice the tight focal range for a lens that is more compact and lightweight.

Best of all, the price of this lens is more than half of that of the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens, making it one of the best-value wide-angle lenses you can get. With such an extremely attractive price point, this Tamron lens even made a Sony avid fan like myself think twice about buying the 2000+ USD GM lens over the 900~ USD Sigma lens. If you are looking for an affordable landscape/architecture lens for your Sony camera, this lens is a great option to consider.

For a complete review of the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8, check out:A Traveler's Review: Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens

🎥 Best Video Lens

Sony PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens: If you are primarily a video shooter and you are looking for a travel lens that is wide enough to capture landscapes and architecture, and lightweight enough to be used on a gimbal, the Sony PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens is definitely worth considering.

The Sony PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens is a new series of power zoom lenses that allow you to electronically control your zoom, enabling you to capture smooth footage while zooming in and out. This is a valuable feature for video shooters.

The lens also has an internal zoom barrel that does not extend or collapse while zooming, allowing you to utilize the zoom feature on a gimbal without having to rebalance it every time you zoom.

With the power zoom feature and its versatile focal range, you can perform some really cool video tricks with it as well, such as the cinematic dolly zoom technique that is often used in Hollywood films by famous directors like Alfred Hitchcock, etc.

Not to mention the sharpness you get from the lens, its extremely light and compact form factor, and the affordable price, there is no better video lens to get for your Sony a7C II than this one.

🤳 Best Vlogging Lens

Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens: If you are looking for a lens to vlog your travels with your Sony II, the Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 lens is a great lightweight option. It performs extremely well, is reasonably priced, and offers an extremely flexible 20-40mm focal range. This flexibility allows you to be more versatile while vlogging, making it a perfect starter lens for your travel vlogging career.

The lens weighs only around 367g, which is half the weight of the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens, another popular vlogging lens, making it much more comfortable to hold for a long period of time while vlogging.

It also has a reasonably fast aperture of F2.8, which will allow you to throw your background out of focus a bit and create the beautiful bokeh effect while you vlog. It will also enable your viewers to focus on the subject, whether it's you or a product you are reviewing.

It is a versatile lens that is made for vloggers, and if you are looking to buy one for your Sony a7C II, the Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 lens is hard to beat.

😃 Best Portrait Lens

Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens: This lens is probably the most lightweight and compact 85mm F1.4 lens out there. It weighs about 630g (22.2oz), which is 200g less than the Sony GM lens. It is only slightly larger than the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 but provides a wider aperture, which is mind-boggling.

This lens produces beautiful bokeh, as you can expect from a lens with such a wide aperture. It is also considerably sharper in most use cases compared to other 85mm lenses, even sharper than the Sony 85mm F1.4 GM lens, and best of all, it is almost 700 USD cheaper!

Of course, there are some drawbacks to having such a small and lightweight body like pincushion distortion, but this can easily be fixed in Lightroom. For the size and weight you get, it is totally worth the sacrifice.

I do not know how Sigma does it, but they really knocked it out of the park with this lens. And if you are looking for the best portrait lens for travel, there is no better lens than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens.

Looking for a complete review of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art lens? Check out:A Traveler's Review: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens

😃 Best Budget Portrait Lens

Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens: Even though the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens is the best portrait lens to get, it is not as light or affordable as this lens. If you are looking for a travel portrait lens that is compact, lightweight, and capable of producing stunning bokeh, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 is a much better option for you.

The Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens weighs only 371 grams, making it perfect for the compact body of the Sony a7C II. It is also priced at around 550 USD retail, which is nearly half the price of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens.

It is also capable of producing sharp images, as you can come to expect from Sony native lenses. And even though the aperture is one stop less than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens, the depth of field produced with this lens is still stunning. It allows you to capture a person in tack-sharp detail and throw the rest of the background out, creating one of the most satisfying subject separations ever.

For such a compact size and an affordable price point, it is hard to beat the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens when it comes to the price-to-quality ratio. If you want to save some money, I highly recommend you go for the Sony 85mm F1.8 lens and use the money you saved to invest in other lenses instead.

🚶‍♂️ Best Street Photography Lens

Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM Lens: In street photography, you will be running around shooting moving subjects that often move spontaneously. You will need a lens that has the most natural-looking focal length, is unobtrusive, and extremely fast. That's why I recommend the Sony FE 35mm f1.4 lens.

The Sony FE 35mm F1.4 lens has a focal length of 35mm, which is closest to what our eyes see. Therefore, the photos you capture with this lens will have a more natural look and feel that will resonate more with human eyes.

With its compact size, lightweight, and unobtrusive profile, you can easily blend into the crowds and capture photos of spontaneous moments while traveling that you wouldn't be able to capture with other bulkier lenses.

The fast aperture also helps with the run-and-gun style of shooting that comes with street photography, which is why the Sony 35mm F1.4 lens is the best lens to get for your Sony full-frame cameras for street photography.

🚶‍♂️ Best Budget Street Photography Lens

Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens: For the best value lens for street photography, I have to give it to the Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 lens. The lens has a unique focal range of 20-40mm, which covers the classic 35mm length, while allowing you to be more flexible and react to the fast-changing situations of street photography.

With its compact size, lightweight, and discreet body, you should be able to blend in with the crowd and take awesome street photos without sacrificing flexibility. Best of all, the lens is very affordable at the retail price of 680 USD. Given the amount of flexibility you will get with this lens, you are definitely getting your money's worth here.

The lens also comes with an F2.8 aperture, which should be fast enough for the run-and-gun style of shooting that accompanies street photography. With such a great price point, incredible flexibility, and the discreetness of its design, the Tamron 20-40mm lens is the best value street photography lens to get for your Sony full-frame camera.

⭐️ Best Astrophotography Lens

Sony FE 14mm f1.8 GM Lens: When it comes to astrophotography, you are going to need an ultra-wide-angle lens that will allow you to capture the landscape together with the stars, giving your image a sense of scale. Additionally, you need a fast aperture to retain the sharpness of stars when shooting in pitch black.

The Sony 14mm F1.8 GM lens is designed to do just that. With its ultra-wide focal length of 14mm, you will be able to capture the stunning landscape in all its glory while also retaining the expansiveness of the night sky, all in one frame.

The fast F1.8 aperture will also enable you to capture sharp images of the Milky Way without needing to increase your ISO, all the while enabling you to maintain a reasonable shutter speed to prevent star trails.

This lens is probably the widest and fastest lens you can get for your Sony a7C II. So, if you are into astrophotography and looking for the best lens to capture the Milky Way, this is the best one to get.

⭐️ Best Budget Astrophotography Lens

Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G Lens: For the longest time, I’ve always recommended the Sony 14mm f/1.8, arguably one of the best astrophotography lenses available. However, with its high price tag and relatively heavy, bulky build, it might not appeal to everyone, especially those who travel light, like I do. Now that Sony has released the 16mm f/1.8 G lens, we finally have an astrophotography lens that’s wide at 16mm, fast with its f/1.8 aperture, and still lightweight and compact.

Even better, the price point has come down significantly, making it much more accessible for beginner astrophotographers starting their stargazing journey. Of course, there are some compromises, such as reduced corner sharpness at wider apertures, which may not satisfy professionals, but for amateurs like myself, it's more than enough. If you're looking for a budget-friendly lens to take your astrophotography to the next level, this is the one to get.

🐯 Best Wildlife Lens

Sony FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 OSS G Master Lens: If you are looking for the very best telephoto lens to get for wildlife photography and money and weight are no object, then the crown has to go to the Sony 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 G Master Lens. This lens has an incredible focal length of 100-400mm, which will allow you to bring your subject much closer than any other lens.

The Sony FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 lens is not a small or compact lens in any sense, but relative to the reach it gives you, this is as small as it gets. The lens is also one of the sharpest Sony lenses out there, allowing you to capture crisp and clear images of wild animals such as birds or the big five during a safari trip.

If you have a little bit of space left in your backpack, $2,500 USD to spare, and are looking for the very best wildlife lens with great reach, this is the one to get.

🐯 Best Budget Wildlife Lens

Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens: For those of you who are looking for a more compact and affordable option for a wildlife lens, the Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens, a new version that replaces the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens, one of my favorite budget telephoto lens, is the lens you are looking for.

This lens improves upon everything the previous version offered. It comes with a wider minimum focal length of 50mm, providing more flexibility when shooting wildlife, and it finally features optical stabilization, something I wish the previous version had. With this new focal length, you can easily zoom in on wildlife or zoom out to capture a bit of the environment without having to switch lenses, which is extremely convenient, especially for wildlife photography.

The lens is slightly heavier than its predecessor, weighing in at 665g. It also costs a bit more at 700 USD, but you will get your money's worth with the extra 50mm on the wider end and the added optical stabilization, which is especially useful for wildlife photography.

I brought the previous version with me on my safari trips around East Africa, and I was able to capture some incredible wildlife shots despite it being a budget option. With this new version, it can only get better! If you are looking to get into wildlife photography and do not want to spend over 2,000 USD on a lens, the Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens is, hands down, the best choice.

Looking for a review of the previous version, the Tamron 70-300mm lens? Check out:A Traveler's Review: Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

Want to take your photography game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and photography gear:

Lightroom Presets: If you are looking for a quick way to make your travel photos look like mine, you should check out my newly released Lightroom Preset Collections.

Camera: Sony a7R V, the highest resolution full-frame camera out there, is my go-to camera when I travel. All of my recent photos and videos are all from this beast.

All-Around Travel Lens: Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens is the lens I mounted on my camera the most. The lens covers most of the ranges I need for travel from wide to telephoto. If I have to take only one lens with me on my travel, it would be this lens.

Ultra-Wide Lens: Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lnes: An ultra-wide lens I often use to shoot expansive landscapes and capture massive architecture I stumble upon while traveling.

Telephoto Lens: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II lens is one of the most versatile lenses to have. It is great for picking out details in landscapes and capturing wildlife when combined with the Sony FE 2x teleconverter.

Portrait Lens: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens is the most compact and lightweight 85mm F1.4 lens out there. It's sharp and produces stunning bokeh for subject separation, perfect for portraits and street photography.

Drone: DJI Mavic Mini 2, a perfect drone for those who travel light. It weighs less than 250g and smaller than an iPhone when folded and can capture 4K video as well as 12 megapixels RAW photos. More than enough for its size.

Bag: Langly Alpha Globetrotter is a camera bag I use to carry all these lenses as well as other essentials when I'm traveling.

Further Reading for Photography

Looking for more photography articles like this? Here is a collection of articles you might like:

• For a complete list of travel lenses to buy for Sony Full-Frame cameras, check out: The Best Travel Lenses For Sony Full-Frame Cameras.
• Just bought the Sony a7IV camera and looking for a lens to go with the new camera? Check out: 14 Best Sony a7IV Lenses for Travel
• Looking for the best Sony zoom lenses to buy? Here are the 18 Best Sony Zoom Lenses to Buy in 2025.
• To expand your horizon as a photographer, you are going to need a telephoto lens in your kit. Here are the 10 Best Sony Telephoto Lenses to Buy in 2025.
• For the best image quality, you just can't beat images shot on prime lenses. Here are the 10 Best Sony Prime Lenses to Buy in 2025.
• For the best budget Sony lenses to buy, check out: 10 Best Sony Budget Lenses to Buy.
• If you are a food photographer, check out: 3 Best Food Photography Lenses for Sony.
• Old but gold, the Sony a7III has been one of the most popular cameras Sony has ever produced. If you own one of these gems and would like to breathe new life into the camera, here are the 14 Best Sony a7III Lenses for Travel.
• For vloggers and content creators out there, if you own the Sony ZV-E1 camera and are looking for a lens to pair it with, check out: 14 Best Sony ZV-E1 Lenses for Travel to Buy.
• One of my favorite Sony cameras, the Sony a7C, is a lightweight and compact camera that is made for travel. Check out some of my favorite lenses for the Sony a7C: 14 Best Sony a7C Lenses for Travel.
• For the best lenses to buy that can handle the high-resolution sensor of the Sony a7C R, check out: 7 Best Sony a7C R Lenses for Travel to Buy.
• If you have the Sony a7RV and are looking for a high-quality, sharp lens to pair with it, here are the 7 Best Sony a7RV Lenses for Travel to Buy.
• The Sony a7RIV is one of the best cameras for landscape photography available, boasting a massive 62.2 MP sensor that necessitates lenses capable of maintaining sharpness on such a large canvas. To assist you in your selection, here are the 7 Best Sony a7RIV Lenses for Travel.
• Despite its age, the Sony a7RIII, a 42.2 MP landscape camera, is still used by many. If you are one of those people and are looking to spice it up a little, why not get a new lens and breathe new life into your beloved camera? Here are the 7 Best Sony a7RIII Lenses for Travel.
• King of travel filmmaking, the Sony a7SIII is a fan favorite for filmmakers on the road, and if you own one of this beast, be sure to check out the 7 Best Sony a7SIII Lenses for Travel.
• If you just bought the Sony FX3 and want to buy some new lenses to take your storytelling skills to the next level, check this out: 7 Best Sony FX3 Lenses to Buy.
• Wondering which Sony Mirrorless camera is right for you? Check out The Best Sony Travel Cameras to Buy in 2025.
• Just bought a new Sony mirrorless camera? Check out: 15 Tips & Tricks For Your New Sony a7C, a7III, and More.
• For the best hybrid travel camera to buy, the Sony a7R V, with its 61-megapixel sensor and video capabilities, is hard to beat. Check out my review here: A Traveler's Review: The Sony a7R V Camera
• Looking for the very best travel full-frame camera to buy for your next trip? How about the Sony a7C, the smallest full-frame camera with an EVF in the world! Check out my review: A Traveler's Review: The Sony a7C Camera
• The king of travel lenses has arrived. The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is, hands down, the best travel all-purpose zoom lens I have ever owned. Here's why: A Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens.
• Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS lens is, hands down, the best telephoto lens to get for your Sony cameras, but it comes with an extremely high price tag. Here is a complete traveler's review of the lens: A Traveler's Review: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS Lens.
• Looking for a lightweight and affordable landscape/architecture travel lens that is also extremely capable? Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens.
• Looking for the best travel portrait lens to buy for your next trip? You can't beat the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens.
• Looking for a compact and lightweight travel telephoto lens for wildlife and landscapes? You are going to love this lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens.
• Ever wondered what a full-time travel blogger like myself carries in my camera bag? Check out: What's In My Camera Bag in 2025?
• Wondering which Sony Mirrorless camera is right for you? The Best Sony Travel Cameras to Buy in 2025.
• Just bought a new Sony mirrorless camera? Check out: 15 Tips & Tricks For Your New Sony a7C, a7III, and More.
• Bought a new camera and not sure what camera accessories to buy? Check out: 14 BEST Sony Camera Accessories You Should Buy.
• Want to start a YouTube channel and looking to buy new cameras for travel vlogging? Check out: 8 Best Cameras For Travel Vlogging to Buy.
• Want to learn how I was able to take so many good pictures of myself while I travel solo? Check out: How To Take Great Pictures of Yourself.
• For more photography resources like this, visit my Photography page.