The BEST Sony Full-Frame Lenses to Buy in 2025 - A Complete Lens Buying Guide

The BEST Sony Full-Frame Lenses to Buy in 2025

A Complete Lens Buying Guide
A photo of Pete R.
By Pete R.,
Updated on

Ever since Sony acquired Minolta back in 2006, the company has released countless camera models non-stop and has continuously innovated itself to become one of the leading camera manufacturers in the world. The camera lineup that made it all happen for Sony was the full-frame camera lineup: the a7 series.

Sony won our hearts with the a7 feature-packed cameras, their constant support for the creator communities, and the slew of amazing high-quality E-mount camera lenses that keep on growing every year.

For those of you who are currently starting out with your first Sony full-frame cameras, the sheer number of lenses available can be quite intimidating and confusing to browse through.

With this guide, I have decided to compile a list of the best travel E-mount lenses for your new Sony full-frame cameras that will handle whatever situation the world throws at you. The list is based solely on my experience shooting and traveling with Sony mirrorless cameras for more than a decade.

Without further ado, let's begin with the most important category of all: the All-Around travel lens that you will likely have mounted on your camera most of the time when you travel.

The Best Sony Travel Cameras to BuyThe Best Sony Travel Cameras to Buy

๐Ÿ“ธ Quick Summary: The best lenses for the Sony full-frame cameras

Product
Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM II Lens ๐Ÿ… 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
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2 Lens ๐Ÿ’ฐ Great Value
Best Budget All-Around Lens
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2 Lens
Features
  • Affordable
  • Very Sharp
  • Fast aperture
Check PriceLearn More
Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM II Lens ๐Ÿ… 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
Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 Lens
Best Budget Landscape Lens
Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 Lens
Features
  • Very lightweight and compact
  • Affordable
  • Great build
Check PriceRead Our Review
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II Lens ๐Ÿ… Editor's Choice
Best Telephoto Lens
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II Lens
Features
  • Great reach
  • Fast Aperture
  • Fast Autofocus
Check PriceRead Our Review
Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 Lens
Best Budget Telephoto Lens
Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 Lens
Features
  • Affordable Price
  • Fast Aperture
  • Built-in Stabilization
  • Light and Compact
Check PriceLearn More
Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens ๐Ÿ… 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
Sony FE 85mm f1.8 Lens
Best Budget Portrait Lens
Sony FE 85mm f1.8 Lens
Features
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Great image quality
  • Cheap and light
Check PriceLearn More
Sony FE 14mm f1.8 GM Lens
Best Astro Lens
Sony FE 14mm f1.8 GM Lens
Features
  • Super Wide field of view
  • Fast aperture
  • Compact
Check PriceLearn More
Sony FE 16mm f1.8 G Lens
Best Budget Astro Lens
Sony FE 16mm f1.8 G Lens
Features
  • Wide field of view
  • Fast aperture
  • Compact & Lightweight
Check PriceLearn More
Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM Lens
Best Street Lens
Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM Lens
Features
  • 35mm, perfect for street photography
  • Compact & Light-weight
  • Fast aperture
Check PriceLearn More
Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens
Best Budget Street Lens
Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens
Features
  • Versatile focal range
  • Compact & Light-weight
  • Fast aperture
Check PriceLearn More
Sony FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 G Lens
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
Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3  Lens
Best Budget Wildlife Lens
Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens
Features
  • Very Cheap
  • Lightest telephoto lens
  • Great Image Quality
Check PriceRead Our Review

๐Ÿ‘ What Makes for a Good Travel Lens for Sony Full-Frame Cameras?

A traveler with a camera

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, like street photography, wildlife, and general purpose. I'll also provide budget alternatives to help your Sony full-frame camera 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 essential travel lens of all, the best all-around general-purpose lens that every travel photographer should have in their kit:

๐ŸŒŽ Best All-Around Lens For Travel

A person holding the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens

Pros
  • Extremely Light & Compact
  • Packed with Features
  • Very sharp at almost every focal length
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Distortion

Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM II Lens: This is, hands down, the best lens you can get for travel for your Sony a7SIII 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 (review), 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, while you have the option to zoom in at 70mm and 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, allowing you to capture sharp footage 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.

For those of you who are looking for the best and lightest travel lens to buy for your Sony a7SIII, 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. This lens is truly the one lens that rules them all.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you are looking for one lens to rule them all.

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II LensA Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens

๐ŸŒŽ Best Budget All-Around Lens For Travel

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2 Lens

Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Affordable
  • Fast aperture
Cons
  • 28mm might not be wide enough
  • Not as compact

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2 Lens: For a cheaper 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 at a more affordable price point.

Tamron has recently upgraded and released a new version of its popular Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 with new glass and technology, improving the glass quality and autofocus performance while keeping the price the same, making it one of the best budget all-around travel lenses out there.

Even though the focal range is not as wide as 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 than the Tamron lens.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get if you are looking for one lens to rule them all.

Check Price

18 Best Sony Zoom Lenses to Buy in 202518 Best Sony Zoom Lenses to Buy in 2025

๐Ÿ”๏ธ Best Lens For Landscape & Architecture

A person holding the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lens

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Extremely fast autofocus
  • Very sharp at almost every focal length
  • Stunning sunstar
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Vignette & Distortion

Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM II Lens: If you are looking for a lens for your Sony full-frame camera to film landscapes and architectures on your travel, 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 get a perspective that you wouldn't be able to replicate with other lenses, not even the all-purpose lenses like the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens.

As you could expect with the new Sony GM lenses, the image quality produced with this lens is extremely sharp from corner to corner at almost all the focal range. The F2.8 aperture allows you to use the lens in any condition, which is great for travel as you often shoot 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 by approximately 80% while improving the sharpness, the autofocus speed, and minimum close focusing distance. 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 the general all-purpose lens like the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens can't capture, making it a perfect secondary lens for your all-around lens.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you enjoy taking photos of landscapes and architecture.

Check Price

๐Ÿ”๏ธ Best Budget Lens For Landscape & Architecture

A person holding the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 lens

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Affordable
  • Fast Aperture
Cons
  • Not the fastest autofocus
  • Distortion
  • Doesn't zoom to 35mm

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 travel, 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, but in a much lighter and compact package, making it perfect for travel.

Unlike the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 lens that I used to recommend, the Sigma lens goes all the way to 16mm, making 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 more compact and lightweight lens.

Best of all, the price of this lens is more than half 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.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get if you enjoy taking photos of landscapes and architecture.

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN LensA Traveler's Review: Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens

๐Ÿ”Ž The Best Telephoto Lens

A person holding the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II lens

Pros
  • Extremely sharp
  • Very fast autofocus for a telephoto lens
  • Optical Stabilization
  • Relatively lightweight
  • Support teleconverter
Cons
  • Very expensive

Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II Lens: With the 16-35mm and 24-70mm focal lengths covered, all we have left is the telephoto focal length to complete the trinity of lenses for your Sony cameras, and the best lens to get for this is the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II lens.

With this lens, together with the other lenses I listed above, you are essentially covering the telephoto range you are currently missing. This should allow you to shoot more close-up shots of things you might not be able to get up close and personal with, like faraway mountain peaks or people.

The lens comes with a fast aperture of F2.8, allowing you to shoot incredibly sharp images even in the poorest lighting conditions. Not to mention its new autofocus system, which allows you to keep up with fast subjects like birds, and its optical stabilization, which should help smooth out your photos and videos on the longest end.

I love shooting with this lens. The incredible reach allows me to get up close to the subject while being discrete. I can also use it to shoot landscapes whenever I want to punch in for incredible details. It works perfectly in every lighting condition, no matter if I shoot at sunrise or sunset.

If you are looking for the best telephoto lens to buy for your Sony cameras, the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II is a complete package that is hard to beat. Hit the link below to check out the recent price.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best telephoto lens money can buy. Perfect for most telephoto applications.

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS LensA Traveler's Review: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS Lens

๐Ÿ”Ž The Best Budget Telephoto Lens

Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 Lens

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Compact and Lightweight
  • Optical Stabilization
Cons
  • Not the fastest autofocus
  • No teleconverter support

Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 Lens: For those of you who are looking for a budget-friendly telephoto lens, the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 lens is the best option if your budget is around 1,300 USD.

This lens is the newest version of the beloved Tamron 70-180mm lens, and it remains one of the lightest and most compact telephoto lenses you can get at the moment, with its fast aperture of F2.8, a weight of 866 g (1.91 lbs), a form factor that is no bigger than a small APS-C telephoto lens, and the addition of an optical stabilization system that will come in handy when shooting at 200m, you just can't beat the value-to-feature ratio of this lens.

It is a lens designed specifically for those looking for a fast telephoto lens that is travel-friendly, fast enough to capture action shots, and, best of all, light on the wallet. If you do not mind the lack of 20mm on the further end, the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 lens is a great alternative to the more expensive Sony GM lens, which is more than doubled the price of the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 lens. Hit the link below to check out the latest price:

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best budget telephoto for most telephoto applications.

Check Price

10 Best Sony Telephoto Lenses to Buy in 202510 Best Sony Telephoto Lenses to Buy in 2025

๐Ÿ˜ƒ Best Lens For Portraits

Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Beautiful Bokeh
  • Extremely Sharp
Cons
  • Pincushion & Vignetting
  • Not the cheapest

Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens: I used to recommend the Sony FE 85mm f1.4 GM lens as it was the best portrait lens money can buy, but that lens weighs like a little planet in your backpack, which is not exactly a convenient lens to travel with. However, everything changes with the new Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens.

The Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens is probably the most lightweight and compact 85mm F1.4 lens out there. It weighs about 630g (22.2oz), 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 wide-aperture lens. 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. Considering the size and weight you get, it is totally worth the sacrifice.

I do not know how Sigma did 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.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you enjoy taking portraits of people.

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art LensA Traveler's Review: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens

๐Ÿ˜ƒ Best Budget Lens For Portraits

Sony 8mm F1.8 Lens

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Beautiful Bokeh
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Not the best build quality
  • Strong Vignetting

Sony FE 85mm F1.8 Lens: Even though the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens is the best portrait lens to get, it is not exactly compact and light. Plus, it is also extremely expensive. If you are looking for a travel portrait lens that is much lighter, affordable, 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 and costs around 550 USD retail. The lens produces sharp images, as you would expect from Sony native lenses. Even though the aperture is one stop less than the Sony 85mm F1.4 GM lens, the depth of field produced with this lens is still stunning. It allows you to capture a person in tack-sharp detail and blur the background, 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 I were you, I would get this lens instead of the Sony 85mm F1.4 GM lens, save more than half the money, and invest in adding other lenses to your arsenal.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get if you enjoy taking portraits of people.

Check Price

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โญ๏ธ Best Lens For Astrophotography

Sony FE 14mm f1.8 GM Lens

Pros
  • Ultra-wide focal length
  • Extremely fast aperture for such a wide focal length
  • Extremely Sharp
Cons
  • Quite heavy
  • Expensive

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'll 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 retaining the night sky's expansiveness, all in one frame.

The fast F1.8 aperture will also enable you to capture sharp images of the Milky Way without increasing your ISO, all the while allowing 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 a7III. So, if you are into astrophotography and looking for the best lens to capture the Milky Way, this is the best one to get.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you love astrophotography and want to take expansive photos of stars.

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โญ๏ธ Best Budget Astrophotography Lens

Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G

Pros
  • Wide focal length
  • Fast aperture for such a wide focal length
  • Compact and Lightweight
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Corner Sharpness at Wide Apertures could be better

Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G Lens: For the longest time, Iโ€™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 thatโ€™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.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best budget prime lens to get if you love astrophotography and want to take expansive photos of stars.

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๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ Best Lens For Street Photography

Sony FE 35mm f1.4 GM Lens

Pros
  • Light & Compact
  • Very fast aperture at F1.4
  • Extremely Sharp
Cons
  • Expensive

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 with the most natural-looking focal length, 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, 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 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 for street photography to get for your Sony full-frame cameras.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, a7RIV, a7C, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you love street photography and environmental portraiture.

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๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ Best Budget Lens For Street Photography

Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Lens

Pros
  • Versatile focal range
  • Fast fixed aperture
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Not the fastest autofocus
  • Some distortion

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 and allows 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 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 comes with 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.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get if you love street photography and environmental portraiture.

Check Price

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๐Ÿฏ Best Lens For Wildlife

Sony FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 OSS G Master Lens

Pros
  • Very versatile range
  • Compact size for the range
  • Works with teleconverters
Cons
  • Quite heavy
  • Variable aperture
  • Expensive

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 objects, 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, allowing you to capture crisp and clear images of wild animals like birds or the big five during a safari trip.

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

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best lens to get if you enjoy wildlife photography and looking for a lightweight solution.

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๐Ÿฏ Best Budget Lens For Wildlife

The Tamron 70-300mm lens of a table

Pros
  • Amazing range
  • Very lightweight and compact
  • Affordable
Cons
  • No stabilization
  • Not compatible with teleconverters
  • Slow aperture
  • Can struggle to focus sometimes

Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens: For those of you who are looking for a budget option for a wildlife lens, I can't recommend the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens enough. They have managed to give us a 70-300mm focal length, which is great for wildlife, allowing you to bring the animals closer without scaring them away, while keeping the weight low at only 544 grams and costing less than 500 USD, which is pretty impressive.

In order to keep the lens lightweight and affordable, they had to omit a few features such as custom buttons, plastic build quality, and optical stabilization (OSS). However, with the in-body stabilization (IBIS) features available on most Sony full-frame cameras nowadays, the lack of OSS is not as big of a deal anymore.

Tamron lens is also known for producing tack-sharp images, which is also the case for this lens too. If you are looking to get into wildlife photography and do not want to spend 2,000+ USD for a lens, the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens is hands down the best lens to get.

This lens is recommended for the Sony a1, a7III, a7IV, Sony a7RIV, Sony a7RV, a7C, a7CII, a7CR, and a7SIII.

To sum it up, this is the best budget lens to get if you love wildlife photography and looking for a lightweight solution.

Check Price

A Traveler's Review: Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXDA Traveler's Review: Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

๐Ÿ›’ Which Sony Full-Frame Lenses Should You Pick?

Now that we have covered all the best travel lenses for all travel situations that the world might throw at you, it is time to ask the question: what type of traveler are you?

If you are like me, who likes to travel a lot in both nature and cities, I would get a combination of the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 lens as my main all-around lens, the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 lens for shooting landscapes and architecture, and the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens for incredible portraits of people around the world.

If you are going on a honeymoon trip or you would like to take photos of your partner while traveling, then the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens is also great for you. If you like going on a safari or bird-watching, the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens is a no-brainer.

All in all, it will depend on what type of trips you are taking, and once you can define that, you should have no trouble picking the lens for the job.

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6 Comments


Doug's profile picutre
Doug

Thanks for the info.
But how come the Tamron 35-150mm lens was not mentioned?


Pete Rojwongsuriya's profile picutre
Thanks for the info.
But how come the Tamron 35-150mm lens was not mentioned?

Hey Doug, that lens is definitely versatile but the combination of weight, size, and flexible focal length made it way too impractical to be used as a travel lens. We often carry our camera around our neck when we are out and about traveling and with that weight on your neck all day is definitely not fun. You would be better off with a lighter all-purpose lens like 20-70 or 24-70 and only switch to telephoto lens when you need it.


Doug's profile picutre
Doug replying to Doug
Thanks for the info.
But how come the Tamron 35-150mm lens was not mentioned?

Thanks Pete.
I just ordered the lens and know it is heavy, but I want to try and use it on a trip. Wish me luck...lol


Pete Rojwongsuriya's profile picutre
Thanks Pete.
I just ordered the lens and know it is heavy, but I want to try and use it on a trip. Wish me luck...lol

Haha! Good luck! It's definitely one hell of a versatile lenses if you don't mind the weight! Enjoy shooting!


Vin's profile picutre
Vin

bought the 35-150, and have found it's going to be waaayy to bulky. tbh it's also not quite wide enough for landscape either imo. Fantastic lens, which i'll hang on to, but will definitely be picking up the 20-70 f4 for travel, along with the 20 1.8 for some travel astro :)


Pete Rojwongsuriya's profile picutre
Pete Rojwongsuriya replying to Vin
bought the 35-150, and have found it's going to be waaayy to bulky. tbh it's also not quite wide enough for landscape either imo. Fantastic lens, which i'll hang on to, but will definitely be picking up the 20-70 f4 for travel, along with the 20 1.8 for some travel astro :)

Hey Vin,

Yes, I totally agree. While 35-150 is extremely versatile, it is just not practical to have it on your camera all the time when traveling and I often find myself needing a wider range as many travel applications require it like architecture shots, landscapes, etc. I think with your new set up, you are all set for everything. :)


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