6 Best Lenses for Sony a1 [Updated July 2023]

Are you looking for the best lenses for Sony a1? Look no further! With so many options, deciding which lens is right for you can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work and have compiled a list of the top lenses available for the Sony a1.

Whether you’re an amateur photographer or a professional one, these lenses are sure to take your photography game up several notches. From wide-angle zoom lenses to prime telephoto ones, this collection has something that will suit everyone’s needs and budget.

All these lenses come with great features such as image stabilization, autofocus motor systems, and dust/moisture resistance making them perfect companions for outdoor shoots.

We have also included detailed reviews on each item in our list along with their pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision while purchasing any of them without having any second thoughts.

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Below is a list of the best lenses for Sony’s flagship Alpha 1 camera:

1. Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens

Best Overall Lens for Sony a1

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens is the ultimate all-rounder lens designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. With its exceptional performance, advanced features, and versatile functions, this lens is undoubtedly the best choice for all photographers looking to achieve high-quality results.

Best in Class G Master Sony Lens Series

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens is part of the G Master series, renowned for its high optical quality. This lens has been designed with absolute precision and attention to detail, making it the best lens in its class.

The G Master lenses are known for their exceptional sharpness and attention to detail, and this lens is no exception.

It’s built to the highest standards and provides a range of advanced features that make it stand out from the crowd.

Fast Lens with f/2.8 aperture Zoom

One significant advantage of the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens is that it provides a fast f/2.8 aperture zoom range of 24-70mm.

With this lens, you’ll have a wide range of focal lengths at your disposal, making it a versatile option for portrait, landscape, and travel photography.

With this lens, you can shoot anything from wide-angle scenic shots to zoomed-in portraits. Whether you’re taking shots of landscapes or portraits, this lens is perfect for delivering sharp images with a beautifully blurred background.

22% Lighter, 18% Smaller than Previous Version

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens is incredibly lightweight at just 695g and is 18% smaller than its previous version. The redesign of this lens has resulted in significant improvements in weight reduction and compactness without compromising its optical performance.

The compact size of this lens makes it easy to carry around, so you can take it wherever you go without worrying too much about its weight.

Nano AR Coating II and Fluorine Coating

This lens is covered with essential coatings that protect its surfaces from dust, moisture, and damage, making it highly durable. It has a Nano AR Coating II that reduces flare and ghosting caused by internal reflections, which is useful when shooting in bright light.

It also comes with a fluorine coating that resists moisture, dust, and fingerprints, ensuring your lens stays clean and clear throughout your photography adventures.

Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens also has dust and moisture-resistant construction. This makes it ideal for outdoor photography, where you may encounter challenging weather conditions.

You can take it out in the rain, dust, or other harsh weather conditions without worrying about your lens’ performance. You can capture any shot you like without worrying about the lens’ durability.

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens is undoubtedly the best overall lens for the Sony a1 camera. This lens offers versatility, durability, and exceptional performance, making it a perfect all-around lens for portrait, landscape, and travel photography.

Its advanced features, such as the f/2.8 aperture, lightweight, and dust/moisture-resistant construction, make it the ultimate lens choice for any photographer looking to achieve professional results.

2. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II

Best Telephoto Lens for the Sony a1

For wildlife and wedding photographers, choosing the right telephoto lens is crucial to capture stunning, high-quality images. With the Sony a1 Camera, finding the perfect telephoto lens can be challenging. However, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens has come to the rescue, providing professionals and enthusiasts with top-notch quality. 

With its 70-200mm focal length, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens is ideal for capturing wildlife and wedding images from a distance. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.96m, and its fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 allows for impressive results, even in low-light conditions.

This lens is highly versatile, providing sharp and outstanding image quality at any focal length. Wildlife photographers who travel to exotic locations like the Galapagos can rely on this lens to capture up-close animal sightings while keeping a safe distance.

Fast Telephoto Lens

One of the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens’s best features is its constant f/2.8 aperture, which provides fast and precise shooting capabilities. With this advanced feature, photographers can easily capture action-packed moments and produce sharp images with minimal noise.

The fast aperture also works wonders for portrait photography, creating beautiful bokeh in the background and emphasizing the subject.

29% Lighter Than the Previous Version

This redesigned lens, weighing 29% less than its predecessor, is a huge relief for wildlife and wedding photographers who typically carry heavy gear while hiking or waiting hours to capture the perfect shot.

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens keeps the weight down, which makes it much more comfortable to use, even for long hours of shooting.

However, the lens remains robust and durable, made with magnesium alloy that helps it withstand the harshest weather conditions.

4x Faster AF, One XA & One Aspherical Element

Another remarkable feature of the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens is its advanced autofocus system. The lens connects to the Sony a1 Camera’s Fast Hybrid AF system, enabling photographers to quickly capture sharp and detailed images.

Additionally, the lens comprises two advanced lens elements, one XA and one aspherical, that eliminate chromatic aberration and other visual distortions, producing high-quality, sharp images with minimal noise.

Nano AR Coating II, Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilization, Weather-Sealed

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens is packed with additional features that make it one of the best telephoto lenses for the Sony a1 Camera. The lens features a Nano AR Coating II that reduces flare, ghosting, and other visual distortions, enhancing image quality. 

Additionally, it has Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilization, which counteracts camera shake, eliminating blurry images. The lens is also weather-sealed, ensuring its durability in harsh weather conditions.

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens is undoubtedly the best telephoto lens for wildlife and wedding photography on the Sony a1 Camera. Its excellent features, including the fast aperture, lightweight design, advanced autofocus system, and additional lens elements, all combine to deliver stunning results.

Whether you’re a professional photographer or an enthusiast, investing in this lens will undoubtedly provide you with an outstanding photography experience and help you capture breathtaking images.

3. Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM

Best Portrait Lens for Sony a1

This lens has a fast aperture and stunning bokeh and is perfect for portraits, baby photography, and street photography.

Great for Portraits

One of the primary reasons the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens is an exceptional choice for Sony A1 camera owners is its versatility with different types of photography.

When it comes to portraiture, having a lens that can capture tack-sharp photos is essential. This lens has an excellent autofocus system, which allows you to capture images quickly without losing focus.

The aperture of this lens is so fast that it can even capture stunning portraits in low-light conditions.

Ideal for Baby Photography

If you are a parent or photographer specializing in baby photography, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens is an excellent choice. This lens has a unique ability to capture soft and subtle images that highlight the baby’s delicate features.

You can create stunning images with minimal blur and noise, which is essential when photographing newborns.

Additionally, the wide aperture of this lens can help you get the perfect shot, even with dim lighting, and the bokeh effect is perfect for highlighting the baby’s face.

Perfect for Street Photography

Regarding street photography, you need a small and lightweight lens, so you can easily capture moments quickly.

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens is an excellent choice for street photographers as it is relatively compact, produces exceptional image quality, and has a fast autofocus system.

With its fast aperture, you can capture stunning images even on the go without worrying about missing the moment.

Ideal for Low-Light Photography

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens is perfect for low-light photography. This lens has a high-speed aperture of f/1.4, which allows you to take clear and sharp images in low-light conditions.

With its fast autofocus system and stunning bokeh, you can create visually appealing images that perfectly capture the ambiance of a dark environment.

Whether you are taking photos indoors or out in the city, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens gives you the flexibility and versatility you need to achieve your desired results.

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens is the best prime lens for Sony A1 camera owners. Whether you are interested in capturing stunning portraits, baby photography, street photography, or low-light photography, this lens has you covered.

4. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens

Best Wide-Angle Lens for Sony a1

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens delivers excellent image quality, sharpness, and a wide field of view, making it the perfect lens for landscape photography, architecture shots, and low-light situations. Read on to learn more about this exceptional lens and why it should be part of your photography kit.

Design and Build Quality

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens is well-built, sleek, and durable. The lens features a metal body with a beautiful matte black finish, making it stand out from other lenses.

The lens is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and humidity, making it an excellent choice for outdoor photography. The lens is lightweight, weighing 680g, and is easy to carry around, even on long hiking trips.

Image Quality

One of the best things about the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens is its high-quality image output. The lens features a sophisticated optical design with five aspherical elements and two extra-low dispersion elements, reducing distortion and chromatic aberration.

The lens produces sharp, vibrant, and stunning images without any loss of quality. The lens captures stunning shots, even in low-light conditions, with its F/2.8 aperture, making it the ideal lens for nighttime photography.

Focus Techniques

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens features a fast and accurate autofocus system thanks to its two XA elements and two XD linear focus motors. The lens captures 65% of the AF area, making it easier to focus on fast-moving subjects.

However, the lens features a focus ring that operates smoothly and accurately if you prefer manual focus.

Ease of Use

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens has an easy-to-use design and is simple to operate. The lens features an aperture ring that clicks and locks in position, making it easier to adjust the aperture and control the depth of field. The lens also features a zoom ring that rotates smoothly and lets you adjust the focal length easily.

In summary, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens is the perfect wide-angle lens for your Sony a1 camera. The lens delivers exceptional image quality, stunning sharpness, and an extensive field of view, making it ideal for landscape photography, architecture shots, and low-light situations.

The lens is built to last, with its durable and weather-resistant construction, and features a fast and accurate autofocus system, making it an excellent choice for vloggers and professional landscape photographers.

5. Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II

Best Macro Lens for Sony a1

We’re excited to share our review of the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens, which can elevate your macro photography to the next level, especially when paired with the Sony a1 camera.

Spectacular G Master Rendering

One of the standout features of the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens is its G Lens rendering and corner-to-corner resolution. This means the lens can capture sharp and clear images from edge to edge, with minimal distortion or aberration.

This is particularly important when shooting macro photography, where even the slightest blur or distortion can ruin the shot.

The G Lens rendering also delivers a beautiful bokeh effect, making your subject stand out against a soft and creamy background.

Close-Up Performance

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens also has an impressive close-up performance, with a half macro (0.5x) capability at all focal lengths.

This means that you can capture stunning macro shots from a distance without compromising on image quality or magnification. This is particularly useful if you’re dealing with subjects that take time to approach, such as insects or wildlife.

The lens also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.96 meters, allowing you to get up close and personal with your subject.

Fast and Precise

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens is optimized for the Sony a1 camera’s high-speed autofocus system, making it one of the fastest and most precise lenses on the market.

The lens has a linear motor provides fast and quiet autofocus, even in low-light situations. The autofocus tracking is also accurate and consistent, making it perfect for fast-moving subjects.

This is particularly useful for wildlife or sports photography, where you need a lens that can keep up with the action.

Optimized for Movie Quality

If you’re also into videography, you’ll appreciate that the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens is optimized for refined movie performance and imagery.

The lens has a silent aperture mechanism and focus drive, ensuring that your video footage is smooth and seamless. The lens also has built-in optical image stabilization, which reduces camera shake and makes your video footage more stable.

This is particularly useful if you’re shooting handheld or in low-light situations.

To top it all off, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens delivers top-class performance when used with teleconverters.

The lens is compatible with both Sony’s 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, allowing you to extend the reach of your lens and capture macro shots from even further away. This is perfect if you’re dealing with skittish wildlife or want a more dramatic close-up shot of your subject.

Compact and Lightweight

Last but not least, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens is compact, lightweight, mobile, reliable, and easy to use. The lens weighs only 794g, making it easy to carry around wherever you go.

The lens is dust- and moisture-resistant, ensuring it can withstand even the harshest shooting environments. The lens is also easy to use, with intuitive controls and a smooth, easy-to-operate zoom ring.

After reviewing the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II Lens, we highly recommend it as the best macro lens for the Sony a1 camera.

Its G Lens rendering and corner-to-corner resolution, close-up performance, fast and precise autofocus, refined movie performance, top-class performance with teleconverters, compact and lightweight design, and ease of use make it a standout lens for macro photography.

6. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens

Best Budget Lens for the Sony a1

If you’re looking for an affordable lens for your Sony a1 camera, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens is an excellent choice that delivers exceptional performance. Tamron is a well-known brand that prides itself on producing high-quality lenses at an affordable price.

Price 

One of the most significant advantages of the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens is its price. It’s 65% cheaper than the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens.

For many photographers, the price is a decisive factor, and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens offers excellent value for money. You can save a considerable amount of money and still get a high-performing lens that meets your needs in terms of image quality and versatility. 

Aperture 

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens has a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture across the entire zoom range. With this lens, you can shoot in low light conditions and still get sharp and crisp photos. 

The constant aperture also allows you to maintain consistent exposure throughout the zoom range.

It’s the perfect lens for portraits, landscapes, and other shooting scenarios where you need to isolate your subject from the background. 

Image Quality 

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens produces sharp and vibrant images thanks to its advanced optics and coatings. This lens has 19 elements in 15 groups, including six low-dispersion elements, two aspherical elements, and one hybrid aspherical element.

These elements work together to minimize distortion, chromatic aberration, and other lens artifacts. The lens also has an upgraded VXD linear motor that offers fast and silent autofocus performance, perfect for stills and video. 

Versatility 

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens is a versatile lens that covers a wide focal range of 28-75mm. It’s an all-in-one lens that you can use for various shooting scenarios, from portraits to landscapes, street photography to events.

With this lens, you don’t have to worry about switching lenses constantly, saving you time and effort. 

Comparison with Other Lenses 

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens is often compared to the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens, which is a more expensive and premium lens.

While the Sony lens is undoubtedly better, with exceptional image quality and build quality, it comes at a high price. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens offers similar image quality, aperture, and versatility to the Sony lens at a much lower price. 

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens is the best budget lens for the Sony a1 camera. It offers excellent image quality, a constant f/2.8 aperture, a versatile focal range, and, most importantly, an affordable price tag.

As a photographer, you don’t always need to buy the most expensive gear to get great results.

The Tamron lens proves that you can get a budget lens that performs exceptionally well and delivers beyond your expectations. 

Sony a1 Review

The Sony a1 stands as the pinnacle of Sony’s camera lineup, offering a compelling blend of resolution, speed, and video capabilities. It’s a powerful tool that satisfies the needs of professionals across different genres — from sports and wildlife to studio and event photography. Easily capture aesthetic photos with this camera.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

The Sony a1 boasts an impressive 50.1-megapixel Exmor RS full-frame sensor, making it one of the highest-resolution cameras available today. 

This sensor is paired with the new BIONZ XR processor, delivering exceptional image quality with superb detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy.

A standout feature is the camera’s speed. The Sony a1 can shoot full-resolution images at a blistering 30 frames per second, thanks to its electronic shutter. The mechanical shutter isn’t far behind, capable of shooting at 10 fps.

The autofocus system is equally impressive, featuring 759 phase-detection points covering 93% of the image area. Its Real-Time Tracking AF is nearly flawless, ensuring that even the fastest subjects stay in sharp focus.

For video creators, the Sony a1 is also a highly capable tool. It can record 8K video at 30p and 4K at 120p, both with 10-bit 4:2:2 color depth. There’s also support for S-Log3, S-Gamut3, and S-Cinetone for advanced color grading.

Improvements Over Previous Models

Compared to the Sony a9 II predecessor, the a1 presents several significant upgrades. The resolution has doubled from 24MP to 50.1MP, providing much more detail.

The continuous shooting speed has increased from 20 fps to 30 fps. The a1 also introduces 8K video recording, a first for Sony cameras.

Build Quality & Design

The Sony a1 continues Sony’s tradition of well-built, weather-sealed bodies. It feels solid and comfortable in the hands. The layout of controls is intuitive, making it easy to change settings on the fly.

The 3-inch tilting touchscreen is sharp and responsive, and the high-resolution electronic viewfinder offers a clear, lag-free view of your scene.

The Sony a1 is a true flagship camera, setting a new standard for what a mirrorless camera can do. It combines high resolution, fast shooting speeds, and professional video capabilities in a way few other cameras can match.

While its high price tag may put it out of reach for some, for those who demand the best, the Sony a1 is hard to beat.

Sony a1 Lenses Guide – How to Find the Best Lenses for Sony a1

The Sony a1 uses Sony’s E-mount for its lenses. This means it’s compatible with a wide range of Sony E-mount lenses, including full-frame (FE) and APS-C (E) lenses.

However, using APS-C lenses will result in the camera automatically cropping the sensor to match the smaller image circle, effectively reducing the resolution.

In addition to Sony’s lenses, numerous third-party manufacturers also produce E-mount lenses, including Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss, and others.

It’s also possible to use A-mount lenses (Sony’s DSLR lens mount) on the a1 with an adapter, such as the Sony LA-EA3 or LA-EA4.

Similarly, adapters exist for many other lens mounts, allowing a broad range of both modern and vintage lenses to be used, though this may come with some limitations in terms of autofocus speed and compatibility.

The size of the aperture, or f-stop, is also essential to consider when looking at lenses. A larger aperture will let in more light, allowing for a brighter image and a faster shutter speed.

This is particularly important with landscape and wildlife photography. Smaller apertures are better for portrait photography, as they provide greater depth of field.