13 Best lenses for Sony a7R IV [updated 2024]

The Sony a7R IV is an ideal choice for photographers at any level, especially those looking to advance their passion and skills. Its full-frame capabilities ensure proficient photography.

Explore the perfect lens to elevate your Sony a7R IV adventures and ensure top performance in travel, portrait photography, vlogging, and beyond. Select a lens that unveils intricate macro details and enables you to capture expansive, stunning landscapes with full-frame precision. Enhance your journey with the right lens for every scene.

Read more: How to Choose a Camera Lens That Fits Your Needs.

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What is the best lens for the Sony a7R IV? There are many factors to consider. From desired effect and shot type to budget constraints, discover what qualities you need most – to find the optimal lens that’s just right for you.

Although selecting the right lens for your needs can seem daunting, I have completed a list. Lenses for Sony a7R IV are categorized by usage – prime, wide-angle, and more – so you have access to a range of options tailored just for different fields of photography. To make sure there’s something available that works within any budget, the prices are divided into three distinct categories:

• Budget $: 0 – 700
• Average $$: 701 – 1400
• Expert $$$: 1400+

travel lens

1. Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN ART

A standard full-frame zoom lens is ideal for aspiring travelers and offers balanced landscape and portrait photography performance. Its versatile 24-70mm focal length and maximum aperture at f/2.8 will help you in different shooting scenarios.

Build and handling: This 29.5oz (835g) pro-grade Art lens is surprisingly lightweight and compact for its large aperture range. This is thanks to the built-in Super Multi-Layer and Nano Porous Coating, which reduces flare and ghosting and produces brilliantly sharp images with vivid colors.

Performance: It offers an impressive f/2.8 aperture and fast autofocus, allowing you to capture vibrant photos with precise detail, regardless of lighting conditions. Plus, its Art performance brings out vivid colors. Although notably lacking image stabilization technology, its in-camera body image stabilizer (IBIS) quickly makes up for this minor handicap when shooting stills.

Best for: With its impressive versatility, this travel lens is your ideal companion on all life’s adventures, from street photography to hikes in nature.

This lens is a fantastic choice for any photography enthusiast, especially those starting. Its fast speed and adjustable range of focal lengths make it perfect for capturing beautiful landscapes and outstanding portrait shots.

portrait lenses

2. Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART

Photographers have argued over the best lens for portraits—is it 85 mm, 50 mm, or 35mm? This 85mm lens could be ideal for your Sony a7R IV camera, and it will stand out in stills.

Build and handling: Sigma’s pro-grade Art lens strikes an outstanding balance between quality and size, with its durable plastic construction reinforced by a brass mounting plate. At only 22 ounces, it is one of the lightest lenses in its class. Including a focus hold button and an AF/MF switch contributes to an impressively compact design.

Performance: This f/1.4 lens is a powerful choice for any photographer. Even in low-light environments and high-exposure shoots, it creates stunning quality images with exceptional accuracy, thanks to its reliable autofocus system that locks onto your target within milliseconds.

Best for: With portrait photography in mind, this lens offers an unparalleled soft background and a magnificent bokeh effect that will stand out. You can even adjust the aperture to f/16 for stunning professional-quality landscape shots.

Capture images of exceptional quality, featuring backgrounds with a smooth, blurred effect and captivating bokeh, ideally suited for achieving professional results.

3. Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM

It features an f/1.2 aperture that performs very well in low-light conditions and can freeze motion without relying on high ISO settings. This advanced technology, however, comes with a significant price tag.

Build and handling: Crafted from professional-grade materials with weather sealing, this lens boasts a range of features that ensure sharpness and clarity. At the same time, the robust yet compact design is surprisingly lightweight, giving it an f/1.2 pro-level specification.

Performance: This lens is ideal for photographers who demand quick results and excellent quality. Its ultra-fast aperture ensures speed without compromising clarity, while minimized chromatic aberration keeps photo sharpness consistent from center to edges.

Best for: This professional-grade lens represents a versatile choice for photographers, providing an ideal foundation for crafting stunning portraits, expansive landscapes, dynamic sports events, and memorable wedding scenes. Its ultra-wide aperture enhances its adaptability, ensuring outstanding performance across various environments and photographic styles.

Although its high price tag may make it a significant investment, anyone who takes advantage will certainly not be disappointed with their results.

4. Sony FE 35mm f/1.8

Sony’s FE 35mm f/1.8 lens blends functionality and performance, positioning it as an exemplary option for daily photography needs. Its design is aesthetically pleasing and remarkably compact, ensuring ease of transport without sacrificing durability.

Build and handling: It features a durable, lightweight aluminum alloy construction meticulously sealed to protect against dust and moisture. Weighing just 281 grams, this lens is one of the lightest options on this list.

Performance: This lens offers superb performance for capturing video shots due to its linear motor, which ensures quiet and smooth focusing. Moreover, the autofocus is quick, with a focus distance of 0.5m.

Best for: The 35mm lens is renowned for its flexible view angle and superior low-light performance, making it a favorite among photojournalists and wedding photographers. It excels in street photography and group portraits, delivering sharp, vibrant images. This classic lens consistently provides stunning results, cementing its status as a versatile choice.

This compact, lightweight prime lens provides exceptional sharpness in the center of every frame, even when shooting at f/1.8.

vlogging lens

5. Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G

For vlogging with the Sony a7R IV, ensure your lens is lightweight for easy handling and has a short focal length for effective self-shots, enhancing your overall user experience. This one here is lightweight, has a large aperture, and is quite compact.

Build and handling: At 13.2 oz, this wide-angle prime lens is featherweight and offers vloggers optimal portability and performance. Nano AR coating minimizes ghosting and flare. Its construction includes a dust/moisture resistance system, so don’t be afraid to take this bad boy on all your adventures.

Performance: Every vlogger wants to stand out in the crowd, and an f/1.8 aperture is key for creating a stunningly blurred background effect. This same large-aperture advantage also lends itself well to low-light performance. A silent focusing lens is beneficial, ensuring video audio quality remains undisturbed.

Best for: This multifaceted lens is ideal for capturing intricate street photography, detailed real estate images in confined spaces, or expansive landscape vistas. It opens a world of possibilities and delivers results that meet and exceed your expectations.

From its silent autofocus and large aperture to the remarkable image clarity in both photos and videos, this highly versatile product compensates for its high price point every step of the way.

prime lens

6. Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM

As part of Sony’s esteemed G Master series, this lens embodies an unmatched harmonious blend of precision, clarity, and bokeh thanks to its advanced optics and wide f/1.8 aperture. Optimized for both resolution and speed, it offers excellent autofocus capabilities, making it an ideal choice for various photography types.

Build and handling: This telephoto prime lens is a powerhouse of quality, weighing 33.5 oz. (950 g). It’s designed from professional-grade materials to ensure even weather sealing, and it boasts Nano AR Coating for reduced ghosting and flare.

Performance: With a 135mm focal length and an f/1.8 aperture, this lens ensures excellent contrast and detail capture, even in challenging low-light conditions. It excels at isolating subjects from their background, highlighting them with remarkable clarity and distinction.

Best for:
The Sony 135mm lens enhances portrait photography with its remarkable depth of field and bokeh and is versatile enough for weddings, sports, landscapes, or detailed street photography. Its superior optical quality ensures standout results across a variety of subjects.

The Sony 135mm lens is a top choice for expert portrait photographers using the Sony a7R IV. Despite its premium cost, it offers the potential to elevate your photography to new perspectives.

wide-angle lenses

7. Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM

This high-grade wide-angle lens will be useful for several occasions, primarily when working on tight spaces or capturing vast objects into one frame.

Build and handling: This ultra-wide lens, covering 16 to 35mm focal lengths, offers exceptional versatility for capturing close-up and wide-angle shots. It is constructed with high-quality, weather-sealed materials and features a convenient focus switch and hold button. It is a reliable and user-friendly choice for photographers looking to broaden their creative possibilities.

Performance: Its autofocus Dual DDSSM systems enable speedy and quiet operation for unequaled focus accuracy, delivering crisp contrast and sharpness that will astound any creative.

Best for: The lens’s exceptional capabilities ensure clarity and depth in a wide range of scenes, enabling you to capture everything from group photos at events and weddings to majestic cityscapes in one shot.

This wide-angle lens for Sony a7R IV may have an uncompromising price tag, but its excellent performance is worth investing in.

8. Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN ART

It is a much cheaper alternative to the previous FE 16-35mm lens, making it the ideal choice for budget-conscious photographers. Despite its lower price point, it still offers exceptional image quality and an on-par aperture with only a minimal difference in focal length compared to the previous lens.

Build and handling: This wide-angle lens provides fast and silent autofocusing capabilities with its built-in HyperSonic Motor. Perfect for prolonged handheld shooting, this 28oz powerhouse also offers Multi-Layer Coating to help reduce flare & ghosting in your images.

Performance: Sigma Art lenses are renowned for their exceptional image quality – this model is no exception. It provides outstanding contrast and sharpness, while the f/2.8 aperture allows remarkable performance in challenging low-light conditions.

Best for: This versatile lens excels in diverse photography fields, from events to architecture and real estate. Its wide viewing angle is perfect for capturing stunning panoramic landscapes, making it an essential tool for photographers seeking to enhance their visual impact.

The Sony wide-angle lens is an outstanding choice, offering a superb quality-to-price ratio. You may sacrifice some specs with this option compared to the previous model. However, for those needing professional results at an excellent value, it does not disappoint.

telephoto lenses

9. Sony FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II

This Sony telephoto zoom lens has been highly sought-after, with preorders filling and an impressive waiting list. This latest model is 30% lighter than its predecessor and provides any enthusiast or professional photographer with superior photography capabilities.

Build and handling: This pro-grade telephoto lens has a strong aluminum alloy body, providing strength and stability while keeping the weight low at 36.9oz (1045g). To ensure an optimal photo experience, 5-axis Optical SteadyShot combined with Nano AR Coating II further minimizes flare and ghosting in your photos, delivering crystal-clear images.

Performance: This lens is sure to impress with its wide and fast maximum aperture of f/2.8—something rarely found in telephoto zoom lenses. Its quick autofocus speed and stunning results are also impressive, even when shooting in low-light conditions.

Best for: This telephoto zoom’s versatile capabilities allow it to capture various subjects, from landscapes and wildlife photography to sports.

This premium camera gear features professional-grade imaging capabilities and stabilizing optics, helping you capture quality photos with sharp precision.

10. Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3

This surprisingly affordable zoom lens at a pro-grade level has been a hit with photographers looking to get up close and personal with those hard-to-reach distant subjects such as wildlife.

Build and handling: This lens features three customizable focus-hold buttons for optimal shot capture, dust and moisture resistance for durability, and fluorine plus Nano AR Coatings to reduce reflections and glare. These characteristics ensure the lens’s longevity and the exceptional quality of images in various conditions.

Performance: It has built-in optical stabilization, an 11-blade circular aperture mechanism, and an internal zoom. Sony’s advanced Direct Drive SSM focusing system ensures smooth focus transitions.

Best for: Sony’s FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is a must-have for sports, action, and wildlife photographers. It provides versatility in an incredible super-telephoto zoom package.

Despite having a slightly narrower aperture than what is generally available on the market, it quickly became increasingly difficult to obtain in the months after launch.

budget lens

11. Sony 28mm f/2.0

With its small size and prime features, such as the impressive aperture, this budget lens option for Sony a7R IV is an ideal choice to kick-start your journey into photography.

Build and handling: This fast prime lens is surprisingly lightweight yet robustly constructed with an aluminum alloy body, making it well-suited for professional use. Additionally, its moisture and dust resistance provide extra peace of mind when shooting in adverse weather conditions.

Performance: This lens’s premium design provides extraordinary performance even in challenging scenarios, such as low-light photography. Experience its f/2.0 aperture and silent autofocus motor, ensuring images are captured with sharpness and come alive with vivid colors.

Best for: 28mm prime lenses may be overlooked in photography but can still offer immense value for a shooter’s portfolio. Its unique perspective adds creative potential to images of landscapes and portraits alike.

The Sony a7R IV lens represents exceptional value, providing outstanding performance and remarkable image quality at a cost-effective price.

zoom lens

12. Sony FE 24-105mm f4 G OSS

It offers superior performance and exceptional versatility, allowing you to capture various images. It’s an excellent lens for everyday use or when traveling a lot.

Build and handling: An aluminum body gives this pro-grade lens an impressive weight without sacrificing quality. You can trust its dust and moisture resistance thanks to the Nano AR and Fluorine coatings.

Performance: With a maximum aperture throughout its zoom range, this lens gives you control over your focus and allows for stunning background blur. Super Sonic autofocus provides fast performance and built-in image stabilization, which helps to produce sharp images in harsh lighting conditions.

Best for: Whether you’re capturing the hustle and bustle of busy city streets, snapping those perfect portraits on your travels, or enjoying nature at its finest, this will do the hard work.

The investment in this lens is highly justified by its exemplary performance. It offers one of the best value-for-money propositions for aspiring professionals looking to enhance their photography portfolios.

macro lens

13. Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro ART

Capture the beauty of minuscule creatures and objects with a macro lens specially designed for Sony cameras. This lens offers remarkable quality at an attractive price point.

Build and handling: The Sony a7R IV macro lens provides a professional aesthetic, incorporating weather-sealed materials for durability and a comfortable grip for ease of use. To ensure optimal image clarity and contrast, it is equipped with a Super Multi-Layer Coating designed to suppress flare and ghosting.

Performance: The f/2.8 aperture offers the best quality, with stunning details and soft background effects. Its hypersonic motor achieves fast focus, making capturing your favorite moments noiseless!

Best for: The 105mm focal length allows you to capture shots without invading your subject’s space and prevents lens shade from becoming problematic.

This is one of the best lenses for the Sony a7R IV and is an ideal choice for macro photography. It boasts a powerful 105mm focal length, an aperture of 2.8, and a hypersonic motor, and the price is quite reasonable.

Conclusion

There was a review of the best lenses for the Sony a7R IV. With an array of options, this Sony full-frame camera presents a unique opportunity to customize your photography experience. From travel to macro lenses, everyone has advantages and disadvantages that should be weighed carefully. Ultimately, it is up to you to determine which lens best suits your individual needs.

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