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Camera Bodies & Lenses
TOOLS + PRODUCTS I LOVE
My Favorite Brands
My Camera Body & Lens Picks
CamerA Bodies
One of my favorite features of the Sony Alpha cameras is the “Auto ISO Minimum Shutter Speed” feature. This allows photographers to work in Aperture Priority mode and float the ISO, while still controlling the minimum shutter speed (i.e. 1/2000 fps for action, 1/focal length, or slower (panning or ICM.) Program this menu item to a customizable button to quickly change the setting, and it is a game-changer.
Simply an amazing 50.1 MP camera all the way around. Sony’s flagship camera. If you have the budget, this is my top pick.
I am still shooting with a Sony A7RIII camera, and I love it! But new A7RIII cameras are hard to find. So the Sony A7RV is my first A7R camera body recommendation, followed by the Sony a7RIVA (Refresh) as a more budget-friendly but still highly-capable option. Having said that, shop around, because I have seen the price of a Sony A7RV dip at or below the Sony a7RIVA (Refresh) price on occasion!
Consider looking for used A7RIIIA, A7RIVA and A7RV camera bodies too if you are on a budget. I have had great experiences with KEH Camera.
Sony Lenses
I prefer using prime lenses, but I do recommend a super-wide, and a couple of super-telephoto zoom lenses as well. You might also note that I skip the 24mm and 50mm focal lengths. This is just my opinion, but I believe that whatever looks good at 24mm will look more interesting at 20mm, and whatever looks good at 50mm will look more interesting at 35mm or 85mm.
I don’t own this lens, but I wanted to include it since it is a phenomenal albeit pricey lens. If you are a serious landscape photographer with a higher budget, this is a fantastic lens choice. Keep in mind this lens does not have filter threads, so you will need to purchase a filter system with components that are made specifically for it. For more information about the filter system I recommend for this lens and why, visit our Camera Brackets & Accessories page.
An excellent fast, ultra-wide prime lens. This lens also does not have filter threads, so you will need to purchase a filter system with components that are made specifically for it. For more information about the filter system I recommend for this lens and why, visit our Camera Brackets & Accessories page.
This fast-aperture lens is well-suited for astro, landscape, and even portrait photography. While a 24mm lens does add some distortion to portrait subjects at the edges of the frame, the effect can be used very creatively to add a little more somethin’ somethin’ to your photo. To help mitigate the distortion effect, especially when photographing a person, consider placing the subject closer to the center of the frame. For reference, a smart phone camera defaults to roughly the 24mm focal length.
This lens has a ton of character, and the 35mm focal length is extremely versatile. I prefer 35mm lenses to 50mm lenses. The former creates photos with a bit more character in my opinion.
I guess one might call this lens a “Nifty 85.” If you are a full-time portrait photographer, consider purchasing the newly refreshed Sony FE 85mm GM II f/1.4 lens. But this lens is so good, that I chose it over the faster f/1.4 version without a second thought.
In my opinion, one of the best lenses in the Sony lineup. I use this lens often. Will I replace this lens with the brand new Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM lens? Nope, and here’s why: character. This Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 renders gorgeous pictures. I can’t part with it!
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
This is a spectacular, workhorse of a lens! To say it is sharp is an understatement. If you have the budget, in lieu of purchasing the Sony FE 100-400mm lens, I might consider pairing this Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II lens with a Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter or a Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter instead.
While adding teleconverters to the older Sony FE 70-200mm lens, especially a 2.0x teleconverter, resulted in slightly degraded image quality, this updated Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II lens is so sharp to begin with, that in my opinion, you can get away with using both teleconverters. That means you can cover the 70-400mm focal lengths with one lens. Just remember you lose one stop with the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter (f/4 instead of f/2.8) and two stops with the Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter teleconverter (f/5.6 instead of f/2.8). Still impressive!
What about the new Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM lens instead of this lens? I still prefer the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II lens. I don’t take many pictures at 50 mm – I prefer to move to 35 mm or 70/85mm instead. Pictures taken at these focal lengths just seem more interesting to me than those taken at 50mm.
Additionally, you CAN’T use teleconverters with the Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM lens, and it doesn’t have built in image stabilization.
You CAN use the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter and Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter with the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II and this lens also has image stabilization (OSS.)
This lens is expensive, but it is a banger! Couple it with a Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter or a Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter teleconverter, and you have a 420mm lens (f/4 instead of f/2.8) and a 600mm lens (f/5.6 instead of f/2.8) respectively. If you also switch to APS-C mode with the Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter, you will effectively have an 840mm f/5.6 lens.
If you are looking for a more budget friendly alternative to the Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS lens, consider the Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens lbelow.
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS
I don’t yet own a copy, but this lens paired with the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II lens plus a Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter, might be a winning combination!
The Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS is compatible with both Sony FE 1.4x and Sony FE 2.0x teleconverters. It has a 5.6′ (1.7m) minimum focus distance at 400mm, a 11.5′ (3.5m) minimum focus distance at 800mm, and a
0.23x minimum magnification ratio.
In my opinion, this is a better sports and wildlife super-telephoto choice, if your budget allows for it, than the older Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens. If not, the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS is still a great lens.
Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 GM OSS Macro Lens
This new Sony macro lens is now available for pre-order, and in my opinion, it is a game-changer. Unlike its predecessor, the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 G OSS Macro Lens, this lens features a higher 1.4x magnification, and is compatible with the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter and Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter, which I find very exciting! This means this lens is capable of taking pictures at a whopping 2.8x magnification when used with a Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter.
The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 GM OSS Macro Lens is Sony’s first G Master Lens complete with four XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors for extremely fast focusing, making it ideal for capturing insects in flight. This versatile lens can also be used for various types of photography, including wedding and portrait photography.
Loawa Lenses
The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D lens is a manual focus lens, but it is sharp and it has very little distortion especially for a super-wide-angle lens. This crazy little lens also has a minimum focusing distance of just 18 centimeters, and has a 0.2X maximum magnification, so macro wide-angle shots are completely within the realm of this lens. This is another lens without filter threads, so you will need to purchase a filter system with components that are made specifically for it. For more information about the filter system I recommend for this lens and why, visit our Camera Brackets & Accessories page.
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO
If the new Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 GM OSS Macro Lens coupled with a Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter or a Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter is a bit steep for your budget, this Laowa 100mm 2x Macro lens is a great alternative. It provides 2:1 magnification at a far more affordable price point.
Yes, there is a newer (built specifically for mirrorless cameras) version of this lens, but here is a another lil’ secret: the Laowa 100mm 2x Macro lens is compatible with the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter and the Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter!
To the best of my knowledge, the newer Laowa 90mm 2x Macro lens is NOT compatible with these teleconverters!
The newer Laowa 90 mm 2x Macro lens does appear to be a tiny bit sharper, and it has less vignetting in the corners. But if you take a look at the Christopher Frost videos for these two lenses (linked below), it it appears that diffraction sets in at f/11 for the 90mm lens, but not until f/16 with the older Laowa 100mm 2x Macro lens.
Be aware that both of these Laowa 2x Macro lenses are manual focus lenses, so that is an additional price-vs-features tradeoff with the Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 GM OSS Macro Lens. But I default to manual focus most of the time anyway when shooting macro subjects.