Last Updated on 04/07/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
These Sony E Mount lenses aren’t only affordable, they’re super fun to use and produce wonderful images.
There are a plethora of Sony E Mount Lenses available to Alpha shooters, and honestly it can be a little hard to sort through all of the offerings. Sometimes this can lead to fantastic lenses falling through the cracks. In this round-up we’re going to take a look at six third party Sony E Mount lenses that are wallet friendly, will produce outstanding images, and are just a pure joy to use. These third party Sony E Mount Lenses prove that you don’t have to buy official Sony glass, and you don’t have to spend over four figures to get glass that will simply wow you.
One of the things I hear people who considering a switch to Sony say is that the lenses are so expensive. That may be true for G Master glass, but regular Sony glass, (and of course third party offerings), are quite affordable; especially the Sony E Mount lenses we have chosen. Below you’re going to see some prime lenses and some zooms, but the best thing you will see are the prices. Most of the Sony E Mount lenses listed are well under $1,000, which is really amazing seeing as these lenses are top performers. Check them out.
Rokinon 20mm F1.8 (Sony E Mount, FE)
Pros
- A budget friendly lens with excellent performance
- Smooth focusing
- Feels nice
Cons
- Big on the Sony E mount lineup of cameras
- Though this won’t be a con to lots of people, it’s a very standard lens that is very clinical in its image creation. Personally, I need some character that helps me to create photos that don’t look like everyone else’s.
- Why no depth of field scale?
Check out our full review
Buy now ($449): Amazon
Lensbaby Burnside 35mm F2.8 (Sony FE)
Pros
- Solid aluminum construction means the lens can withstand considerable abuse during field use
- Buttery smooth focus ring
- Dreamy bokeh quality
- Vignette Control is an interesting way to dial in your vignette and bokeh quality in camera
Cons
- Lack of weather sealing
- The front lens cap is of the pressure fit design, so forgetful or accident prone photographers should take care to put it away in a secure location while shooting with this lens
- Clicked aperture ring means this lens may not be suitable for video shooters
Check out our full review
Buy now ($499.95): Amazon
Pro Tip: One thing that can be hard to keep track of are lens caps. These pesky pieces of plastic seem to disappear immediately after taking them off of your lens, and honestly they don’t provide a whole lot of protection. Fortunately there are some universal, weather proof lens caps that can protect your glass. You can even color code them so that you know which lens is hiding under the hood! Not only will they protect your Sony E Mount Lenses from the elements, they won’t break the bank either.
Rokinon 35mm F2.8 FE (Sony FE Full Frame E Mount)
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Good bokeh
- Focuses pretty much as closely as the Sony version. It isn’t as accurate in low lighting or as fast though.
- Affordable
Cons
- Weather sealing would have been nice but I understand why it isn’t there.
- Focus motors can be a bit loud at times with later cameras
Check out our full review
Buy now ($269): Amazon
Rokinon 50mm F1.4 AF FE (Sony E Mount, Full Frame)
Pros
- Contrasty images
- Sharp photos
- Beautiful bokeh
- Metal feeling build on the exterior
- Autofocus that works pretty darned well
Cons
- Autofocus isn’t as fast as Sony’s
- Really wish it had weather sealing, but the price point isn’t really for that
- Pretty big
Check out our full review
Buy now ($549): Amazon
Pro Tip: Before you ever leave your home to go and shoot always give your lenses the once over, and if they look dirty, give them a good clean. You really don’t want to have your images ruined by dust and water spots. A simple, affordable lens cleaning kit is what you need. Grab one and keep it in your camera bag at all times. You’ll be pleased you did.
Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD (Sony FE)
Pros
- Weather sealing
- Sharp optics
- Fast focusing in pretty much any situation
- Nice bokeh
- Small and lightweight
- Considerably under $1,000
- More than good enough for what most photographers will need to do.
Cons
- Some folks may gawk at the fact that it isn’t a Sony G Master lens and will fetishize the G Master series in the same way Canon shooters put L glass on a pedestal.
Check out our full review
Buy now ($879): Amazon
Venus Optics Laowa 105mm F2 Smooth Trans Focus Lens (Sony E, Full Frame)
Pros
- Incredible colors
- Fantastic sharpness when in focus and using a flash
- Great for skin tones
- Excellent build quality overall
- Feels great in the hand
Cons
- Considering that this isn’t an electronically connected lens, I’ve got no major issues overall.
Check out our full review
Buy now ($699): Amazon