Last Updated on 07/22/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
These portrait lenses will really put all 61 Megapixels of the Sony a7r IV to use.
The new Sony a7r IV is a Full-Frame powerhouse that packs a whopping 61 Megapixels into a small body. The potential of this camera will give portrait photographers the ability to capture stunning images when paired with portrait lenses capable of resolving crazy amounts of detail. Fortunately, the Sony E Mount platform has a plethora of lenses that will blow your mind. After the break, we will take a quick a look at portrait lenses you will definitely want to use with the new Sony a7r IV.
The portrait lenses we have listed below will work perfectly with the Sony a7r IV. All of them are razor-sharp, they can render stunning colors, and the bokeh they can produce is nothing short of magical. When it comes to portrait lenses that have native Sony E Mount offerings these are tough to beat, and we have no doubt they will be able to capture as much detail as possible with a camera that boasts 61 Megapixels. Without further adieu, here’s our list!
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Very affordable
- Extremely sharp
- Fast-focusing
- Stellar build quality
Cons
- May need some micro-adjustment out of the box
- No weather sealing
Buy now ($774.99): Amazon
Sony Zeiss 35mm F1.4
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Sharp, saturated images
- Beautiful bokeh
- Aperture ring feels very nice if you choose to use it
- Splash and dust resistance
- Pretty fast focusing abilities
- Very silent motors
- Colors work well skin tones
Cons
- Lack of depth of field scale, which really hurts videographers
- Not as sharp as Sigmaâs 35mm f1.4 wide open and not as contrasty
- Big in relation to the Sony A7 camera bodies
Buy now($1,498): Amazon
Pro Tip: Having a camera that can capture stunning amounts of detail is one thing, but knowing how to edit the photos of such high powered cameras is another. Using a camera like the Sony a7r IV will create gorgeous images, but it could also create problem; capturing too much detail (especially skin detail). If you already know how to edit portraits, and how to remove blemishes to make your models look their best, kudos to you. If not, you should look into taking a retouching master class that will teach you how to make your images look they’re very best.
Rokinon 50mm F1.4 AF FE
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Contrasty images
- Sharp photos
- Beautiful bokeh
- Metal feeling build on the exterior
- Autofocus that works pretty darned well
Cons
- Autofocus isnât as fast as Sonyâs
- Really wish it had weather sealing, but the price point isnât really for that
- Pretty big
Buy now ($499): Amazon
Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Great colors, though the 25mm f2Â edges it out. At the same time, these colors are a bit mutedâas is what Zeiss will do with portrait lenses so as not to create too many issues with post-production
- Compact size for a lens like this
- Weather resistance
- Extremely fast and accurate focusing
- Very sharp, though many of Sonyâs native offerings are sharper
Cons
- Only f1.8
- Skin tones rendered very blue for us and generally need to be warmed up
- Top LCD display is pretty useless on a focal length like this
Buy now ($910.27): Amazon
Pro Tip: Buying a new camera, and new portrait lenses can be incredibly expensive, so you’re going to want to make sure that your considerable investment will work, and will last for as long as possible. We can’t stress enough just how important it is to clean your lenses and your camera regularly. At the very least you should have a basic lens cleaning kit so that you can take care of dirt, dust, and other debris that will attach itself to the front element of your lens, but we highly recommend having a full camera cleaning kit so that you can take care of your gear correctly.
Sony 85mm F1.4 G Master
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- 11 Aperture blades are the most of any autofocus portrait lens made so far
- Big, but very balanced with the Sony a7
- Aperture control around the lens is nice
- Fast autofocus performance
- Nice color rendition for portraiture
- The best bokeh of any 85mm lens weâve tested
- Weather sealing
- Wonderful for skin tones
Cons
- Expensive
Buy no ($1,798): Amazon
Sony 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Great image quality in most situations
- Sharp performance, again in most situations
- Optical stabilization
- Fast-focusing performance
- Very silent stabilization
- Internal focusing design, and one that is pretty small for what it is. In fact, itâs about on par with a DSLR lens designed for the same purpose.
- Push/pull focusing ring
- Lightweight
- At last, a focusing scale that actually works!
Cons
- The colors just arenât there compared to many of Sonyâs other lenses. Perhaps this was done specifically for portraits, but youâre mostly going to rely on the capabilities of the Sony sensorsâwhich are very good
Buy now ($1,098): Amazon
Pro Tip:Â Have you ever wished there was a quicker, easier way to edit your photos, and give them a clean, consistent look and feel? Well, you’re in luck because there is. Presets offer the perfect foundation on which to build your edits. You can choose a preset that you like and leave it as it, or you can tweak the presets to your liking. Once you’re done, you can apply that preset to every image in a set of photos so that they look the same. They are quick and easy to use, and they could save you hours in post. This bundle comes with over 1,500 presets, and it’s ridiculously cheap.
Sony 135mm F1.8 G Master
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Preferred focal length for portraiture
- Dust and moisture resistant
- Sturdy magnesium alloy construction
- Lighter than most 135mm lenses on the market
Cons
- Lacks stabilization
- Priced higher than Sigmaâs 135mm f1.8 Art lens
Buy now ($1,862.59): Amazon
Sony 70-200mm F2.8 OSS G Master
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Great image quality
- Nice bokeh
- Fairly compact for a 70-200mm f2.8 lens.
- Good build quality
- Can focus pretty fast with the latest cameras
Cons
- Pretty pricey
Buy now ($2,598): Amazon
