If you want to get the most out of your Sony cameras when it comes to portrait photography, you need to take a closer look at these killer E mount lenses.
There are good reasons why portrait photographers decide to join team Sony. Sony’s cameras, from their APS-C cameras to their Full Frame offerings, are capable of producing gorgeous images. Then, when you throw in unmatched autofocus performance, including the best eye and face tracking performance in the business, it’s easy to understand why so many photographers choose them. Portrait photographers who shoot with Sony cameras also have some incredible E mount lenses to choose from too. In this roundup, we will share the first lenses worth a closer look if you want to create some killer portraits.
All the lenses we suggested below are perfect for a wide range of portrait photographers. Environmental portrait photographers will love the wider 35mm options, bokeh lovers will adore the 85mm options, and portrait photographers who appreciate versatility will like the zoom lenses we have chosen. Below are E mount lenses that cover a wide range of price points, so there is something for everyone here. One thing you do not have to worry about is optical quality. We assure you the E mount lenses on this list will seriously impress.
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Very affordable
- Extremely sharp
- Fast-focusing
- Stellar build quality
Cons
- No weather sealing
Buy now: $634.96
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
- Pretty darn good autofocus
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
Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary (APS-C)
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Gorgeous bokeh
- Lightweight and compact design
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- One of three widest maximum aperture (f1.4) lenses currently available for Crop Sensor Sony E Mount
- Dust and splash-proof design with a rubber gasket integrated found around the lens mount
- 35mm equivalent focal length of 84mm very nearly matches the 85mm focal length preferred by many portrait photographers
Cons
- Lacks optical stabilization
- Pincushioning is especially noticeable in RAW files, although correctable during post-production
- While mountable to Full Frame Sony Mirrorless cameras, the lens will only work in crop sensor mode
Buy now: $381.88
Pro Tip: There’s more to portrait photography than pointing your camera at a pretty face and hoping for the best. We highly suggest you practice on friends and family members before you ply your trade with paying clients. If you need help when it comes to communicating with your subjects, or if you need help posing them, we suggest this tutorial and a family member. The Portrait Photography Bootcamp from Lindsay Adler will get you on the path to success in no time.
Zeiss 85mm F1.8 Batis
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Great colors. At the same time, they are a bit mutedâthis 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 blue for us and generally need to be warmed up
- Top LCD display is pretty useless on a focal length like this
Buy now: $889.99
Rokinon 85mm F1.4 AF FE
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- More affordable than Sonyâs higher-end option
- Good image quality
- Smooth bokeh
- Sharp image quality
- Nice colors
Cons
- We wish there was more robust weather sealing
Buy now: $647.68
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: $2,098
Pro Tip: Knowing how to communicate with your subjects, how to pose them, and how to capture the final image is one thing, but knowing how to make them look their best during post is another ballgame entirely. If you would like to learn the ins and out of portrait retouching, you need to see this masterclass from Lisa Carney. Lisa will guide you step by step through her editing process so that you can make your images really stand out from the crowd.
Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
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: there is going to be much less measurbation in this review than normal.
Cons
- Some folks may gawk at the fact that it isnât a Sony G Master lens and will fetishize the G Master series in the same way Canon shooters put L glass on a pedestal vs many others
Buy now: $849.99
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
Buy now: $2,598
