Budget Sony Lenses That Will Blow Your Mind 

If I could only have one lens on my full frame Sony---- probably the Tamron 28-200 just for its versatility! My first full frame lens ( not including the ones I bought for my a6000) was the Sony 55 f1.8 that I bought along with my a7iii.

I love the Samyang 45mm 1.8 as a probably way sharper alternative to the Sony 50mm 1.8. And the Tamron 28-75 2.8 is my work horse wedding photography.

Am a big fan of Samyang lenses. I have the samyang 24-70 f2.8. What a sharp lens, have the 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4, just love the compactness n sharpness of the 50 1.4. I also have the 135mm 1.8, a wow lens for me. One of the reasons i shifted from nikon to sony was for the samyang lenses. The quality u get for the price is just great

My current A7IV kit is comprised of the - Sony 20mm f1.8 - Sigma 65mm f2 - Samyang 135mm 1.8 & - Tamron 150-500mm I feel like each of the lenses are an amazing value, especially when buying gently used. We’re definitely spoiled by technology now

1. Sony 24-105mm F4 OSS - Great all purpose and all around well built (G standard) lens (from landscape to portrait with the compression at 105) with decent sharpness and stabilization. 2. Sony 35mm F1.8 - Sharp enough for 98% of the general population for both photography and video (almost no focus breathing) and the 35mm focal length is great for most situation 3. Sony 50mm F1.8 - Yes, when it comes to value this nifty fifty has no match! $200 for a sharp enough lens. It has some flaws (loud and obsolete autofocus system - but still works absolutely just fine with latest Sony bodies like A74) and cheap plastic built... But the strengths of this lens outweigh its weaknesses. Among the strengths: small and light, sharp enough for most enthusiasts, cheapest lens from Sony. Peace.

Nice studio, definitely fresh look. Sony 35mm F1.8 is one of the best lenses. I would recommend it as first lens for both photo and video for FF Sony E mount camera.

I agree about the option of a 50mm as a kit lens. Having had film SLRs from the 70's until digital, the only lens that came as a kit lens usually was a 50mm. I have just scanned a lot of my old photos and what struck me was how amazing they were. All taken with 50mm , either 1.8 or 1.4. In the 70s zooms weren't common or as good quality as todays and oddly I never even thought about zooms. Your feet were the zoom.

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 😊.

Viltrox seems to offer f1.8 lenses for a really reasonable price, and that too with auto focus which is really cool

The 35 and 85 1.8 are my go to lenses. Bought both used for 2/3 of the new price. I really love my 70-200/2.8 GM II + TC2x for dogs, horses, sports etc. But I use the cheap lenses 5x more.

Hi Mark! Fortunally there's so many lenses that which we could argue are worth much more than they cost! Anyway, now i'm using the Samyang (Rokinon i think is the correct name in your country) 75 F1.8. It's lightweight, it's supersharp, it's cheap and it has a lovely character! I think you should talk about it!

A old APS-C lens E 10-18mm F4 OSS (15-27mm) can be used at 12-18mm in Full Frame (18mm if you remove the light shield) and there are rear filters that can be used that have no affect on polarizers on ultra wide lenses with the blue hump in the center of an image due to being at the rear not front of lens, also remove the tulip light shied in 12mm. The key to this lens is how small and having threads for filters. So small you can have in your pocket or as a extra lens for that ultra wide 12mm capture landscape or for indoor. I used in 2015 for Astro Milky Way capture at 12mm F4 30 second captures three years before a real 12-24mm that is a tank in comparing. I used with the A7SM1 that has no IBIS for this lens has OSS, but like a mentioned remove the tulip in Full Frame.

I would disagree, the Samsung 24mm 1.8 is a much better lens than the Viltrox one and has the astro photography feature too. I would even argue that the Tamron 24mm 2.8 is a much better value for money than the Viltrox one, you get 1:2 macro and sharper images.

Please Sony can you not make a MKii version of the nifty 50 as the one we have now it is shite ..the Samyang 45mm F1.8 is a better option

brother review sigma18-35mm f1.8 + sigma mc11 adapter for sony aps-c

I agree on the Sony 50mm f1.8. I have that one and it's very good value. Also I have the Viltrox 85mm f1.8 which is another great value alternative in that focal length.

This was a great video but i wish you attached some sample footage from the lenses you mentioned.

No 85mm F1.2 because E-Mount is compromised and too small compared to Z & RF mounts

Great job on the video Mark! Thanks for making it. Good list.

Great video couple of extra mentions the 28mm f2 can be had for about 150 used. and I just managed to get the Yongnuo 35mm 1.8 for £130 new from k&f just waiting for it to arrive :)

This man too funny … not “my opinion matters more than most others”

Got the Sony 85mm 1.8 on Amazon discounted at £340 back in January. Very good bargain.

Hey Mark, im going to buy a Sony wide angle to zoom how can I predetermine if a gimbal has to be readjusted when zooming? Thx😮😊

Wish there were image or video samples

I love Sony cameras I have 3 now. One thing I wish they’d work on is better stabilization. Why can’t we get gopro type stabilization? It sure would make them a lot better for walking around videos without a gimbal. PLEASE sony make that happen

I think Mark, you must be reading my mind as to what videos I need. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼👌🏼

I use the Sigma 100-400 every day for squirrel vlogs. I never use the Sigma 28-70, which I thought I would. I use the Sony 24 G 2.8 all the time for vlogging on ZVE1 in active stab. The Sony 50 1.8 gets used around the house for cat photos.

If I want to pair an ultrawide lens with expectation of a bit of crop to use as everyday lens to the A7RV 723g with Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 1155g, should I get Loawa 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 manual lens 496g, Sony 12-24mm F4 565g or Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 795g? But will Sony 12-24mm F4 mark 2 release soon? F2.8 seem not much different to F4 for the extra weight and price, better go faster if need that noticeable low light performance. That 10-18 is nice but no electronic contact and weaker performance to use as main lens but there are people try to make their lens less sharp too, so it's good choice? I also found the Tamron 17-50 F4 and it is amazing to have same series lens to cover ranges continuously but 17 isn't wide enough, 50 is covered and >=30 can just reach with few steps back, right? Also a RU-vidr said that Sony 20-70 has serious distortion and won't be 20mm after correction, true? How about the 17-50, will it still be true 17mm after correction? How do you correct it for video use, is it auto done in lens or camera, how about manual lens with no contact? Does power zoom essential on the Sony 16-35mm F4, do dolly zoom able to achieve with these manual zoom lens smoothly too and even fixed lens with software? Loawa 9mm seem great but even 2X crop will be only 18mm for photo.

Recentely i bought the zve1 just your recommendation and i need a pancake 16mm for vlog with the dinámic stabilization because the viltrox it's a monster thanks yo You i bought the viltrox bit it's heavy and big

I have a Sony 50mm 1.8 and Viltrox 20mm 2.8 and a Sony 55mm - 210mm Use it with my Sony ZV E10. Enjoying working with them.

Even though I'm shooting with the Sony FX30, I have the full frame Viltrox 24mm f/1.8 lens. Which is a fantastic lens. I've been shooting my YT videos with the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 lens. Which is sweet, cuz the AF works so well with Sony cameras. I've been looking at the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 because its made for APS-C. It is very popular, so even MPB prices aren't much cheaper than brand new from B&H or Adorama. If I were to get it, I'd just buy it new from B&H.

I bought the 11mm Sony, the 23mm Viltrox. Next on the list is the 27mm Viltrox and the 16mm Sony pancake. That last one is not great, but as a pancake, it allows me to pocket my A6700 with a half decent 24mm lens. I do not like 50mm, too long! I'll always go to 35mm, skip 50mm, go for a prime around 100mm. no zoom

Poor Samyang didn't make the cut :D Neither the Tamron 20-40 f2.8 or the 17-50 f4...Awesome video Mark as always! I would probably get the G 20mm f1.8 (with active stabilization and focus breathing comp. is technically a 24mm f1.8 and get a zoom like the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 G2 if I would start all over again... but I am 2 cameras and 5 lenses deep in this game already currently after selling a few before :D Sony FX3 Sony A7IV Sony GM 16-35 Sony G 20 Sony GM 35 Sigma Art 24-70 Tamron 70-180 to be exact :D

I took a totally different route. Because I never worked with different focal lengths, and I have limited funds, I adapted many vintage lenses on my A6000; eventually I found that 135mm was what I liked. I bought a used FF and the Samyang 135/1.8, and this makes me happy.🙂

Sony 50mm is the king just get it. It is plastic but for me that is even an advantage keeps my whole setup light. It is also super small and the 1.8 is defenetly enough. I often need to go up with the fstop numbers to get more then one person on the image and not blurring everything. I use only this lens since 2 years now even for professional work and people love the photos it creates.

I went with the Sony 70-200mm 2.8 ii for my first lens for my Sony A7RV that I just got no it long ago for my first full frame camera and have now gotten the Sony 200-600mm and the viltrox 16mm 1.8 and also gotten the Sony 2x converter and now looking to get the 1.4 converter and a Sony 24-70 2.8 ii and a 16-35mm and then I think I will be set for a bit lol

My Sigma 28-70f2.8 lives on my Sony. I do wish it went as wide as 24mm but the 24-70 weighs twice as much and weight is definitely a factor. I’ve also got the Tamron 70-180 which I love. Sigma feels a bit more premium but neither feel cheap and they are both phenomenal optically AND have macro capabilities. I’ve also got a 35f1.8 and 18f2.8 Rokinon which are fantastic value. The Rokinons do feel a bit cheaper but optically they deliver. If I only had one lens, it’d be a 28-70f2.8, then a 70-180f2.8, then a 35f1.8..

I have a weird combo as I'm still just getting started. Tamron 18-300 3.5-6.3, Sigma 30 1.4, & a Sony kit 16-50 3.5-5.6. I'm excited to save up money to get a decent lens one day. Just deciding on brand, focal length etc... Mark, do you have any socials or a place where you display photos?

I did buy the 28-200mm as my first and only lens for my a7r5 with travel photography in mind. It’s a great lens even on a high-res camera.

Sorry if I’m late. How compares the viltrox 24 to a sigma 16mm 1.4 in crop mode ? Which one would you get ?

I have an APSC, finally a video I don’t have to watch…….who am I kidding. All in. Let’s go Mark! lol

You have to mention what class of sony lens your speaking about. FE, or E

nice, may grab one or two. just received a rokinon 12mm f/2.0 today for $128.

For some reason, my 16mm 1.4 sigma works frictionless on my ZV-E1. And I don’t know why.

Tamron 20mm 2.8 is one of the best value ultra wide autofocusing near macro lenses available

For an all purpose zoom lens, I hear a lot of great things about the Tamron 35-150 f2-2.8. It’s a great zoom range with a wider than f2.8 aperture at smaller focal lenghts. Its definetely not cheap, but i think it’s cheaper than buying both a 28-75 and a 70-180.

I swear, I said it before and I'm gonna say it again. Viltrox is the King of affordable premium feels Camera lenses in the market.

Great Video

Just got a new to me A7RIII, this video was very useful!

Nice video, thanks! I can recommend the Samyang 85mm 1.4 AF. Although Mark 2 was released, I bought the cheaper Mark 1 a few months ago. Absolutely love it!

What about APSC lens Mark? Please don't leave APSC away 🥲 Would love to see an APSC version of this video!

The 50 1.8 is not sharp at all at 1.8 which is what most people would be buying it for. I sold mine just because I couldn’t bring myself to use it.

How should we keep our lenses so that they will stay fine.

My first two lenses would be 35mm and 85mm :D. Or 28mm and 85mm. 50mm is so boring :P. 24mm is too wide for studio for me.

Hey mr Handsome! No mention of the Viltrox 75mm F1.2 or Sigma 56mm f1.4. These also great choices for people. Also the Sigma 16mm F1.4 though its biggest flaw is how big it is.

Credible post, Mark. New Crisis Center studio looks fine - just sophisticated enough. Camera Crisis sign, black on grey and slightly out of focus, is barely readable, IMO. Plant being slightly out of focus is no problem, but I would expect your trademark to stand out more clearly.

I think the viltrox 16mm + sigma 24-70mm is the best combo to cover pretty much everything (for around 1600€)

I currently in the market for a zoom lens for my ZVE1 which starts at 20mm and here are only the Tamron 20-40 2.8 and Sony 20-70 F4. I think my choice is right now for the Sony 20-70 F4 because of the extra reach and because past reviews / comparisons e.g. Chris Brockhurst illustrate the Tamron has much worse active stabilization compared to Sony native lens, specially on ZVE1. Did you ever experience similiar things with Sigma and Viltrox lenses on your reviews? I was quite shocked how much of a difference it makes specificly on these to lensens third party vs. native Sony. Btw your studio is paying off, looks so damn cool and professional and you might think these affiliate links made you stinky rich :D xD

Thankyou so much sir , i always find your content very usefull. ❤❤❤❤❤ iam a beginner hybrid shooter just trying to find my niche , just bought sony a7 iv for student discount at 1889£ . Just thankyou for everything ❤

Good timing, browsing through the channel looking for telephoto recommendations I was thinking Mark could do more telephoto recommendations. While not the Tamron 70-300 I finally ordered for its very low price and features I think you could feature telephoto lenses, getting you out of your luxurious cave shack studio, into the wild. And by the way, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator which I just bought and used happily could make for a nice comparison to your similar vlogging darlings (yes Dougie, you). Godspeed.

Loving the new Studio, good job! - my Viltrox 20mm arrived yesterday, what a lens!

Tamron 17-70 f/2.4, although not a full frame lens its one of the best lenses ive used. its literally the perfect range for an APS-C. im wondering if the 24-70 is essentially the equivalent lens in full frame.

First two lenses for Sony full frame: 1). Tamron 70-180 f2.8, 2). Tamron 28-75 f2.8. This combo is sharp, fast offering great bokeh and will handle everything from events to portraits to sports and are great for video as well as photos.

first

Thanks a lot for indepth reviews, would like your opinion on sony zv e10 for wedding videographery as a main camera, am a videographer on a tigh budget

What a handsome video, featuring a handsome host. Great stuff, Mark!

Mark, awesome video. Can you tell me which lens you would choose if you were starting out in commercial photography work to cover a wide range of needs?

I fkin love your content Mark!! Greetings from Argentina

the one I got starting out is the Sigma 24-70 2.8 art, good for video and event photos.

The Tamron is 70-180 F2.8 is amazing for the price. Tbh it’s g master quality too. It’s on my b cam and can’t really tell the difference on a tripod.

Which lens would you recommend for primarily gym videos, and secondarily photos. I am thinking of buying the ev10 from your links.

Id love Samyang to send you there lenses as you as so many other reviewers always forget them & for me I think there lenses are very unique as they have character & quality at a low price

Thank you for this video, I tried the Sony 85 1.8 and it was really sharp and beautiful but I already own the 90mm f2.8 macro, do you think that I should also get the 85? I mean these are similar focal lenghts bttw I'm sorry for bad engilsh.

Just the video I was looking for 👍 looking to go ff.

My most used lens is the sigma 28-70 its shart and small. Then I use the sony zeis 55mm 1.8. I do love the sony 20mm 1.8 for general walk around video, specially at night plus its small too.

Thoughts on stabilized lenses? Do all full frame camera require full frame lenses? Dumb question im sure 😮.

ZV-E1 is my favorite camera now

Same video for aps-c please

This new studio is ON POINT my friend

You can make one for Sony ZVE10 camera 🤭

👍

i dont like the lighting in this video it makes you look older than you are with your whipper snapper vlogs and such 👀🫡

can i use the full-frame lenses with apsc?

we need a 16 f2.8

In the crisis center. I like that. Btw, i think i prefer the backdrop lit up the way that you have it in this video. The viltrox 24mm is nice and decently priced.

Your new studio doesn't suit your playful style. It is good for someone who deals with geopolitics or global financial trends :)

Great Video