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TOP PORTRAIT LENSES FOR SONY A7III:
Camera Accessories & Products have a lot of claims when we look at them superficially. Honestly speaking, none of the specs work without the proper technique of the photographer. Hence, it is important to be double-sure about the specs, as to know what are the features and what are empty claims.
To keep the matter extremely brief and faithful, I made sure to include only reliable brands and models that have been best reviewed by the users so far.
So let us have a quick analysis of these models and how they stand as the Best Portrait Lens for Sony A7iii.
Table of Contents
Best Portrait Lenses for Sony A7III
Sony SEL28F20 FE 28mm f/2-22: Best Portrait Lens for Sony A7iii
While Shooting portraits is a fun task, it becomes a bit more interesting when you have this powerful lens from Sony. The prime feature that I really love about this camera is the circular aperture blades. They help to go the extra mile by giving us enhanced bokeh effects.
You can use this one with any Full-Frame E-mount cameras and not just the Sony A7iii or the A7riii. Flare and ghosting are reduced with multi-coating on ED glass which results in great natural-looking colors and contrast minimizing chromatic aberration.
Working in odd climatic conditions is also possible as the lens has a dust and moisture-resistant design. The lens uses a linear actuator for quiet Auto Focus meaning you can work easily without any noise. The Short minimum focusing distance and the fast autofocus help you capture some very time-constrained portraits as well.
Sure Shot pick for a perfect photography kit!
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens:
For portrait photography, and most importantly for those who are obsessed with the bokeh effect, Sony FE 85mm f/1.4, GM is a grand choice.
The bokeh effect is much more profound than other options in the market, thanks to the 11 blade circular aperture.
You would love the sharp and contrasting effect of the lens. If you are particular about the intricate details of the capture, this gem won’t disappoint you.
This is a full-fledged G- master lens meant to shoot telephotos. The resolution is simply unbeatable to deliver every minute detail of the photographs.
You can achieve an amazing depth of field using the constant F1.4 aperture.
Nano AR coating reduces the ghosting effect when the sun is out, you get natural yet balanced images in the frame.
Pros
- Impeccable bokeh effect
- Nano AR coating fights flares
- Weather sealed technology
- Constant F1.4 effect
Cons
- The Autofocus could be better.
Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar T FE ZA Full
Though you might not enjoy the bokeh as much as you could in the previous option, Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar T FE ZA Full-frame Prime Sona lens is one of the best choices that you have for portrait photography.
Looking at the 55 mm part, ideally, you might not call it a portrait lens but the lens is extremely capable of shooting perfect photos and photographs which is why it doesn’t matter how you categorize it. The resolution and sharpness fully live up to the expectations of its users. A lot of contribution is made by the full-frame sensor of Sony A7 iii though.
You need not worry about the sharpness and contrast at the center of the images when the lens is kept wide open. However, you can expect a flawless performance if you keep it around or beyond f/ 2.8.
The autofocus motor is noise-free, electric fast, and super-efficient at its work. However, a small recommendation would be using the manual focus instead of autofocus. So, you hardly see aberrations or distortion disturbing your clicks.
Now comes the lightweight construction of the lens. This is what makes the lens ideal for photographers who travel during shoots.
However, the manufacturers have missed weather-sealing technology and image stabilization. Also, you do notice minor ghosting effects while shooting. These are the three drawbacks of the lens other than that everything else is superb.
Pros
- Sharp resolution
- Amazing color contrast
- Great autofocus
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Not weather sealed
- No image stabilization
85mm F1.4 Art DG HSM for Sony E
There must have been something about this lens that makes it so famous among its users despite the bulky look and extra weight. It’s the stunning performance of the lens.
You get easily impressed by the overwhelming sharpness of the lens even at f/ 1.4. The 85mm G master lens has got an affordable price too. Which is yet another reason for its name and reputation in the market.
Fast and accurate autofocus performs wonderfully to track the subjects. However, you might notice a very mild sound from the motor.
The lens does not have much control over the ghosting effect, but it is certainly controllable.
The bokeh is smooth and fine and it is protected using weather-sealing technology.
Pros
- Fast maximum aperture
- Good contrast and resolution
- Weather sealed
- Sharp features
Cons
- Bulky and heavy option
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8: Best Budget Lens to capture Portraits on A7iii
The lens from Sony is good from the point of view that it does not drain your pocket. It is a quality affordable lens that anyone should bag if he or she is into purchasing value for money products.
One of the greatest strengths of this lens is its image sharpness which is simply excellent even if you use it as a wide-open lens.
You get lightning-fast autofocus which is great at tracking subjects without demanding a lot of effort from your end. If you are more into shooting instant and real candid images this lens is going to be your best arm.
Despite the affordable price, you cannot doubt the build quality of a Sony product. The same goes with this product, it has an extremely sturdy construction that is not just durable but also lightweight so that you can slide it in your backpack without hurting your shoulders.
The drawbacks certainly live with the lack of image stabilization and an underperforming bokeh effect. You could also notice some prominent Blues and purples when you are under the sun.
Pros
- Pronounced sharpness
- Snappy Autofocus
- Weather sealed technology
- Affordable but not cheap
Cons
- Lacks Image stabilization
- Underperforming bokeh
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 Lens for Sony E Mount
Finally comes our hero one and only Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8. This lens is a perfect balance between features and price, it keeps everything under active vigilance.
Feel assured that you are going to get beautifully sharpened details that have deep Color contrast. The regions that go out of focus appear to be seamlessly blurred and you can achieve an amazing bokeh here.
You don’t need to face a lot of flaring or ghosting effects even if you’re shooting under light but there are distortions with this lens.
Again you get a terrific autofocus performance which is quick and works its magic feature silently.
It becomes a little confusing to categorize this lens either under a travel-friendly or heavy construction.
But, I would like to go ahead and call this one a travel-friendly construction because, though the lens appears to be bulky and space consuming, it’s not exactly heavy or something which you cannot carry along.
Moreover, it also comes with weather-sealing technology.
Pros
- Fully impressive sharpness
- Dauntless performance of the autofocus
- Did not miss an optical image stabilization
- Weather sealed technology
Cons
- Slight distortions
Sony SEL90M28G Macro G OSS Standard-Prime Lens for Sony FE
The macro lens from Sony has been designed in a very rugged manner so that you can use it freely in your daily job. I was quite excited to talk about the metal barrel which adds to the durability of the lens. I gravitate more towards durable Constructions and hence I love this lens.
You get a very short image quality from one corner to the other. It also has optimized image stabilization along with decent and silent autofocus.
But what stands unique among these features is the Snap-action MF select ring which claims to offer a mechanical manual focus.
Judging it from a macro lens point of view you do not notice a prominent ghosting effect. However, if you see the aperture at maximum there are some noticeable color fringes. But you are going to enjoy the Macro effect of the lens when you shoot close-ups.
Pros
- Sharp and contrasting images
- Silent autofocus
- Amazing close-ups
- Very durable construction
- Weather seal Technology
Cons
The autofocus could be faster
Things to look at While buying a Lens to Shoot Portraits on Sony A7iii
Maximum Aperture
Fast maximum aperture ensures that you click clear and bright images even if you are struggling with a low light condition at the place of shooting. Without a maximum aperture, it might become impossible to achieve an optimum depth of field. The seed is important to click stabilized images. Invest in cameras with a fast maximum aperture.
Bokeh:
Judge the bokeh effect of a lens as such independently because it always depends on the wideness of the aperture. The wider aperture, the better the bokeh effect will come. You might not expect an extraordinary bouquet using a lens with a narrow down aperture.
Focus:
Fast and accurate autofocus is always a top priority of photographers. Models cannot always get right with the force, it is then that fast autofocus comes in rescue where you do not a perfect shot just because you had slow autofocus.
Sharpness:
Usually, lenses claim corner to corner sharpness, but only experience can tell what their true performance is. Ideally, one should look for lenses that offer high resolution and perfect sharpness which is even throughout the frame.
Focal Length:
This is something tricky. Usually, if a photographer wants to purchase a portrait lens strictly stick to the 85mm lens. But you see it never goes that way. The introduced lenses range from 55mm to 100mm.
Weather Seal:
I have heard photographers saying that they do not care about the weather seal technology because it does not have a prominent effect as such in protecting the lens from damage. But, this is wrong. When reliable brands such as Sony and Sigma claim to incorporate new technology in their lenses they’ve meant it.
Besides, even if it is a superstitious faith, I prefer going with it rather than going with a lens without the feature.
Somehow the idea of exposing the lens to fully unpredictable and barely environmental conditions seems very risky and uncomfortable to me.
Lightweight:
Not all photographers go crazy behind lightweight and compact lenses. But, it is always good to go for such options if you are a traveling photographer or you need to carry the camera to the shooting spots.
Moreover, a lightweight lens ensures that you do not put extra pressure on your tripod stand to enhance the longevity of the same.
For You: What’s the best portrait lens for A7iii that you like? Let me know ASAP!!
