Choosing the best lenses for the Sony A7C or Sony A7C II means taking into account their compact, rangefinder-style design, orientation towards content creators and videographers, and relatively low price point among full-frame Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras. They're also among the best cameras for vlogging and best filmmaking cameras. At the price, I'd also say they're among the best Sony cameras, at least for beginners or new Sony adopters.
But this isn't simply going to be a repeat of my main guide to the best Sony lenses. I like to match the lenses with the camera. There are lots of high-end, constant-aperture Sony G Master lenses that would be fine on a Sony A7R IV or Sony A1, but would be overkill on this model – both financially and physically. They're small and are not blessed with chunky grips, so it makes sense to choose lenses that are going to feel as nicely balanced as possible.
I'm also keeping an eye on the price because one of the reasons for buying the A7C or A7C II is their relatively low cost. Owners are likely to be looking for cost-effective lenses that are a suitable match. So with all that in mind, these are what I think are the best lenses for these cameras right now.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews Editor. He has used practically every interchangeable-lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium-format cameras, so he has the expertise to select the best Sony lenses for you.
Best everyday lens for the A7C
Sony fans are spoilt for choice when choosing a standard zoom. But while the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master is the professionals' choice, it costs a fortune and weighs a ton. The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is half the price but still huge, and while there are also worthy rivals from Samyang and Tamron, it's the modest Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 kit lens that I'd recommend as the perfect everyday companion for the Sony A7C.
It uses a retracting mechanism, so it’s very compact for stowing away. It remains pretty small when extended for use, so it’s a good physical match for the A7C. It doesn't have such a big zoom range as the other standard zooms that I’ve mentioned, but its performance is better than I’d expect from a retracting kit lens, with good sharpness right out to the edges of the frame.
Read more: Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 review
Features ★★★★☆ | The big deal is that it’s so small, thanks to a clever retracting design, but zoom range is limited. |
Design ★★★★☆ | It’s nicely made and includes weather-resistance but the design is quite basic in terms of handling. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Performance is good rather than entirely great, with mediocre sharpness towards the edges and corners of the frame. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s pretty expensive for a basic ‘kit zoom’ lens if you buy it separately. |
Best wide-angle lens for the A7C
Every photographer needs an ultra-wide zoom, whether they realize it straight away or not. And given the special suitability of these Sony cameras for travel, the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD fits the bill perfectly. No full-frame ultra-wide zoom will be small, but the Tamron is neater and certainly easier to carry than Sony's own wide-angle monsters – and a lot easier to afford, too.
Despite the Tamron's price, it features high-end, weather-sealed build quality, a fast and constant f/2.8 aperture rating, a quick and virtually silent RXD (Rapid eXtra silent stepping drive) autofocus system, and, best of all, terrific image quality. Corner-to-corner sharpness is particularly impressive for an ultra-wide-angle lens, even when shooting at the widest aperture. It doesn’t quite match Sony’s 16-35mm lenses for maximum viewing angle, but it comes very close, and it’s great value.
Read more: Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD review
Features ★★★★☆ | It’s not packed with fancy features and there’s no optical stabilization but it covers all the essentials. |
Design ★★★★★ | The lens is solidly built yet amazingly compact and lightweight for a wide-angle ‘trinity’ zoom. |
Performance ★★★★★ | All aspects of image quality are highly impressive, throughout the entire zoom range. |
Value ★★★★★ | The Tamron is standout value for a wide-angle zoom with a constant f/2.8 aperture. |
Best travel lens for the A7C
One of Sony’s more recent lenses could completely change the standard zoom lens of the future. In a world first, the lens covers an extremely versatile focal range, making it perfect for traveling (admittedly, luxury traveling, given the price). It's light and portable, which is another big tick, and the fact it's ‘only’ f/4 isn't much of a compromise - had it been f/2.8, it would be considerably heavier and a lot more expensive.
It's got fast autofocus and delivers impressive levels of sharpness. It doesn’t have optical image stabilization – but the A7C and A7C II have in-body stabilization, so that doesn’t matter. If you're after just a little bit more on the wide end than you'd get from the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, the 20-70mm is a very good contender.
Read more: Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G hands-on review
Features ★★★★★ | It’s a standard zoom that goes a lot wider than most, with a neat range of handling exotica. |
Design ★★★★★ | Typical G series attractions include an aperture control ring, function buttons and great build quality. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Fast autofocus, great image quality and a big zoom range make this lens a top performer. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s good value for a lens with an epic zoom range that stretches out to ultra-wide-angle viewing. |
Best 50mm lens for the A7C
This ‘Evo’ lens from Viltrox takes a winning formula in terms of image quality and all-around performance, and packs it into a next-gen design that adds a dedicated aperture control ring with a click/de-click switch, AF/MF focus mode switch, and customizable function button. Handling is further enhanced by a lightweight build that is nevertheless robust, with a high-quality feel based on an all-metal construction complete with weather seals.
The high-grade optical path is based on 13 elements arranged in 9 groups, including an aspherical element, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, and two HR (High Refractive index) elements. It’s a few millimeters longer than a ‘standard’ 50mm lens but is an absolute joy to use, on both full-frame and APS-C format cameras, having a portrait-friendly ‘effective’ 82.5mm focal length on the latter.
Read more: Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 FE Evo review
Features ★★★★★ | The feature set belies the budget asking price, including a click/de-click aperture control ring and a customizable function button. |
Design ★★★★★ | Build quality feels very substantial, with an all-metal casing and mounting plate that include weather-seals. The design is also refreshingly compact and lightweight. |
Performance ★★★★½ | Image quality is excellent with impressive sharpness, clarity and color rendition, along with the absence of unwanted aberrations. Autofocus is fast and consistently accurate. |
Value ★★★★★ | I’ve yet to find a Viltrox lens that’s not excellent value for money. This one’s worth every cent and more besides. |
Best portrait lens for the A7C
Viltrox lenses have impressed me over the last few years, and recently they’ve been going from strength to strength. That said, most recent offerings have been either from the ‘Air’ line-up and are very compact and lightweight but also fairly basic, or from the ‘Pro’ and ‘Lab’ series, which are relatively chunky but packed full of features and handling exotica.
This lens is the first in a new ‘Evo’ range, and I love it. It’s like having the best of both worlds. It’s compact, lightweight, and easy to live with, yet it also boasts plenty of handling finery, including an aperture control ring with a click/de-click switch, an AF/MF focus mode switch, and a customizable function button.
The lens feels solid and robust, with a metal barrel and weather-sealed mounting plate, complete with a USB-C port for applying firmware updates if and when needed. Best of all, image quality is superb and, although the f/2 aperture might not seem overly fast, the lens is perfectly capable of combining excellent sharpness with soft and dreamy bokeh. It’s also incredible value for money.
Read more: Viltrox AF 85mm f/2 FE Evo review
Features ★★★★★ | Advanced features include an aperture control ring with a click/de-click switch, customizable function button and an AF/MF focus mode switch. |
Design ★★★★★ | The design is a delight. Sophisticated handling extras are shoehorned into a remarkably compact and lightweight metal build with a weather-sealed mount. |
Performance ★★★★★ | The lens can’t deliver the wafer-thin depth of field of an 85mm f/1.4 lens but still combines superb sharpness and clarity with beautiful bokeh. |
Value ★★★★★ | It’s naturally pricier than low-budget Viltrox ‘Air’ series lenses but still exceptional value considering the additional features and handling extras. |
Best telephoto lens for the A7C
I love that this lens is much more compact, lightweight, and affordable than conventional 70-200mm f/2.8 ‘trinity’ telephoto zooms. Sure, it doesn’t quite stretch to 200mm at the long end, but it comes pretty close, while retaining that all-important constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire zoom range. It works a treat for weddings and events and even for sports and wildlife photography, while keeping the weight off for long periods of handheld shooting.
The original Tamron 70-180mm was a great lens, but I love that the G2 adds optical image stabilization, uprated handling, and revamped optics. And it delivers all this at a more inexpensive launch purchase price than the original lens. I find that any camera's in-body image stabilization is second-best with telephoto lenses, so the addition of optical stabilization is particularly welcome.
Autofocus is super-fast, based on a VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) system, and well able to do justice to the Fast Hybrid AF, Eye AF, and advanced tracking options in Sony’s recent mirrorless cameras. The proof of the pudding is in the image quality, and I'm very impressed that the lens's many optical upgrades translate into fabulous pictorial excellence. It’s simply a terrific lens at a bargain price.
Read more: Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 review
Features ★★★★★ | Fancy features in the ‘Generation 2’ include a three-pole Custom switch, function button and USB-C port. |
Design ★★★★★ | The design gives you almost the same zoom range as a classic 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom but in a much smaller, lighter package. |
Performance ★★★★★ | From super-fast and highly accurate autofocus to great image quality and effective optical stabilization, it’s a cracker. |
Value ★★★★★ | It’s less than half the price of many ‘trinity’ telephoto zooms, making it a standout bargain. |
Lab data and comparisons
The graphs below show the comparative performance of the lenses in this guide, based on our in-house lab tests. The cut-price Viltrox 55mm prime leads the way for sharpness, but the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 does particularly well for a zoom lens. The latter is the least impressive for control over distortion, but automatic in-camera correction is available.
Scores for sharpness and color fringing are averaged from data taken across the entire image frame, from the center to the edges and corners, throughout the aperture range. For zoom lenses, the scores are also averaged from data measured at all marked focal lengths, and the same applies to distortion. Bear in mind that these average values don't fully reflect specific areas of performance. For example, a zoom lens might have noticeable barrel and pincushion distortion at its shortest and longest focal lengths, respectively, which tends to average out when looking at the data overall. For more detailed graphs of each lens's performance, which give the full picture, check out the graphs in our full standalone lens reviews.
How to choose the best lens for the Sony A7C
The A7C, like all Alpha 7 cameras, uses the Sony E lens mount. Sony’s own E-mount lenses have either FE or E in their model names: all work on the A7C. FE lenses are designed for use with full-frame Sony cameras, including the A7C, so these should be your first choice. If you are buying a third-party E-mount lens, check that the lens is designed for use with full-frame Sonys.
Sony lenses with an E (rather than FE) prefix are designed for APS-C format cameras such as the A6000 series. On the A7C, they produce a cropped image, so they’re not an ideal choice.
Check out our guide to the best Sony lenses if you want to know more
How we test lenses
The lens experts in our testing lab run a range of tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion, and chromatic aberrations.
We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the centre of the image frame, corners, and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths.
There's more to it than just the technical side, though! Beyond the lab, our reviewers test lenses in real-world environments – and sometimes on professional shoots! We work with lenses both indoors and outdoors, in studio conditions and in natural light, with as many different subjects as possible (or appropriate – there's no point testing a landscape lens' ability to shoot a portrait!).
We take into account everything from handling and ease of use to speed of autofocus and the overall quality of the images produced.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
