The Sony A7S III remains one of Sony’s key hybrid cameras. The 12MP sensor is lacking in resolution for stills photographers, but its video capabilities – which include 4K at up to 120p – are still highly impressive.
We now have the Sony ZV-E1, one of the best vlogging cameras around, and the Sony FX-3, which is a great introduction to the best cinema cameras. But if you’re looking for the best hybrid camera and most of your work is for digital distribution, then the Sony A7S III combines excellent video capabilities with effective stills photography features too.
In drawing up my list, I’ve taken a few key factors into account. One is that this camera is likely to be used principally for video, so I’ve chosen lenses with fast, silent autofocus and an aperture ring for direct iris control while filming. Another factor is size and weight, especially if you're using a gimbal rather than a tripod.
These qualities apply equally to users of the previous Sony A7S II. The A7S III represented a substantial upgrade, but there will be plenty of A7S II models still in use, and this is still a good 4K video camera and will benefit equally from the right lenses.
Best lenses for the Sony A7S III & A7S II
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Best compact zoom for the Sony A7S III & A7S II
For any regular high-end Sony Alpha camera, I would probably recommend the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II as a go-to standard zoom, but the requirements of Sony A7S III and A7S II owners might be a little different. The G Master lens is an excellent performer, but big, heavy, and expensive. For a lighter and more portable kit, the Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G could be a much better proposition.
My choice of lens may only have a 2x zoom range, but it covers the wider focal lengths popular for filmmaking, and it’s considerably cheaper and lighter – and yet it still has a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. It might only be a ‘G’ lens, but the optical performance is excellent – and you also get a physical aperture ring that can be de-clicked and a customizable focus hold button, both ideal for filmmakers.
See our full Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G review
Features ★★★★★ | Advanced features include a click/de-click aperture control ring and customizable function button, plus a constant f/2.8 aperture. |
Design ★★★★☆ | The build is conveniently compact and lightweight but feels strong and robust, although you might feel a little short-changed in terms of zoom range. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | The zoom range is limited when it comes to telephoto reach but sharpness and clarity are excellent. There’s a now typical reliance on automatic correction for distortion. |
Value ★★★★☆ | This lens is rather expensive considering its truncated zoom range but decent value being feature-rich. |
Best standard zoom for the Sony A7S III & A7S II
Here’s a tempting alternative standard zoom for the Sony A7S III. The Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G covers an unusual focal range, going much wider than a regular standard zoom. In fact, the 20mm minimum focal length is wide enough that you may not even need to pack (or buy) an ultra-wide zoom. At the very least, the 20-70mm f/4 saves you from changing lenses so often.
Like many modern mirrorless lenses, this one relies heavily on digital corrections, but these are applied both in-camera automatically and via most raw processing tools, so you won’t even notice – and the image quality you get is very good indeed. If you’re looking for a light, portable, and compact lens for handheld or gimbal filming, this probably isn’t it, but with the potential to replace two regular lenses, it’s definitely worth considering.
See our full Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G 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 pancake zoom for the Sony A7S III & A7S II
Here is a third ‘alternative’ standard zoom for the Sony A7S III. The Sony E 28-60mm f/4-5.6 G is normally sold as a kit with the Sony A7C, so if you want to use it with the A7S III, then you’ll have to buy it separately. Its disadvantages are its variable maximum aperture across its (relatively short) zoom range and its lack of a physical aperture ring. But what you do get is an extremely compact lens with fast, silent autofocus and excellent optical performance.
This lens is not a whole lot larger than Sony’s compact 24mm, 40mm, and 50mm primes, but it has the flexibility of a zoom and weighs just 167g. It does use a retracting mechanism to collapse down to its small packed size, but it only takes a moment to extend it ready for use.
See our full Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 G 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 ultra-wide zoom for the Sony A7S III & A7S II
Sony’s G Master lenses are great performers, but they are not small, especially for handheld or gimbal videography. That’s why it’s been great to see Sony launching a range of compact primes and now, two compact and relatively affordable zooms. The Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G is a great constant-aperture standard zoom, and this FE 16-25mm f/2.8G is its perfect ultra-wide-angle zoom companion.
The modest 16-25mm zoom range may be an issue for some users, though, especially since most competing zooms are in the 16-35mm zoom range. However, the 16-25mm f/2.8 covers most of the focal range we buy wide-angle lenses for, it delivers excellent optical quality and handles beautifully too, with the perfectly weighted de-clickable aperture ring that features on all the best Sony lenses.
See our full Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G review
Features ★★★★★ | Ultra-wide viewing angles are joined by a relatively fast and constant f/2.8 aperture rating and smart handling extras. |
Design ★★★★☆ | The lens is remarkably compact and lightweight for an f/2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom, and includes an aperture control ring. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | The overall zoom range can feel a little limited but makes sense as an add-on to a 24-70mm standard zoom, and image quality is super-sharp. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s not a cheap lens to buy but is definitely good value for an f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom. |
Best portrait prime for the A7S III & A7S II
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 our full 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 wide-angle prime for the A7S III & A7S II
What’s truly impressive about Sony’s trio of compact full-frame primes is how the designers have still found room for an aperture ring. The Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G is the widest of these three lenses and perhaps the most useful for vloggers and filmmakers, though not the strongest in optical terms. There is some strong barrel distortion that’s corrected digitally, and some visible edge softness too. That’s a little disappointing in a lens at this price, and the f/2.8 maximum aperture is hardly stretching the laws of physics either.
On the plus side, this is still a very appealing lens. It's very compact and lightweight, ideal for handheld shooting and when using a gimbal. If you need more light-gathering power and resolution, take a look at the FE 24mm f/1.4 G Master, although this is a bigger, heavier, and much more expensive lens.
See our full Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G review
Features ★★★★★ | It ‘only’ has an f/2.8 aperture rating but the lens is wonderfully compact, virtually identical to the simultaneously launched FE 40mm f/2.5 G and FE 50mm f/2.5 G. |
Design ★★★★★ | Despite being amazingly small, the lens nevertheless packs an aperture control ring and function button. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | It’s generally impressive but edge/corner-sharpness could be a little better and the lens relies heavily on automatic in-camera correction for distortion. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s pricey for an f/2.8 lens but the extra handling exotica makes it good value. |
Best walkabout prime for the Sony A7S III & A7S II
For many users, this could be the best of Sony’s three compact full-frame primes. The 40mm focal length is just a whisker longer than the classic 35mm angle of view, but 40mm lenses do have fans of their own, offering a wider view than the regular ‘nifty fifty’ but without exaggerated perspectives. This one is a little gem.
The lens is compact and light, but it handles like a dream. The aperture ring has smooth, positive click-stops, but can be de-clicked for smooth and silent iris adjustment while filming. The image quality is excellent right across the frame, and the autofocus is smooth and silent, which is exactly what you need for vlogging. If only it weren’t quite so expensive!
See our full Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G review
Features ★★★★★ | The modest aperture rating translates into a really compact build, with an aperture ring and function button shoehorned in. |
Design ★★★★★ | There’s a lot to be said for a compact, lightweight build for walkabout and street photography, to which this design is ideally suited. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Dual linear motors deliver super-fast autofocus and optical performance is similarly excellent. |
Value ★★★★☆ | If you’re in the market for a small yet high-performance price, this one’s good value. |
Best standard prime for the Sony A7S III & A7S II
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. |
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 very affordable Viltrox AF 55mm Evo is not only the sharpest lens in the group, but one of the outright sharpest lenses that we’ve ever tested. There’s a heavy reliance on automatic in-camera correction of distortion in some cases, but color fringing is quite minimal throughout.
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 A7R III and A7R IV
The Sony A7S III and A7S II, like all Alpha 7 cameras, use the Sony E lens mount. Sony’s own lenses have either FE or E in their model names: all work on the A7R III and A7R IV. However, FE lenses are specifically designed for use with full-frame Sony cameras, including the A7S III and A7S II, so these should be your obvious choice
It is important to remember that the Sony A7S range is designed with a low-resolution sensor to meet the needs of those who either primarily shoot video or work in low light (such as astrophotographers). So the lenses need to be picked to suit the camera's primary purpose.
Check out our guide to the best Sony lenses if you want to know more
How we test lenses
For every lens we get in for review, our Lab Manager runs a series 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 these 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.
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
