Best Portrait Lens For Sony A7Iii (2024 Updated)

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As a photography enthusiast, it's essential to have the right lens to capture the perfect portrait shot. When it comes to selecting the best portrait lens for Sony a7iii, there are several factors you should consider before making your purchase.

Firstly, you need to determine the focal length you require for your portraits. A lens with a focal length of 85mm or above is usually the best for portrait photography as it provides a pleasing background blur and compresses facial features.

Secondly, the aperture of the lens plays a crucial role in portrait photography. A wide aperture, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8, allows more light into the lens and creates a shallow depth of field, making your subject stand out from the background.

Thirdly, the lens's image stabilization feature can help you capture sharp and clear portrait shots, even when shooting in low light conditions or at slower shutter speeds.

Fourthly, the lens's build quality and weight are also essential factors to consider, as you want a lens that is durable, easy to handle, and comfortable to carry.

Lastly, it's essential to consider the lens's price point and whether it fits within your budget.

In summary, when looking for the best portrait lens for Sony a7iii, consider the lens's focal length, aperture, image stabilization, build quality and weight, and price point. By taking these factors into account, you can find the perfect lens to capture stunning portrait shots.

10 Best Portrait Lens For Sony A7Iii

1. 24mm F1.8 Auto-Focus E-Mount Prime Lens For Sony Full Frame Cameras.

The Auto-Focus E-Mount Prime Lens 24mm F1.8 is a high-quality lens designed for Sony E-mount cameras. It is a standard prime lens with a wide-angle large aperture, making it ideal for shooting landscapes, starry skies, architecture, and portraits.

This lens is compatible with a wide range of Sony E-mount cameras, including the A7, A7II, A7III, A7C, A7RII, A7RIII, A7RIV, A7SIII, A9, FX3, A5100, A6000, A6100, A6300, A6400, A6500, and A6600. It supports full-frame and APS-C frame cameras, providing versatile options for photographers.

With a 24mm focal length and F1.8 to F16 aperture range, this lens offers high resolution and soft bokeh effect. Its closest focusing distance is 0.3m, and its maximum magnification is 0.1x. These features make it an excellent choice for portrait photography.

The lens also supports full-frame, dual focusing mode (MF, AF), IS stabilization, EXIF information transmission, Type-C USB port for firmware upgrade, Sony eye auto-focus function, and electronic automatic iris adjustment. These features provide photographers with a wide range of options for shooting in different conditions.

The lens is equipped with 3 ED low dispersion lens, 3 high transparent lens, and 2 aspheric lens. It also features an STM+Lead Screw stepper motor, digital precise drive, and linear motion, making it capable of achieving quiet and accurate auto-focusing when shooting stationary subjects and movies.

The lens is mainly made of high-quality metal alloy with HD Nano multi-layer coating treatment, which effectively reduces ghosting and flare. It is also lightweight, precise, and has a robust metal structure, providing photographers with a pleasant experience of photo shooting.

Overall, the Auto-Focus E-Mount Prime Lens 24mm F1.8 is an excellent choice for photographers looking for a high-quality lens that can deliver exceptional results in a wide range of shooting conditions. Its versatility, precision, and durability make it a valuable addition to any photographer's kit.

2. Meike 85mm F1.8 Af Stm Lens For Sony E Mount Mirrorless Cameras.

The Meike 85mm F1.8 Full Frame AF STM Lens is a high-quality medium telephoto fixed prime portrait lens designed for Sony E mount full frame mirrorless cameras, such as the Sony A9, A7III, A7II, A7, A7R3, and A7R4. It is also compatible with APS-C frame cameras like the Sony A6500, A6400, A6300, and A6000.

This lens is equipped with a classic 85mm portrait focal length and a wide aperture of f/1.8, which allows it to capture stunning photos with smooth background blur effects, even in low light environments. With its AF STM (A Stepping Motor) auto focus system, camera shake is minimized, and images are captured with less noise.

The lens construction is comprised of 6 groups and 9 elements, which enables it to deliver sharp and clear images. Additionally, the Meike lens features a micro-USB port, which allows for easy online firmware upgrades that can be downloaded from the Meike official website.

Overall, the Meike 85mm F1.8 Full Frame AF STM Lens is a reliable and high-performing portrait lens that is ideal for photographers who demand high-quality images with smooth background blur effects. It is well-suited for a variety of photography applications, including portraits, weddings, events, and more.

3. Viltrox 85mm F1.8 Mark Ii Af Lens For Sony E Mount – Large Aperture Medium Telephoto Portrait Lens For Sony Cameras.

The VILTROX 85mm F1.8 Mark II Auto Focus Full Frame Lens for Sony E Mount is a high-quality lens designed for professional photographers. It is compatible with Full Frame cameras and Sony E-mounts, making it an ideal choice for Sony A9, A7R3, A7III, A7RIII, A7M3, A7S2, A6500, and A6300 cameras.

One of the key features of this lens is its steady, quick, and smooth auto-focus, which makes it easy to capture high-speed moving objects. It also supports Sony Eye Focus function, which is twice as efficient as other EF lenses when it comes to recognizing and catching shooting objects.

The 85mm focal length is versatile and can be easily switched between a half-length portrait and a full-length portrait. The lens has a large aperture of F1.8, which offers beautiful defocusing effects and enables a massive amount of light for low-light or dimly lit shooting scenarios.

The lens features 10 elements in 7 groups, with an ideal aperture of 9 blades. The new optical technology ensures excellent image quality, while the large aperture telephoto portrait fixed-focus lens supports EF mount. The lens has excellent close-up shooting ability, with a focusing distance of 80cm~∞, and the image ratio of small object distance can reach 1:8.

The VILTROX 85mm F1.8 Mark II Auto Focus Full Frame Lens for Sony E Mount is equipped with built-in metal electronic contacts that support EXIF information transmission and electronic automatic iris adjustment. It can record digital photo attribute information and shooting data, making it an ideal choice for professional photographers.

The lens is durable and lightweight, with an all-metal body structure that ensures lens assembly accuracy and durability. It only weighs 484g, which is lighter than the original version. The lens also comes with a Lotus Lens Hood that can be used to reduce flare or scattering light of ghosts and avoid rain, snow, or sticking to the front of the lens.

In conclusion, the VILTROX 85mm F1.8 Mark II Auto Focus Full Frame Lens for Sony E Mount is an excellent choice for professional photographers who require a high-quality lens that offers smooth auto-focus, excellent image quality, and versatile focal length. Its durable and lightweight structure, coupled with its Lotus Lens Hood protection, makes it an ideal choice for all kinds of shooting scenarios.

4. Sony E-Mount 85mm F1.8 Af Portrait Lens For Full Frame Cameras.

The AF 85/1.8 II FE is a highly compatible, large aperture standard lens designed for E-mount cameras. This lens is perfect for portrait, animal, food, architecture, interior, and outdoor scenery photography. It is compatible with Sony a7 a7II a7III a7C a7R a7RII a7RIII a7RIV a7SIII a9 FX3 (support full frame) and Sony a5000 a5100 a6000 a6100 a6300 a6400 a6500 a6600 (support APS-C frame).

The lens features a 85mm focal length, which makes it easy to switch between half-length portrait and full-length portrait shooting. Its F1.8 large aperture offers ideal defocusing effects and highlights the subject, while also allowing for high-quality images in low-light scenarios.

With 10 elements in 7 groups, including 1 ED lens and 4 short wave length and high transparent lenses, the AF 85/1.8 II FE achieves remarkable shooting vision with new optical technology. It uses nano multilayer crystal coating and new optical design, which effectively redresses dispersion/aberration and reduces ghosting/flare.

Additional features of the AF 85/1.8 II FE lens include fast and accurate auto-focus (AF), automatic iris adjustment, 9 aperture blades, inbuilt metal electronic contacts, EXIF information transmission, quiet STM stepper motor with a gear-type unit, and image stabilization (IS) function. The lens also supports eye focus to automatically track the subject.

The lens is carefully designed, with a weight of only 484g/1.06lb, size of Φ80×92mm(3.15×3.62in), and mainly made of robust metal alloy with surface plating treatment. Its precise structure and brass bayonet perfectly fit to the camera body. Additionally, it is designed with a micro USB port for firmware upgrades from the official website, allowing users to achieve the latest functions and bug fixes. The lens hood, lens cap, and rear cap are all included.

Overall, the AF 85/1.8 II FE lens is an excellent choice for photographers looking for a high-quality, versatile lens that provides exceptional image quality and a range of useful features. Its compatibility with a wide range of Sony E-mount cameras makes it a popular choice among photography enthusiasts and professionals alike.

5. Viltrox 85mm F1.8 Mark Ii Stm Af Full-Frame Portrait Lens For Sony E-Mount Cameras With Dust Blaster.

Viltrox has released a new version of their popular 85mm F1.8 lens, the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 Mark II STM. This lens is designed for Sony E-mount cameras, including the A7Ⅲ, a7RⅢ, a9, a7SⅡ, a7RⅡ, a7Ⅱ, a7S, a7, a7R, a6400, and a6500. With a new lightweight design, the second generation lens is 142g (0.3lb) lighter than the original version.

The lens boasts a rounded 9-blade diaphragm and 10 elements in 7 groups, including 1 ED lens and 4 shortwave-length and high-transparency lenses. The HD Nano multilayer coating with water-resistant coating enhances the lens's durability and ensures that water droplets and dust do not adhere to the surface.

The Viltrox 85mm F1.8 Mark II STM features electronic aperture, internal autofocus, constant lens length, and supports Sony eye focus function and EXIF information transmission. This provides greater flexibility and convenience for photographers when shooting portraits or other subjects.

The lens also has an STM Step Mute Motor, which supports Sony eye focus function and improves eye focus performance with faster and more sticky response. The autofocus is precise and quiet, ensuring that the lens operates smoothly and without interruption.

With its excellent close-up shooting ability, the 85mm F1.8 has an image ratio of small object distance that can reach 1:8. This makes it ideal for capturing detailed photos of flowers, insects, and other small subjects.

The Viltrox 85mm F1.8 Mark II STM has a sturdy and durable all-metal mirror body structure with a new designed lens hood. The lotus shape design effectively prevents stray light from entering the lens, ensuring that the photos captured are well-lit.

Overall, the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 Mark II STM is an excellent choice for photographers who want to capture stunning portraits and close-up shots with their Sony E-mount cameras. Its lightweight design, electronic aperture, internal autofocus, and excellent close-up shooting ability make it a versatile lens for a variety of shooting situations.

6. Meike 50mm F1.7 Full Frame Manual Focus Lens For Sony Fe E Mount Mirrorless Cameras. Compatible With A7, A9, A6400, A6600, A7siii And More.

The Meike 50mm F1.7 Full Frame Large Aperture Manual Focus Lens is a high-quality lens designed to be compatible with Sony FE E Mount Mirrorless Cameras. This lens is perfect for those looking to capture stunning portraits and close-up photos with smooth bokeh.

It is important to note that this lens is a MANUAL LENS and requires the user to enable "M mode" or "Release without lens" in the camera settings. Once set up, the lens delivers exceptional results with its fixed focal length of 50mm and maximum aperture of 1.7.

The lens construction is made up of 6 elements in 5 groups with multi-layer coatings. This results in sharp and clear images with minimal distortion. The lens also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.5m, making it perfect for capturing close-up shots with great detail.

The full-frame visual angle of the Meike 50mm F1.7 is diagonal 46.5°, horizontal 39.2°, and vertical 23.6°. This lens is also lightweight and portable with a metal body, making it easy to take on the go.

Overall, the Meike 50mm F1.7 Full Frame Large Aperture Manual Focus Lens is a great addition to any Sony FE E Mount Mirrorless Camera. With its exceptional image quality and ability to capture stunning portraits and close-up shots, this lens is a must-have for any photography enthusiast.

7. Viltrox 56mm F1.4 Autofocus E Lens For Sony E Mount Cameras.

The VILTROX 56mm F1.4 f/1.4 Autofocus E Lens for Sony E Mount is a highly versatile lens designed for a range of applications, including portrait, landscape, indoor, night escape, architecture, and travel photography. This lens is compatible with a range of Sony E-mount cameras, including the a6300, a6400, a6500, a6600, a7, a7S, a7c, a7Ⅱ, a7RⅡ, a7SⅢ, a7Ⅲ, a7RⅢ, and a7RⅣ, as well as the a5100, a6000, a6100, NEX-6, and a9.

Featuring a large aperture of f1.4-f16 and a noiseless STM focus motor, this lens delivers exceptional image quality with high sharpness and excellent resolution. The lens also supports eye-af and APS-C format (Focal length equivalent to 85mm) and can record EXIF information, making it an ideal choice for professional and amateur photographers alike.

The HD nano multilayer coating on this lens helps to reduce glare and improve color accuracy, ensuring that your images are sharp and vibrant. Additionally, the lens is compact and portable, weighing in at just 290g, making it easy to take with you wherever you go.

Overall, the VILTROX 56mm F1.4 f/1.4 Autofocus E Lens for Sony E Mount is a reliable and versatile lens that can deliver exceptional results in a range of photographic applications. Whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, or anything in between, this lens is sure to impress with its fast autofocus, adjustable aperture, and high-quality optics.

8. Sony Alpha 7r Iv: 61mp Full Frame Mirrorless Camera With 10fps Af/ae Tracking.

The Sony Alpha 7R IV Full Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera is a high-quality camera that boasts a number of impressive features. The world's first 61MP full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R sensor offers exceptional image quality, making it a top choice for professional photographers.

This camera has a 15-stop dynamic range, which allows it to capture a wide range of colors and tones, resulting in stunning images. With 14-bit uncompressed RAW and ISO 50 to 102,400, the camera offers exceptional detail and clarity, even in low light conditions.

One of the most impressive features of the Sony Alpha 7R IV is its ability to shoot up to 10fps continuously at 61MP with AE/AF tracking. This makes it an ideal choice for capturing fast-moving action and sports photography. Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF for human, animal, and movie subjects ensure that your photos are always crisp and clear.

The camera also features a 5.76 million dot UXGA OLED Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder, which offers exceptional clarity and contrast, making it easy to compose your shots. The viewfinder is also adjustable, so you can find the perfect angle for your shot.

Overall, the Sony Alpha 7R IV Full Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera is a top-of-the-line camera that offers exceptional image quality and a range of features that make it a great choice for professional photographers. Whether you're capturing sports, wildlife, or portraits, this camera is sure to deliver exceptional results.

9. Sony Sel85f18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto Fixed Prime Camera Lens, Black

The Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto Fixed Prime Camera Lens is a high-quality lens that offers a wide range of features for photographers looking to capture stunning images. The lens has a wide F1.8 maximum aperture, which enables beautiful defocusing effects and allows for low-light shooting. The lens also has a 9-blade circular aperture that creates beautiful round defocused bokeh, making it ideal for portrait and nature photography.

The Sony SEL85F18 also features an ED glass element that provides corner-to-corner sharpness, ensuring that every detail of the subject is captured with clarity. The lens also boasts a double linear motor system that offers fast, quiet, and precise focusing. This makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects, such as athletes or wildlife.

The lens has a maximum magnification ratio of 0.13 and an angle of view of 29 degrees, making it ideal for capturing portraits, landscapes, and street scenes. The lens also features direct control with a customizable focus hold button and AF/MF switch, allowing photographers to quickly and easily adjust their settings to capture the perfect shot.

The Sony SEL85F18 has a 35 mm equivalent focal length of 127.5mm when used with an APS-C camera, making it an ideal lens for portrait photography. The lens is also lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around and use on the go.

Overall, the Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto Fixed Prime Camera Lens is an excellent choice for photographers looking for a high-quality lens that offers a wide range of features. Its wide aperture, circular aperture, ED glass element, and double linear motor system make it a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of photography styles.

10. Sony – E 50mm F1.8 Oss Portrait Lens (Sel50f18/b), Black

The Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens (SEL50F18/B) in black is a versatile and high-quality lens that is perfect for portrait photography. It features built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization that reduces camera shake, resulting in sharp and clear images. The lens also has a 7-blade circular aperture that produces beautiful defocus effects, making it an excellent choice for portraits.

With a minimum focus distance of 1.28 ft (0.39 m) and a maximum magnification ratio of 0.16x, this lens is capable of capturing fine details with stunning clarity. The focal length of 50mm and filter diameter of 49mm make it a great choice for portrait photography, as it allows the subject to be captured with a natural-looking perspective.

The large F1.8 maximum aperture of this lens enables beautiful defocusing effects, making it easy to create stunning images with shallow depth of field. With an angle of view of 32° on APS-C cameras, this lens is perfect for capturing portraits in a variety of settings.

The Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens is also designed to be compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and use. The exterior of the lens is made from elegant aluminum alloy, giving it a professional and stylish look.

In the box, the lens comes with a hood (ALC-SH116), a lens front cap, and a lens rear cap. These accessories help to protect the lens and keep it in excellent condition for years to come.

Overall, the Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens (SEL50F18/B) is an excellent choice for photographers who want to capture beautiful portraits with stunning detail and depth of field. Its high-quality construction and compact design make it a must-have in any photographer's kit.

Best Portrait Lens For Sony A7Iii FAQs

Can you recommend any budget-friendly portrait lenses for the Sony A7III?

There are several budget-friendly portrait lenses available for the Sony A7III. One option is the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8, which offers a wide aperture for shallow depth of field and is relatively affordable. Another option is the Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8, which is also affordable and offers a slightly longer focal length for portraits. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 is a versatile zoom lens that is budget-friendly and can be used for portraits as well as other types of photography. The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN is another excellent option for portraits that is affordable and offers a fast aperture. All of these lenses provide excellent image quality and are great for portrait photography on a budget.

How do Sony's own portrait lenses compare to third-party options for the Sony A7III?

Sony's own portrait lenses for the A7III, such as the FE 85mm f/1.4 GM and the FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, are highly regarded for their sharpness, bokeh, and autofocus performance. They are also often more expensive than third-party options. However, third-party options such as the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD can offer similar image quality at a lower price point. The Sigma in particular has received high praise for its sharpness and bokeh, and is often considered a strong competitor to Sony's own 85mm f/1.4 GM. Ultimately, the choice between Sony's own portrait lenses and third-party options will depend on factors such as budget, specific needs and preferences, and overall shooting style.

What are the key features to look for when choosing a portrait lens for the Sony A7III?

When choosing a portrait lens for the Sony A7III, there are several key features to consider. First, aperture is important as it affects the depth of field and ability to create a shallow depth of field for a blurred background. A wide aperture, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8, is ideal for this purpose. Second, focal length is important as it can affect the distortion of the subject's features. A focal length of 85mm or longer is recommended for portrait photography. Third, image stabilization can be useful for handheld shooting in low light situations. Fourth, sharpness and overall image quality should be considered. Finally, the lens should be compatible with the Sony A7III mount and have autofocus capabilities. Some popular portrait lenses for the Sony A7III include the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM, Sony FE 50mm f/1.8, and Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD.

What are the top portrait lenses for Sony A7III?

The Sony A7III is a popular camera for portrait photography due to its high resolution and full-frame sensor. Some of the top portrait lenses for this camera include the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM, which is a fast and sharp lens that produces beautiful bokeh. Another great option is the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, which has a longer focal length for more compressed portraits and excellent sharpness. The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM is also a versatile lens that can be used for portraits, as well as other types of photography. Other honorable mentions include the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS. Ultimately, the best portrait lens for the Sony A7III will depend on your specific needs and shooting style.

What focal length is ideal for portrait photography on the Sony A7III?

The ideal focal length for portrait photography on the Sony A7III depends on the photographer's preference and shooting style. Generally, a focal length between 85mm and 135mm is recommended for portrait photography as it produces a flattering and aesthetically pleasing image with a shallow depth of field. This allows the subject to stand out from the background and creates a beautiful bokeh effect.

However, some photographers may prefer wider focal lengths to capture more of the subject's environment and context. In this case, a focal length between 35mm and 50mm can be used.

It is important to consider the distance between the photographer and the subject when choosing a focal length. A longer focal length requires more distance between the photographer and the subject, while a shorter focal length can be used at a closer distance.

Ultimately, the choice of focal length depends on the photographer's creative vision and the desired outcome for the portrait.

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