10 Best Sony a7S II Lenses of (2024) [Compatible Models]

The Sony A7S II is sheer full-frame excellence and if you have one, it might as well be one of the best purchases you’ve ever made.

Adding different lenses to your A7S II will enhance its capabilities, but as you’re here, you definitely want the best lens available.

Of course, that is in perspective to your personal needs.

Considering the device has gotten a bit old at this point, you’re probably using it for a while.

So, you definitely have a lens or two already, but adding new ones to the collection will surely give you more flexibility.

For example, if you own a low-range Telephoto lens, you can get a longer-range one to zoom in further or a wide-angle one to fit in more area or a large group of people.

You can even add a Prime lens to the collection to capture those crispy portraits and product photos.

Now, the A7S II supports Sony’s E-mount lenses and there is simply a lot of them available from the company as well as third-party manufacturers.

Choosing the one that fulfils your needs properly might seem difficult and confusing and I can’t blame you if you feel that way.

So, to put an end to all the confusion and guessing games, I’ve handpicked the most compatible lenses for Sony A7S II while keeping a huge variety of user requirements into consideration.

So, you should find something for your needs as well.

Best Lenses for Sony a7S II in (2024)

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For the selection process to be as effective & flawless as possible, I’ve evaluated a large number of Sony’s E-mount lenses, and after a thorough elimination process, ended up with the top 10.

I did try to squeeze in a couple of mid-range lenses but, considering it’s a Flagship camera, didn’t want to include budget stuff.

1. Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS

The Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS is ideal for taking pictures of landscapes, especially during sunrise and set.

It supports the entire A7 series and it is also arguably the best Sonly lens for video if you want that wide look, but also want to zoom in when needed.

It comes with ZEISS (T star) coating that reduces ghosting and flares, enhancing the performance of the lens.

It suppresses reflections and produces images with natural contrast.

This feature is especially useful while you are shooting landscapes.

The lens is not only resistant to moisture and dust but also comes equipped with an image stabilization feature.

This feature comes in handy when the camera shakes while shooting handheld.

This makes it easy for you to take clear nightscapes and sharp photos, even in dim lighting.

All of this comes without increasing noise and without any need to increase ISO sensitivity. 

The Aspherical Lens Technology makes sure that there is no compromise on the image quality.

The lens combines 3 Extra-low dispersion glass elements with one AA lens to deliver breathtaking shots.

The shutter priority feature allows you to restrict the amount of light coming towards the camera.

This is especially useful for taking photos near windows and light sources.

The lens is perfect for taking videos as well.

The zoom function is remarkably sharp with minimum distortion.

You will find no soft edges even while shooting at a 16mm end.

2. Sony SEL2470GM FE 24-70 mm F2.8 G

The Sony SEL2470GM FE 24-70 mm F2.8 G is the ultimate choice for event, travel, and portrait photographers.

It’s meant for photographers who want the highest possible visual quality.

The lens comes with 3 aspherical elements.

One of them is the XA element with exact surface precision.

This element of the lens delivers high-resolution pictures while reducing aberration from one corner to another.

The constant F2.8 max aperture helps with maintaining depth and exposure regardless of the zoom range.

When photographers try to change the aperture for de-focusing the background, the out of focus areas become blurred.

This blurred background can be improved and enhanced using the aperture blades of this lens.

Most regular aperture blades create unpleasant points of light.

This is because most of them have flat sides.

However, this lens keeps the aperture blades circular.

As a result of this, you achieve a natural de-focusing of backgrounds. 

The Nano AR coating of the lens reduces ghosting and flares.

It also helps with taking images with lifelike details.

The nano-structure allows accurate transmission of light, which produces high-quality pictures.

It suppresses reflection which improves the contrast and clarity of the photos. 

If you are looking for a professional lens and have no problems with carrying it around, then this is the lens for you.

3. Sony SEL24240 FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS

The Sony SEL24240 FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS is a great telephoto lens for Sony A7s II.

It offers ten times zoom compared to the three or four times in most full-frame lenses.

Sony calls this an SEL lens because it is meant for its E-mount mirrorless cameras.

FE lenses are specially used in full-frame Sony alpha mirrorless cameras though they are compatible with APS-C cameras too.

This lens has a telescopic design.

The front elements do not rotate and move when extended.

So, you can comfortably use filters and polarizers.

The stiff zoom ring prevents zoom creep.

It is moisture and dust resistant.

Even in its full telescopic length, the lens manages to keep its balance.

That is because the maximum weight is at the base of the lens.

The optical steady shot (OSS) image stabilization corrects camera shake during hand-held photography.

The gyro-sensors help adjust the lens position to counter any movement.

The linear motor helps in focus adjustment in all lengths of zoom. 

It has five aspherical elements and one ED element.

These help in bringing sharpness and precision to the image.

The unique design of the aspherical elements has reduced the need for too many elements.

This has made the lens lighter, which minimizes aberration in images too.

Defocusing is smooth, giving excellent ‘bokeh.’

The background blurs are round due to circular aperture blades.

Sony SEL 24240 FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS has a fast but quiet auto-focus.

You will be able to switch quickly from wide-angle to telephoto without missing any shot.

4. Sony SEL70200G FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS

The Sony SEL70200G FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS was built with full-frame cameras in mind, so of course, it is perfectly compatible with the A7S II.

When it comes to mid-range zoom this is the telephoto lens of choice for the Sony A7 series.

It is an SEL lens because it is compatible with E-mount cameras.

FE indicates that it is a full-frame lens.

OSS is optical steady shot image stabilization for blur-free images.

Thus, you get clear photos without high ISO or loud noise.

The special ‘G’ lenses are individually checked for exacting tolerance and creative control.

It is an all-weather, all-location lens as it is dust and moisture resistant.

It has a circular aperture with a 9-blade design to give perfect defocusing.

This ensures a beautiful bokeh.

Also, the constant F4 aperture saves you from changing exposure settings while zooming.

It has one aspherical element and two advanced aspherical (AA) elements.

It has two extra-low dispersion glass elements and one super ED element.

These together help in reducing aberrations, astigmatism, and coma.

Capturing action or shooting movies are all easy with Sony SEL FE 70-200mm F4 due to the dual linear motors.

Dual linear motors make focusing fast, quiet, and precise.

Internal focusing keeps the front elements steady.

So, polarizers and filters can sit well on the lens.

This lens has a Nano AR coating to handle light dispersion effectively, which reduces flare and ghosts to almost non-existence.

The image stabilization switch provides a ‘panning mode.’

You can capture horizontally panned shots with minimum blur.

The body of the Sony SEL70200G FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS E-mount lens is designed attractively.

The focus range limiter switches, focus hold, and other controls are made for convenience.

5. Sony FE 70-300mm SEL70300G F4.5-5.6 G OSS

The Sony FE 70-300mm SEL70300G F4.5-5.6 G OSS is the telephoto zoom lens with a variable maximum aperture.

You can consider it as a pseudo-macro lens.

Sony designed it for its full-frame E-mount cameras.

It is compatible with APS-C cameras too.

It is less expensive than Sony’s other G-series lenses.

Sony FE 70-300mm SEL F4.5-5.6 G can become a favorite for wildlife and landscape photographers.

The body is made of matte black plastic and has a rubber focus and zoom ring.

It has weather sealing features.

The barrel is made of magnesium alloy, and it has a metal mount.

The front part extends out when zoomed.

There is a zoom lock switch that helps avoid zoom creep.

The lens barrel has three switches.

The first is AF/MF switch to move from autofocus to manual.

The second is the focus distance limiter, which prevents the lens from focusing too close.

The third switch is for a steady shot.

An AF stop button will allow you to operate through the camera menu.

The optical steady shot (OSS) image stabilization is better than other 70-300mm lenses in the market.

Coupled with the IBIS feature of mirrorless cameras, this gives excellent results.

It shows excellent tracking capabilities but disappoints in low-light.

Low-light makes focus locking take time.

Whereas in bright light, locking is fast and accurate.

The sharpness of the images is intact throughout the focal length of the lens.

Zooming out at 300mm shows a slight negative impact on the sharpness.

Things improve if stopped down to f/8. 

Both background and foreground bokeh are reasonably good.

The Nano AR coating controls flare.

A minor amount of vignette is present at a wide-open aperture and ends of the range.

You will notice almost non-existent chromatic aberration.

6. Zeiss Batis 2.8/18

If you are looking for a sturdy and dependable camera lens, then the Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 is a suitable option.

With a decent aperture, autofocus feature, and other standard functionalities, the lens is excellent for beginner-level photography.

The 2.8/18 wide-angle lens is perfect for landscape and portrait modes.

We tried capturing low- angle shots of buildings, the city skyline, and bokeh frames as well and very pleasantly surprised by its performance.

The Zeiss Batis lens is especially effective for astrophotography.

You can get a clear, sharp shot of the stars and the skies on a clear night.

The autofocus is adjustable and can be tweaked to suit your needs.

Plus, you can even remove pixels, blurring, and vignettes around the edges.

The lenses are also suitable for shooting moving objects, small objects, and up-close photography.

You can get extremely wide-angled shots with minimum distortion.  

Moving to the framework, the Zeiss lenses are lightweight, portable, and designed for outdoor locations.

The lens is also dust-proof, weather-resistant, and durable with advanced anti-scratch construction.

7. Zeiss Batis 2/25 (25mm, F2.0)

The smooth, sleek, and stylish Zeiss Batis 2/25 (25mm, F2.0) is optimised for most Sony E Mount models.

The autofocus is steady, reliable, and extremely sharp- helping us get the perfect shot every time.

The lenses come with advanced features like zoom-in and sensors for getting sharp, up-close images even when the object is far away or very small.

We also like how versatile the model is, supporting all kinds of photography modes from landscape to bokeh and portrait frames.

About the framework, physical construction is ergonomic, adjustable, and very lightweight.

You can easily carry the lenses to an outdoor location and get wide-angle shots of the area or the skyline.

Plus, the fact that you don’t need any extra adapters and cables to fit the lenses to the Sony A7SII camera is an added plus.

The lenses also support panoramic views and 3D photography.

All the images are saved in the JPEG format and can be transferred to other devices via a USB cable.

And it is okay if you don’t have killer editing skills- the lenses always manage to get the perfect shot.

The dust resistant, weatherproof construction is easy to clean and maintain.

You even get a lens cap or guard with the model for extra protection.

8. Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8

The Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 has all that you would expect from a decent fixed lens.

Armed with an in-build image stabilization feature and stunning autofocus, this 35mm f/1.8 model is tailor-made for beginners.

This is also the smallest lens for the Sony A7S II, on this list.

The coloration and contrast offered by this Sony lens are pretty powerful and versatile.

You can adjust the gradation, add special effects, reduce blurring and vignettes around the edges of the frame, and so much more.

The wider aperture allows for faster photography; you can now shoot a series of still images in a sequence with zero errors.

It is a great mode for capturing moving objects or getting a wide-angle shot of the landscape without breaking down into pixels

This is undoubtedly the best 35mm lens for the Sony A7S II when it comes to sheer value.

Plus, the framework is designed in a way that requires no cleaning or maintenance.

The lens doesn’t collect dust; it is moisture-proof and can be carried anywhere you want.

The SEL35F18 model is also compatible with a gimbal and supports both handheld and automatic shots.

We even tried connecting it to other camera models by Sony and found it to be quite efficient.

So, overall, if you’re in a search of the best 35mm lens for sony a7s II, your search ends here.

9. Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar T FE ZA

The smooth, well-rounded, and ribbed Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar T FE ZA the perfect companions for outdoor photoshoots.

The rugged construction is lightweight, very stable, and easy to handle.

The aspherical design complements the camera well and effectively reduces aberrations.

The picture quality is excellent, with really sharp edges, crisp color schemes, and contrast settings.

The lenses also come with standard functionalities like autofocus and image stabilization for clicking accurate and attractive shots.

The construction is ergonomic with a robust unbreakable framework and lens guard protecting the fragile lenses from dust and moisture.

The wide lens opening allows photographers to click pictures even in dim or lowly lit backdrops.

You can also click low-light shots, wide landscape shots, close-ups, and portrait shots with these lenses.

Simple, stunning, and straightforward, the Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar can be handled by amateurs and professionals alike.

It is excellent for anyone, looking for some sharp portraits, product photos, or even for getting stunning quality on those eBay listings to attract more customers.

10. Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8

The Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 has a durable rubber sealing to the mount.

This means the lens is virtually all-weather resistant.

Sand, water, dust – nothing phases the lens. Another notable advantage is the Zeiss T coating which reduces flares and reflection that could otherwise ruin a good picture.

Portrait photographers highly seek batis as we’ve found, and for good reason.

The wide-open 1.8 lens greets you with the sharpest, high definition images.

Every feature of the subject is defined while there’s considerable depth in the out of focus area.

The Optical Steady Shot of the E-mount system is up to par.

Combine it with the bokeh, and we have got almost perfect portraits.

The colour rendition and contrast are notable.

Even the most grey-toned colours look defined and brighter under this lens.

While the lens is best suited for portrait photography, if you plan on using it for videos, then you have nothing to fear either.

The lens makes absolutely no sound and what it does sound like is a whisper.

The bride walking down the aisle would be in full length, with the wedding guests at the back thanks to the wide-angle.

We really couldn’t find any reason not to buy this lens, especially considering the lightweight body and cheaper price range when held against lenses of similar qualities of other companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Pairing a great camera with some excellent quality lenses makes the Photography or videography experience whole, and if you have the A7S II, the potential is simply overwhelming.

Now, there is no one best lens for the Sony A7SII but, considering the fact that you’ve made it till the end, you probably have a personal favorite by now.

But, in case you’re still confused, let me make this a bit easier for you:

• If you’re in the market for a great Wide-angle lens and you don’t mind spending a good amount of cash on it, get the no-nonsense Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar F4 lens.
• In case you’re looking for a long-range Telephoto instead, get the Sony SEL70300G FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 lens.
• For those who are looking for a good prime lens but, do not wish to spend more than $500, get the Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 lens.
• If you need a more open, fixed-range Wide Angle lens, get the Zeiss Batis 2/25 (25mm, F2.0) lens.
• If you need a lens that is wide-angle at its minimum and a mid-range Telephoto when expanded, get the Sony SEL24240 FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3.
• In case you need a Prime Lens that has excellent optics and you don’t mind spending a few hundred dollars extra, get the Sony 55mm F1.8 Sonnar T FE ZA lens.

I hope that cleared any remaining doubts and confusion you might have had.

In case you found the article helpful and perhaps would like to explore more lenses or cameras, there is a boatload of articles on the website.

So, maybe consider checking those out next.