Best Travel Lens for Sony A7iii | Buying Guide 2023

The Sony a7iii travel lens is the most popular lens for the Sony camera. In this guide, you can learn what are the pros and cons of lenses, as well as which ones I recommend for your next trip.

I take my photography gear seriously as a travel blogger. In most cases, I or my partner take the photos you see on the blog, so we are very picky about our lenses. One of the best travel cameras is the Sony a7iii, which I own. I have used this camera on many of my trips. My experience with Sony full-frame lenses while traveling is what I am happy to share with you, as well as my recommendations.

Related: Best Gimbal for Sony A7iii

The best zoom travel lenses for Sony A7III

Zoom lenses always come at a cost, aperture, and size compromise for those who prefer to shoot with them.

A zoom lens is usually much larger and heavier than a normal lens. As they typically come with maximum apertures of F4 or higher, they are not ideal for low-light settings or portrait photography. Despite these challenges, premium zoom lenses can reach F2.8, but they’re expensive.

Depending on what you shoot most often, you will need a specific zoom range for travel photography. The majority of landscape photographers prefer wide-angle lenses (16-35mm), portrait shooters prefer midrange lenses (24-100mm), and wildlife shooters prefer telephoto lenses (100-600mm).

1. SONY 24-105MM G OSS (SEL24105G)

Pros: The focal distance range is incredibly wide, the sharpness is excellent, and the autofocus is very fast & accurate.

There are some cons to this lens, including the fact that it is not small or light, and it can be challenging to use in very low light.

Our main focus is on landscapes and nature, but we also photograph lifestyles and subjects. In our opinion, this is the best travel lens for the Sony A7iii, since both of us use it 90% of the time.

Landscapes, close-ups, and everything in between are covered in the 24-105mm range. While “one-and-done” lenses are not small, being able to rarely change them in the field, thus keeping our sensor clean, is extremely valuable. Additionally, it has sharp corners, a good max aperture across the entire zoom range, and can usually be found for about $1100 on sale.

• Price at full retail: $1399.99
• 2017 release
• Aperture Maximum: F4
• 24 oz (663 g)
• The dimensions of the box are 3.28 x 4.46 inches (83.4 x 113.3 mm)
• 77mm filter size
• Excellent build quality
• Excellent autofocus
• Stabilization of images: Yes

2. SIGMA 24-70MM F2.8 DG DN ART

Pros: It is weather-sealed, performs well in low light, has auto-focus, and has a higher overall image quality than Sony at about half the price. Almost every metric is better than Tamron & Samyang at the same price point.

Cons: Rather large and expensive compared to F4s of the same range, but most photographers may find it to be enough.

Travel and landscape photographers commonly prefer focal distances between 24-70mm. Since our eyes have an equivalent focal distance, it resembles that most closely!

Its overall value, build quality, size, image quality, and overall value surpasses rivals from Sony, Tamron, and even other Sigma lenses.

• It was released in 2019
• Aperture Maximum: F2.8
• 1.84 lbs (835 g)
• It measures 3.46 x 4.84 inches (87.8 x 122.9 mm).
• Size of the filter: 82mm
• A dust issue had existed with older models but has now been resolved.
• Excellent autofocus
• Stabilization of the image: None

3. SONY ZEISS 24-70MM F4 VARIO-TESSAR T FE OSS

Pros: It is affordable (especially compared with used copies) and not bulky at all, making it a good choice for travel photographers who are looking for something compact.

Cons: Constraints low-light and bokeh performance at maximum aperture.

Typically, 24-70mm lenses are used as primary lenses, but most people do not need the F2.8 speed. Instead of the Sony Zeiss 24-70mm F4, consider the Sony Zeiss 24-70mm F4.

• Date of release: 2014
• Aperture Maximum: F4
• 15 ounces (426 grams)
• (WxL): 2.87 x 3.72 inches (72.9 x 94.49 millimeters)
• 67mm filter size
• Excellent build quality
• Excellent autofocus
• Stabilization of images: Yes

4. TAMRON 150-500MM F/5-6.7 DI III VC VXD

Pros: Optical quality, image sharpness, and autofocus performance make this lens the best value when comparing its price with its most important features. Compared to other comparable models, this one is also lighter. Sony’s offerings are half the price!

Cons: The 200-600mm lens may be preferred by those with a higher budget, or the 100-400mm might be preferred by those with a smaller budget. Comparatively poor build quality.

After testing and comparing every other lens in the 100-600mm range (including those with $10,000 price tags), we travel with the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VDX.

It is essential to have a good telephoto lens if you intend to photograph wildlife or need to capture a moment with discretion.It was the best value at the price point due to its excellent autofocus, sharpness, and maximum apertures.

• The release date is 2021
• Aperture range: F5 to F6.7
• 4.1 lbs (1.95 kg)
• The dimensions of the device are 8.3 x 3.7 inches (210.8 x 94 mm).
• 82mm filter size
• Good quality of construction
• Excellent autofocus
• Stabilization of images: Yes

5. TAMRON 70-180MM F2.8 DI III VXD

In spite of the fact that these lenses are not small, most photographers choose them when their images are heavily compressed with a strong human subject.

Native Sony options are popular among shooters who enjoy mid-telephoto ranges, but tests suggest they may be a poor choice!

 

Pros: It is difficult to find a better lens for travel than the Tamron 70-180mm on the Sony A7iii in this focal distance range. We were blown away by how much sharper it was than the competition, how much lighter it was, and how much cheaper it was as well!

Cons: Tamron lenses have the biggest disadvantage in that their Auto-Focus performance at high speeds is about half that of Sony lenses. Chromatic Aberration and fringing were reduced to a lesser degree with Sony options. In addition, it does not reach 200mm like its competitors.

The Tamron 70-180mm outperformed the Sony 70-200mm in the most important categories when compared with both the newly released and original Sony 70-200mm. While being nearly half the weight and 1/3 the cost, the Tamron provided slightly better bokeh and had a sharper corner-to-corner image! As well as handling flare better, it was more durable than Sony’s.

Also, most photographers who choose this focal length as their primary lens will find the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 to be comparable to the Sony 70-200mm F4.

• 2020 release date
• Aperture max: F2.8
• It weighs 1.78 lbs (810 grams)
• The size of the container is 3.19 x 5.87 inches (81 x 149 millimeters).
• Good build quality
• Fair autofocus
• Stabilization of the image: None

THE BEST SONY A7III TRAVEL LENSES

Many travel photographers prefer prime lenses over zoom lenses because of their versatility. In terms of bokeh and low-light performance, prime lenses offer greater advantages because their F-stops are higher. Generally speaking, prime lenses are more compact, and their sharpness is superior for the cost.

Finally, prime lenses are much easier to find than zoom lenses that are comparable in quality and speed.

6. SIGMA 20MM F/1.4 ART DG HSM

Pros: If you like shooting wide-angle with primes, you’ll find this lens to be of great value. Taking wide-angle portraits and shooting in low light is great with the F1.4 lens. Wide-angle lenses are difficult to find without distortion.

Cons: When wide open to F1.4, there is some vignetting on the corners of this lens. It is very large and heavy for a travel prime lens.

For shooting the stars in low light, astrophotographers prefer this lens because of its wide angle and high performance.

• A full retail price of $899 is available
• The release date is set for 2018
• Aperture Maximum: F1.4
• The weight of the item is 2.1 pounds (945 grams).
• 3.57 x 5.11 inches (90.7 x 129.8 mm)
• No filter size is specified
• Excellent build quality
• Excellent autofocus
• Stabilization of the image: None

7. SONY 20MM F/1.8 G (SEL20F18G)

Pros: There is no difference in size or sharpness between the Sigma and the Mini.

Cons: The aperture only gets to F1.8, and there are no discounts or sales compared to Sigma.

Many travelers may prefer the Sony 20mm over the Sigma 20mm that was released in 2020. There is a 1/3 difference in size between this lens and the Sigma, which makes it appealing to users of prime lenses. Furthermore, it comes at the same price as its predecessor but is slightly sharper.

• 2020 is the release date
• Aperture Maximum: F1.8
• The weight of the product is 13.16 ounces (373 grams).
• The dimensions of the product are 2.89 x 3.33′′ (73.5 x 84.7 mm)
• Size of the filter: 67mm
• Excellent build quality
• Excellent autofocus
• No image stabilization

8. SONY FE 35MM F1.8 (SEL35F18F)

Pros: I love the compactness, the sharpness, the well-built quality, and the price.

Cons: For those who prioritize budget or aperture most highly, there are cheaper and faster options.

With the exception of the Sony F2.8 pancake lens, all other 35mm lenses were almost twice as large, with the exception of two full stops of light loss (unacceptable for most users).

• Date of release: 2019
• F1.8 is the maximum aperture
• The weight of this product is 9.9 ounces (281 grams).
• Approximately 2.58 x 2.87 inches (65.6 x 73 mm) in size
• Size of the filter: 55 mm
• Excellent quality of construction
• It’s great to have autofocus
• Stabilization of the image: None

9. SONY FE 50MM F1.8 (SEL50F18F/2) (EDITOR’S TOP PICK)

Pros: This lens fits the bill for prime users who want a compact, lightweight, and high-quality travel lens.

Cons: No.

There is always a nifty-fifty in every traveler’s bag, and Sony wanted to make sure you chose theirs. We consider this to be the best travel lens for the Sony A7iii when considering size, cost, and quality. Is this the best travel lens for the Sony A7iii?

• Date of release: 2016
• Aperture Maximum: F1.8
• 6.56 ounces (186 grams)
• Dimensions (WxL): 2.7″ x 2.34″
• 49mm filter size
• Good quality of construction
• Good autofocus
• Stabilization of the image: None

10. SONY 85MM F1.8 (SEL85F18)

Pros: In addition to being the smallest and 2nd-most affordable lens in the Sony 85mm Full Frame lineup, this lens offers comparable or better image quality at F1.8 than any other lens in the line-up. The lens costs $599 and weighs 371 grams, making it ideal for travelers.

Cons: It’s not as good as the Rokinon / Samyang lenses, and it’s not as cheap.

According to our analysis and comparison, the Sony 85mm F1.8 is the best value in the 85mm lens category compared to the Sigma F1.4, Rokinon/Samyang F1.4, Zeiss F1.8, and Sony F1.4.

• Date of release: 2017
• Aperture Maximum: F1.8
• This product weighs 13.09 ounces (371 grams)
• The dimensions of the device are 3.07 x 3.23′′ (78 x 82 mm).
• 67mm filter size
• The build quality is good, but it is not entirely weatherproof
• It’s great to have autofocus
• No image stabilization

What is the best travel lens for Sony a7iii?

When you’re planning a trip, it’s always difficult to decide which lens to bring. The answer depends on so many factors! What is your destination? Is it a solo trip, a trip with friends, family, or a partner…? Do you have a specific subject in mind?

When buying a lens for travel, however, you should always consider the following factors:

1. Weight

It is always important to consider weight when traveling, regardless of your style. While traveling, you won’t be taking photos in a studio with a tripod and your camera. Each extra pound hurts your shoulder muscles because you will carry everything.

2. Size:

Weight is the same story. Moving a bulkier lens will be more difficult. Taking photos isn’t the only time! There is a possibility that you’ll need to take a plane, where size is critical. In order to fit your lens around, you’ll need a big camera bag, and that can be a hassle very quickly.

3. Price:

A factor that always comes into play is money. Cheaper is better in this case. There’s no point in getting the best of the best if you can’t afford to spend a lot of money. The budget options are often just as good as the high-end options.

4. Range:

Your lens’ focal length is very important. Do you want to photograph wildlife? Telephoto lenses are required. What about landscapes? The lens will probably be wide-angle. Is there something for everyone? An all-around lens might be the best option for you. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length, so you can choose them. In my opinion, they are the best option for travelers, but they might not be a good option for you.

5. Quality:

There are a lot of things I want to focus on here: image sharpness, low-light performance, lens distortion, chromatic aberrations, and lens build quality… You want to get the highest quality possible for the price.

Keep reading to find out which lenses are best for each job! In addition to a couple of good prime lenses that are great for travel, I will explain the best options for each type of activity.

Here are some suggestions for choosing your lenses according to your type of travel if you want to see even more examples.

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