Welcome back!

If you have missed the last article, this is a series of articles about me sharing what are the lenses from the various manufacturers that I will pick & use on a personal basis. The last article was about the Nikkor (Nikon) Lenses that I will buy for my Nikon system. Today, I am going to pick my lenses from the Sony A-Mount DSLR Lens line-up.

You are reminded again that this is NOT a ”buying guide” or a technical review of each lenses. You can easily find those all over the internet. However, I am sharing based on personal experience, usability and how well these lenses compliment your work.

My Pick for Best Sony Zoom lens (General Lens).
This is the lens that I will probably bring it everywhere I go, for commercial shoot or leisure walkabouts.

My pick will be the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24–70mm F2.8 ZA SSM. Covering from a wide angle to medium telelphoto at a constant bright apeture at F2.8, this is one of the excellent lenses from Sony that does almost everything that professionals need. Being a Carl Zeiss unit, this lens boost quality on both the lens build as well as the optical quality. Colors are accurately reproduced and the use of 2 ED glass + 2 Aspherical glass does make a huge difference when compared to other manufacturers’ equivalent. Not to forget the T* Coating from Carl Zeiss that gives  a special touch to create superb image quality. Focus is powered by Sony’s quiet Super Sonic Motor (SSM) with fast focusing that quickly lock its subject into focus correctly. At 995gm, this is a heavy lens. But one that is worth lugging around especially when it produce quality photos that are out of this world.

Some Quick Information:
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24–70mm F2.8 ZA SSM (SAL2470Z)
Format: Full Frame SAL, but can be used on cropped bodies (DT) with a corresponding 1.5X increase.
Focal Range: Wide Angle to Medium Telephoto 24mm-70mm or 36mm-105mm on cropped (DT) Bodies.
Filter Diameter: 77mm
Supplied with Box: Instruction, Lens Pouch & Lens Hood ALC-SH101.
Suggested Alternative Lens for cropped (DT) Bodies: Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* DT16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA (SAL1680Z)

My Pick for Best Sony Telephoto Zoom lens (Telephoto Lens).
This is the lens that I will use for portraiture work, short range wildlife shots & street photography
My pick for this category has to be the Sony AF 70-200 F2.8 G SSM. A “G” Series Lens, this lens is built solid, precised and designed for professionals. I will rate this G Lens to be equal with Canon’s L-Series Lenses. Employing 4 ED Glass in the lens elements, this lens is optically designed for contrasty & razor sharp photography. Although this lens is one of the heaviest (1340gm) among the “70-200mm” range, this is also one of the best among the competition. Using 9 apeture blades, this lens gives creamy bokeh when used for portraiture work and a fast performer when it comes to sports & wildlife. Thanks to the Super Sonic Motor (SSM), this lens is ultra fast at focusing and this lens even comes with 3 additional focus hold/ lock button near the focus ring which adds to operational ease for the photographer. And using the lens, this G Lens feels like nothing hailing from the Konica-Minolta days and it feels better than the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM. Though optically both lenses offers similar image quality, the G Lens feels current while the Canon unit feels dated. (The Mark II feels better though). The G-Series seats below the Carl Zeiss Series in Sony’s line up of premium lenses, but not neccessary worse than its CZ counterparts. Well worth every dollar spent on this lens. 

Some Quick Information:
Sony AF 70-200 F2.8 G SSM (SAL70200G)
Format: Full Frame but can be used on cropped bodies (DT) with a corresponding 1.5X increase.
Focal Range: Medium Telephoto to Super Telephoto 70mm-200mm or 105mm-300mm on DT Bodies.
Filter Diameter: 77mm
Supplied with Box: Instruction, Tripod Mount, Lens Pouch & Lens Hood ALC-SH0010.
Suggested Alternative Lens for DT Bodies: Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM G (SAL-70300G)

 My Pick for Best Sony Standard lens (Prime Lens).
This is the lens that I will use for a wide variety of applications when zooming is not everything.

Interestingly, my pick for this category is the Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F1.4ZA lens. This is one of the sharpest lens in the whole of Sony’s line up and one of the best Carl Zeiss lens ever made for Sony. This large apeture medium telephoto lens is excellent for portrait works and general photography. Among all the F1.4 lenses in the Sony line, this 85mm has the best bokehs and some say it can be compared to Canon’s EF 85mm F1.2L USM or Nikon’s  AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G. Since this is a Carl Zeiss, it has to be good (as marketed), well it certainly lives up to its name. It comes equipped with a Focus Hold Button and it runs on Sony’s super fast Super Sonic Motor (SSM) & not to forget the signature T* coating from Carl Zeiss. Though the physical size of this lens is huge, it is a must to have and a must to use if you wish to experience the excellent image quality & handling of this Carl Zeiss Lens. Though more walking is required. 🙂

Some Quick Information:
Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F1.4ZA (SAL85F14Z)
Format: Full Frame but can be used on cropped bodies (DT) with a corresponding 1.5X increase.
Focal Range: Standard 85mm medium telephoto or 127.5mm on DT Bodies.
Filter Diameter: 72mm
Supplied with Box: Instruction, Lens Pouch & Lens Hood ALC-SH0002 .
Suggested Alternative Lens for DT Bodies: Sony 50mm f/1.4 ( SAL-50F14 )

The above 3 Sony lenses are the lenses that I will ONLY buy if I can only have 3 lenses for a Sony Alpha system. The selected lenses above are not your buying guide, but instead, what I will want to have in my camera bag. Sony is famed for their constant effort to move away slowly from the Konica-Minolta legacy and their evolution has started to make their way into the Alpha lenses.
The G-Series lenses are no longer a joke and the Carl Zeiss lenses served to prove that Sony is serious about reaching out to the professionals who wants quality, precision and operational ease with their Sony System. Have you tried using an Alpha Lens lately?

Disclaimer:
The above reviews/statement/ findings/ comparisons/ claims are solely personal views consolidated, compiled & based on personal surveys, usage experience, feedbacks from fellow users. This article is NOT PAID by the Brand owner and this article is presented as a reading reference from 1st person point of view.