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Hey everyone! I did a video like this a couple of years ago and with so many new lens releases since then, I thought it was finally time to do another one. Since I review so many lenses, these are 10 that stand out to me as good quality, affordable options for portrait photography. I have lenses from Sony, Samyang, Tamron and Sigma today. Let me know in the comments if you think I missed out on any! Maybe I should do a part 2 soon.
All photos edited with my Lightroom Presets:
Here are some of the completely review videos of the lenses I mentioned in this video:
Sigma 45mm f2.8:
Samyang 85mm f1.8 II:
Sony vs Sigma vs Samyang 135mm f1.8:
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2:
Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 G2:
Sony 85mm f1.8 (vs 85mm f1.4 GM):
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Comments
46 responses to “10 Affordable Portrait Lenses for Sony”
Super helpful thank you 😊
I love my Zeiss 55!! I've been really considering the 135 Samyang.
How about the Sigma 50mm f2 Contemporary and the Sony 50mm f2.5?
What about the Tamron 17-70?
I got the sony 70-300 G in 550 dollars used and the sony 24-70 gm 1 used in 800, they are both incredible, for portrait they are amazing, and i love the 70-300 for portrait because it give me a beautiful bokeh, you should try that one 😛
Sigma 56mm 1.4 . It's all you need for portrait if you have APSC. Great AF, Sharp picture quality, creamy bokah
I am wondering why you did not mention the Sigma 1.4 DN or the new 1.2?
where is Sigma 85mm..? 😭
Out of all the whole video, I kind of share the same view as you except for the Sony 85 1.8 and Zeiss 1.8, I found the Bokeh produces by the Sony 85 1.8 pretty " nervous" the high light is really distracting, and the Zeiss 55 1.8's Bokeh is even worse I will even call it ugly. very very distracting highlight in the background, yes I owned both of them at one point and got rid of both of them for the reason I described, the Samyang 85 1.4 II offer so much more beautiful bokeh than both of those at very low cost.
Yes I am coming from the Nikon 105 1.4, Zeiss Mivus 85 1.4 and Sony 85GM kind of portrait lenses, so my comment may be a bit harsh on those low cost lenses, They may represent some " good value" but still doesn't make them good portrait lenses.
61mp vs 33mp for portraits?
Too much detail to be flattering?
Thanks for the nice video. I am happy onwer of tamron 70-180mm.
Besides the Batis-Series ist superb.
I'm so much in trouble trying to choose samyang 35mm f1.8 to pair with a7c because it has some AF issue on AF-C mode and none of my local shops here has the lens update station. I just don't get why do we need to pay $55 for firmware/bugfix update???
I was sad to sell my zeiss 55 but I had to do it to get the 35 GM
Thank you Julia, a great wrap of some awesome lens options. Importantly, terrific models and some terrific images. Nice work. Thank you.🎉🎉🎉
you lost weight so significantly, why? 🙂
Do you not use Sony 24-70ii very much?
What about tamron 35-150?
Is it the best zoom lens ever for portrait
The ultra cheap sony 50mm f1.8 … I love that lens
SONY FE 35mm F1.8 ————– 0:57
SIGMA 35MM F1.4 DG DN ART 1:27
SIGMA 45MM F2.8 DG DN ——- 2:56
ZEISS 55MM F1.8 ——————– 3:42
SIGMA 65MM F2 DG DN ———- 4:36
SAMYANG 85MM F1.4 II ———- 5:22
SONY FE 85MM F1.8 —————- 6:28
SAMYANG 135MM F1.8 ———– 7:17
TAMRON 28-75 F2.8 G2 ———– 8:22
TAMRON 70-180 F2.8 G2 ——— 8:53
Этот голос… можно слушать бесконечно ❤
Sony zv e 1 vs sony a7iv review
I would not buy a "budget" Lens, I will rather buy a used quality Lens, last year I bought the Zeiss Batis Sonnar 85mm 1.8 T* used for US $550 (taxes included) in excellent condition at my local store, the store also had a bunch of used Sony Zeiss Carl Zeiss Sonnar 55mm 1.8 T* ZA Lenses, some of them in fine condition for US $ 362 (included taxes), one for US $ 180 that did not look good (good for anonymous street photography !), but it was in good working order. So my recommendation are that you look for very good used quality Lenses, although used, they will last longer than the "budget" Lenses ! Other Lenses that I use for portrait are the Sony 135mm 1.8 GM, Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 65mm 2.0 Aspherical and Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 110mm 2.5
I just purchased yesterday Sigma art 35mm. I have been using manual lenses for forever(yes I am ancient, went to school with Moses), I was a bit disappointed, not with the performance but with the weight. Just simply not used to. I also looked at Sigma 85. When the salesman brought it out, I realized I might as well buy a gun. It looked like a weapon and exercise equipment seamlessly blended into a lens. The gist of my rambling, you have to try the lens, see how it feels in your hand. The weight is a big factor as to how comfortable you are with a lens. Thank you for your video. Zeiss images look fantastic. Great info.
super
What about samyang 35mm f1.8 & t1.9 ?
Hi Julia , you use a A7IV now, why not A7RV.? Disadvantage.? Why you prefer A7IV , even A7III over A7RV. Thanks 🙏🏻
Samyang 135 is great
You should review viltrox 27mm f1.2 for sony e mount 😊
Sigma 105 macro
❤
Do you have an opinion on the Sigma 28-70 vs the Tamron 28-75?
Regarding the Zeiss 55: It's known to have quality variations. Back then, Sony wasn't so good with QA. Most people say, its ultra sharp, but there are quite a few soft copies out there. That said, pictures coming from the 55 look great
Great video hija. Still deciding on one 28 mm for my Sony @6000
What are your thoughts about the zeiss 85mm 1.8?
The Sony FE 50mm 1.8 was the first lens I got for my A7C and I almost feel like I robbed Sony, for the price it goes for. There are some good reviews elsewhere on youtube of people using it for portrait photography, it punches well above its pricing.
The tamron 28-75 g2 is great but 28mm is just not wide enough for weddings 😢
24-70 all day
I have the FE 35 1.8, 55 1.8, 85 1.8, and Rokinon 135 1.8 love them all.
Try the Samyang 75mm F1.8 . Its sharper in the center, less CA's, lighter and cheaper than the Sony 85mm F 1.8
The Samyang 85mm is amazing. I am not a portrait photographer normally and I bought the lens for another purpose but I've taken amazing candid portraits with it at a couple events where I was the in-a-pinch photographer.
Hi 🙂 Is it worth spending more money for the Sigma 35mm Art? compared to sony 35
Crazy to not have the Tamron 35-150/2-2.8 in the Zoom category. That lens is incredible! I own the Nikon Z version & it hasn't left my camera since I got it.
I really wish Sigma would make DG DN Z-mounts already 😅!!
I have 4 lenses from your list and it is true what you say, the ZEISS 55mm is fantastic, also for video. The lens I also use most often in combination with the 35mm 1.8. Furthermore, the 2 zooms from Tamron I use very often.
I have all Sigma lenses with my A7R5.
I love the Sigma lenses for the money. Excellent build and less $ than GM especially the 35 1.4, 65 2.0, but the Sigma 85 1.4 is my fav (not on your list).
absolutely love the 65mm f2