jerzee.shore.shooter

Jumping over to a Sony a7 III full-frame and wanna make smart lens decisions. Any lens suggestions before clicking on the buy?

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Your lens choice is largly dependent on what you want to photograph or video. All the Sony FE mount lenses are good. The G lenses are best. The difference between G and GM is that G is ususally f4 and GM is usually f2.8. Weight of the lenses should also be considered. Lenses that could be benenficial are the 24-105 f4 G, the 100-400 f3-f5.6 GM, and the 90 Macro f2.8 G. Consider the price of these lenses also.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Carefully think through the kinds of subjects you want to photograph, and choose first, the lenses you will use most often.

16-35mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Zoom range (.32X to .7X magnification, based on 50mm = normal 1.0)
24-70mm f/2.8 Normal Zoom range (.5X to 1.4X magnification)
70-200mm f/2.8 Telephoto Zoom range (1.4X to 4X magnification)

Get the G-Master lenses if you can afford them. Those three lenses are known as the "holy trinity" of most-used professional zooms. Every manufacturer makes a very similar set of lenses. Sony's are among the best.

If you can only afford one of them, the 24-70mm is my favorite all-around "normal zoom lens". It, or its equivalent in APS-C (18-55mm) or Micro 4/3 (12-35mm), has been on whatever camera I had about 2/3 of the time since 2003.

The 70-200 is my second favorite. I use it for portraits and video interviews and some sports/wildlife work.

You may not need a 16-35 often, unless you do landscapes and real estate work. It's quite useful for that!

Beyond the trinity, you may need a long zoom if you are a sports and wildlife photographer. The FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS (Long Telephoto Zoom range 2X to 8X) is the top pick there, but you may need a longer zoom from a third party for some work.

If you want fast primes, the 85mm f/1.4 GM is phenomenal as a short tele/portrait lens. The 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS is also handy if you do close-up work.

Good glass isn't cheap, but it makes life a lot easier. DO consider renting expensive lenses to try them, or when you need one for a special job or trip. Both http://www.borrowlenses.com and http://www.lensrentals.com are trusted sources. They have lots of Sony gear.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What are you changing from? As referenced above, Sony has the focal lengths and apertures covered. Your favorite focal lengths of your existing equipment will be available. Account for the crop factor of your older equipment, if needed.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

A 50mm prime is a good choice to have in addition to whatever other lenses fit your photographic preference.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Even if he cannot buy all the expensive glass right away, you have provided the perfect order of purchase.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

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bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Just for the fun of it, I put the a7 III and those three lenses in my "cart" at B&H. It comes to $8,992. Now I will empty my cart so when I buy a printer cartridge or something I don't get all that wonderful stuff!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Only a pro or a very well-heeled individual would buy it all at once. Of course, some longer Canikon glass is priced in the stratosphere as well.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

Why do you have to ask others on what lenses you should buy? Are they going to take the pictures for you too?

ggenova64

Congratulations! G Master lenses.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

What were you using before the "switch"? That would be your best guide. You don't need anyone else's input. It's still just a camera.

Bill_de Loc: US

That's a funny comment.
You just provided your input, and I quote You don't need anyone else's input.

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traderjohn Loc: New York City

Yes, I provided common sense. No lens suggestion.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY