6 Best Sony Lenses for Video in 2022 | Pick the Perfect One

Planning to dive into video shooting with your DSLR? Video and audio are quickly gaining popularity as a means of attracting and connecting with your target audience. So, if you are willing to shoot videos, you should pick a perfect lens first.
Sony is one of the most popular and reputed brands that manufacture high-quality and reliable lenses for video lenses. Here in this article, we’ll share with you an idea as well as an ultimate review of the 6 best Sony lenses for video.

6 Best Sony Lenses for Video Review 2022

Here is a list of the top 6 best lenses for video manufacturers by Sony, the most popular camera and camera accessories manufacturing brand.

Our top picks: At a glance

1. Best Affordable lens: Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens
2. Best High-Performing Video Lens: Sony SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm Lens
3. Best Value for Money: Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
4. Best Portrait Lens: Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens
5. Best for Day-to-Day Use: Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Camera Lens
6. Best for Wide Zoom: Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 lens

1. Best Affordable lens: Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens is a lightweight, compact lens with a standard focal length that is quite popular. It delivers exceptionally sharp photos when stopped down a little. This lens is an excellent introduction to prime lenses. This lens could be a good starting point for most general-purpose purposes.

Compact and Lightweight

This Sony video lens features a very compact and lightweight design. This lens has a high-quality plastic external barrel with a premium metal mount hidden behind it. Despite being lightweight, it is an excellently durable and long-lasting one. This exclusive feature makes this lens one of the best ones for everyday use as well as carry with you anywhere you go.

Focus Accuracy

Focus accuracy as well as repeatability, associated with video lenses, are essential for reliably producing crisp images. Over a series of 40 images, this lens’ repeatability is excellent, with no outliers. Whether this Sony lens focuses from such a closer range or infinity, there is only a very little difference in focus. It also includes the range and markers that are often found on DSLR lenses. The focusing performance is outstanding for the money that is more than adequate for most photography situations.

Aperture and Stabilizer

Although the maximum aperture at f/1.8 is not particularly thrilling, it is a relatively wide aperture for lenses in general. This aperture is enormous, and it is exceptionally large for a tiny, lightweight, and low-cost lens. With internal focusing that is silent and smooth, this lens performs equally well in bright interior conditions as well as low-light outdoor settings. The view in the viewfinder is adequately stabilized, while sensor-based AF provides a stable perspective of the subject.

Overall Performance

This lens is great value for money as such an entry-level video lens. Its big F1.8 maximum apertures are ideal for full-frame foreground fading with a shallow depth of field. With mechanical focusing that is silent and precise, this lens performs exceptionally well in bright interior conditions as well as low-light outdoors settings. Unless you’re filming the video with the integrated mic, autofocus is a tad noisy. In general, this lens works admirably in this price range.

Pros

• Offer excellent sharpness and brightness
• It ensures excellent image and video quality
• This lens is affordable but excellent in quality

Cons

• The focusing speed of this lens is a bit slower

2. Best High-Performing Video Lens: Sony SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm Lens

Sony SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm is one of the solid choice Lens for video. This lens covers a handy field of view with an excellent maximum aperture. It has a wider zoom range, and it comes with a power zoom design that makes it great for video. Overall, this lens is one of the affordable but high-performing lenses for shooting video.

Build Quality

This lens has a durable build with a metal mount and plastic filter ring, and it features a premium satin black finish. The aperture is made up of 7 rounded diaphragm parts that produce attractive out-of-focus background. Aside from the focus as well as zoom rings, the power zoom toggle is the only controlling surface on this lens. The focus adjustment ring is finely cammed and adjusts focus with only a little pressure.

Autofocus Operation

Autofocus is one of the major aspects for each and every kind of lens, no matter the photography of the video lens. The autofocus of this lens is excellently fast, and subjects are accurately locked upon in a reasonable amount of time. The smooth motion of the focus ring, which itself is nicely damped, makes manual focus changes a delight. Its zooms in and out smoothly, which makes it ideal for videography.

Sharpness and Color Rendition

The sharpness of this lens peaks around f6.3; however, you will not want to stop down any farther owing to diffraction. Although the lens has a zoom optic with such a wide range, the crispness is good wide open. The color representation from this lens is stunning; this one is best in terms of RGB-to-RGB conversion. It delivers skin tones beautifully, which portrait photographers will appreciate.

Lens Performance

Although it is a mid-budget lens for video, this lens performs like a pro. Color combination, Sharpness, Blur, Brightness, everything is good enough for satisfaction. The sharpness and the clarity of the image seem outstanding, no matter how you zoom the lens. Aimed at video shooters, this lens has done an outstanding and extraordinary job in this field. Overall, this Sony lens meets the best value for money, and it will never disappoint you with its performance.

Pros

• This lens performs like a prime lens
• It has internal focusing and zooming
• Excellent sharpness as well as bokeh

Cons

• A bit big and bulkier than other video lenses

3. Best Value for Money: Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens

The Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime is a wide-angle lens designed for Sony’s APS-C mirrorless camera system. This small prime lens opens all the way up to f/1.8, allowing you to take better pictures in low light and blur the background behind the subject. Optical stabilization is also included, which is beneficial for both stills and video.

Compact Design

This lens comes with a compact and lightweight design. This shape makes it a perfect “second lens” for filming action and is easily portable. Because it doesn’t have zoom, you can take better pictures in low light and blur the backdrop behind the subject. Optical stabilization is also included, which is beneficial for both images and video. A changeable lens hood, as well as front and back covers, are included with this lens.

Optical Stabilization

The lens has an aperture of f/1.8 and is stabilized. You’ll be able to capture consistently shake-free shots with the lens at shutter priority as slow as 1/8 second. Because of the stabilization, this is a superior choice for low-light photography. Obviously, you’ll need to work with such a cooperative subject—long shutter speeds aren’t ideal for candid photographs.

AF Performance

The only control of the focus is the manual focus ring; focus settings are controlled through the camera body. It rotates smoothly, with a ramping reaction that shifts focus quicker as users turn it faster. With most Sony cameras, in-body adjustable focus aids like peaking and magnifying are available. The majority of people will choose autofocus, and the lens provides rapid and silent focus.

Lens Performance

This lens is great for a range of photographs, such as walking snapshots, night shots, as well as portraits with great foreground blur. Sharpness, color correction, and focusing area are all excellent. Because of the low contrast rendition, bokeh is often exceedingly smooth at wide apertures. The shift between precise focus and blur is remarkably seamless, and out-of-focus peaks preserve their original outlines.

Pros

• Compact design makes it easy to carry
• Offer excellent and balanced image quality
• It comes with excellent optical stabilization

Cons

• This one is a bit expensive as a fixed lens

4. Best Portrait Lens: Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens

The Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS is a shorter telephoto prime lens for Sony’s interchangeable cameras. It has a 75mm effective focal length that is suitable for portraits, as well as its F1.8 maximum apertures is great for low and shallow depth-of-field shooting. The optical performance is great, and Sony’s OSS optical image stabilizer is very handy for general photographs, as it keeps things nice as well as steady.

Design and Build Quality

This lens has a very handy design; it is compact, lightweight, and also very durable. The lens has a great build quality thanks to a metal lens frame and a metal focus mechanism. Regardless of the focus settings, the front element does not rotate, and also the physical length stays fixed. A lens hood in the form of a barrel is included in the box.

Autofocus Accuracy

The lens offers an accurate Autofocus, and it is quick as well as very fast. AF’s actions are almost completely silent. The focusing ring is not attached directly to the focus rings. The focus motor is activated by turning the focusing ring to modify internal parts, allowing for a compact design. The ring spins freely with no strong stops, which is the most comfortable way to concentrate manually.

Optical Image Stabilization

This 50mm lens is now the sharpest lens with optical stabilization on any system. Sharp hand-held photographs may be obtained in roughly half the time if you take your time, plus allow enough time for the optical stabilization to operate in. To compensate for any picture blur, the stabilizer lens is precisely moved. Image stabilization is incredibly quiet as well as effective because of the use of precise, quiet linear motors. The inherited expertise adds to high-quality videos and images.

Overall Performance

This Sony lens offers crisp photos, however, not right away at /1.8, where some faint softness is seen throughout the frame. From edge to edge, the images are virtually tack-sharp. It takes less than a second for the lens to focus from near to maximum, and it does so quietly. The lens, which is designed to accommodate the APS-C sensor, will give a more accurate field of view. Whenever the lens is utilized at its maximum apertures, corner shadowing is merely a minor issue.

Pros

• Compact design and easy to carry anywhere
• It has an optical stabilizer and wide aperture
• This lens is affordable, but it performs well

Cons

• Weather sealing is not included with this lens

5. Best for Day-to-Day Use: Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Camera Lens

The FE 85mm f/1.8 lens from Sony is a lower-cost alternative for full-frame FE series cameras. This lens is indeed a kind of prime lens that is exceptionally adaptable, lightweight, and small. The twin linear motor technology ensures precise, quick, and silent focusing. Its 9-bladed spherical aperture delivers a clean, natural-looking bokeh.

Build Quality

While it may not look as elegant, this lens is well built. The barrel is made primarily of hard, sturdy, black plastic, while the mount and filter thread is all metal. The lens hood is a slightly flimsier type of plastic, presumably for weight savings, but hearty enough for frequent use. Overall, the lens feels good in the hand while remaining lightweight, balancing very well. Its lightweight design makes it suitable for day-to-day use and makes it easy to carry anywhere.

Handling

Although numerous zoom lenses can attain an 85mm focal range, there really is something unique about seeing the world via this 85mm lens. The term “subject distance” refers to a perspective that is appropriate for portraits as well as other close-up work in which the main subject may be isolated by using a defocused backdrop. It’s a highly flattering shooting distance for faces while yet being intimate enough to retain an effective connection with the subject. In every way, this 85mm lens performs admirably.

Autofocus and Bokeh

This lens performs admirably in terms of autofocus. In practically every circumstance, it locks fast and correctly. The continual AF is able to record exceptionally effectively in a few frames as the subject approaches the camera. Bokeh is a point where this lens may disappoint certain discriminating photographers. Defocused regions appear to be rather crowded.

Outcome Quality

This lens offers excellent outcomes; images and videos. There is no lack of sharpness as well as clarity in the image. It captures a lot of detail even at its largest aperture, as well as it really gets better when slowed down. At bigger apertures, there is some vignetting, but not quite enough to detract from the photographs. The lens finds a nice compromise between the overbearing, distracting flares as well as a stunningly clean, contemporary, flare-resistant construction.

Pros

• Comes with a Moisture and dustproof design
• Bright aperture and Accurate autofocus
• Ensures enough sharpness and brightness

Cons

• Image stabilization is not included

6. Best for Wide Zoom: Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 lens

Are you seeking a lens that covers mid to long-range focal length? You should consider Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Lens. It has a zoom ratio of 3.8x, which is approximately average for kit zoom lenses. This is an ideal lens for users who have exceeded the possibilities of their kit zoom, as it covers an efficient focal length. It also features fast and accurate focus takes excellent capture of image and video.

Lens Design

Sony E lenses are known for their excellent quality of build and design, and the 55-210mm OSS wins hands down. Surprisingly, Sony used mag-alloy in the body of this lens, which is a distinct feature in this lens as well as price range. Although the lens is small in comparison to other DSLR lenses, it appears to be somewhat long when attached to the camera.

Zoom Action

In my viewpoint, the zoom motion is smooth and well-damped, and it maintains its place nicely, so there is no creeping during usual usage. Because this lens lacks a zoom lock function, you’re out of luck if you have zoom creep. 55mm, 70mm, 100mm, 135mm, and 210mm are the focal length index markers. The EXIF data does not always equal those measurements exactly; there could be a variance of 1 or 2mm; this isn’t a significant concern; I’m only pointing it out.

Focusing Performance

The NEX focus motor configuration this lens to auto-focus practically softly. At all lengths, focusing appears to be quite precise and rapid in excellent light. When focusing, its front filter ring does not turn, so your polarizers, as well as grads, will function well. Needless to say, you will be pleased with the autofocus performance of this lens.

Shooting Performance

This lens is reasonably priced and features picture stabilization, whisper-quiet focusing, and a good zoom range. The performance of this lens is typically outstanding across the variety and variability, especially at the wide end, while considering the price point. There is no issue with the image brightness, clarity, as well as sharpness, and color contrast. At all apertures, bokeh is ‘crowded’ at the small side, but when slowed down a bit at the wide end, it provides a smooth out.

Pros

• This lens has a compact and lightweight design
• 3.8x zoom range with good optical stabilization
• Affordable but its performance is good enough

Cons

• The sharpness of the image is not great

Buying Guide – Best Sony lenses for Video

Since a lens must have some special features for capturing video, you may get a lot of stress when buying a video capturing lens. When purchasing your first or video lens, you should consider several things. Here are the most important aspects to consider when purchasing your new lens.

Mount System

Mount system of the lens is the first and foremost aspect that you have to consider while you are in the market to purchase a new lens. The different lens has a different mounting system to attach the lens with your camera. Canon EF, Sony E mount, Nikon F, Fujinon X are some of the most popular mount types for DSLR as well as mirrorless cameras right now. All you have to do, is know your camera mount and then purchase a lens according to it.

Focal Length

The focal length is one of the major things that you should consider when buying a new lens for video. One of the most important factors in the look of your photograph is focal length. It is generally the first figure in a lens specification and is measured in mm. The lower the value, the broader the angle of views, allowing you to see more of the picture.

On the other hand, a lens with a longer focal length brings the scene closer to action with more space compression. However, too wide a focal length lens can distort the scene or impair quality. So, you have to choose a lens depending on your work. In this case, lenses with a focal length between 20 mm and 100 mm would be ideal for video making, while 50 mm lenses are approximate in most areas.

Sensor Size

The sensor size of the lens is also a significant consideration when purchasing a lens. From largest to smallest, the key types of sensors that should consider here are full-frame, APS-C, or Super35, as well as Micro Four Thirds. MFT is a sensor dimension as well as amount type. Because the full-frame sensor is the biggest, a picture captured with a full-frame lens will cover a tiny sensor.

Full-frame lenses are suitable for use with any camera. However, if a crop sensor lens is used on a full-frame camera, the image will just cover a section of the sensor. Your image will be heavily vignetted as a result of this. Avoid using a lens designed for a shorter sensor on a bigger format camera unless you particularly desire this effect.

Aperture/ F-stop

Aperture, also known as F-stop, basically controls the amount of scene in focus. Each lens has a specific aperture. You’ll have much more control over your lens if the optimum aperture is larger. In low-light situations, a lower f-stop helps maintain quicker exposures, letting you photograph indoors without the need for a flash and take images at night or early morning. It’s also quick enough to stop the activity in its tracks. If you are not convinced how to choose the right aperture, turn to auto mode and then let the camera do the duty for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What mm lens is best for video? 

There are different types of lenses available in the market for videographers. The lenses that have a focal length between 20 mm to 100 mm are ideal for capturing videos. You’ll also notice that almost all manufacturers produce 24-70mm zoom lenses that are extremely comparable.

Is a 50mm lens good for video?

The 50mm lenses are the simplest as well as quickest of all prime lenses in any kit, and they offer excellent value. They’re also good enough to provide beautiful out-of-focus bokeh. Wider lenses just cannot compete in this situation. When shooting video, 50mm is about as long as you like to go.

Can you use a photo lens for video?

A photographic lens is often built of high-quality glass, making it a feasible option for video-based only on optical quality. While there may be minor variances in color as well as contrast across different manufacturers of cine lenses, image output from the very same brand cine lenses is typically constant.

Is an 85mm lens good for video?

A lens that has 20 to 100 mm focal length is good for video. However, shorter telephotos in the 80mm to 100mm range, which have long been a favorite of photographers, make great video lenses. f/1.4 is rather fast for an 85mm lens.

Final Thought

To shoot video, a perfect lens is too much needed. There are a lot of lenses for video; all of them are not overall perfect. To purchase the best lens for shooting video, you have to consider several things. Here in this Best Sony lenses for video review, you tried to share an ultimate idea to purchase a lens for video shooting. Using this idea, grab the best one for you.