Best Telephoto Lens for Sony A7III, A7II & A7RIII


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Are you searching for the best telephoto lens for Sony A7III cameras? As one of the best mirrorless cameras available on the market today that is incredibly popular with travellers, this is isn’t particularly surprising.

Investing in a good telephoto lens for your Sony A7III camera is a necessary step for many photographers, as the standard kit lens of 28-70mm, doesn’t allow you to take those super close up shots or deal with fast-moving objects like wildlife or sports shooting.

All of the telephoto lenses listed in this article are E-mount and utilise a full-frame sensor (unlike telephoto lenses for Sony A6000 series which use a cropped sensor) meaning they are compatible with other camera models in the same series such as the Sony A7II or A7RIII.

Want a quick answer? My choice for the best telephoto lens for Sony A7III cameras is the FE 70–300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here) for a mid-range option or the FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here) lens for a premium option.

Sony A7III Telephoto Lens Comparison

Choosing a Telephoto Lens for Sony A7III Cameras

One of the main considerations when investing in a telephoto lens for your Sony A7III camera is thinking about which lenses you currently own and what limitations you feel that they have. If this is going to be your third or fourth lens for your camera and you’ve already invested in a range of solid zoom lenses, prime lenses and portrait lenses, then you’ll most likely be looking to invest in a pure telephoto lens rather than a hybrid lens that can be used for a variety of photography.

It’s worth also considering how you plan to shoot with your telephoto lens. If you’re planning to use it primarily to shoot wildlife or sports from a still position using a tripod, then weight becomes less of a concern (particularly if you don’t necessarily intend to use it as a travel lens). However, if plan to be using your telephoto lens while walking around or being on the go, then you need to consider the weight of the lens.

Finally, it’s worth remembering that telephoto lenses are fairly complex to manufacture so you find any of the lenses listed in this guide in a budget lenses roundup. Therefore, make sure to think through your use cases for the lens to ensure that you get the most value out of it!

Telephoto shot of lion on safari
You’ll need a telephoto lens to capture shots like these!

Best Telephoto Lens for Sony A7III

The lenses listed in this guide are some of the best options for purchasing a telephoto lens currently available on the market.

FE 70–300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS

If you’re looking for the best all-around telephoto lens for your Sony A7III camera, then the FE 70–300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here) is one of the best options currently available.

Complementing both the standard kit lens and a number of popular zoom or prime lenses that are frequently purchased with the A7III, this lens is ideal if you’re looking for a telephoto lens that can be used day-to-day and can handle a number of different shooting situations.

The FE 70–300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS is relatively lightweight for a telephoto lens, weighing 854g (30.2oz). It has a number of built-in controls on the body of the lens including auto/manual focus switch, a focus hold button and an OSS switch which allows you to seamlessly switch on Sony’s inbuilt Optical Steady Shot to avoid any blur when shooting without a tripod.

All in all, the FE 70–300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS is a great option as a telephoto travel lens that will allow you to take beautiful close-ups and capture fast-moving objects!

FE 70200mm F2.8 GM OSS

If you’re in the market for a premium telephoto lens then it’s worth considering the FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here). This lens is a great option for experienced photographers that offers superb image quality and will have you taking extraordinary photos in no time.

The FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS weights 1480g (52.2 oz) so it’s designed to be used for stationary photographers with a tripod. This means that if you’re planning on shooting wildlife or sports without moving much, then this could be the ideal telephoto lens for you.

The FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS also offers a range of lens controls on the body of the lens including a focusing and zooming ring, a shake compensation switch, focus switch and more.

All these features make the FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS a great option if you’re on the hunt for a premium telephoto lens for your Sony A7III, A7II or A7RIII camera.

FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS

If you’re looking for superzoom functionality when choosing the best telephoto lens for Sony A7III cameras, then one of the best choices is the FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here).

The FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS despite its ability to superzoom, doesn’t sacrifice on image quality and is really built perfectly if you want to shoot wildlife that you can’t get close to. It’s possible to also purchase additional teleconverters to extend the range of the camera to 840mm or 1200mm.

Weighing 2115g (74.7oz), this telephoto lens is clearly designed with the use of a tripod in mind and there are a variety of controls on the camera lens which are similar to what you’ll find on the FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS.

All in all, the FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS is a unique lens that is a fantastic option if you really want to step up your wildlife photography or get zoomed-in shots of really fast-moving objects.

FE 24–240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS

If you’re looking for an all-in-one lens that can not only take great telephoto shots but also take wide-angles and be good for regular day-to-day shooting then the FE 24–240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here). is certainly worth considering.

The FE 24–240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS lens is created so you can basically have one lens on your camera at all times. While the photo quality for taking telephoto shots might not be as superb as on a dedicated telephoto lens, this lens allows you to not have to worry about switching lenses and can also replace your existing kit lens.

Weighing 780g (27.6 oz), it’s heavier than most day-to-day lenses but that is the sacrifice required in order to have such a large range on the one lens.

All in all, the FE 24–240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS lens is a great option if you just want to experiment with telephoto shooting and aren’t ready to invest in a dedicated telephoto lens for your Sony A7III, A7II or A7RIII camera.

FE 70–200mm F4 G OSS

Finally on this list of best telephoto lenses for Sony A7III cameras is the FE 70–200mm F4 G OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here).

This lens is a good alternative to the FE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS, if you’re looking for a budget friendlier version that stills offers fantastic image quality. With an aperture of F4, compared to F2.8, you might not be able to get as crisp bokeh or shoot at lower light on the FE 70–200mm F4 G OSS but it is nevertheless a fantastic option for photographers looking for a telephoto lens to shoot wildlife or sports during the day.

The FE 70–200mm F4 G OSS weighs 840g (29.7 oz), making it lighter to travel with while still having a wide range of controls on the body of the lens to give you maximum control.

This lens is certainly one that is worth considering if you still plan to shoot with a tripod but weight in your backpack and impact on your wallet is a concern!

There are a number of fantastic options to consider when purchasing a telephoto lens for your Sony A7III and regardless of where you’re at on your photography journey, there is an appropriate lens for you to choose!

Are you looking for the best telephoto lens for Sony A7III, A7II or A7RIII cameras? Which ones are your considering purchasing? Let me know in the comments below!

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Michael is the founder of Capture That Snap, a website dedicated to helping photographers improve their craft. He loves travel photography and is always on the hunt for new destinations to explore and shoot.

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