AAs one of the most popular premium travel camera series on the market today, it’s no surprise that many people going on a trip are searching for the best travel lens for Sony A7III cameras.
There is a huge range of travel lenses to choose from and whether you’re looking for an all-in-one zoom lens, a wide-angle lens to take amazing landscapes, a prime lens to ensure supreme photo quality, a portrait lens to take stunning close-ups or a budget lens for your next backpacking trip there is something available on the market for you.
All the travel lenses listed in this guide are E-Mount with a full-frame sensor (unlike lenses for Sony A6400 cameras which use an APS-C sensor) meaning that not only are they great lenses for the Sony A7III, but also for other similar models in the camera series such as the Sony A7IV, Sony A7II or A7RIII cameras.
Want a quick answer? My pick for the best lens for the Sony A7III camera is the Sony 24-105mm F4 G OSS for an all-in-one travel lens.
Choosing a Travel Lens
When it comes to choosing the best travel lens for your Sony A7III cameras it comes down to your ideal shooting set-up and what lenses you might already own.
For many people going travelling, one of the most important considerations is minimising the amount of weight they have in their luggage.
This means that many casual photographers who are going on a trip, ideally want to only take one or at most two lenses with them.
In this case, I recommend investing in one of the all-in-one zoom lenses listed in this guide and possibly a prime lens if you want a second lens.
It’s worth also having a think about whether you’re looking to replace your existing standard kit lens (28-70mm) or are looking to extend the range of photos that you’re able to take.
For example, you might want to be able to take more landscapes at a shorter focal length or alternatively take better portraits with a longer focal length lens.
Luckily, there are options for both these scenarios listed in the guide below.
of images
Best Travel Lenses for Sony A7III
The below lenses are some of the best travel lenses currently available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of shots you want to be taking.
Sony 24-105mm F4 G OSS – Best All-in-One Lens
The FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to choosing a travel lens for your Sony A7III.
Not only does this all-in-one lens allow you to take a huge variety of shots at different focal lengths with superb image quality, but it also provides an instant upgrade on the standard kit lens.
This is not only with regards to the image quality but also the fact that you’re not able to shoot at a much greater range.
The FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS weighs 663g (23.4oz) which is fairly lightweight given the zoom capabilities of this lens and it comes with in-built Optical Steady Shot (OSS) to help improve your image stabilisation, something that is incredibly important when buying a travel lens as you don’t always have time to set up your shot!
There are also a variety of controls on the body of the lens including an auto/manual focus switch, focus hold button and the ability to switch OSS on and off.
All in all, if you plan on only travelling with one lens and want to be able to take a wide range of excellent shots ranging from landscapes to portraits, then this lens is our top choice.
Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM – Best Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
If you’re not necessarily looking to replicate the range of your standard kit lens but instead want a versatile lens with a focus on wide-range travel photography, then you can’t go wrong with the FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM as your travel lens of choice.
This camera works both as a sole travel lens if you want to take a combination of landscapes and street photography or possibly paired with a portrait lens with a longer focal length or even your standard kit lens if you’re happy to travel with two zoom lenses.
Weighing 680g (24oz), this lens is once again fairly lightweight for a zoom lens.
The FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM also has a few built-in controls on the lens such as a focus hold button and auto/manual focus switch.
All in all, this is a great choice for a travel lens if you love shooting at wide angles and are happy to invest in a premium camera lens for your next trip.
Sony 12-24 mm F2.8 GM – Alternative Wide-Angle Lens
If you want a secondary lens that focuses purely on wide-angle shots and allows you to shoot at a wider focal range then you can’t go wrong with the FE 12-24 mm F2.8 GM lens.
This wide-angle lens allows you to take a full spectrum of wide-angle and landscape shots and beautifully complements the standard 28-70mm kit lens.
The image quality is superb which isn’t a surprise given it’s a premium lens. You also have many controls on the lens itself such as an auto/manual focus switch, and a focus hold button.
The F2.8 aperture also means that this lens is incredibly versatile as you’ll be able to use it to shoot in low light without having to decrease your shutter speed significantly.
The lens weighs 849g/29.9oz so it isn’t the lightest option on the list and might not be ideal if you are a minimalist traveller who prioritises reducing your luggage weight.
Nevertheless, you can be sure that if you invest in the FE 12-24 mm F2.8 GM you’ll have an incredible lens that will take spectacular wide-angle shots.
Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA – Best Everyday Prime Lens
If you prefer to invest in an everyday prime lens for your upcoming trip then you can’t go wrong with choosing the Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA.
This is an incredibly versatile lens, that in my opinion, is at the ideal focal length of 35mm if you want a prime that can take a variety of different shots.
Weighing only 120g (4.3oz), this prime lens is the ideal option if you’re a bare-bones traveller who is looking to minimise every inch of space in their suitcase but doesn’t want to sacrifice any image quality.
The Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA works also as a complementary lens to either the standard kit lens or even an all-in-one zoom lens such as the FE 24–105mm F4 G OSS if you want to have the option of shooting with a larger aperture.
Sony 24-70 mm F2.8 GM – Best Premium All-in-One Lens
If you’ve been pretty happy with the range that the standard kit lens provides and are simply looking to significantly improve your image quality then it’s worth investing in the FE 24-70 mm F2.8 GM.
This zoom lens offers superb image quality, given it is part of Sony’s premium G Master series, allowing you to produce excellent photos at this lens’ full range.
Weighing 886g (31.3oz), this lens is almost double the weight of the standard kit lens so it isn’t ideal if you’re a traveller looking to minimise the weight you carry.
However, if you’re main priority is ensuring you have excellent photo quality, then upgrading to the FE 24-70 mm F2.8 GM is a fantastic option.
Sony 85mm F1.4 GM – Best Portrait Lens
If you’re looking for a specular prime portrait lens that can be used in a variety of situations then you can’t go wrong with the FE 85mm F1.4 GM.
This Sony lens offers spectacular photo quality with its constant aperture allowing you to achieve beautiful shallow depth of field and bokeh effects. The f1.4 aperture also ensures you can use this lens in low-light situations.
The photo quality is extremely sharp, though some people suggest that the autofocus is slower on this lens compared to others.
The FE 85mm F1.4 GM weighs 820g (28.9 oz) and has a variety of controls on the lens itself such as an auto/manual focus switch and aperture ring that gives the photographer full control.
Sony 24mm F1.4 GM – Best Wide-Angle Prime Lens
If you’re looking for a wide-angle lens, the possibility to complement an all-in-one lens or you want to be able to shoot better images in low light, then the FE 24mm F1.4 GM is a fantastic option to consider.
The FE 24mm F1.4 GM is another premium lens from Sony’s G Master Series that allows you to take stunning photographs at night or in low light.
Weighing 445g (15.7 oz), it is certainly heavier than a lot of other prime travel lenses but it’s certainly worth the extra weight if you’re going to want to shoot in these types of conditions.
One of the reasons for the extra weight is that there are several additional controls on the body of the lens such as an aperture dial, an auto/manual focus switch and an aperture click switch.
The FE 24mm F1.4 GM is undoubtedly one of the best travel lenses if you plan to do any night or low-light travel photography on your upcoming trip or simply want a stunning wide-angle lens for your travels.
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS – Best Telephoto Lens
If you’re looking for a telephoto lens for your upcoming trip then the FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS (also available from B&H Photo here or from Adorama here) is a fantastic option.
This camera lens offers you the ability to take portraits of objects that are further away from you, making it ideal if your travels involve going out into nature or seeing some sports abroad.
Weighing 854g (30.2 oz), this lens works best as a second or third lens in your kit and is really only worth investing in if you know that this is the type of photography you’re going to want to be taking.
The FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has a range of in-built controls including an auto/manual focus switch and an OSS switch.
As one of the most popular travel cameras available today, there are several fantastic travel lenses to choose from for your Sony A7III or A7IV regardless of what type of photography you plan to be primarily taking or the amount of weight that you wish to carry when travelling.
Are you looking for the best Sony A7iii lenses? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!
