Sony’s line of APS-C cameras is a popular option for photographers looking to capture sharp images on a compact and lightweight body. However, the standard zoom lens range is somewhat thin compared to other mirrorless models.

Some of the lenses are designed in conjunction with optical specialists Zeiss, others have been developed by Sony itself as part of its ‘G’ and top-flight ‘G Master’ series. Whatever the brand, they are all designed to be incredibly sharp and high-quality.

A good lens for the money

There are a number of excellent lenses available for Sony’s APS-C camera format, some of which are also available in full-frame E-mount form as well. These are often the best choice for telephotos, portraits and other longer focal lengths.

One of the best options for landscapes, interiors and travel is the Sony FE 16-50mm f/2.8 G lens, which comes in a handy pancake form factor and is able to cover a wide range of focal lengths. It has a fast and constant f/2.8 aperture, which gathers in plenty of light to produce beautifully detailed images with a fine level of control over depth of field.

It’s also a very good choice for portraits, thanks to its 11-blade rounded diaphragm and ability to create sumptuously soft bokeh in defocused areas. This lens doesn’t quite match the quality of its rivals in terms of bokeh at its widest aperture, but it’s very pleasant nonetheless.

The stepping motor autofocus system is very quick and silent, ensuring smooth, quiet shooting with both stills and video. The lens is also solidly built, with extensive weather seals that help it stand up to the elements.

A great choice for the vlogger

The Sony FE 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is a great option for those looking to add a good telephoto lens to their kit, and is very affordable at less than $700. The f/2.8 constant maximum aperture gathers in a lot of light, so it’s ideal for video and can be used to create excellent portraits, too.

This is the first lens we’ve reviewed for the new NEX system from Sony, which features the same ‘crop sensor’ as the Sony a6000 series. It’s also compatible with the older a6100 and a6400 series, which means it’s a perfect companion to any of those cameras.

It’s a fairly large and heavy lens, but it’s well worth the price tag. It’s packed with fantastic features, including two customizable function buttons that fall naturally under the thumb when you’re shooting both landscapes and portraits, a fully-featured manual aperture ring that has a de-click switch for smoother control during video capture, and the usual range of autofocus features.

Its optical performance is outstanding, too, with superb sharpness throughout its full-frame range and negligible color fringing and distortion at all f-stops. It also features an excellent bokeh, with sumptuously smooth edges and no ghosting or flare. There’s a handy focus hold button, too, to allow you to lock the AF point during video capture.