I'm looking to get a great quality fast prime lens for my Sony α7R III in the 1000 price range. I mostly shoot portraits, landscapes, and some street photography. I'd like something very sharp with nice bokeh. Any recommendations for a standard prime lens that won't break the bank?
I actually have to disagree slightly with focusing only on 50mm! While those are fantastic, for someone balancing landscapes and street on a high-res body like the a7R III, I think you are gonna find 50mm a bit too restrictive. You should seriously consider a 35mm instead because it is just so much more versatile for your specific needs! Here is why I suggest going this route:
- Cropping power: Since you have 42 megapixels, you can easily crop a 35mm frame to a 50mm field of view and still have tons of detail. You cant go wider with a 50mm lens tho!
- Context in portraits: 35mm allows for amazing environmental portraits where you see the background, which adds so much more story than just a blurry mess.
- Optics: The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is remarkably sharp and fits perfectly in your price range. I am a huge fan of doing your own DIY quality control when you get a new lens. Set up a tripod and a flat subject to check for decentering. It is a bit of a process but ensuring your copy is perfect for that R-series sensor is totally worth it! Love the output from this focal length!
Late to the party but im basically in the same spot and honestly its been super frustrating. I picked up the Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 FE II a few weeks ago thinking it would be the perfect middle ground for my a7R III but unfortunately it has been a total disappointment. The autofocus is just not as good as expected. I keep having these weird communication errors where the camera doesnt even recognize the lens is attached. Missed way too many shots. It really sucks because on paper the specs are great but in the real world... not so much. I learned my lesson about trying to save a few bucks on third-party glass for high-res bodies. Currently looking for a way out of this mess too. The compatibility issues are just killing my workflow. It's a total mess.
For under $1000, I highly recommended the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens. This is my favorite lens all time. Only week point is a bit heavy.
Like someone mentioned, that standard focal length is basically the sweet spot for the stuff you're shooting, but honestly you might want to be a bit cautious. I've been doing this for a long time and I think I've seen way too many people get hyped on a lens only to realize the autofocus reliability is kinda hit or miss after a few months. Not sure but I think I heard some chatter about certain mid-range primes having issues with the aperture blades sticking too. Ngl it's a total vibe killer when your gear starts acting up in the middle of a portrait session. Make sure to check the weather sealing specs really closely if you're taking it out for landscapes. IIRC some of those lenses in your price bracket claim to be sealed but they dont always have the gasket at the mount, which is where the real trouble starts. Be careful about buying used too unless you really trust the seller... sample variation is a real thing and you might end up with a copy that's soft on one side. Just something to keep in mind before you pull the trigger.
My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.
Yep been there done that. Can confirm everything said above is spot on.
Re: "My buddy told me the exact same thing..." - honestly, he is totally onto something. I had a similar epiphany when I was shooting coastal landscapes last summer. I used to be a die-hard 50mm guy for the bokeh, but switching to a slightly wider high-performance prime changed my workflow completely. I was really satisfied with how the resolution held up when I had to crop in for a tighter portrait feel later on. The micro-contrast was just tack sharp across the frame, which is usually where these mid-range options struggle. Since you are rocking that high-res sensor, I am curious about your handling preferences tho. Are you someone who needs a physical aperture ring and customizable buttons on the barrel for quick street work, or are you happy controlling everything through the camera body? Also, how much does corner-to-corner sharpness at wide apertures matter for your landscape shots compared to center sharpness for portraits?
For under $1000, I highly recommended the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens. This is my favorite lens all time. Only week point is a bit heavy.
+1 for Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN.
Wish Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM price go down $1000.
