Best fast prime lenses for Sony A: Top Picks
Our catalogue lists 50 fast prime lenses for Sony A. Fixed lenses with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 or wider, for low light and shallow depth of field.
How these were picked. Lenses are ranked using only data in our catalogue: those with editorial notes first, then those with a photo and a buying link, newer release years where known, and faster maximum apertures as a tie-breaker. This is a data-based shortlist, not a hands-on test ranking.
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1.Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM
50mm · f/1.8 · Sony A
A short telephoto prime for APS-C A-mount with a bright f/1.8 aperture. It weighs about 170 g and has a 49mm filter thread.
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2.Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
50mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
A very sharp 50mm f/1.4 for full-frame DSLRs, weighing about 815 g with 77mm filters. It focuses as close as 0.4 m.
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3.Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM (SAL35F18)
35mm · f/1.8 · Sony A
A fast APS-C normal prime for A-mount with an f/1.8 aperture. At about 170 g with a 55mm filter size, it is a very small lens.
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4.Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
24mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
A fast wide-angle prime for full-frame DSLRs weighing about 665 g, with 77mm filters and a minimum focus distance of 0.25 m.
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5.Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM
50mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
A Zeiss-designed 50mm f/1.4 for A-mount with a ring-type SSM autofocus motor. It is listed in its specifications as dust and moisture resistant and takes 72mm filters.
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6.Sony 35mm F1.4 G (SAL35F14G)
35mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
A classic fast 35mm G lens for A-mount. It uses body-driven screw-drive focusing and weighs about 510 g, with a 55mm filter thread.
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7.Sony Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA lens
85mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
The Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 for A-mount, a classic fast portrait prime with body-driven autofocus. It weighs about 640 g and takes 72mm filters.
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8.Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z)
135mm · f/1.8 · Sony A
A Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 telephoto for A-mount, widely admired for portrait rendering. It uses body-driven screw-drive autofocus and is built heavy at about 1,050 g.
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9.Minolta AF 35mm f/1.4 G
35mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
A bright 35mm G-series lens from Minolta. It weighs about 490 g and takes 55mm filters.
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10.Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
35mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
A 35mm f/1.4 full-frame fast wide-angle prime lens, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is designed for Sony A mount bodies, from the Sigma Art line with Hyper Sonic Motor autofocus. A wide-aperture standard-wide prime fr...
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11.Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art
14mm · f/1.8 · Sony A
The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art is a full-frame fast wide-angle prime lens covering 14mm at f/1.8 for Sony A mount cameras, from the Sigma Art line with Hyper Sonic Motor autofocus. A wide-aperture wide-angle prime fr...
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12.Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC
85mm · f/1.4 · Sony A
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC: a fast short-telephoto prime lens with a 85mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, made for Sony A mount cameras, with aspherical elements. An affordable fast manual-focus portra...