I really enjoy Kensei Akatsu’s videos, so I’m taking his list of 10 favorite Sony lenses as an inspiring guide for all of us.

• Sigma 24–70 mm f/2.8 Art — His first pro zoom; the lens that “changed everything” and showed him optical power. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Sigma 35 mm f/1.4 Art — First prime that transformed his style; taught him composition through movement. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Sigma 50 mm f/1.4 Art — Helped refine his portrait style and expression depth. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Sigma 85 mm f/1.4 Art — Second creative impact; cinematic bokeh and emotional portraits. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Sony 100–400 mm f/4.5–5.6 GM — Gave him the freedom to “see the unreachable”; pro-level reach and clarity. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Sony 16–55 mm f/2.8 G — Compact APS-C flagship; delivers full-frame quality in small form. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Tamron 20–40 mm f/2.8 — Redefined the “standard zoom”; perfect hybrid range for Sony bodies. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Voigtländer 35 mm f/1.8 — Film-like rendering and nostalgic tones; a digital body with an analog soul. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Viltrox 40 mm f/2.5 — Ultra-wide budget lens with sharp detail, vivid color, and great stabilization; perfect entry for creators. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
• Tamron 25–200 mm f/2.8–5.6 G2 — His “lens of the year 2025”; super-versatile travel zoom with half-macro ability and top image quality. BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK.

Fstopers had one of the best time ever testing three very different telephoto lenses for the Sony system:

• Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 OSS – Around $3,200
  US: BHphoto, Amazon,Adorama
  EU: Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet DE, Wex UK,
• Sigma 300-600mm f/4 DG DN OS Sports – Around $6,600
  US: BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
  EU: Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet DE, Wex UK,
• Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS – Around $14,100
  US: BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama
  EU: Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet DE, Wex UK,

Conclusion: All three lenses offer stellar image quality, but they serve different types of photographers. The Sony 600mm f/4 delivers unmatched sharpness even with a 2x teleconverter, but at a painful $14K price point and poor stabilization. The Sigma 300-600mm f/4 is heavier and limited to 15 fps, yet an excellent bargain at $6,600 with fixed aperture and superb optics. But the biggest surprise is the Sony 400-800mm: for a fraction of the cost, it delivers nearly the same image quality, better stabilization, more zoom range, and excellent usability — making it a true winner for enthusiasts and budget-conscious pros alike.