Best Lenses under £400 for sports and wildlife

Best Pick

Sony E E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

100 Wildlife/Sports Score
16-50mm f/3.5 Sony E IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Weighing just 57g with a retractable design, this lens combines OSS stabilization and power zoom for smooth, silent autofocus—ideal for video on Sony APS-C bodies. Its compact 16-50mm range and 4 aspherical elements deliver respectable sharpness for the size, though the f/3.5-5.6 aperture limits low-light capability. Best for casual shooters and travel vloggers who need a lens that slips into a pocket without weighing down a compact E-mount kit.

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Sony KZ-03

55.5 Wildlife/Sports Score
16-24mm Sony E IS
Why we recommend this

Weighing just 119 grams, this conversion lens threads onto Sony's 16-50mm kit optic to deliver a 105-degree, 16mm ultrawide perspective and instantly detaches into a 10X macro lens with multi-coated corrective elements for minimal distortion. Its screw-on 40.5mm mount works with multiple Sony E-mount cameras and kit lenses, making it a cost-effective way to expand focal range without carrying dedicated wide-angle or macro glass. It's best for Sony ZV-E10 and A6xxx series owners who need a pocketable, dual-purpose lens for quick macro close-ups and wide-angle vlogging.

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Best Lenses under £800 for sports and wildlife

Best Pick

Sony SEL11F18

79.5 Wildlife/Sports Score
11mm 1.8 Sony E Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Delivering an 11mm f/1.8 ultra-wide perspective in a weather-sealed, 184g body, this Sony E-mount prime excels with its linear AF motor and constant bright aperture. The compact build, 55mm filter thread, and optical design with three aspherical and three ED elements ensure sharp corner-to-corner performance with minimal aberrations. It’s best suited for street photographers and vloggers who require a wide, fast lens with silent autofocus for video.

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Sony FE SEL24240

77.4 Wildlife/Sports Score
24-240mm 22-40 Sony E IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Covering a 10x zoom from 24mm to 240mm on full-frame E-mount, the lens packs optical stabilization and weather sealing into a 780g body suitable for varied conditions. Its linear autofocus motor and internal focus design keep handling consistent across the range, facilitating both stills and video without front-element rotation. This lens is best for landscape photographers needing a single, travel-friendly optic that can frame wide vistas or distant details without swapping glass.

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Sony G SEL24105G

75.8 Wildlife/Sports Score
24-105mm 22 Sony E IS Weather Sealed
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Best Lenses under £1,000 for sports and wildlife

Best Pick

Sony FE SEL2450G

72.2 Wildlife/Sports Score
24-50mm 22 Sony E Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

The constant f/2.8 aperture across 24-50mm and an optical stack with four aspherical and two ED elements deliver G Lens sharpness in a 2.9-inch-long body, while dual linear motors drive fast, quiet autofocus. It achieves 0.33x maximum magnification at 24mm in manual focus, offering close-up versatility rarely found in a compact standard zoom. This lens is best for Sony E-mount portrait photographers who need a lightweight, all-purpose f/2.8 zoom for everyday shooting and travel.

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Sony G SEL70300G

66.9 Wildlife/Sports Score
70-300mm 29 Sony E IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

This 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 telezoom stands out with its linear motor AF, 2 ED elements, and Nano AR Coating delivering reliable sharpness, all within a dust- and moisture-resistant construction. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization enables sharp handheld shots at 300mm, while the 9-blade circular diaphragm renders smooth bokeh for portraits. Best for outdoor and wildlife photographers who need a portable 854g telephoto lens that balances reach, stabilization, and robust build quality.

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Best Lenses under £2,000 for sports and wildlife

Best Pick

Sony G SELP28135G

76.3 Wildlife/Sports Score
28-135mm f/4 Sony E IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

The powered zoom and linear motor enable silent, smooth focal length transitions, while the constant f/4 aperture and Optical SteadyShot deliver consistent exposure and sharpness across the 28–135mm range. Its 1200g weight and weather-sealed construction provide stable handheld footage and durable outdoor operation. This lens is best for documentary filmmakers and event videographers who require a versatile, stabilized all-in-one zoom for run-and-gun production.

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Sony G Master SEL1635GM2

71.7 Wildlife/Sports Score
16-35mm 22 Sony E Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

The 547g weight and 20% reduction in size over the predecessor make this constant f/2.8 zoom exceptionally portable, while four XD linear motors deliver fast, silent autofocus. Its 22.1cm minimum focus and 0.32x magnification extend close-up versatility, and the weather-sealed build with fluorine coating ensures field durability. This lens is best for landscape photographers and hybrid video shooters who need a lightweight, rugged wide-angle with smooth aperture de-click and zoom control.

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Premium Lenses for sports and wildlife

Best Pick

Sony G Master SEL300F28GM

72.2 Wildlife/Sports Score
300mm 22 Sony E IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

At just 1470g, this is the lightest large-aperture 300mm f/2.8 prime in its class, with Super ED and ED glass delivering edge-to-edge resolution. Optical SteadyShot stabilization and a dust/moisture-resistant build enable sharp handheld shooting in harsh outdoor light, while the 11-blade circular aperture creates smooth background defocus. It’s ideal for sports and wildlife photographers who need fast, accurate autofocus and a portable super-telephoto to track subjects that change direction rapidly.

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Sony Alpha FE SEL1224G

71.5 Wildlife/Sports Score
12-24mm 4 Sony E Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

A constant f/4 aperture across its 12-24mm range and a moisture-resistant build with Nano AR Coating for flare suppression make this full-frame lens a versatile wide-angle tool. The 7-blade circular diaphragm delivers surprisingly smooth bokeh for an ultra-wide zoom, all in a portable 565g body. It’s best suited for landscape and architectural shooters who require durable weather sealing and sharp, low-distortion optics on location.

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Sony FE SEL400800G

71.5 Wildlife/Sports Score
400-800mm 45 Sony E IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Delivering an 800mm native reach that extends to 1600mm with teleconverters, its internal zoom design keeps the 2.5 kg lens balanced and sealed against the elements. Remarkable close-up capability for a super-telephoto, focusing down to 1.7 m at 0.23x magnification, allows frame-filling shots of small wildlife. This lens is ideal for birders, sports photographers, and videographers who demand 800mm reach with smooth, breathing-free video capture.

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