These are the best Sony lenses for aerial photography when you want edge-to-edge sharpness, low distortion, fast AF that locks from altitude, and flare control for glass-through or doors-off work—and here’s what to look for as you buy: prioritize light weight (your arms and gimbals will thank you), zooms with useful range (14–35mm/24–70mm for sweeping terrain; 70–200mm for air-to-air), strong corner performance at landscape apertures (ƒ4–ƒ8), quiet linear AF for smooth refocus in video, OSS on the lens to tame airframe vibration (paired with IBIS when your body has it), power-zoom options for remote framing, low focus breathing (video), weather sealing for rotor wash, and front diameters that accept the same ND/polarizer; keep hoods handy to block cockpit reflections and carry a rubber hood to seal against windows. Full-frame prime heroes: FE 20mm ƒ1.8 G (ultra-light, threaded, crisp to the edges for vistas), FE 24mm ƒ1.4 GM (classic aerial normal with superb micro-contrast), FE 35mm ƒ1.4 GM (city grids with dimensional pop), and FE 50mm ƒ1.4 GM (tight top-downs and air-to-air sequences); if you need maximum wideness without bulk, the FE 14mm ƒ1.8 GM delivers disciplined corners and excellent coma control for night aerials. Wide-to-standard zoom workhorses: FE 12–24mm ƒ2.8 GM (dramatic breadth with pro-grade corners), FE 16–35mm ƒ2.8 GM II (fast, sharp, agile), FE PZ 16–35mm ƒ4 G (featherweight with power zoom for smooth moves), and FE 24–70mm ƒ2.8 GM II (from sweeping landscapes to detail passes with stellar close-focus); tele for air-to-air and distant structures: FE 70–200mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS II (excellent OSS and tracking) or FE 70–200mm ƒ4 Macro G II (lighter, still razor-sharp). Travel-friendly do-it-all: FE 24–105mm ƒ4 G (great range, reliable stabilization) and FE 20–70mm ƒ4 G (modern AF, wide start, compact). Budget-friendly full-frame options: FE 28mm ƒ2 (small, sharp, takes UWA converters), FE 35mm ƒ1.8 (light with fast AF), and FE 24–105mm ƒ4 G used—excellent value for helicopters and small planes. APS-C shooters get standout aerial tools with E PZ 10–20mm ƒ4 G (tiny, power zoom, gimbal-loving), E 11mm ƒ1.8 (bright ultra-wide for interiors and twilight flyovers), E 15mm ƒ1.4 G (crisp “normal-wide”), E 16–55mm ƒ2.8 G (pro-sharp mid-range), and E 70–350mm ƒ4.5–6.3 G OSS for compressed air-to-air scenes. Practical buyer tips: build a two-lens spine (PZ 16–35/4 + 24–70/2.8 or 12–24/2.8 + 70–200) and add a prime you love (20/1.8 or 24/1.4) for low-light sorties; for drone or gimbal use, favor lighter glass with internal focus/zoom and power-zoom for remote framing; test flare and ghosting against the sun and city lights; standardize filter sizes for one high-quality CPL/ND; when shooting through windows, kill cabin reflections with a hood, dark clothing, and a slight angle. Aerial shooting tips: lock high shutter speeds (≈1/1000–1/2000s for stills; use ND to keep 180-degree shutter for video), use AF-C with subject tracking and medium-area boxes, start around ƒ5.6–ƒ8 for maximum plane-to-ground detail (open to ƒ2.8–ƒ4 for air-to-air separation), enable OSS (Mode 1) and let IBIS help if your body supports it, avoid stacking filters to keep flare down, watch prop intrusion at ultra-wide focal lengths, and time flights for golden/blue hour to sculpt terrain and reduce haze; if your body supports fast readout or global shutter, lean on it to minimize rolling-shutter skew in fast passes. Whether you’re framing coastlines from 1,000 feet, mapping farmlands, tracking formation flights, or gliding over neon grids at dusk, the best Sony lenses for aerial photography pair low weight and stabilized, confident AF with sharp corners and flare discipline—so your images stay crisp, clean, and breathtaking from sky to sensor.