These are the best Sony lenses for portrait photography when you want flattering perspective, luminous skin tones, creamy yet controlled bokeh, and eye-locking AF for headshots, three-quarters, and environmental portraits—and here’s what to look for as you buy: prioritize short-tele primes (85–135mm on full-frame) or fast normals (35–50mm) with smooth, non-nervous bokeh and restrained LoCA, strong sharpness at portrait apertures (ƒ1.4–ƒ4), quiet linear/XD motors for sticky Eye AF, minimal focus breathing if you film, and close-focus for beauty details; consistent front diameters let one quality diffusion filter (⅛–¼) and one VND cover your kit, while weather sealing helps outdoors. Full-frame prime heroes: FE 85mm ƒ1.4 GM (classic head/shoulders with creamy falloff), FE 135mm ƒ1.8 GM (editorial-crisp compression and stunning micro-contrast), FE 50mm ƒ1.4 GM (natural perspective for three-quarter and full-body), FE 35mm ƒ1.4 GM (environmental portraits with dimensional pop), FE 100mm ƒ2.8 STF GM OSS (legendary apodization bokeh for luxury looks—use where light allows), and FE 90mm ƒ2.8 Macro G OSS (beauty, eyelashes, and jewelry with flattering contrast); value primes that punch above weight: FE 85mm ƒ1.8 and FE 55mm ƒ1.8 ZA. Zoom workhorses: FE 70–200mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS II (from tight headshots to half-body with gorgeous rendering and elite AF/OSS), FE 70–200mm ƒ4 Macro G II (lighter, 0.5× close-focus for detail), and FE 24–70mm ƒ2.8 GM II (fast swaps between environmental and head-and-shoulders plus prime-like close-focus); compact/value standouts: Tamron 70–180mm ƒ2.8 VXD and Tamron 28–75mm ƒ2.8 G2. APS-C shooters get flattering FoV with E 50mm ƒ1.8 OSS (75-eq portrait), E 35mm ƒ1.8 OSS (52-eq in tight rooms), E 15mm ƒ1.4 G (22.5-eq environmental), and E 16–55mm ƒ2.8 G (pro mid-range); mounting FE 85/1.8, 90 Macro, or 135/1.8 on crop yields extra reach with excellent AF. Practical buyer tips: build a two-prime spine (85/1.4 + 135/1.8 or 50/1.4 + 85/1.4) and add a 70–200/2.8 for flexibility; standardize thread sizes for one diffusion filter and a slim VND (for video), test bokeh on specular highlights and check LoCA on hairline edges, and favor linear-motor lenses for high Eye-AF hit rates; if you shoot on location, carry a small reflector and avoid heavy CPLs that can dull skin. Portrait-shooting tips: place clean, high catchlights (clamshell or window + bounce), expose for skin and ride comp gently, work near wide open and stop 1/3–2/3 stop for eyelash-sharp results, use AF-C with Eye (Human) and a small flexible zone, keep shutters around 1/200–1/250s (sync-safe with flash) or 1/400–1/800s outdoors for kids/pets, and control background distance (1–3 m) to melt distractions; use negative fill to carve jawlines, mind color cast from walls, and watch perspective—step back with 85–135mm to slim features, step in with 35–50mm for intimacy while keeping faces centered; for video portraits, hold a 180° shutter with ND, enable breathing compensation, and favor internal focus/zoom for smooth moves. Whether you’re crafting polished corporate headshots, editorial character studies, or dreamy natural-light portraits, the best Sony lenses for portrait photography combine flattering focal lengths, gentle rendering, and confident AF—so skin stays luminous, eyes sparkle, and every frame feels intentional and refined.