These are the best Sony lenses under $1000 when you want real optical quality without luxury pricing—across full-frame and APS-C—and here’s what to look for as you buy: confirm your sensor (FE = full-frame, E = APS-C), pick primes for speed and low light vs zooms for flexibility, favor silent linear AF if you film, look for OSS on bodies without IBIS (older a6xxx), check close-focus for detail cuts, standardize filter sizes for one CPL/VND, and don’t ignore certified refurb/used—many G lenses dip below $1000 there. Full-frame primes that punch hardest under $1K: FE 20mm f/1.8 G (razor-sharp wide for travel/astro/video), FE 35mm f/1.8 (everyday storyteller with fast AF), FE 50mm f/1.8 (budget low-light staple), FE 50mm f/2.5 G and FE 40mm f/2.5 G (tiny, metal, quiet focus, matched ergonomics), FE 24mm f/2.8 G (pocket wide with great flare control), FE 28mm f/2 (small, fast, great value), FE 85mm f/1.8 (portrait classic with creamy bokeh), and the FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (usually right at the cap—tack-sharp 1:1 macro that doubles for portraits). Full-frame zooms you can score under $1K new or on sale/used: FE 24–70mm f/4 ZA OSS (compact mid-range with stabilization), FE 28–60mm f/4–5.6 (featherweight travel), FE 24–240mm f/3.5–6.3 OSS (one-lens trips), and older FE 70–200mm f/4 G OSS or FE 70–300mm f/4.5–5.6 G OSS (often <$1K used—stabilized reach for daylight field/sideline); if you’re FF-curious on a budget, these get you working coverage fast. APS-C gold under $1K: primes—E 11mm f/1.8 (ultra-wide, low-light capable), E 15mm f/1.4 G (sharp, compact, lovely sunstars), E 24mm f/1.8 ZA (crisp “35-eq” with premium build), E 35mm f/1.8 OSS (stabilized “50-eq” classic), E 50mm f/1.8 OSS (portrait with stabilization); zooms—E PZ 10–20mm f/4 G (tiny, internal zoom for gimbals), E 16–55mm f/2.8 G (often ≈$1K used—pro-level mid-range), E 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 OSS (light travel), and E 70–350mm f/4.5–6.3 G OSS (surprisingly sharp tele). Practical buyer tips: build around one fast prime you love (FF: 35/1.8 or 85/1.8; APS-C: 15/1.4 G or 35/1.8 OSS) plus one travel zoom (FF: 24–70/4 or 24–240; APS-C: 10–20 PZ + 18–135), standardize 49/55/67mm filters to keep your kit simple, choose OSS if your body lacks IBIS, and watch seasonal promos to sneak a G lens under budget. Shooting tips: stop compact primes a third-to-two-thirds down for eyelash-sharp portraits, use close-focus on the 20/1.8 G and 24/2.8 G to layer foregrounds, lean on OSS for 1/15–1/30 s handheld city nights on APS-C, use eye-AF on the 85/1.8 for portraits, pair a slim VND with the 10–20 PZ or 28–60 to hold 180° shutter for video, and keep lens hoods on—budget glass plus good shading looks premium. Whether you’re building your first kit or rounding out a lightweight travel bag, the best Sony lenses under $1000 combine compact builds, quiet AF, and honest sharpness—so you shoot more, carry less, and still deliver files that look far pricier than your budget.