What are the must-have lenses for a new Sony a7III owner?

Question

I literally have no idea what I am doing and I feel like I just wasted so much money on this camera. I bought the Sony a7III because everyone online said it was the best for beginners who want to get serious but honestly the kit lens it came with is just... bad? Or maybe I am bad. Probably me. I am trying to take pictures of my golden retriever, Cooper, but he moves so fast and everything is just a big blurry mess and it looks worse than my iPhone. I am so frustrated because I spent like two weeks of salary on this thing and I cant even get a clear shot of my dog in the living room.

I keep seeing people talk about glass and prime vs zoom and I am so lost. Someone told me I need a fast lens because I live in Seattle and it is always grey and dark here but I dont even know what fast means in this context. Does the lens move? Like what? I have about $800 left in my savings for this and I really dont want to mess up again and buy something I dont need. I looked on Amazon and there are like a million options and some are $2000 and some are $300 and the numbers like 24-70mm f/2.8 vs f/4 just look like math homework to me. I just want to take nice pictures without having to do a degree in physics.

I just want something that makes the background look all blurry and pretty like you see in professional portraits but also works when I am walking around the city. Is there a lens that just stays on the camera all the time? Or do I have to carry a whole bag of them? I really need someone to just tell me what to buy because I am about to just put this whole thing back in the box and return it. Sorry if this is a stupid question but I really have no idea where to start or what brands are even good. Is Sigma okay or do I have to buy Sony brand? What are the actually essential lenses I should look at first?

Tehx_12 · Accepted Answer

Fast just means it lets in more light. Since you're in Seattle, you definitely need a low f-number. Just be careful with cheap zooms that aren't bright enough for indoors.

Sony FE 35mm f/1.8: My top pick. It is fast enough to catch Cooper and great for city walks.

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary: Sigma is awesome and this is a solid all-in-one choice if you hate swapping lenses.

ExpertXander · Answer

Agreed! Grab the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 for amazing reliability and focus speed. It is fantastic for catching Cooper and that blurry background looks professional every single time!

SilentShark77 · Answer

I almost gave up on my a7III because my first pet photos were a muddy mess. Realized way too late that the kit lens is basically a paperweight indoors. You really gotta be careful with those f/4 or f/5.6 lenses in a place like Seattle because they just dont let in enough light. I spent way too much on cheap glass before I finally got a decent constant aperture lens. A few quick tips:

Set your shutter speed to at least 1/500 for the dog, otherwise itll always be blurry.

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is a solid all-rounder that fits your budget.

Be wary of the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 tho... it gives great blur but the focus is kinda slow for a running dog. Honestly, just make sure to check focus speed reviews. Some lenses are sharp but way too slow for a golden retriever...