Ive been thinking about your question for a few hours now, and honestly, I have to respectfully disagree with the advice to go for budget glass or crop lenses on a beast like the Sony a7R V. I made that exact mistake when I first upgraded to a high-res body. I figured a decent, affordable lens would be fine, but it was a total headache. What I learned is that those 61 megapixels are incredibly unforgiving. With the one I got initially, every tiny bit of purple fringing was magnified, and the fine detail just looked mushy when I tried to crop in. Plus, the autofocus motor couldn't quite keep up with the cameras advanced tracking, so I ended up with a lot of slightly soft shots of my family. It was super frustrating because I knew the camera was capable of more. I eventually bit the bullet and got a top-tier native prime, and the difference in performance was night and day. Tbh, if you are investing this much in a pro-level body, cutting corners on the lens might just leave you feeling like the camera isnt as good as it actually is. Better to get one amazing lens that can actually handle that sensor than something that bottlenecks your performance.

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Man I wish I found this thread sooner. Would have saved me so much hassle.

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Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷

Hey there! Congrats on the a7R V – that's a serious upgrade! I totally get the lens overwhelm; been there, done that. So many choices, right?

Okay, so my situation is a bit different, I'm rocking an older a7III, but I think my experience might still be helpful. I was also chasing that creamy bokeh and sharpness without completely emptying my wallet. I ended up going with the **Tamron 75-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD**. Now, I know it's technically outside your stated 50-85mm range, BUT hear me out!

I picked it up used (but in mint condition!) for around $1100 a year ago. New, they're usually hovering around $1300, so still within your budget. The versatility of that zoom range is insane! You can get that compressed look at 180mm for REALLY blurring backgrounds, and dialing it back to 75mm still gives you a lovely portrait perspective. Plus, f/2.8 is plenty fast for nice bokeh. I was a bit hesitant about a zoom lens at first, worrying about sharpness, but honestly, this thing is surprisingly sharp, even wide open. I've printed some pretty large photos from it and been super happy with the detail.

My reasoning was this: instead of locking myself into a single focal length, I wanted something that could give me options. And honestly, I love the results I get with it. I am still under warranty with the camera, so I wanted to be extra careful. Have you considered that angle too?

Anyway, just my two cents! It might be worth checking out some reviews specifically for the a7R V to see how it performs with that higher resolution sensor. Let me know if you have any other questions – happy to share more of my (limited, lol) experience!

Hey! Congrats on the a7R V, that's awesome! I know the feeling about being overwhelmed by lens choices, especially with that sensor. Everyone jumps to the 85mm or the 50mm 1.4, but have you considered the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN? I know, it's a crop sensor lens, BUT hear me out. On the a7R V, you can use it in APS-C mode.

Yes, you're sacrificing some resolution, but you're still getting a HUGE file size that's plenty for family portraits and memories! It's also SUPER sharp wide open, and the bokeh is surprisingly creamy for the price. Plus, it's tiny and lightweight, which is a big bonus for everyday shooting. You can find them used for like $300, leaving you a ton of budget for other stuff. I tried the Sony 85mm f/1.8 and unfortunately, I had issues with the autofocus accuracy on my a7III. Not as good as expected for the price. The Sigma is much cheaper and easier to handle, in my opinion.

Just a thought! Let me know if you have any questions! Happy shooting!

Hey! Congrats on the a7R V! Everyone's giving great lens suggestions, and Sigma Art is definitely worth considering. But I wanted to throw something else into the mix that I haven't seen mentioned yet: have you thought about *how* you're going to edit these awesome portraits?

I ask because I went all-in on a fancy lens (not Sony, different system, but similar price range, around $1200) thinking it would solve all my problems. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that even with a super sharp lens, my portraits still looked… meh. Turns out, my editing skills were the bottleneck! I was using the free version of some online editor and it just wasn't cutting it. The colors were always off, and I couldn't get that professional-looking skin tone.

So, I bit the bullet and subscribed to Adobe Lightroom. It's about $10 a month, which adds up, but honestly, it made a HUGE difference. Suddenly, I could pull out way more detail from the photos, fix the colors, and smooth skin without making it look plastic-y. I even started watching some YouTube tutorials on portrait editing (lots of free ones out there!).

My point is, maybe consider setting aside a portion of your budget for editing software and learning. A good lens is important, for sure, but good editing can take a 'good' photo and turn it into a 'wow' photo. Especially with the a7R V's massive resolution, you'll want to be able to really leverage that in post-processing. It's something I learned the hard way, and I wish I'd thought about it sooner. Just a thought! Let me know if you have questions about Lightroom or editing in general; I'm still learning, but happy to share what I know.

Hey! Congrats on the a7R V! It *is* overwhelming, I get it. Everyone's pushing the super-expensive options, but honestly, for family portraits, you don't *need* to spend a fortune to get awesome results. Have you considered the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8? It's often overlooked, but it's surprisingly sharp, especially stopped down a little (like f/2.8 or f/4). You can find them used for around $150-$200! Seriously, it's a steal. The bokeh is decent, not the creamiest maybe, but definitely good enough for great family shots. You can always add some bokeh effects in post if you want something extra. I used it on my older Sony and was happy with the results - no complaints for the price! Think about it – that leaves you a *ton* of budget for other stuff, like a nice reflector or some editing software. Let me know if you want to see some sample shots I took with it!

Hey! Congrats on the a7R V! It *is* a fantastic camera. While everyone's diving into lenses, I wanted to bring up something maybe a little different – safety. It's easy to get caught up in image quality, but make sure you're also thinking about how you're carrying and protecting that expensive gear, especially when you're out and about taking pictures of family.

I'd suggest, before even buying a new lens, you might want to consider investing in a really good camera strap and maybe even a sturdy camera bag. I know it's not as exciting as a new lens, but think about it: you're carrying thousands of dollars worth of equipment. A cheap strap could break, and… well, you can imagine. I'd suggest Peak Design straps, I've used them and they're great for secure and easy carrying.

Also, think about insurance! I learned this the hard way when I bumped my old camera into a doorframe (thankfully, it was just a minor scratch, but it could have been much worse). Getting a quote from a photography insurance company might be a good idea. They usually cover accidental damage and theft. Prices vary, but you can probably get a decent policy for around $100-$200 per year, depending on the value of your equipment.

As for lenses, I’m pretty new to this myself, but I've heard great things about the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8. It's often recommended as a good, affordable option that delivers excellent results. But definitely prioritize safety! You could even go to a local camera store and ask them for recommendations on straps and bags. They can help you find something that fits your needs and budget. Be careful and have fun shooting!

Hey, congrats on the a7R V! Everyone's throwing out lens suggestions, which is great, but have you looked at Sigma's Art series? They often outperform Sony's G lenses for sharpness at a lower price. I've used the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art ($1199 new) on my older Sony for years. In my experience, it's tack sharp, and the bokeh is fantastic. Tamron is another brand that worth considering. They're usually cheaper. Just check reviews to be sure it's sharp enough for that a7R V sensor. Are you planning on using autofocus a lot? If so, check reviews specific to Sony bodies to see how they perform. Good luck!