Check out **The-Digital-Picture** for sharpness comparisons! Both previous suggestions are solid, but ngl, the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III Macro VXD is lighter and works well for less cash. Pro tip: grab a Godox V1-S Flash... it's a total game changer for freezing handheld bugs regardless of the lens's OSS. TL;DR: Tamron is the value king. Get a flash for bugs!!

Check out **The-Digital-Picture** for sharpness comparisons! Both previous suggestions are solid, but ngl, the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III Macro VXD is lighter and works well for less cash. Pro tip: grab a Godox V1-S Flash... it's a total game changer for freezing handheld bugs regardless of the lens's OSS. TL;DR: Tamron is the value king. Get a flash for bugs!!

Before I give advice, are u gonna use a flash or just sunlight?? cuz that actually changes things!! i'm still learning but i've tested both on my Sony a7 IV and love them: • Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS: OSS is literally AMAZING for handheld bugs. AF is super snappy!
• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art: Honestly sharper, but no stabilization is tough... Lmk about the light!! lol

Been shooting macro on Sony bodies for years and honestly, im super satisfied with how the native glass performs nowadays. If you want something a bit different than the standard 90/105 options, here are two others that work well for specific setups:

• Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II
• This has been my go-to lately because the autofocus is blazing fast and the stabilization is top-tier for handheld shots of butterflies or bees.
• Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
• Its manual focus only, which might be a dealbreaker for some, but for flowers or slow bugs that 2:1 magnification is a total game changer. That 70-200mm G lens usually runs about $1,700, but having that zoom range plus macro capabilities is basically a cheat code for garden walks. Between your original two, the Sony 90mm still has the edge for handheld work because the dual stabilization with the a7 IV is just so smooth... definitely no complaints there. Let me know if you want to know about the custom button settings too.

In my experience, shooting bugs handheld is basically a sport lol. i've been down this macro rabbit hole with my current setup, and here is my take on those options: • The native sony glass has internal stabilization that highkey saved my shots. even though the a7 IV has ibis, having that dual-sync effect makes a HUGE difference when ur trying to track a moving bee at 1:1 magnification.
• i noticed the autofocus on the native one was just a bit snappier for those tiny micro-adjustments. the third-party option was super sharp, like seriously, but it hunted a little more in low light iirc.
• Basically, the balance feels better with the brand-name glass cuz the motors are specifically tuned for the body's AF algorithms. so yeah, if youre gonna be handheld, i'd say go with the sony. it just feels way more reliable for those quick garden shots... gl!

I've been shooting macros since the film days and honestly, you can have the most expensive glass in the world but it wont matter if your light is flat.

• I think I heard somewhere that the native Sony glass handles the internal focus mapping better than third-party stuff, but I'm not 100% sure if that actually affects the keeper rate in the real world.
• You might want to look into extension tubes or maybe a set of high-quality close-up filters instead of a dedicated lens if you're just starting out. It reminds me of when I was first starting out and had zero budget. I used to spend my weekends building macro diffusers out of empty Pringles cans and duct tape. I'd be out in the garden at 6 AM, crawling through the dew with a potato chip tube strapped to my lens, looking like a total lunatic. I think the neighbors actually stopped talking to me for a while because they didn't know how to explain the 'tube man' to their kids. It worked though! I got some of my favorite shots with that janky setup... anyway, gear is just one part of it but yeah.