Yes. Lenses can affect color reproduction, sometimes noticeably.

The main reasons are:

• glass types transmit wavelengths differently
• lens coatings change how much of different colors are transmitted or reflected
• flare and veiling glare reduce contrast and can wash out color
• overall light transmission can differ, so two lenses at the same nominal exposure may not produce the same brightness or saturation

Different manufacturers may also aim for a certain “rendering,” such as slightly warmer or cooler color.

That said, comparing lens color is tricky. Exposure differences, white balance, picture style, filters, lighting, and flare can all make one lens look more colorful even if the lens itself isn’t inherently more accurate. In your examples, part of the difference may be exposure/transmission rather than pure color fidelity.

So the short answer is: yes, lenses do influence color, but what looks like “better color” may actually be a mix of transmission, contrast, flare resistance, coatings, and camera settings—not just color accuracy alone.