Released in April 2022, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II became the second lens in Sony’s lineup to receive the Mark II treatment (the primary one being the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II). This lens is engineered to deliver exceptional image quality, versatility and performance across a wide selection of photographic styles, especially when paired with top-of-the-line cameras for photography. With a focal range of 24-70mm, it may possibly cover many differing kinds of photography, like landscapes, portraits, events and even some astrophotography.Â
This new edition has include a bunch of upgrades over the previous model, and a few completely latest features. We’ll be taking a look at the whole lot this lens has to supply, and putting it through its paces to see if it’s well worth the large price tag.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens review
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: Design
- Over 20% lighter than the unique version
- Aperture ring is now on the lens itself
- The lens is 16mm shorter than the previous version
Design-wise, this lens is just about what you’d expect from Sony at this point, with a couple of notable differences constructing on the unique version. For starters, this lens weighs 695g (1.56 lbs), making it 191g lighter than the unique version, weighing 886g (1.93 lbs) — that is 21% of the burden lost. It is also 16mm (0.63-inch) shorter, measuring 120mm (4.7-inch). While we will not comment on the difference attributable to not having reviewed the unique version, this updated lens felt comfortable to carry and didn’t make the camera feel front-heavy or cumbersome to hold around.
One other latest feature price noting is the inclusion of an aperture ring on the lens itself — that is something we have noticed Sony including more of on their newer lenses. There are pros and cons to this, nevertheless it all comes right down to personal preference. We liked having a dedicated ring for visual purposes (and the press feature is a dream to autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) lovers), but whenever you’re used to using certainly one of the dials on the body to vary the aperture, we are able to see the way it could get annoying having to readjust your grip with a view to change it on the aperture ring.
Specifications
Type: Full frame standard zoom
Focal Length: 24-70mm
Aperture: Constant f/2.8
Lens Mount: Sony E
Weight: 1.56 lbs (695g)
Dimensions: 3.46 x 4.7-inches (88 x 120mm)
Filter Thread: 82mm
Release Date: June 2022
They’ve also included a brand new ‘smooth/tight’ activate the lens, which adjusts the smoothness and tension of the zoom ring. The tight option can be an important tool for videographers who desire a slower, more controlled zoom, and the graceful option is great for times whenever you’d need to regulate the focal length quickly, like for shooting moving objects. To not look a present horse within the mouth, but we might prefer it if there was some sort of ‘middle’ option, fairly than having to choose from the 2 extremes.Â
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: Performance
- Beautiful bokeh and colorÂ
- Impressive autofocus and tracking accuracy
- Produced sharp images, though we did see some chromatic aberration in high contrast
Thanks partially to an extra two diaphragm blades (it now has 11), this lens produces beautiful bokeh, even at different apertures. We tested it out and thought the bokeh was decent as much as around f/7.1, but the broader apertures of f/2.8 are where it really shines. It was lovely and circular at f/2.8, but as we began to extend the aperture we did begin to notice some edges, making it appear more hendecagonal from around f/6.3, although not majorly noticeable unless you zoom right in.Â
Overall, we were really impressed with the tracking speed and autofocus this lens is able to. We paired it with the incredible AI-powered autofocus on the Sony A7R V to take some images of cats, and in good light, it effortlessly tracked their eyes across the frame and even tracked where it thought the eyes can be once they turned their faces away from the camera. It also kept great tracking of the eyes in low light when up close, but after we tested it indoors from further away zoomed all the best way in at 70mm with two cats within the frame, it didn’t quite know what to do and we couldn’t get it to trace either cat in any respect.Â
With regard to paint accuracy, we thought it performed brilliantly. We took some images of various coloured crystals and it captured their color just about exactly how we perceived them in real life without having to perform any post-processing on them. Even after we shot some colourful boats on an overcast day, the colour was clear, vibrant and true to life.
When it comes to chromatic aberration, we only noticed this when shooting very high-contrast images — just like the image shown below. There is a slight amount of purple color fringing across the trees, nevertheless, it’s nothing that cannot be fixed in top-of-the-line photo editing apps, and we do not think there is a lens on the market that would not struggle in these instances, so we may give it a pass on this one.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: Functionality
- Constant, fast f/2.8 aperture
- No image stabilization
- 24mm is usable for astrophotography but we might prefer wider
The constant f/2.8 aperture of this lens meant we could get shiny, detailed shots in any situation, even when shooting in low light. We would not necessarily consider it to be top-of-the-line lenses for astrophotography attributable to the widest focal length being 24mm. That said, it performed well enough for casual astro shooting, although for anything greater than the occasional little bit of astro we might really recommend a major lens with a wider focal length and aperture, just like the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM, or perhaps a wide-angle zoom, just like the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 G. At 24mm we had to maintain the shutter speed below 13 seconds to avoid star trailing, and with a wider lens you may have the opportunity to extend that to as much as 20 or 25 seconds.Â
If we’re pixel peeping (and nit-picking), we did notice a amount of coma towards the sides of the frame on an astro shot, but, realistically, it’s only the tiniest amount, and it is not going to be noticeable unless you zoom right in.
For such an expensive lens, we might have liked it to have image stabilization. But, for those who’re pairing it with top-of-the-line mirrorless cameras, then chances are high there’s going to be some sort of in-body image stabilization which you could depend on as an alternative. Nonetheless, for those who’re using it with an older camera, or with a crop sensor, then the dearth of image stabilization could also be more of a difficulty. That said, after we paired it with the 8-axis in-body image stabilization of the camera, we were capable of shoot handheld in low light at 1/3 of a second, giving us clear, shiny and detailed results.
We also found that there wasn’t any sign of barreling or distortion at any focal length — we tested this at 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 70mm and couldn’t see any in any respect — impressive! It also now has a minimum focusing distance of 0.21m (vs 0.38m on the unique version), and the next magnification of 0.32x, versus 0.24x on the older model.
Must you buy the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II?
When you’re searching for a improbable all-rounder lens that produces sharp, clear images, is lightweight and simply portable, and is able to a large number of various photographic styles, you then really cannot go improper with this lens. We won’t deny that it’s pricey, but for the standard it produces and the quantity it may possibly do, we expect it’s well worth the money and it is a lens you may get numerous use out of and can likely keep for a really very long time.Â
The one users we would not necessarily recommend it for is anyone on a budget, or for those who’re heavily invested in a selected form of photography that utilizes either really wide or long focal lengths (for instance, astrophotography or wildlife). That said, it’s still an important all-rounder to have in your kit bag.Â
If the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is not for you
When you cannot quite justify spending almost $2300 on this lens, why not consider Sigma’s 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens? It’s around $1600 and still a improbable quality lens and definitely holds its own when put next to the Sony, although the trade-off is that this lens is heavier — it weighs 1.83 lbs (830g). It isn’t a serious weight increase, but still, it’s something to be aware of for those who want something lightweight.
When you still need to follow a native Sony lens, you might at all times go for the unique version of the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. It’s now just below $2000 and although the updated version has had a facelift and a bunch of upgrades, we will not deny that the unique version continues to be an important lens.
If, nevertheless, you shoot numerous astro and think the 24mm won’t quite cut it, but you continue to desire a zoom lens, try the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM. It won’t give you an identical wide aperture that a major lens will, but f/2.8 is definitely sufficient, and the 16mm focal length is healthier fitted to astrophotography while still providing you with the liberty as much as 35mm to shoot other varieties of photography.