Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II zoom lens

Lighter and smaller in size, but bigger in features! Professional-grade 24-70mm F2.8 lenses like the previous G Master are so good in quality that the manufacturer must have a truly better product to offer if they are launching a new version. And now Sony has one.

When the first 24-70mm G Master was announced, there were no 61-megapixel sensors, 30 FPS continuous shooting, cinema-grade bodies, or even the ability to imagine continuous autofocus that detects birds and eyes. Now Sony has it all, and lenses need to be part of this evolution , especially for professional use and demanding enthusiasts.

• Approximately 200g lighter and 1.7cm smaller than before
• Adjustable zoom ring friction: smooth and tight settings
• Linear focus, ideal for follow focus use
• A completely new optical design and a huge number of special lenses, 5 aspherical, 2 ED and 2 Super ED.
• Four XD focus motors for faster focusing and continuous AF even when zooming
• Shortest focusing distance of only 21cm
• 11 rounded dimmer discs
• Aperture control ring with disengageable clicks and lock

There are improvements in all areas, there are small changes to usability, the new lens is surprisingly much lighter than the previous one. Image quality in both photography and video is better, and autofocus keeps up with the new bodies.

Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II image quality

In short, this new Sony 24-70mm II is the best standard zoom in terms of image quality. For example, the improvements to the old G Master are most noticeable at the edges of the image. Now the image is sharper from edge to edge.

This 24-70mm focal length is used a lot in portrait photography and events such as weddings, where in addition to linear sharpness, the way the images look is important. And this aspect is now also in order, there are up to 11 rounded diaphragm blades and the bokeh, or parts outside the depth of field, is drawn very beautifully. Backgrounds are soft and when the light is at its best, i.e. in the evening and morning, you can shoot directly into the backlight without disturbing reflections.

Autofocus: fast and silent

Sony uses the same XD focus motors as in telephoto lenses, and there are no fewer than four of these in one lens. This means faster focusing and response to subject movement. The lens's focus also keeps up with the Sony A1's continuous shooting, meaning it can focus even when shooting at 30 frames per second. Focusing also works even when the aperture is closed down.

On the other hand, the previous 24-70mm F2.8 G Master is also fast to focus, but especially with new bodies and in the most demanding situations, the difference is noticeable, and at the same time the lens also offers performance well into the future with new cameras.

The closest focusing distance is only 21cm at 24mm focal length and 30cm at 70mm focal length, so you can get really close with this! This is of course not a real macro lens, but it offers new angles and possibilities. The image quality is also maintained and the autofocus works quickly, which is not always a given with short focal lengths.

Sony 24-70mm G Master in video shooting

The most important things to start with: this new Sony is not parfocal either, meaning the focus changes when zooming, focus breathing is somewhat controlled but still present. So this is not a replacement for a traditional cinema lens, but the following is a longer explanation of why this is a really good compromise and will certainly be used in large productions.

But on the other hand, these problems have been minimized and new cameras like the Sony A7 IV can eliminate focus breathing (i.e. the change in focal length during focusing) programmatically. Focus breathing during zooming is a problem with manual focus, but the very fast autofocus keeps the image sharp even during zooming.

In addition to the speed mentioned a few times, the new focus motors are very quiet, meaning there will be no extra noise on the soundtrack.

Several innovations clearly designed for pro users are also a big help in video use. The aperture ring is located directly on the lens and the clicks between the apertures can be switched off, meaning that aperture adjustment is also possible during video shooting. The adjustable zoom friction allows for precision zooming.

Manual focus is linear, meaning that if follow focus is used, the operation is always the same, meaning that planning the focus is easier and it is always repeatable from shot to shot.

In addition to the lens hood, the lens comes with a zippered, padded protective case for the lens.

Weather-protected construction, mechanically durable, outer lens surfaces coated with dirt-repellent coating, ready for filming gigs

Specifications:

• Lens mount: Sony FE bayonet
• Focal length range: 24-70mm (APS-C: 36-105mm)
• Aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Optical construction: 20 elements in 15 groups
• Magnification ratio: 0.32x
  
• Closest focusing distance: 21cm at wide-angle end, 30cm at telephoto end
• Filter thread: 82mm
• Dimensions: 87.8 x 119.9 mm
• Weight: 695g

Sales package includes: Lens, lens caps, carrying case and lens hood ALC-SH168