The very first lens I purchased for my first-ever digital camera was a normal zoom lens. It’s been a mainstay in my bag ever since, and with the introduction of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, the usual simply retains getting higher.
Nevertheless, a normal lens is, in truth, what it’s — commonplace. Lots of people prefer to hate on the 24-70mm vary. They complain that there’s nothing thrilling about it, nothing inventive, nothing groundbreaking. And for essentially the most half, they’re proper. Regardless of that, it’s nonetheless a mandatory lens for any occasion or marriage ceremony photographer. And the latest iteration from Sony is hard to beat.
Professionals
- Extremely small and lightweight in contrast
- Effectively-controlled distortion
- Climate sealing
- Autofocus is fast and correct
- Sharp in giant and small particulars
Cons
- Very dear, coming in at over $1000 greater than its opponents
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II — Technical specs
All technical specs for the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II have been taken from B&H Picture:
- Aperture vary: f/2.8–f/22
- Angle of view: 84° to 34°
- Minimal focus distance: 8.3″ / 21 cm
- Most magnification: 0.32x
- Optical design: 20 Components in 15 Teams
- Diaphragm blades: 11, Rounded
- Picture stabilization: No
- Filter measurement: 82mm
- Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.7″ / 87.8 x 119.9 mm
- Size at most extension: 6″ / 152 mm
- Weight: 1.5 lb / 695 g
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II — Ergonomics and construct high quality
I’ve used two commonplace zoom lenses for my Sony system — the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Artwork lens and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 II lens. The brand new Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens suits in-between these choices, providing a professional-grade possibility in a small, light-weight physique.
The lens has two customizable focus maintain buttons on it, together with an autofocus/handbook focus swap. There’s an aperture ring, which will be de-clicked, making this an excellent lens for video. There’s additionally a small Iris Lock swap.
The zoom ring is an efficient measurement and feels good, coming in with simply the correct quantity of friction. It’s also possible to customise this to offer a tighter friction if you want.
The lens hood is relatively giant given the lens’ measurement, but it surely nonetheless is available in considerably smaller than Sigma’s commonplace hood.
General, the lens feels premium, and it’s extraordinarily well-balanced on my cameras. Sony has been specializing in shrinking its lens’ footprints for the previous 12 months or so, and the 24-70mm undoubtedly wanted to be shrunk down.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II — Within the area
As somebody who’s used a normal lens relationship again to 2012, I’ve skilled each the great and dangerous of this lens. The great? Normal zooms are often among the most dependable lenses on the market. The dangerous? Don’t anticipate artistry in each state of affairs.
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II might be one of the vital artistically sound commonplace zooms I’ve used, subsequent to the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Artwork. It’s a gorgeous lens in and out, and produces some stellar pictures within the course of.
The lens is approachable, particularly given its smaller footprint. It’s nice for somebody capturing occasions, household portraits and weddings. I additionally used it on a meals photoshoot for {a magazine}, and it labored wonders there (although I’m not in a position to present these pictures fairly but).
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II — Autofocus efficiency
If there’s one factor I beloved in regards to the new Sony 24-70mm, it was how dependable and fast the autofocusing was. Whether or not it was photographing train courses, dancers or a magic present, this lens stored up with the quickest of actions with ease.
I’d really feel assured utilizing this lens for any of my occasions I {photograph}. There was no looking, and the lens simply snapped proper on the topic you had been photographing. Mixed with Sony’s Eye AF in cameras just like the a1 and a7 IV, this can be a stellar lens if it’s essential seize some motion.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II — Picture high quality
The picture high quality, in a phrase, is gorgeous. The Sony 24-70mm produces a gorgeous look into the world, with good colours, sharpness and a gorgeous depth of area.
Distortion management and vignetting
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II has some minor distortion on the edges, together with a small vignette. Any distortion and vignette will be simply eradicated throughout post-processing. And not using a side-by-side comparability, it was troublesome to see if there have been actually any flaws right here.
Ghosting, flaring and chromatic aberrations
Throughout my checks I discovered no points with ghosting, flaring or chromatic aberrations. The 24-70mm options Sony’s Nano AR Coating II, which is supposed to assist scale back, or eradicate, these potential lens points.
Sharpness
This lens is superbly sharp, with small particulars simply screaming! Whereas it doesn’t characteristic picture stabilization, the compact measurement and lighter weight makes it simple to get a pointy shot.
Bokeh
Whereas zooms won’t ever be masters of bokeh, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II holds its personal. It affords a pleasant, pleasing depth of area with round bokeh balls within the distance. The falloff on this lens is gorgeous, offering an inventive view at what’s in entrance of you.
Coloration rendition
The colours on the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II had been towards the hotter aspect, however nonetheless very pleasing.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II — (sum up your evaluation with this heading)
For professionals on the lookout for a dependable, compact commonplace zoom, it’s onerous to beat the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II. It has nice optics, quick and correct autofocus, and it’s light-weight.
Nonetheless, is it well worth the greater than $1000 it prices over the competitors? Whereas it might be a near-flawless lens, the usual zoom lens is a busy marketplace for Sony shooters, with quite a lot of choices. Professionals who want one thing dependable, the Sony is nice. If you would like one thing inexpensive and much more light-weight, the Tamron 28-75mm is an excellent selection. And if you happen to’re actually going after that artistry, try the Sigma 24-70mm Artwork.
Regardless, now has by no means been a extra thrilling time to be a Sony shooter.
